"One day, the world stopped without any warning," sings Jung Kook on the first line of BTS' BE's title track "Life Goes On." 2020 has seen a tumultuous shift in how we deal with our everyday lives brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. And the world in a way indeed stopped. No different from us, BTS also experienced life in quarantine. The group was supposed to go on their stadium world tour last April, but plans got cancelled due to the pandemic. Given the circumstances, the boys had to make do of the time they have and decided to document their feelings during such difficult times and give fans a gift – “BE.”

"BE" is a documentation of their life during the pandemic released last 20 November 2020. As an ARMY, I highly anticipated this release. It is after all one wherein the boys participated most - from writing, composing, and producing to the concept photos, the album design, and the MV. It is something that the boys poured their hearts and souls into while sharing the whole process with ARMY through live videos.

"I'm at the office. So yeah, had to hold back the emotions. But gosh, this song. And the album. Blue and Grey now playing. Huhu. What have you done, BTS?" This was my exact tweet when I first listened to the album. The emotions this album gave us was something else.

"Life Goes On" perfectly encapsulates the feelings we have while time seemed frozen and the world seemed lifeless. It gives a melancholic mood while giving off positivity. With lyrics such as “There’s no end in sight. Is there a way out?” which perfectly summarizes what we all are feeling right at this moment. (Will this pandemic ever end?) “Like an echo in the forest the day will come back around as if nothing happened. Yeah, life goes on. Like an arrow in the blue sky, another day flying by. On my pillow, on my table Yeah, life goes on like this again” as its chorus plays, giving us a ray of positivity as we sing along. 

"Blue & Grey" – the song that was supposed to be a part of V's mixtape – comes next. The emotion this song gives with those delicate vocals and rap parts was something else. This song is probably my favorite from the album. I felt all the feelings it is trying to portray without even reading the lyrics. It hit hard and got me teary-eyed the first listen. When V started the song with the lyrics "Where is my angel?... Someone come and save me, please." It's just... I can't. And when the chorus part that says: "Oh this ground feels so heavier. I am singing by myself. I just wanna be happier. Would this also be greed?" played, I was not able to hold back - I really cried. As V said (in his Weverse Magazine interview), "I wrote “Blue & Grey” when I was at my lowest point, when I was actually asking whether I could keep going with my work or not. Even the fun parts of work became a chore, and my whole life felt aimless." Somehow it was his way of getting over his problem and he is in a better place now.

"Telepathy" sets you into some sort of a party mood. You cannot help but vibe with this dancy tune. The autotune (which was not used to cover up bad vocals, but as a creative flavor) added a different color to the song’s overall ambiance. (Why did Suga keep in it the back all these years? Or maybe it is just waiting for the right moment to be finally released?) The song is perfectly fitting for this album. According to Jin (during the global press conference for "BE"), the lyrics describe the sad reality where BTS cannot meet fans due to the pandemic.  As Suga starts the song, "In the days that feel the same, I'm the happiest when I meet you." It is also telling that even though BTS and ARMY cannot be together physically, they are still together in heart and in mind.

"Dis-ease" the sixth track on the album talks about the love-hate relationship with work as a disease. As J-hope shared (in his Weverse Magazine interview), "When I was working, I’d say, “Ugh, I need a break,” but then we took time off and the words, “Ugh, I want to work,” jumped out of my mouth!” That’s what made me think more closely: “Why is this bothering me? I have a chance to rest—just take it. Why do I feel like I need to work under these circumstances? Is this an occupational disease?” I felt like this was a part of me that I could express at this point in time." Although it talks about such a thing, the scratching and the beat of the song urges you to get over it and stay positive. As the lyrics tell us, "There's no eternal night. I've become stronger. Fireworks are bursting. I will never fade away."

The upbeat songs continue with "Stay." This subunit song by Jin, Jung Kook, and RM was originally meant for Jung Kook's mixtape. This EDM track –  reminiscent of their song So What – makes you want to jump off your seat and dance. Just as Jungkook said (through a Weverse Magazine interview), "We imagined we were performing for the fans while we made it, jumping up and down with them." This song sends a message that even though we're far apart, we always stay together – "Wherever you are, I know you always stay." as the song goes.

Lastly, the song that was such a bop you never get tired of –  "Dynamite" –  their first all-English song. Although they were not sure if the song will be included in the album at first, it was a good way to end it. As its lyrics go: "I'm diamond, you know I glow up" and "Shining through the city with a little funk and soul. I'mma light it up like dynamite." The bright and positive atmosphere and message that this disco tune gives off was the perfect way to end "BE" which talks about going through tough times and life going on during this pandemic.

“BE” is a project album and is thus not part of the whole Bangtan Universe or the story they create with their releases. And although it does not give the bang that Map of the Soul:7 gave us last February, this album was a welcome gift. It is simple, but not quite, and full of emotions. It gives nothing short of what the boys wanted to convey – a message of healing and connecting with fans despite not seeing each other.

“BE” is like a warm hug. The comfort we never knew we needed. A reminder that despite everything life goes on – this too shall pass – and a better day will come. As J-Hope sings in “Life Goes On,” “Let us thread tomorrow with today. Stopped for now, but don't hide in the shadow. Once again daylight will glow.”

Black Swan at The Late Late Show with James Corden

I can hardly remember what it was, but from my faint memory, it was Fake Love that I first saw on YouTube. If I'm not mistaken, BTS was performing at an American show at that time. The guy who was always in the middle first grabbed my attention – Jungkook. Admit it, JK is one good-looking guy. I did not have the interest to look further into the group especially when I heard idol – super catchy but came out a little boastful at first few listens. Because, as you know, I did not understand the lyrics and did not even try to. I did not want to like them just because they were super famous and be part of the bandwagon. No, I am not that type.

My next encounter was probably Boy with Luv ‘cause I can clearly remember V's blue hair which caught my eye then. I know many fell in love with his blue hair. And this was probably the time my interest was piqued. Who would be able to resist singing along to that "Oh my, my, my… Oh my, my, my…" while watching them performing and having fun on stage? 

Boy With Luv era. That was when I started looking into the group more – watching performances, MVs, and other clips on YouTube. Slowly my interest in the group grew. Little did I know that I would become a full-pledged ARMY (this is what you call the BTS fans for those who don’t know). I started digging deep into the lyrics of each song and watching videos about them – explaining who they were, their history, the struggles they faced, and the successes they have achieved. A few weeks later I started downloading apps because of them, including an app with all English translations of their songs. I also downloaded Vlive, Weverse, and Superstar BTS.

A lot of people probably categorize them as just some K-pop stars or pop stars with catchy tunes and nice visuals. Choosing not to dig deeper may lead to misconceptions and typical stereotypes accorded to K-pop idols or singers. Many people easily assume that K-pop music is just for teens and call you as looking like a kid for listening to such music.

I was once one of those (except for the K-pop is just for teens and looking like a kid part because I've been listening to K-pop for quite a while already). But, when I dug deeper, I saw what all the hype was about and was captivated.  That was when I realized that “Hey, these are not just some catchy tunes you hear out there.” Contrary to most of the songs coming out these days, with lyrics that sometimes do not quite make sense, theirs have some deep meanings.

Their music is much more than what you hear and what you see. In one of their interviews, J-hope stated that “Bangtan (Bangtan Sonyeondan is their name in Korean) means to be resistant to bullets, so it means to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim at adolescents like bullets, to preserve the values and ideals of today’s adolescents.”  You may say that what they tell us through their songs is anchored on this meaning in some ways. Beyond the bops and the catchy tunes are the poetry in their lyrics and their profound messages about society, struggles of the youth, self-love, finding one’s self, and many more. Past the captivating music videos and complex choreographies is their passion for music and the positive influence they want to make.

The boys are not in great pursuit of records after all. As Jin said at the conference held for their album Map of the Soul: 7, “Results and records are important, but if people draw happiness from our music, that would be the greatest result we can achieve...” Suga even said that “..purpose is more important than the goal…” This just shows how much these guys love music. As RM once said, "Music transcends language. BTS communicates with our fans by staying true to ourselves and believing in music every day." 

Aside from their deep love for music, what even fascinated me was their personalities. Beyond their intensity and drive when performing are their humble and fun selves. These boys are definitely goofballs and crackheads and they are unafraid to show their crazy and wacky sides. You simply will not be able to resist their charms. Watching their weekly variety show Run BTS! (if you’re looking for a good laugh, this is for you), their travel show Bon Voyage (they will definitely show you beautiful places), and snippets of behind the scenes with Bangtan bombs and BTS episodes on YouTube will give you a taste of who they really are as musicians and as regular people. Watching their movies and documentaries will also show you that beyond the success and the fame are the struggles and hardships they have to go through to become who they are today. Despite all that they have accomplished, their feet remain planted on the ground and they continue to be the humble boys they are.

And who would forget, above all, they love their fans more than anything, and it shows. In every award speech they make, they never fail to mention ARMY and how thankful they are. Not a day goes by without them reminding us that they wouldn’t have come this far if it weren’t for their fans. They always make us feel that we are a part of them, a part of their success, of who they are now. I haven’t been to a live concert, but watching clips and fan cams will tell you that they truly treasure us ARMYs – you can see it in their eyes when they look at the crowd, you can feel it through their smiles while having fun, you can hear it when they are making their ending messages. The admiration, the gratitude, the love, the care, the sincerity, the genuineness – it's all there.

All these and more are what got me and what will lead you, too (if you give them a chance), down the BTS rabbit hole, love the boys, and make you stay in this Bangtan Sonyeondan sh*t for life.

P.S.

Whether it is the banger "Did you see my bag? Did you see my bag?" which you might have thought to be cocky but realized it’s supposed to be 'coz it's a diss track or the "Can't stop me loving myself" with the colorful mv or maybe the super catchy and LSS inducing "Oh my, my, my. Oh my, my, my." – it doesn't matter what song or when you became a fan. As RM said, "There are many people who became our fans recently. No matter when you became our fans, we are always thankful for your love. It is your love that makes us glow.” 

The closest I got to them boys in Korea.

Happy ARMY day, fam! Borahae!