Weekly Playlist 2023
The start of a brand new year and our team brings you a brand new playlist.
In the Kitchen with BTS
Jinny’s kitchen, Jungkook’s Weverse lives and the release of a second BTS recipe book led our team to revisit the cooking playlist created in 2021.
Do you have a song you like to play while cooking?
The Spotify playlist can be found by clicking HERE.
Outro: Tear - Michayla
Before I started using my air-fryer, the whole cooking process was more of an ordeal so I often had music on in the kitchen. One of the songs I always played was Outro:Tear but I do not need any excuse to play this song.
When I'm in the kitchen, I like to sing and lose myself in music. If I'm chopping vegetables I try not to put 'Mic Drop' or 'Permission To Dance' on because choreography and knives might not be a sensible mix.
'Tear' is a very special song for me. It conjures memories of live performances and the rap line appearing from beneath the stage. It elicits so many emotions and motivates me whatever it is I am doing. It also makes me melt internally when Hobi’s verse kicks in because his tone is enough to make me expire, let alone the mental imagery of that Dior outfit.
As we know, this song was written as the group were contemplating disbandment so the lyrics certainly hit hard. I think aside from the powerful music and the delivery of the verses by the rap-line, it is this knowledge that partly provides the motivation. This is a 'doing' song. A song to drive you forwards. It's great when out walking and just as good when you're trying to get a task completed.
'Goodbyes are, for me, a tear
Without even knowing, it blooms around my eyes
The words that I could not bring myself to say flow down
And lingering regret crawls over my face
To me, you were once my dear
But now you're merely a bitter beer
My heart that's stained with belated self-loathing
Becomes empty even with the passing breeze'
I love to sing the refrain loudly and any other parts I can manage. It’s a challenge not to sing with conviction:
‘(Oh) You're my tear, you're my you're my tear
(Ae-yeah) You're my tear, you're my you're my tear
(Ae-yeah) You're my fear, you're my you're my fear
(Ae-yeah) What more can I say? You're my…’
I just need to remember not to bounce around if I’m using a sharp knife to chop food… safety first… but if ‘Tear’ is playing, I will be relentless with the food preparation!
Fire - Cheryl
This week we are exploring a cooking playlist following the recipes that have been shared recently. As is the influence of BTS, we ourselves have been exploring some Ramen noodles with fried egg, and Mochi.
I chose to write about Fire as this song resonates with me and was one of the first BTS songs I listened to.
Personally, I love the rebellious vibe of the video. Boys being a bit scary - setting fire to a person, signs, cars, bikes and even playing with fire. I believe there is a gang theme to the beginning of the video where BTS are behind a chain-link fence and others are looking in on them. Although by others that would appear to be us as there is only one person standing watching them and then Suga jumps over the fence and shakes his hand. The person then catches fire when Suga presses play on his personal stereo.
The theme of rebelliousness continues with them playing music loudly and playing video games - again with things being blown up. Maybe rebellious is the wrong word - maybe it’s just boys being boys - but I think it is the attitude that is being portrayed that gives the video its rebellious feel. I think I enjoy this song because it is everything I am not, which is even portrayed with my cooking. I follow recipes and methods to the point and hardly ever deviate.
I think the choreography of this song just screams “FUN”; the flirty looks they give to the camera, the slow motion moves, the pumping and kind of robotic finger pointing and bouncing around with each other. Even the ironing of Jin is funny. When I am baking with my family it always ends in messing about, flour flying around the kitchen and fighting over eating the cooking mixture.
Continuing with the rebellious vibes of the song, the lyrics contain references to being drunk and swearing in the street and setting things on Fire - BTS being naughty!
My favourite lyrics are
It's ok to just live because we're still young
Who do you think you are to say otherwise
Stop comparing, I'm only human
(So what~)
I wish I had these thoughts when I was younger and could enjoy their carefree vibes.
Could You Turn Off Your Cellphone? - Charlie
When I’m cooking, I of course play BTS tracks as funky background music. But to stop myself from crying as I cook, I can’t just put their often emotionally intensive discography on shuffle; I have to carefully select fun songs like Could You Turn Off Your Cell Phone?. This groovy track has a vibe that is quite unique compared to other BTS songs, and showcases BTS’s versatility between genres.
This track, which I’ll now shorten to CYTOYCP, is from BTS’s first studio album, Dark & Wild. This is a popular album for how distinct BTS’s style is, and CYTOYCP is no exception to the retro vibe of this album. Despite being released in 2014, it reminds me of songs my family would play in the 2000s, or 90s music. Jin’s voice especially fills me with some nostalgia in this song, so it’s nice to listen to in the house when doing familiar activities like cooking. Jin’s voice stands out to me in general on this album, which is impressive considering how early this was in his and BTS’s career.
“Could you turn off your cell phone?
Everyone says it's smart
But we're all getting dumber (Ooh)
Could you turn off your cell phone?
Look at my face and give me a mention
I don't need a Like (Oh, oh-oh)”
The song is quite straightforward; as its title suggests, it’s about asking people to look up from their phones once in a while to pay attention to the world and people around us. This is especially important when cooking - don’t stare at your phone and ignore your food when you’re cooking, or it may burn! It’s quite funny how this song came out in 2014 and yet its message is still relevant. Although, I feel like if BTS released a similar song today, it may also draw upon the reasons behind young people being on their phones so much, namely with the communities we find on our phones. I’d find it really interesting, especially as BTS rarely sing this song nowadays and it’s an old favourite of mine.
Groovy
Has a vibe that’s unique from other BTS songs
It’s All About Yoongi 2023
Agust D is back so of course our team has made D-Day the focus of this week’s blog and created a sweet SUGAry playlist for you to enjoy.
Find the Spotify playlist here: IT’S ALL ABOUT YOONGI 2023
Polar Night - Michayla
We picked random numbers before the tracklist for D-Day was released and I chose number 7 which turned out to be ‘Polar Night’. This was a great way of choosing songs because it causes me a lot of grief trying to decide what to write about most of the time.
I usually have a ‘Michayla way’ of doing things when it comes to a new album and the first thing I do is listen to the album in full through ear buds and I like it when a song grabs my attention enough to make me want to look at the title of it. Then I listen to the album again but take notice of each track and then I look at the lyrics.
I will say that when I first heard D-Day, I was driving to work and the track that actually snatched my attention was ‘Interlude: Dawn’... how powerful is that piece of music? 1m 45s and what an emotional journey!
No one can dispute that when Yoongi raps, there is always raw emotion there and it is palpable. One of the most emotional, strong performances by Yoongi has to be ‘First Love’ at Wings The Final but there are many examples of how amazing he is. I felt this rawness as soon as Polar Night started and then when I read the lyrics my first reaction was ‘wow!’.
‘Between so many truths and so many lies
Are we seeing this world right?’
It’s a question that many ask nowadays with so much information out there and with the world being so open thanks to the internet… how do we know what is true and what isn’t?
There is so much in this song. The lyrics are as powerful as the tone that delivers each line and the full impact comes from reading the translation yourself. This is Agust D speaking his truth and showing his condemnation for haters, antis and clout chasers and perhaps politics and the media, too. I feel such a sense of justice and release of pent up emotions when listening to this song and when I read the lyrics it all made sense.
Yoongi’s voice and emphasis on words really takes centre stage in ‘Polar Night’ with the music taking a back seat. The melody is there and I think it’s a guitar that I could hear mostly but it is the lyrics that punch home the emotions felt. While listening to ‘Polar Night’, I felt as if I was on a journey and being told a story in the only way that Yoongi can.
Haegeum - Cheryl
Haegeum is the title track from Agust D’s album D-Day released April 2023. Haegeum has two meanings. One meaning a stringed Korean instrument and the other meaning “allows or unlocks something that was previously forbidden”. According to an interview given by Suga, he mentioned the word coming to him whilst playing rhythm games, unlocking a forbidden song. Therefore, in simple terms the song Haegeum is about freeing or accepting what was once forbidden. Looking at the lyrics:
‘Interpretation is free for all
Out with the nonsense
Freedom of expression
Could be reason for somebody's death
Could you still consider that freedom?
If your convictions are reflected in your judgement and speculations
And you believe that your freedom is on the same level as others
Then don’t hesitate, just get on board
Liberation from all that's forbidden
For all those living in these unfortunate times
Who don't even understand their own tastes’
These lyrics sound quite uplifting and powerful, but then there is the deeper understanding that freedom of expression can actually sometimes lead to death, which although I know it happens, still shocks me to the core. I have difficulty accepting that some people cannot accept others for just how they are, or how they express themselves.
‘Endless influx of information prohibits freedom of imagination, and seeks conformity of thought
All these painful noises blind you, and
Now it even infringes on freedom of thought
All the controversy incessantly
Triggers confusion in judgement uh
Really, what is it exactly that’s been restricting us?
Maybe we do it to ourselves
Slaves to capitalism, slaves to money
Slaves to hatred and prejudice
Slaves to YouTube, slaves to flexin’
Selfishness and greed have gone off the rails
I close my eyes and it's easy, it’s all so obvious
Opinions clearly split depending on what's to gain
Everyone's been blinded by envy and jealousy
Without realizing that they're putting shackles on each other’
With these lyrics I agree with the thought that so much information readily at hand, limits imagination and creativity. The constant “noise” can cloud one's own judgement and that restrictions can be self-inflicted. Calling us slaves to money and capitalism etc and being shackled by envy and jealousy, I find this rather interesting, sometimes jealousy can be a positive emotion because it can cause healthy competition.
Listening to the song reminded me of Daechwita, the tempo and rhythm appear similar and I feel them to be fighting, marching songs. Haegeum is very catchy and strong from the very beginning and watching the video, where again Agust D is playing both characters, portraying the good and bad sides of himself and one person, shoots the other I find intriguing.
I can only imagine how wild it would be to watch these songs performed live, in concert – for those lucky enough to have tickets, enjoy and tell us all about it.
Huh?! (ft J-Hope) - Charlie
"HUH?!" became one of my favourites on the D-Day album pretty much immediately. Before the second half of the album reduced me to tears, songs like "HUH?!" in the first half instantly captured me with their punchiness.
I'd taken for granted what bops rap line songs are, and I forgot how much I loved hearing Yoongi and Hoseok's voices rapping together. As soon as Hoseok's voice came in, I was living.
‘Woo
What the shit, do you know about me? (About me, yeah, yeah)
What the shit, do you know about me? (About me, yeah, yeah)
What the shit, do you know about me? (About me, yeah, yeah)’
The chorus of the song had me hooked quite quickly. There's nothing quite like listening to the members swear angrily over and over again. And it's such an earworm.
The song is a classic, yet elevated, diss track against others who prayed for BTS's downfall and yet are now watching them succeed over and over again. I love that everytime BTS makes a track, there are new accolades to add to their name; this time, it's their visit to the White House.
‘It’s so tacky, you guys who only made music
I'm busy taking medicinе
The karma of success accumulated from Daegu
How lucky is success
Do fly to the White House, guys’
In Yoongi's Road to D-Day documentary, and in the album, there is a running theme about Yoongi's desire for people to no longer feel trapped by information overload. With information so easy to get hold of instantly, people are very quick to see others as a villain or bad person once they learn something about them that they don't personally like. This then leads them to attach these people online. Yoongi and Hoseok's frustration towards this trend comes to a head in this song.
‘Many articles and gossip, the villain in the information age
If reality is a gutter, get out of it
I pray that even you'll do well’
Vocal Line Lovin’
There wasn’t anything else to follow our Rap Line, than our amazing Vocal Line, so here it is. You will find a YouTube playlist below and below that, our team has each chosen an mv to highlight.
Let us know how much you love this blog. You can find us on twitter, facebook and Instagram by searching BTSRadioUK
YOU TUBE - VOCAL LINE LOVING PLAYLIST
Snow Flower (Taehyung ft Peakboy) - Michayla.
What a wonderful gift this song was on Christmas Day 2020. Taehyung teased us on Weverse prior to release with the date and time and I remember feeling so excited.
You can’t really call the video an MV because it is simply the song cover art but since it was only released on YouTube and Soundcloud, there’s no other option and I felt it was worthy of being highlighted. To be honest, I could stare at the artwork for ages which is precisely what I do while ‘watching’ the song. I even get to the stage where I’m convinced that the snow falls but we will keep that information just between us.
Snow Flower is Taehyung’s first collaboration with some outside of BTS and I think it’s super special that it was Peakboy. We know how amazing the Wooga Squad are and how very talented the group of friends are so it wasn’t a surprise that this song was great, given Peakboy’s involvement. I also loved Tae’s admission that he was a bit tipsy and with the group of friends when he decided to write it and it took about 3 hours… oh to be that talented when sober, let alone when under the influence.
Taehyung’s explanation of what inspired him to write the song, thinking about how flowers are crushed under a blanket of snow and therefore become snow flowers. At the time, the world was blanketed by the pandemic and many people struggled to find their way through so as always Tae’s vision was insightful. In the artwork we see the little purple flower being protected from the snow by the umbrella, prevented from being crushed.
The song itself has jazz vibes and even though as a whole genre, I am not really a fan of jazz, I very, very much love this song. It is so chilled and I can imagine Peakboy and Taehyung singing the lyrics as if having a conversation as friends.
‘Did you see the snow?
Like your eyes
Believe in Santa Claus?
I'll take away
A warm gift with you
Every time this season comes, like the tip of your nose, let's
Fall in love
I'm just feeling
Stay by my side
I'll match your footsteps
I'll sing this song
(You make me wanna be a better man)’
Whilst we still wait for Taehyung’s mixtape, we have gems like this to listen to and I just know that KTH1 will come at a time when it is right for him and for the world because I think the world needs to be ready.
Like Crazy (Jimin) - Cheryl.
This week it is the Vocal Line receiving our attention and I have chosen to write about Like Crazy by Jimin. This song appears to be about the inner turmoils of his mind, where he is getting caught in the fame “I’d rather be lost in the lights” but feeling like he is losing his identity and is wondering who he really is “Tell me, will I find myself again?”.
There is a lot of confusion expressed with the Outro lyrics:
‘This will break me
This is gonna break me (Break me)
No, don't you wake me (Wake me)
I wanna stay in this dream, don't save me
Don't you try to save me (Save me)
I need a way we (Way we)
I need a way we can dream on (On, on, on)’
It’s like he has an argument going on, where he doesn’t want to be woken or saved but at the same time he wants both to be woken and to be saved. This reminds me of times when my reluctant teenager refuses a hug, even though you know they really want or need one.
More confusion appears in the video, he is sitting alone in a room, dancing with a group of people having fun, then pushing past in the opposite direction to everyone else. Sitting on the floor of a public restroom is rather intriguing and a million miles away from how I would imagine him to be, then the floor begins to move and all the walls disappear. Perhaps this indicates that there are no boundaries, other than what we put in place ourselves?
There is a sense that nothing lasts forever and that he is searching for something, maybe a relationship, a girls voice is heard in the song asking him to trust her and that everything will be alright. This song has such a catchy vibe and Jimin’s vocals shine through. It is a perfect pop song and is there a hint of an 80s feel? My favourite part of the song is the chorus:
‘I'd rather be
Lost in the lights, lost in the lights
I'm outta my mind
Can you help me numb the pain?
Each night, you spin me up high
Emotions on ice
Let me have a taste’
I wonder about the mess in the video, coming over doors, on the floor of his apartment and then at the end of the video where one hand is messy, which he then smears on the camera - perhaps this is indicating that life can be messy (fame or relationships) and that Jimin wants to be involved in it all and isn’t afraid of the mess.
I have read (Rollingstone Magazine) that the song was inspired by a 2011 film of the same title. I now want to go and watch it.
Sweet Night (Taehyung) - Charlie.
Watching this music video gave me flashbacks to the bearable parts of 2020: Catching up with Itaewon Class when I heard Taehyung was going to have a song in its OST, and listening to his honey-like voice. If ever I had a desire to get married, I'd want to walk down the aisle to this song. Even though I don't even care for the couple in Itaewon Class, this song still manages to feel so perfectly romantic. It helps that Taehyung's voice seems to be the personification of old romance.
"How could I know
One day I'd wake up feeling more
But I had already reached the shore
Guess we were ships in the night
Night, night"
The song is about slowly realising you have romantic feelings for someone you are close to. Specifically, a friend who you worry about not reciprocating your feelings, as that could destroy the friendship. As the romance in Itaewon Class, as told in the snippets of moments in the music video, slowly develops over the course of the entire drama, the song depicts what it is like to realise one night that your feelings have been changing all along. The music video shows the little moments the leads share, where they see each other differently than they did before.
"I'm wondering
Are you my best friend
Feel's like a river's rushing through my mind
I wanna ask you
If this is all just in my head
My heart is pounding tonight"
I don't usually strongly feel the message of romantic songs, which can fall into the trap of becoming quite vapid or cliche. However, the lyrics, and Taehyung's heartfelt delivery, makes the song seem utterly believable. I can totally picture the sensitive soul that wants to say all these words to their crush, but is terrified to do so.
Rapline Lovin’
Our playlist team wanted to shower the rap line with love this week and celebrate how fantastic Namjoon, Yoongi and Hobi are.
You can find the YouTube playlist here: RAPLINE LOVIN’
Is there a song you would like us to highlight? Get in touch on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BTSRadioUK
Winter Flower - Younha ft RM - Michayla
In February 2020, just before the world was thrown into chaos, we were gifted this beautiful collaboration between Namjoon and Younha. I hadn’t heard of Younha at the time the song was released but I quickly found the album (Unstable Mindset) and the entire album worked its way onto many of my playlists.
The MV for Winter Flower is an animation and I absolutely love it! The animation is so simple, yet so very powerful. The MV shows a female character protecting a cherry blossom tree in the snow. The tree loses its flowers and the girl weathers the storm, holding onto the branches.
This line of the lyrics is especially poignant: “I will stay by your side, until you survive.”
As the MV continues and Namjoon comes into the song, we see the tree bloom and grow as winter passes. The song is about love, support and loyalty and finding comfort when you experience struggles. I personally can relate to this part of Namjoon’s rap:
‘Here, now, in this winter day
When I close my eyes, spring seems so far away
And there's only cold breaths here’
There are times in life when things are really tough and brighter days do seem so very far away. There are days when it’s difficult to see a way through the coldness and it’s all too consuming. Then we have the reminder that you aren’t alone because there are many people who have bad times. Life is a marathon and sometimes you have to play the long game because a quick fix isn’t the answer and some problems can’t be solved overnight.
‘They say life is full of paradox
All you gotta do is gettin' used to this marathon
"Do you think the world is harsh on you only?
Everyone has it hard"
This song is truly so comforting and Younha’s voice is breathtaking. I am used to Namjoon’s depth and tone of his voice and he raps with such conviction, as always but there is something very special about the two voices together. I have a favourite part of the song as it begins to reach its peak around 2m 43s onwards, it drops but you can feel it building. Younha hits a high note and sings ‘I will by your side’ and Namjoon comes in with one word, ‘stay’ and then the beat kicks back in and it blows me away every time.
I am shocked that the MV only has 24 million views as it really is beautiful and the song is one of my favourites. I will forever be grateful to Namjoon for introducing me to Younha.
EGO - jhope - Charlie
Ego is one of the most special rapline songs to me. As soon as I watched the comeback trailer I adored how fun it was and how it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. And soon after it was released, lockdown started and the Ego comeback trailer became a source of support.
"Now I don't care, it's all
Choices by my fate, so we're here
Look ahead, the way is shinin'
Keep goin' now
(Ready, set, and begin)"
The message of trusting oneself and just going forward is why the song is so important to me. Whenever I worry about life not going the way I want, I remember times when I have thought life wasn't going great and it turned out not so bad, so I remember to trust that I know what I'm doing to make myself happy.
So I keep going. And that's what the Ego comeback trailer is about. Hoseok walks through green screen streets, and even when he trips he's resuscitated in a hospital scene and he keeps going through various scenes. The video just goes and goes, never stopping, with montages of Hoseok as he grows up into the J-hope he is today - until we see the skyline up high and hear the joyful bridge of the song. The fast-paced manner of the video reminds me of the act of overthinking, of your head going round in circles over analysing everything, until you realise that you're worrying over nothing and need to just stop.
"My dancing was chasing ghosts
Blaming my dream, asking why I live and breathe
Oh my God (God, God, God)
Uh time goes by
Seven years of anguish come out finally
Oppressions all resolved
Into my heart come answers from my most trusted
Only one hope, only one soul"
The video is bursting with bold colours and lettering, and it's such a J-hope video. For an album that seems dark to me, with solemn songs like Black Swan and Louder Than Bombs, Ego brings a degree of positivity that I look to BTS for whenever I feel like I'm not "living life right".
Do You - RM - Cheryl
This week we are looking at Rapline videos, so I chose RM’s Do you. Firstly, I have to say I cannot believe it was 7 years ago that this was released, back in March 2017. RM looks stunning with his hair like this by the way. I decided to treat myself to the video before exploring the lyrics as it’s been such a long time and I absolutely love the black and white vibe and the beginning with the metronomes and spray cans. The metronomes are not in sync and the spray cans just add a bit of something. Are there George Michael undertones with the song, what do you think?
Reading the lyrics the song is about not conforming, but doing what feels right to you – just “Do You”. My favourite part of the song is the first verse;
I hate self-help books more than anything in the world
Bullshit telling us to do this or that
They have no backbone and believe other’s words
So that bullshit is a best seller
What do those guys know about you
Your dreams, your hobbies, can they understand?
If you look less at wits, there are a lot of things that change
You were born as a hero, why are you trying to become a slave?
“Because it hurts, it’s youth”
That kind of definition is the biggest problem
In life a genre is a trap, just like music
Because you become an idiot as soon as you’re tied down there
Fuck that. you the only one ever
Even if you’re not perfect you’re limited edition, leggo
Anyway someone wants you
So just do you’
Just reading these lyrics it hits very strongly and it is hard to believe it was written seven years ago, there is a real mature undertone. The fact that being young is supposed to hurt, it’s all about learning, falling down and picking yourself back up again. Then the realisation that you are an individual so how can books written to assist everyone, can help everyone – we are all different and have different life experiences.
The song explores more about just being you, if you like to follow trends that’s good and if you like to be different that is good too. It feels about acceptance, accepting that you are fine as you are. Others should not judge anyone for being different, I feel is implied in the lyrics. It is also mentioned that younger people do not know what they want to be yet. I find this interesting. It's almost as you get older you forget that younger people are more fluid in their thoughts and actions. I am sure there are older people still this way too.
In the third verse RM explores the judgement he received as a rapper, the competition and the comparisons, but he is just doing his own thing and is telling others to just do theirs.
‘I’m doin' me, just doin' me
Who were you so far
That’s right, we were friends
Nothin’s everything, everything’s nothin – on repeat’
The video highlights just “Do You” by showing a girl lifting up her top slightly on repeat, pill taking, and injections pointing at a girl’s face, symbolising plastic surgery, perhaps. I found the imagery a little unsettling if I’m honest, but as the song is empowering youth to not be reliant on others' opinions, whether that is peers, or elders. It all made more sense to me – so please take heed and listen to RM’s lyrics. You are unique and beautiful just the way you are!
MV’s With Memories
Our playlist team wanted to focus on the memories associated with MV’s this week. Many of us remember the first MV we saw and for some, that was their introduction to BTS.
Is there an MV that holds a special memory for you? Let us know. You can find us on all social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Weverse by searching BTSRadioUK.
You can find our YouTube playlist here: YOUTUBE MINI PLAYLIST
ON (Kinetic manifesto) & Lights - Michayla.
I say this a lot but this week was tough! I have so many amazing memories linked to MV’s and MV’s that are special to me but I erred on the side of predictability and went with ‘ON’ and ‘Lights’. I was tempted by ‘Dope’ and ‘Winter Bear’ but predictability won.
The whole MOTS: 7 comeback on 21st February 2020 will forever hold a special place in my heart. That is undoubtedly one of my ultimate albums and awaiting the release of ‘ON’ was so exciting. The build-up to the comeback was so great! The buzz was amazing as we got the concept photos and we all tried to work out the theories around Ego, Shadow etc. It was a very special time, especially with the hope of a tour!
The night before the release, I had my nieces staying over so we could stay up all night and enjoy it. We all planned for no sleep which was all part of the territory and playing BTS UNO at 2am was a lot of fun! Along with my daughter, the four of us watched MV’s concerts and played UNo until the press conference and laughed a lot at how Taehyung gave away a hint on the choreo (which we didn’t know was choreo at the time but it was obvious he’d given something away). The anticipation built and we sat awaiting the release of ‘ON’ Kinetic manifesto film (None of us knew what that meant). We were ready… and so not ready once it started!
There was silence in my lounge for the first time that night as we watched the MV and at the point where Jimin points to the sky and the camera follows, we thought that was it and then it continued and we didn’t know what was happening anymore. There were lots of ‘woah’ moments and I was hooked, completely addicted. From the outfits to the choreo to Jungkook’s solo part to Hobi’s Michael Jackson dance move… the whole thing blew me away and now, 3 years on, I am still addicted. This MV is a masterpiece and sadly I feel that the MOTS: 7 comeback was hampered by the pandemic but I am a MOTS: 7 enthusiast and it will always be special. My MOTS: ON:E dvd has pride of place on my shelf and I will forever have a glimmer of hope that I will get to see ON performed live one day.
For this piece, I could have included ‘IDOL’ because that’s another MV where my nieces stayed over but I went for ‘Lights’ because it is my favourite of the Japanese songs that has an MV. I love ‘Airplane pt 2’ and ‘Danger’ but I felt so drawn to ‘Lights’ that I went with that.
On 2nd July 2019, I was still in the throes of the Speak Yourself tour and then this MV was dropped and it added to the excitement but also provided a sense of calm. There was such a buzz being ARMY at that time! The song is beautiful and rooted itself as my second favourite Japanese song (because Crystal Snow is everything!). The MV is quite emotional, set in a cinema with a few slow-mo moments throughout. One of my weaknesses is blue haired Taehyung so I am very much biased here. The part where Taehyung and Jungkook are outside is like a scene from a drama as Jungkook stares into space, it’s just stunning and don’t get me started on Hobi’s scene! Hobi’s voice always transports me to a peaceful place and his outfit is lush!
I could write an essay on these MV’s because I truly love them both so much, with the line ‘can’t hold me down cuz you know I’m a fighter’ forever inked on my arm. I will forever be grateful that I was ARMY during this time and I feel so lucky to have such great memories attached to so many MV’s.
War of Hormone & Blood, Sweat & Tears - Charlie.
I chose these 2 music videos as those which have special memories attached, as they both mark significant moments in my journey as an ARMY.
Firstly, War of Hormone was the video that made Taehyung my bias. I remember in September at the start of one school year, I downloaded a few kpop music videos to watch at school, War of Hormone being one of them. As it's a dance/performance-based music video, I loved rewatching it to focus on a different member each time. And when I watched it on YouTube, I kept scrolling up and down between the comments saying which member was which, and the video itself.
And the moment I picked Taehyung as my bias was one I always remember: I kept seeing comments asking for the name of "the boy with the lollipop and leather jacket" and I found myself also wanting to know.
"Hello hello, hello hello
Tell me what you want right now
Hello hello, hello hello
Imma give it to you girl right now"
Fast-forward to a year after I found that video, the Blood Sweat and Tears music video dropped. It was technically my second comeback, but it takes me ages to fully commit to a fandom so this was the first comeback where I watched all the content before it, and listened to the album start to finish on the very day it dropped.
And this music video blew me away, and solidified my love for BTS. It felt so fresh and mature and different from anything I had seen from there before. It was also the first music video I made a conscious effort to stream as I could see the records they were starting to break - not that it was even an effort to stream, as it was such a beautiful video to watch, and a gorgeous song.
"My blood, sweat and tears
My last dance
Take it all"
Just One Day & Black Swan - Cheryl.
This week we are looking at BTS videos and choosing just two that have a special meaning for us. So, therein lies a conundrum, how to choose just two, when they all have so much to offer in way of a connection to Army the collective and us as individuals. After a long and painful deliberation I chose; Just One Day and Black Swan – those that have followed me, will know it would be rude not to choose the latter one.
Just One Day - When I first got into BTS this was one of the first songs that I fell head over heels for. Such a sweet song about the dream of spending just one day and one night with that special someone. The lyrics are very seductive; wanting to fall asleep intoxicated by your sweet scent, want to put my body in your warm deep eyes, breath-taking neck etc. Every time I hear it I smile and my heart swells.
The video is so simple, now when I say simple, I mean no disrespect – it’s just there is nothing to detract from BTS and their tenderness, the lingering glances into the lens and our souls and their mainly seated dance. Although for good measure there is a dramatic spin and jump added just, well why on earth not!
The special meaning this song has for me, is due to the fact that about a year prior to my daughter getting me introduced to the BTS rabbit hole, both my parents died and obviously, this was a very sad time. I actually felt like a jigsaw puzzle with just too many pieces missing. Also, the lyrics of wanting to spend just one day with my parents, I am sure many can relate to this. Anyway, BTS have certainly helped me complete the puzzle, it may have a different image now, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Black Swan - My second video is Black Swan, for me this is just a powerfully seductive song with deep heartfelt lyrics about fear, loss and despair. This song is the opposite of Just One Day, in so much as BTS are more mature and there is an aggressive undertone to the video. Perhaps it’s the dark theatre setting, the black outfits and then there are Jimin’s wings, which seem to have a bit of a sinister feel about them. Or could it be that the dance moves are all on point, which makes the video less soft and a contrast to my first choice – perhaps it’s all of it.
Also, I am intrigued with the fact that the Theatre is empty, is it depicting the end of something, which ties in with the lyrics about despair and loss. Even the way Jungkook looks back at the empty stage and walks away. Is this them looking back at their careers? There is a definite sadness around this video, but somehow the wardrobe makes us focus less on this and more on what BTS are doing. Jimin has blue hair, they start off wearing white and then it’s all black, including leather corsets, their bare feet just completes the video.
The special memory this song holds for me; I was fortunate enough to obtain tickets to see BTS in Las Vegas almost a year ago. We went for my daughter’s 19th birthday and they performed this song. So, I am thrilled I have seen and heard it live in person, hopefully not for the last time.
Bangtan Soundcloud
Our playlist team wanted to highlight the BTS Soundcloud account in this edition of the blog because it contains gems that some ARMYs may not know about.
Find the link to the official account here: BANGTAN SOUNDCLOUD
Promise - Charlie.
'Promise' was the song that Jimin gifted to us on December 30th, 2018. I remember being stunned when I heard it, as Jimin's voice had a quality to it that I hadn't heard before. I was also super grateful for this early New Year's Eve gift.
"You're hurting me too cause you're mine
I just want to blow your mind
We're drifting apart again
"I don't even feel it" That's what I say
But to be honest that's not it"
The song is the epitome of a soft and gentle touch. I would say it feels like a warm hug, but it doesn't even feel as overpowering as that, more a pat on the head or a kiss on the hand. It's a very Jimin-like song, in that it feels like a friend comforting you when you're exhausted and at your limit. It reminds me of a lullaby, or another song to calm someone down.
"I want you to be your light, baby
You should be your light
So that you won't be in pain
So you can smile"
The song is a message telling the listener to hold on and not give up, no matter what life throws at you. It seems to be about a friend who has closed off and started to lash out because they're sad, and Jimin is pleading with them not to.
BTS's SoundCloud songs always feel so personal, because they're passion projects on this free platform and because they're so much more spontaneous than a comeback. It's an extra layer, even when their official tracks are also very honest.
"Now promise me, oh, oh
Several times a day, oh, oh
Though you feel alone, oh, oh
Don't throw yourself away, oh, oh"
While I adore these SoundCloud releases, we do know that Jimin's working on his solo album, and I also await that eagerly!
Scenery - Michayla.
This was probably the most difficult decision I’ve faced when choosing which song to write about because I have several Soundcloud playlists for different moods and there are some of my favourite tracks there. I could wax lyrical all day about Jungkook’s covers in particular and Tae’s cover of ‘Someone Like You’ which is my favourite version. The one bonus was that I no longer have to complain that ‘Born Singer’ is only available on Soundcloud, thanks to Proof.
I have been on a trip down memory lane over the last 6 months in particular, watching my BTS dvds and looking back at the albums on my phone with photos and videos collected in the years that I’ve been ARMY. I wanted to choose something that was special so I went with ‘Scenery’ because it was Taehyung’s first completely solo release and I remember the excitement the day it was dropped.
It was during the Asian leg of the Love Yourself tour on 30th January 2019 that Taehyung dropped Scenery and from the second it started, I loved it. There was a teaser on Twitter before the song was released and there was so much excitement.
‘Scenery’ is a song about memories, missed opportunities, an element of regret and capturing the moment. The piano is beautiful and the use of camera shutter sounds makes this a ‘Taehyung’ song with it’s gentle ‘old song’ feel.
I love the play on words in the only English part of this song, playing with ‘wonder’ and ‘wander’:
‘I still wonder wonder beautiful story,
still wonder wonder best part,
I still wander wander next story,
I want to make you mine.’
I really feel that this song showcases Tae’s vocal ability, with the molten chocolate tone and breathy sounds. I could listen to Tae all day, he could sing the alphabet and I’d buy it. Tae was gifted with a beautiful voice and a beautiful soul and we were gifted with Taehyung.
The last chorus is something I have tried to do and try to do all the time:
‘If you leave,
leaving your footprints behind,
I will keep their warmth,
I will keep them in black and white.’
Capturing the moment, the moment that becomes a memory. I’m lucky, my memories of BTS are amazing and precious and I hope for many more in the future.
Still With You - Cheryl.
Still With You was the first official solo release for Jungkook and it was released back in 2020 during Festa and was written with Army in mind. I found it sounded rather lonely and sad and reading the lyrics there is definitely a feeling of loneliness and missing someone. Apparently Jungkook was alone in a dark room when the lyrics came to him and he wrote it. He wanted it to be a sincere song for Army that conveyed how he felt.
Personally I found the song rather haunting. Maybe that was due to the thoughtful lyrics, against a rather jazzy background instrumental. Also the opening and closing verses sound like Jungkook is in another room, or behind glass – there is a definite difference in vocals to the remaining portions of the song and this makes me wonder why; as generally BTS never do something without a thorough plan. My favourite lyrics are:
‘Behind the faint smile that looked at me
I will draw a beautiful purple shade
Though our footsteps may be out of step
I want to walk this path with you
Still with you’
These lyrics bring Jungkook and Army together, with the colour purple and the mentioning of steps being out of step. It’s also comforting to know that he wants to walk this path with us. The pre-chorus is also rather evocative:
‘Every day, every moment
If I knew this was gonna happen
I would have remembered more of them
When will it be?
If I see you again
I will look into your eyes
And say, "I missed you"
How many times in our own lives, have we thought if I knew that was going to happen I would have made more memories. I know I am feeling that now, with the break that BTS are undertaking. Although obviously I am hopeful that with Suga doing a solo tour, others will follow. The thought of attending a solo concert fills me with so much anticipation and excitement and I feel these emotions reading these lyrics too.
Chorus
In a rapturous memory
The rain pours even when I dance alone
By the time this mist clears
I'll run with my feet wet
So hug me then
Running with wet feet for a hug just gives such adorable imagery. The mention of rain still pouring whilst he dances alone though, this sounds very depressing, lonely and just sad. Who wouldn’t be there to scoop up Jungkook and give him a hug to make him feel better?
New Year with BTS 2023
Welcome to 2023 and the first blog entry of the year. It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t start off with a playlist perfect for the new year so here it is:
2023 NEW YEAR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Our playlist team has chosen a personal approach to start the year by writing about songs that are important to them.
Is there a particular song you would like to see featured here? DM us on social media. You can find @BTSRadioUK on facebook, twitter and Instagram. We also have our own website.
Michayla
I thought that this would be a great idea to write about songs that mean something to me but when I thought about the number of songs that were important to me personally and how many reasons there were for those, I realised how tough it was!
Anyone that has crossed paths with me is likely to know that since February 2020 I have had a well known addiction to ON. I stayed up all night, played BTS UNO at 2am and waited with my daughter and nieces for the MOTS 7 comeback. The Kinetic manifesto version was released and ON catapulted its way into my heart and has had me in a vice-like grip ever since. The lyrics are so important to me that I have them tattooed on my arm and I drive my BTSRadioUK family crazy because I could make ON fit every theme and situation thrown my way! I still live in hope that one day I will experience it live but until that day comes, my MOTS ON:E dvd will be replayed constantly.
When I was in turmoil over which songs to write about, I realised that many of the songs were connected by live performances and memories attached to the concerts. I was already attached to Euphoria but hearing Jungkook sing it at the O2, with emotions at their peak, made it even more special. That was elevated further when I sang along at Wembley and the Stade De France as our maknae flew over our heads. Songs like Tear, Epiphany, Idol, Wings, Mic Drop, Not Today and The Truth Untold will always be special and they have amazing memories that flood my mind when I hear them.
There are also the songs that I adore for different reasons and I listen to them all the time. ‘Heartbeat’ because I played BTS World every single day from the day of release and felt part of that world. Crystal Snow because I was hit hard by the vocals and arrangement and I’m a big fan of the Japanese songs. This song has remained supreme of the Japanese songs and it’s on all of my playlists. ‘Lights’ because it’s my second favourite and the MV makes me smile, always. ‘We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal’ because I sobbed along with other Armys when it was released and Jimin’s line and pitch towards the end of the song still hits hard!
At this point, it dawned on me that I could write a novel about this so I should stop here. I couldn’t end this without mentioning ‘Dope’ because that is the song that made me ARMY and I think that will always be ‘my song’ for that reason. There are so many more that I could mention but will have to stop. The feelings of guilt at those I’ve missed out is real but it’s quite amazing at the impact so many songs have had on my life.
Charlie
As soon as I found out we had to write about any songs that we love for our first blog post of 2023, I knew exactly which songs to write about. Two songs which unfailingly give me hope, which is what I look to BTS for.
“I believe in myself
My back hurting is for my wings to come out
I believe in you, even if things are bleak right now
The end will be great”
Firstly, Outro: Wings. I picked this song a few hours after getting my new tattoo, while looking at my previous tattoo: The Wings: You Never Walk Alone logo. Outro: Wings may be my favourite track on this very special album to me, partly because it allows me to cheat and not have to choose between the Wings solos, as the full outro version of Wings is unique to the YNWA repackage.
I remember listening to the Interlude and Outro versions of Wings back in school and just feeling so joyful at this fun, upbeat, wonderful track. I remember screaming when the boys performed it at Wembley. I remember commenting on Jungkook’s Vlive in 2021 asking him to sing Wings, which he did - and letting myself believe that he read my comment (Who knows?). I remember listening to Outro: Wings on Radio Bangtan on my bus journey home after getting my YNWA tattoo. This song is precious to me in a way that I find it difficult to succinctly explain, and I like to think that it’s precious to BTS too, with how they harken back to it.
And now for Paradise: one of the BTS songs that brings me back down to Earth. In 2022, I quit a job that was making me sad, and I was unemployed for a little while - causing me anxiety that I “wasn’t living life correctly” by travelling around for a bit and just existing instead of instantly having another job lined up. Therefore, the lyric, “Stop running for nothing my friend” calmed me down. Everything was going to fall into place last year, and I just needed to let myself believe it and not constantly be worrying or looking for problems. If there’s one thing BTS - and in particular, Seokjin - teach me, it’s to live in the moment and not think too far ahead like “If I do this it might go wrong, or if I don’t overwork myself I’m wasting time”.
Cheryl
This week we have been requested to look at a song which has got us through 2022 and to talk about what it means to us. With this in mind, I have chosen “Best of Me” because since the talk of the enlistment of BTS members and Jin’s actual enlistment, this song has been at the forefront of my mind.
Obviously, I love the upbeat melody of this song, but also the lyrics, because just listening to this song improves my mood and lifts my spirits. Then there are the live performances which again make me smile and reminisce of seeing BTS live.
The lyrics are about BTS giving us their best – whether that be performance, lyrics, perhaps even the best parts of their personalities, I feel the lyrics still resonate with me and how I want to be as a person, whether as a mother, at work or with my family – I always try to give the best of me too.
Best of Me is from the Album Love Yourself: Her and reading the lyrics this song is about how the feelings of those around them make them feel confident, loved and that they can walk above the clouds (similar to their saying that Army gives them wings to fly).
‘My favourite verse is:
I used to rain
I used to snow
I stop all the misfortune
And I bring the heavens’
I feel that with these lyrics they are expressing how they used to feel – perhaps rain and snow is feeling sad or blue and then something changed from within, perhaps they have learned to accept themselves and have stopped these sad or blue feelings and can now bring happiness with the heavens. Some more lyrics are:
‘I don’t believe that I’m like this
The words I’ve said to myself a million times’
When researching the lyrics for Best of Me, one theory I came across about the words Suga has said to himself a million times, is that to love himself and with these lines, he cannot believe he is actually saying them to someone else – it is common knowledge that in order to truly love someone else, we must learn to love ourselves first. John Lennon expanded upon this by saying “We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others” and I believe this is the message that BTS are incorporating into their Love Yourself albums and songs.
I also feel that with the Best of Me lyrics, there is a reflection of how they feel about themselves and this is mirrored in how they see and feel those around them. With these lyrics:
‘There's no me without you
You’re the best of me
The best of me
and
No one knows but I know me
You are my best master’
I believe they are referencing different parts of themselves as well as Army. They are saying they are their own masters and there are many sides to their personalities and that they know how to look after themselves. Perhaps by acknowledging the not so pleasant parts of ourselves, we too can learn to love ourselves more and accept our own flaws.
This song has also been on my gym playlist and I have to say it is one of my favourite songs to cross train to. The tempo of the song matches mine perfectly and I love the chorus and just lose myself in the moment, being transformed out of the gym and to seeing them performing this song live and thoroughly enjoying themselves and having fun. Perhaps I need this more, like many Armys’ as although we are receiving a lot of content from BTS we all know it will be a while until all 7 will be reunited once more.
With the release of Indigo, our team was powerless to prevent a Namjoon exclusive playlist from happening so here it is:
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