I’m a huge fan of BTS. Love their music, lyrics, performances, variety, camera personalities and so much more. Love Suga, especially Suga. Their music and message pushed me to be honest to myself, helped me find my way out of a seemingly endless phase of depression, stick through a tough job and eventually, to use that experience to begin forging a path towards the kind of career I really want. It’s been incredibly hard and I’m nowhere near where I want to be just yet, I also know I’m quite privileged and lucky – but BTS have very much been part of the journey.
However, I’ve also spent the past 2 years not really liking their musical direction. Because the music itself doesn’t appeal to me anymore, I don’t follow their other promotions either. But then, because I don’t follow their promotions or activities, I begin to forget what I love about them. There’s so much good music and funny variety content out there, it’s easy to get distracted. In the time that’s passed, I’ve found many groups I like, such as BAP, Oneus, Day6, Onewe, Mamamoo and particularly, lately, Golden Child.
And yet, despite all this, the love lingers quietly under the surface – and occasionally, it explodes in a burst of emotion. When a song like Black Swan, or Blue & Grey, comes out, when a cover like this one, Coldplay’s “Fix You” comes out, I remember why I love them so much; and of just how much I love them. Honestly speaking, I may never love another artist as much as I love this septet.
Because I’ve been struggling a bit with job hunting/applications/interviews lately (hey, drastic career pivots were never meant to be easy!), I’ve been thinking more and more about how I found myself in this (fortunate) situation; and among other things BTS come to mind. They released this cover of Fix You last night, which is why you get this long, ramble-y post about my feelings.
I have not been following them from the beginning but I have read up on them now.
If people don’t see what their plan is, I just don’t know what to say.
They are explicit in wanting to grow and expand, to literally everyone.
They want a Grammy. They have never made that a secret. They know Dynamite is a test to see if they can get one. They only got 2 nominations. They are not happy. They are regrouping to make their dream happen.
I just do not understand some people who seem to get a group is only going to make to commit to a niche group and not want to welcome others.
They are definitely ambitious. I think it is partly why their music has evolved over time and moved closer to the Western mainstream.
I don’t know that the musical choices were completely theirs, though. I think, lurking behind them, is their even more ambitious CEO, who is a super savvy businessman and who has milked BTS as BigHit’s cash cow (at this point, I’ve lost track of how many smaller outfits BigHit has acquired). I think Bang realizes that he hit on something ineffably special with BTS, something that really speaks to a lot people, and he’s leveraging them to full effect. Thus, TXT, a decent but not particularly remarkable group IMO, has been steadily riding on BTS’s coattails and has managed to build a strong foundation in their own right.
I also think BTS probably feels some pressure from the expectations others have for them. They are now seen as exponents of Korean music, and the path they are paving is important for junior artists and probably has some importance even from a wider cultural perspective.
But…Bang is not saavy, he got really lucky. He and his partner were bankrupt before scouting and putting these seven together and then when they did, the group went over like a lead balloon, especially with the cultural appropriation and they were rightly called on it. It wasn’t until they got to LA where the real culture shock came in and if they wanted any longevity, something needed the change and those kids were to ones to speak up first about it. I will say this for them, when they are told something ain’t clicking and is offensive (RM was notorious for his ‘blacent’ in the beginning), they go listen and regroup which is why they work now on a global scale, they want any and everyone to know who they are. BTS is the blueprint and if other groups don’t changes their ways, they would be nowhere near where this group is now. If Bang had his way, every group now will be a cultural appropriation mess and would have no mass appeal. This is a business. They are a commodity. There is a shelf life. Full stop.
Yes. That shelf life. BigHit and BTS are fully aware of that shelf life. They have been preparing for it for couple of years now. With all the acquisitions, mergers and collaborations of products, BigHit is getting ready for the loss of BTS. The members are aware of that as well. They know their time in the limelight is not forever. I can sense they want to do their own thing now. (SM made a big mistake not preparing EXO for the inevitable. They got caught off guard, they stopped. Their fans never got the proper closure. The members as well.)
That’s why I mostly agree with the route they are taking music wise. Yes, many of their recent songs are geared toward the West, but it has to since they are catering to the West. Dynamite is definitely a business decision. And it worked out for them so well. They adapted to the pandemic, and made BE and also did their own concerts. I thought Love Yourself series was amazing, and to me, that was their last album that didn’t cater to the West as much.
They still remain Koreans as ever though. They still promote Korean culture and products. They still do concerts on their own turf. They do promotion while remaining in their country. They don’t let executives in LA dictate who they want to be. And that’s something to be proud of. They are still in control of their own destiny.
Not sure to what extent this comment is directed at me vs @larelle79, but, for what it’s worth, I agree a lot with what you’ve said.
SM never prepares their groups for the inevitable. With EXO, the problem is that they never really gave most of them an opportunity to branch out. I don’t know if this is because they wanted to play up how mysterious they were or if it was an internal decision by members of the group (I’ve heard Minseok say he has a hard time with varieties; on the other hand, lots of members have expressed a desire to do more diverse work in the past, including the usually reticent Kyungsoo), but either way it was a bad move. The result is that, with SM no longer pushing them like mad, they’ve now sort of been left on their own to figure out a path for themselves. Kyungsoo will be fine because he has a solid foothold as an actor. Lay is also well-established in China now, although I’m not really sure if he sees himself as a member of EXO now that years have passed since he last promoted together with them. Baekhyun’s solo music has consistently done alright and he sings a lot of OSTs, so he might be okay as well. But even Baekhyun probably is a bit unsure about where he’s going to go next, and things will be particularly tough since his military service is still pending.
I don’t get what you’re saying because possible typo here: “I just do not understand some people who seem to get a group is only going to make to commit to a niche group and not want to welcome others.”
As for the rest, yup, they want a grammy – they’re so close, why should they not? Yup, the price they’ve paid is some of their artistic uniqueness and charm. To appeal to masses, you can’t be niche. It’s a trade-off. In any case, groups and their music change with time.
Gatekeepers seems to not want groups to evolve and appeal to a wider audience. Your first statement veered towards that.
This group ain’t surprising anyone with their plans and goals yet some people out here seem to think they know better and want to tell everyone else that.
I’m not a fan, either now or before. However, I think their music up to “Blood, Sweat and Tears” was very distinctive and good. However, afterwards, as they became bigger and bigger, their music just started to sound like generic Western pop (at least to me). That’s not necessarily a bad thing; even among mainstream pop music, their music is still probably solid stuff. But it’s not really what brought me to K-pop to begin with. IMO k-pop is really interesting because it is often more musically adventurous and that results in unique songs.
agreed, that’s what I don’t like about their recent direction either. But by the time it got to it, they’d already made such a strong impression that I love them regardless 😀 After all, as I mentioned, they got me through something very difficult.
I still have a soft spot for them and hope they’re enjoying their lives since it seems like they must work non-stop. Like you, their recent music hasn’t been to my taste except for a few songs. The performances of ON have amazed me and I’ve listened to their Tiny Desk concert on repeat.
I go back to Tiny Desk performance at least once a month. It’s so good. So intimate, and raw to some extent. I hope Someday or One Day, I will get to see them perform in an intimate setting like that. Live.
I’m also helping their performance tobe the most viewed video in that channel. 🙂
greenfields
February 24, 2021 at 10:37 AM
#FanStatus Update 1/2
I’m a huge fan of BTS. Love their music, lyrics, performances, variety, camera personalities and so much more. Love Suga, especially Suga. Their music and message pushed me to be honest to myself, helped me find my way out of a seemingly endless phase of depression, stick through a tough job and eventually, to use that experience to begin forging a path towards the kind of career I really want. It’s been incredibly hard and I’m nowhere near where I want to be just yet, I also know I’m quite privileged and lucky – but BTS have very much been part of the journey.
However, I’ve also spent the past 2 years not really liking their musical direction. Because the music itself doesn’t appeal to me anymore, I don’t follow their other promotions either. But then, because I don’t follow their promotions or activities, I begin to forget what I love about them. There’s so much good music and funny variety content out there, it’s easy to get distracted. In the time that’s passed, I’ve found many groups I like, such as BAP, Oneus, Day6, Onewe, Mamamoo and particularly, lately, Golden Child.
And yet, despite all this, the love lingers quietly under the surface – and occasionally, it explodes in a burst of emotion. When a song like Black Swan, or Blue & Grey, comes out, when a cover like this one, Coldplay’s “Fix You” comes out, I remember why I love them so much; and of just how much I love them. Honestly speaking, I may never love another artist as much as I love this septet.
Because I’ve been struggling a bit with job hunting/applications/interviews lately (hey, drastic career pivots were never meant to be easy!), I’ve been thinking more and more about how I found myself in this (fortunate) situation; and among other things BTS come to mind. They released this cover of Fix You last night, which is why you get this long, ramble-y post about my feelings.
larelle79
February 24, 2021 at 11:20 AM
I have not been following them from the beginning but I have read up on them now.
If people don’t see what their plan is, I just don’t know what to say.
They are explicit in wanting to grow and expand, to literally everyone.
They want a Grammy. They have never made that a secret. They know Dynamite is a test to see if they can get one. They only got 2 nominations. They are not happy. They are regrouping to make their dream happen.
I just do not understand some people who seem to get a group is only going to make to commit to a niche group and not want to welcome others.
Make it make sense.
Maq
February 24, 2021 at 1:03 PM
They are definitely ambitious. I think it is partly why their music has evolved over time and moved closer to the Western mainstream.
I don’t know that the musical choices were completely theirs, though. I think, lurking behind them, is their even more ambitious CEO, who is a super savvy businessman and who has milked BTS as BigHit’s cash cow (at this point, I’ve lost track of how many smaller outfits BigHit has acquired). I think Bang realizes that he hit on something ineffably special with BTS, something that really speaks to a lot people, and he’s leveraging them to full effect. Thus, TXT, a decent but not particularly remarkable group IMO, has been steadily riding on BTS’s coattails and has managed to build a strong foundation in their own right.
I also think BTS probably feels some pressure from the expectations others have for them. They are now seen as exponents of Korean music, and the path they are paving is important for junior artists and probably has some importance even from a wider cultural perspective.
larelle79
February 24, 2021 at 1:30 PM
But…Bang is not saavy, he got really lucky. He and his partner were bankrupt before scouting and putting these seven together and then when they did, the group went over like a lead balloon, especially with the cultural appropriation and they were rightly called on it. It wasn’t until they got to LA where the real culture shock came in and if they wanted any longevity, something needed the change and those kids were to ones to speak up first about it. I will say this for them, when they are told something ain’t clicking and is offensive (RM was notorious for his ‘blacent’ in the beginning), they go listen and regroup which is why they work now on a global scale, they want any and everyone to know who they are. BTS is the blueprint and if other groups don’t changes their ways, they would be nowhere near where this group is now. If Bang had his way, every group now will be a cultural appropriation mess and would have no mass appeal. This is a business. They are a commodity. There is a shelf life. Full stop.
thatstp
February 24, 2021 at 4:04 PM
I still cringe when I see Namjoon with that “afro” or would that be considered a high-top fade? Either way, I’m so happy they let all that go.
drawde2000
February 24, 2021 at 6:03 PM
Yes. That shelf life. BigHit and BTS are fully aware of that shelf life. They have been preparing for it for couple of years now. With all the acquisitions, mergers and collaborations of products, BigHit is getting ready for the loss of BTS. The members are aware of that as well. They know their time in the limelight is not forever. I can sense they want to do their own thing now. (SM made a big mistake not preparing EXO for the inevitable. They got caught off guard, they stopped. Their fans never got the proper closure. The members as well.)
That’s why I mostly agree with the route they are taking music wise. Yes, many of their recent songs are geared toward the West, but it has to since they are catering to the West. Dynamite is definitely a business decision. And it worked out for them so well. They adapted to the pandemic, and made BE and also did their own concerts. I thought Love Yourself series was amazing, and to me, that was their last album that didn’t cater to the West as much.
They still remain Koreans as ever though. They still promote Korean culture and products. They still do concerts on their own turf. They do promotion while remaining in their country. They don’t let executives in LA dictate who they want to be. And that’s something to be proud of. They are still in control of their own destiny.
Maq
February 24, 2021 at 9:40 PM
Not sure to what extent this comment is directed at me vs @larelle79, but, for what it’s worth, I agree a lot with what you’ve said.
SM never prepares their groups for the inevitable. With EXO, the problem is that they never really gave most of them an opportunity to branch out. I don’t know if this is because they wanted to play up how mysterious they were or if it was an internal decision by members of the group (I’ve heard Minseok say he has a hard time with varieties; on the other hand, lots of members have expressed a desire to do more diverse work in the past, including the usually reticent Kyungsoo), but either way it was a bad move. The result is that, with SM no longer pushing them like mad, they’ve now sort of been left on their own to figure out a path for themselves. Kyungsoo will be fine because he has a solid foothold as an actor. Lay is also well-established in China now, although I’m not really sure if he sees himself as a member of EXO now that years have passed since he last promoted together with them. Baekhyun’s solo music has consistently done alright and he sings a lot of OSTs, so he might be okay as well. But even Baekhyun probably is a bit unsure about where he’s going to go next, and things will be particularly tough since his military service is still pending.
greenfields
February 24, 2021 at 8:01 PM
I don’t get what you’re saying because possible typo here: “I just do not understand some people who seem to get a group is only going to make to commit to a niche group and not want to welcome others.”
As for the rest, yup, they want a grammy – they’re so close, why should they not? Yup, the price they’ve paid is some of their artistic uniqueness and charm. To appeal to masses, you can’t be niche. It’s a trade-off. In any case, groups and their music change with time.
Fatcat007 (Kitty 💜)
February 24, 2021 at 10:05 PM
I didn’t get that part either.
But I’m starting to understand/feel Cypher 4, Mic Drop, Ddaeng & Ugh on a different level now 😌
Also some of Namjoon’s specific lines from Persona.
larelle79
February 25, 2021 at 5:19 AM
Gatekeepers seems to not want groups to evolve and appeal to a wider audience. Your first statement veered towards that.
This group ain’t surprising anyone with their plans and goals yet some people out here seem to think they know better and want to tell everyone else that.
Maq
February 24, 2021 at 12:56 PM
I’m not a fan, either now or before. However, I think their music up to “Blood, Sweat and Tears” was very distinctive and good. However, afterwards, as they became bigger and bigger, their music just started to sound like generic Western pop (at least to me). That’s not necessarily a bad thing; even among mainstream pop music, their music is still probably solid stuff. But it’s not really what brought me to K-pop to begin with. IMO k-pop is really interesting because it is often more musically adventurous and that results in unique songs.
greenfields
February 24, 2021 at 8:03 PM
agreed, that’s what I don’t like about their recent direction either. But by the time it got to it, they’d already made such a strong impression that I love them regardless 😀 After all, as I mentioned, they got me through something very difficult.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
February 24, 2021 at 2:36 PM
I still have a soft spot for them and hope they’re enjoying their lives since it seems like they must work non-stop. Like you, their recent music hasn’t been to my taste except for a few songs. The performances of ON have amazed me and I’ve listened to their Tiny Desk concert on repeat.
greenfields
February 24, 2021 at 8:03 PM
<3 <3 agreed!
drawde2000
February 25, 2021 at 4:33 AM
I go back to Tiny Desk performance at least once a month. It’s so good. So intimate, and raw to some extent. I hope Someday or One Day, I will get to see them perform in an intimate setting like that. Live.
I’m also helping their performance tobe the most viewed video in that channel. 🙂
greenfields
February 25, 2021 at 5:17 AM
Yes to watching them perform in an intimate setting like that one day! That’d be a dream come true.
thatstp
February 24, 2021 at 4:00 PM
I haven’t liked their music since the 3rd (I think) album. I like them more so than anything else now. I feel your pain.
greenfields
February 24, 2021 at 8:04 PM
yes! ahahaha, thanks thatstp!