Shifting gears completely from what’s been dominating my mind the past few months, can we just talk about how amazing BTS is? Yes, the K-pop group. I’ve only really been into them since the fall when they released Dynamite, a fun disco-inspired song meant to bring joy to listeners. It’s incredibly catchy and infectious. I’m a big fan of pop music in general and I liked K-pop a lot when I lived in South Korea, even though I couldn’t understand it. The idols are incredibly talented and the music is fun. I seem to be in the minority of my circle in liking music that’s just fun.
Not everything has to be a love song or a “you’re better off without them” song or the next political statement. All of those things definitely have their place, but there is room for things that are just enjoyable. Things that make you forget about the idiot that cut you off, the Karen/Kevin in the store screaming about needing that exact brand that only another store carries, the two-hour meeting that could have been an email, and the fact that all you’ve got left in the fridge is eggs, baking soda, and beer and don’t get paid for another two days. Music and movies are escapism, even when they have a message to impart.
And that is where BTS shines. The seven of them write their own music and much of it is the catchy, upbeat melodies you’d expect, but they’re also speaking about loving yourself, LGBT rights, mental health, and taking care of yourself. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition from much of the K-pop machine that critics see as cookie-cutter and devoid of any type of substance. They are advocates for self-care and non-violence and their AMRYs follow them and their ideals with as much passion as they have for the guys themselves.
As part of their advocacy, BTS has spoken at the UN in 2018 about their “Love Myself” campaign in partnership with UNICEF (UNICEF, 2018). Kim Nam-jun, also known as RM, delivered their remarks as he is fluent in English. He spoke about losing himself to expectations and how long it took him to find his way to himself again. He said how he is still “an ordinary, twenty-four-year-old guy” that will still be the same day after day even with all his faults and mistakes. He closed by urging the UN members to share their stories and what excites them and makes them who they are. With the COVID crisis, the group returned with UNICEF to give a message to their fans about staying strong during the pandemic and banding together as a community to battle the isolation.
The more I learn about the group, the more respect I have for them. I’ve found some translations of their songs, since most are in Korean, and the lyrics are often truly meaningful. They’ve had 9 studio albums according to their label’s website (five in Korean and four in Japanese), so I’ve nowhere near looked at them all, but the ones I seen have moved me.
Watching the evolution of music is an amazing thing. Watching how they’re pushing boundaries and changing Korea’s conservative and at times controlling culture is jaw-dropping. I’m excited to have a new band to obsess over and see how they impact the world.
Resources
The members of BTS [Photograph]. (2020, September 1). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53989941
Unicef. (2018, September 24). Remarks by BTS’ Kim Nam Jun (RM) at the launch of Generation Unlimited, at the UN General Assembly. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/we-have-learned-love-ourselves-so-now-i-urge-you-speak-yourself
