Behind The Songs - Wake Up

Image Source: LOVE YOUR SELF 轉 Tear

Whenever BTS win an award or achievement, the 1^st words generally out of their mouths is for their fandom, 'ARMY'. Unlike what the western media would have you believe, their fandom is not limited to just young teenage girls, but covers a wide demographic of men, women, and children; from all backgrounds and ages.

And don’t be fooled into thinking that the only thing going for them is good dancing and pretty faces. A question that comes up time and again is “how can you like something if you don’t even understand what they’re saying?” In an age where translations are available at the touch of a button on your computer or smartphone this isn't even a serious question.

We will aim to answer that question, because BTS deserves worldwide recognition for what they produce. Ever respectful, and always humble, these 7 South Korean young men put their souls on display for the world to see with their music & lyrics. Lyrics that can fire up the blood and get you dancing, but also those that speak of heartache, of yearning, which you may not understand through a first listen, but do understand inside because you feel it through their melodies and the emotion behind their voices. Not content with singing of love and romance, BTS don’t shy away from tackling more socially conscious issues and struggles that affect people globally regardless of linguistic barriers.

We will look through their discography from debut to the present, covering all of their albums and EP’s both Korean and Japanese; and analyse the lyrics of one song chosen with the help of ARMY's on Twitter and Facebook, from each album; to delve behind the songs at the lyrics that inspire so many people. - Shinara Hussain

1st Japanese Album (2nd studio album)

Wake Up

With Wake Up, released on 24th December 2014, BTS made their 1st Japanese album debut. The album features two original Japanese tracks, The Stars and Wake up; the rest of the track list is made up of Japanese versions of their previous tracks, three of these No More Dream, Boy in Luv, and Danger were released and promoted as singles.

Source: Weibo

The album features 13 tracks:

Source: YouTube

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	Intro	Shingo Suzuki	Shingo Suzuki	1:15
2.	The Stars	·         Pdogg ·         RM ·         Suga ·         J-Hope ·         KM-Markit	KM-Markit	4:16
3.	Jump	Pdogg Supreme Boi RM Suga J-Hope	Pdogg Supreme Boi Suga	3:56
4.	Danger	Pdogg RM Suga J-Hope Thanh Bui KM-Markit	Pdogg	4:05
5.	Boy In Luv	Pdogg Hitman Bang RM Suga Supreme Boi KM-Markit	Pdogg	3:50
6.	Just One Day	·         Pdogg ·         RM ·         Suga ·         J-Hope ·         Yasu2000	Pdogg	5:34
7.	いいね! (Ī ne! / I Like It!)	Slow Rabbit RM Suga J-Hope	Slow Rabbit	3:51
8.	いいね！Pt.2 - あの場所で  (Ī ne! Pt. 2 - Ano basho de / I Like It Pt.2  -In That Place)	Slow Rabbit RM Suga J-Hope	Slow Rabbit Pdogg	3:55
9.	No More Dream	Pdogg Hitman Bang RM Suga J-Hope Supreme Boi Jungkook	Pdogg	3:42
10.	進撃の防弾  (Shingeki no bōdan / Attack on Bangtan)	Pdogg RM Suga J-Hope	·         Pdogg ·	4:07
11.	N.O	Pdogg Hitman Bang RM Suga J-Hope Supreme Boi	Pdogg	3:30
12.	Wake Up	Swing-O RM Suga J-Hope KM-Markit	·         Swing-O ·	5:52
13.	Outro	Shingo Suzuki RM	Shingo Suzuki	1:36

Source: BTS Wiki

There were three versions of the albums available to buy. The normal version,the version shown above, featuring just the tracks, and two limited editions. 

Limited edition A has an additional DVD of their Official Fan Meeting Vol.1 at Tokyo Dome City Hall

Image Source: BTS Japan Official Fanclub

Limited edition B has an additional DVD of the music videos for No More Dream, Boy in Luv, Danger, and a bonus video of Danger (dance edit)

Image Source: BTS Japan Official Fanclub

The album debuted at no.2 on Japan's Oricon Daily Album Charts, and peaked at no.3 on the Oricon Weekly charts.

(Source: Oricon News)

Spending a total of 13 weeks the album sold an estimated 28,000 copies.

(Source: Oricon News)

No More Dream, the 1st single from Wake Up, peaked at no.8, staying in the Oricon weekly charts for 6 weeks.

(Source: Oricon News)

Boy in Luv, the 2nd single released from the album, peaked at no.4, staying in the Oricon weekly charts for 5 weeks. 

(Source: Oricon News)

Danger, the 3rd and final single released from Wake Up, peaked at no.5 on the Oricon weekly charts.

(Source: Oricon News)

Army's voted for the lyric analysis for one of the original Japanese tracks off the Wake Up album - The Stars.

Hey ye-yeah (yeah) Thank you ladies and gentlemen It’s your man K to the M baby And I’d like to introduce my boys tonight You know how we do. We’re hitting big yo! (It’s real, let’s go!) No matter how much I run, like a running machine The scenery of this city won’t change No matter how serious I become, as I become serious The gear/cog wheel rewinds and rushes BUT, EVER NEVER GIVE UP the life is a big seesaw There are up and downs, even in the natural world your hands are going to be chained one day There is glory sometimes, but it also gets closed CAN YOU FEEL THIS LIFE? If so, don’t give up Let’s aim for the shining tomorrow for our dreams Even if there are times when you feel discouraged, it’s not meaningless Even if you’re in the last place now, if you have a dream you’re not So NEVER GIVE UP, don’t think too much about it Just by looking at it you won’t archive the big show With your heart, little by little, along with your dream, the upcoming future’s success Until that time don’t stop and LET IT GO again! No matter when, yes! No matter what happens If you look up UH, the shining stars SO, WE’LL BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT Just like that shining star Light up as if you’re going to disappear ALL NIGHT LONG The overlapping MOON LIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG The throbbing GOOD NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG) ALL NIGHT LONG The overlapping MOON LIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG The throbbing GOOD NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG) HOLD UP! The surges to give up That life is more valuable than you think Let’s start with small steps Even so, why is the thorny road wrong? HUH There are unpleasant things sometimes BUT if we’re together, it’s like a harmony surrounds us Our warm hands together, hugging our chest and hopes, all the way to our hearts Understanding each other THAT’S RIGHT We’ll change to a super positive MIND so don’t worry (NO WAIT) LIFE’S A GAME Time to enjoy (GO PLAY) WE RIDE (GO WAY) WE RIGHT (OKAY) Escaping my future (GO STRAIGHT) Now, the volition bullets that hit my heart are oriented to the world POWPOW！ LIKE A SHOT GUN！ No matter when, yes No matter what happens If you look up Uh, the shining stars SO, WE’LL BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT Just like that shining star Light up as if you’re going to disappear WE WANNA GET MONEY, WE WANNA GET THE FAME WE WANNA GET EVERYTHING, BUT WE STILL FEEL THE SAME Where is the happiness headed? It unexpectedly doesn’t go anywhere A day ends in your mind, inside the building That’s the only thing money can’t buy The dreams are free size, aim to the vast skies In your chest yes! The big milky way ON THE FLOW! No matter what, yes No matter what happens If you look up Uh, the shining stars SO, WE’LL BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT BE ALRIGHT Just like that shining star Light up as if you’re going to disappear ALL NIGHT LONG The overlapping MOON LIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG The throbbing GOOD NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG) ALL NIGHT LONG The overlapping MOON LIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG The throbbing GOOD NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT ALL NIGHT LONG)

This song aims to encourage people facing struggles, and could be interpreted as being aimed at idols in particular. (aminoapps.com) KM_MARKIT produced and wrote the lyrics for many of BTS’ Japanese songs - This is who “K to the M” refers to as he raps the intro to this song. (genius.com) Similarly to the lyrics of ‘Tomorrow’, BTS talks about feeling like no matter how hard they try, they’re still in the same place and their dreams aren’t coming true. (“I have a long way to go but why am I running in place?” (colorcodedlyrics.com) Plus, similarly to the “Ctrl C, Ctrl V” line in ‘Tomorrow’, life feels repetitive for them and they feel like nothing is changing in their lives and they aren’t achieving their dreams; they’re getting impatient. Life will inevitably have struggles, but there will also be good times, which is why they shouldn't give up. Hands being chained could refer to a situation where the speaker doesn’t know what to do, where to go, or maybe they are unable to do anything due to the chains. (aminoapps.com) As this source interprets the song as being about idols, it could refer to idols being constrained by their company, unable to do what they want, or not knowing if they are on the right path. The “glory” that “gets closed” could refer to a group that manages to release a hit song, but it’s a one-hit wonder and they drop down the charts after that (and potentially get dropped by their agency). Has happened to a lot of groups in Kpop, and applies to BTS’ early start as they came from a small company and had to work hard not to fall down the charts. (aminoapps.com) BTS tells their fans that as long as they feel emotions for their dreams, that’s a sign that they shouldn’t give up with them. Even if they have negative emotions, that isn’t a reason for them to stop dreaming, because at least they feel something. If someone hasn’t achieved their dream that doesn’t mean they’ve lost - because they have achieved something just by having a dream they can focus on. Thinking about your dreams and how sad you are about not achieving them won’t help you achieve them - you have to go out and work hard for them. “Let it go again” implies this is a dream they’re let go before, and they’re determined not to make that same mistake again. No matter what obstacles get in your way, you can always look up at your galaxy, as it will always be there, and believe in yourself. As usual, BTS comforts their fans that they will be alright together. “Light up as if you’re going to disappear” seems to mean to enjoy today as if it’s your last day, and take advantage of every opportunity. Taehyung repeats “all night long” many times throughout the song to emphasise that you should never stop working hard. BTS urges you to stop feeling as if you want to give up, describing these feelings as “surges” because people cannot help them sometimes. They insist that life is worth living, and even small steps towards your dreams are worth it even if you have doubts and feel that the “thorny road” i.e. struggles are “wrong”. BTS comes to the conclusion that the key to surviving in life and feeling like you can carry on is having friends to support and understand you. The use of “our” suggests that BTS will be that support for you. Life’s a game - you should enjoy it rather than feel worried about it. “Volition” means will - people have willingly hit BTS’s hearts (probably with hate or harsh words). However, now they’ve changed the bullets into inspiration i.e. songs and shared them with the world to connect with people, using words that came from their hearts. The shotgun imagery also fits their image of being Bulletproof Boy Scouts protecting the youth and connecting with them. (aminoapps.com) Suggests an image of BTS worrying that they’ll keep chasing after money and fame, and still not being satisfied when they get it, feeling like they’ll never feel happy. Similarly in ‘Magic Shop’, BTS tells you “I want to listen to your melody./The stars in your Milky Way.” - This is an earlier example of BTS telling you to listen to the galaxy inside of you and love yourself. (genius.com) Lyric credits: btsdiary.com Lyric : uta-net.com re-write : @ btsdiary Romanization : cherry@btsdiary English : Iraide@ bts-trans

Contribution by Charlie Murray

Overall the song is about someone feeling discouraged as they are finding it difficult to achieve their goals in life, and BTS tell them to not let obstacles get in the way. They promise to support them if they believe in themselves.

To promote their 1st Japanese studio album, BTS embarked on a six date concert tour in Japan covering the cities Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, called Wake Up: Open Your Eyes. The date sold out and movie theatres live broadcast the performances for fans who were unable to get tickets. 
(source: star.mk.co.kr)

Source: star.mk.co.kr

The Stars was not released as a single and therefore doesn't have any music video for it, however you can enjoy a live performance of the track here:

Source: YouTube

To hear the Wake Up album you can find it at the following Spotify link: BTS - Wake Up (Standard Edition)

With this I bring to a close this month's Behind the Songs feature on The Stars and Wake Up. You can view the MV's for the Japanese versions of the singles released from the album below. They are all available on YouTube via BTS Japan Official.

No More Dream:

Source: BTS Japan Official

Boy In Luv:

Source: BTS Japan Official

Danger:

Source: BTS Japan Official

I hope that you enjoyed this feature, comeback next time where we enter one of BTS' most iconic era's... The Most Beautiful Moment in Life part.1

If you missed the previous analysis' you can read about them at the following links: 

Behind the Songs - 2 Cool 4 Skool
Behind the Songs - O!RUL8,2?
Behind the Songs - Skool Luv Affair
Behind the Songs - Dark & Wild

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