WEEK 67 | I Wish I Could Stay With You.

Monday Muster
Written By Quince

April 21-27, 2025

Pause.

 

As BTS’ got a few years past their debut, members of the Rap Line (RM, SUGA, and j-hope) began writing more music for themselves, and they started releasing solo mixtapes. Fans loved them, and naturally, began wondering if the other four members, the Vocal Line, planned to do the same. Over the years, Jin, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook have all released solo singles or OSTs, but no mixtapes or albums. When ARMY would ask, some of them would say they were working on their mixtapes and they hoped they’d be out soon.

LAYO(V)ER Promotional Photo

Taehyung has said he’s always working on songs here and there, and he loves to share, but he’s also quick to scrap them and move on. There have been many times he’s gone LIVE or posted an Instagram story that contained a snippet of him singing something we’d never heard before. Sometimes he’d give us a name, other times it would remain a mystery. But inevitably they’d all disappear, never to be heard again.



BTS began their “Chapter 2” in mid 2022 with the release of j-hope’s first studio solo album, JACK IN THE BOX. Before he enlisted, Jin released “The Astronaut”. Shortly after that, we got RM’s first studio solo album, Indigo. One by one, the members began releasing their solo music. V knew his turn was coming. But late that year (unbeknownst to ARMY at the time) someone was doing their best to make sure that didn’t happen. A person (a former music producer) contacted other producers while impersonating both V and SUGA, in order to obtain information and unreleased music. More than ten unreleased tracks belonging to Taehyung were given to this person. Ten songs he’d been working on and/or considering.


The person who did this has been brought to justice and is now (as of 2025) serving time in prison for his crime. ARMY was happy to get this news, but we can’t help but think of what we might have missed out on. Were those leaked tracks meant for his upcoming album? We still don’t know. We might never know.


I don’t think “big picture” most of the time. I can and will, if needed, but in reality I usually live moment-to-moment. I’m very much a “That sounds like a problem for Tomorrow Me” kind of person by nature. And while this sometimes comes around to bite me in the ass, I often find that it helps me deal with the myriad of circumstances life has thrown my way. When I get knocked off my path in unexpected ways, rather than being stuck in a place of “But that didn’t go to plan!”, I roll with the punches, and find a new path.


So too, does Kim Taehyung. Perhaps this is part of how V ended up becoming my ult bias. I noticed his music first, and his love for jazz, but then it was his energy that drew me in. His “this will work out eventually the way it’s supposed to” attitude.



Taehyung could have taken the loss of his music as an excuse to postpone an album release until after his return from the military. But instead, he pivoted and found a new direction to go in. Instead of agonizing over writing more songs, he decided to thoroughly develop a concept for an album and select songs from other songwriters that fit the vibe he was going for. Something he could package and deliver like a gift, directly to ARMY.

Tannie & Tae

What was that vibe? Him. He wanted something that represented and expressed Kim Taehyung completely. And that’s how we got LAYO(V)ER. When asked about the reasoning behind the name, V said that the album is meant to be a stop-over between our starting point and our final destination. Just a moment in time when we can rest, reflect, and exist with our emotions. Which is how I think Taehyung wakes up and takes on every day. Rather than planning, I think he lives life layover to layover.


This moment in time—this LAYO(V)ER—is a look into a person’s emotions surrounding a complicated relationship. There is hope, pleading, despair, lovesickness, acceptance, etc. The album (really it’s an EP) isn’t long—only 17 minutes and 37 seconds—but it’s a complete journey. Taehyung considered the full spectrum of emotions one could go through during a stop-over in heartbreak, and delivered performances that would draw them out of us.


And, to top it all off, he made his dog the star of his solo debut. Yeontan’s image was all over the album’s packaging and it was released on September 8, 2023, the day after the pomeranian’s 6th birthday. 



I can’t think of anything else that could say “V” better, can you?

 
 
 
 

Skip to Content: Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five

 

DAY ONE:

 

“Rainy Days” Official M/V

As soon as the teasers for LAYO(V)ER released, ARMY saw what Taehyung meant when he said he thought of his album as a gift package he wanted to deliver to his fans. Aside from sporting Yeontan’s adorable face, the album also looks like a box that might arrive in the mail and land on your doorstep.



And, LAYO(V)ER also perfectly represents the essence of who Kim Taehyung is. The opening track, “Rainy Days” sets the tone immediately. V said he wanted the song to heighten emotions and moods by evoking nostalgia—as though we were listening to an old record.


The pre-release track dropped on August 11, and it also contains white noise alongside the instrumentation, including the sound of rain. As soon as you hear the opening notes and V’s husky vocals, you can easily imagine yourself curled up in a windowseat, a blanket around your shoulders, while watching a downpour soak the outside world.

LAYO(V)ER Promotional Photo

Remember how I used to make you laugh the most
I have no right to say this, but
Let me make up for all the time we lost
We can start again, open all the doors
Don't tell me it's over, we can start it over
You're my four-leaf clover
Yeah, I can feel your touch, I remember your kiss
Those hurtful words, and I miss you


V’s staccato delivery of the lyrics juxtaposed with the gentle melody lets us feel his frustration, even while we’re enveloped in comfort. We’ve joined him in the midst of heartbreak, and he invites us into this moment he’s existing in while processing his loneliness.

The music video was shot in Spain (as they all were), at a uniquely designed building in Madrid called Torres Blancas. The interior is meant to be Taehyung’s apartment, and it’s got a very muted and artsy 70’s vibe. It’s a sort of slice-of-life montage as we see him cooking meals, working, and making art. He’s followed around by Yeontan (a look-alike pomeranian named Rocky, as Tannie was not able to travel to Spain) who watches him with all of the empathy and curiosity a tiny dog can muster.

It’s the perfect way to begin our “layover” moment with V. “Rainy Days” evokes feelings we can all relate to. It’s sad and wistful, but sweet at the same time—a mood that V often embodies with ease.

 

"Rainy Days” Official M/V


 
 

“Rainy Days” Naver NPOP

 

V LAYOVER MV MAKING FILM

 

Fun Fact:

V on Kim Eana’s “Starry Night”.

In September of 2022, V was a special guest DJ on the radio show “Starry Night”, hosted by Kim Eana, a well-known songwriter in South Korea. V appeared as a guest DJ alongside his friend Park Hyo Shin, who is also a singer.

Many ARMY’s came and waited outside the glass walls of the studio to see V and cheer him on. He made sure to greet them all while inside and checked on them frequently to make sure they were comfortable while watching.


During the show he and Hyo Shin were charming and laughed a lot. V danced and told everyone to support j-hope when his feature on Crush’s song “Rush Hour” came on. At the end, the two friends posed for photos with ARMYs and Taehyung made sure everyone left the venue safely.

I had never seen this appearance before, and it’s totally worth checking out. Enjoy!

  1. BANGTAN BOMB: KIM EANA’S STARRY NIGHT SPECIAL HOST V (10:17)

  2. V'S FIRST TRY AT DJ / ON STARRY NIGHT BEHIND THE SCENE (7:55)

  3. V'S RADIO OPENING ON STARRY NIGHT | BEHIND THE SCENE (2:19)

  4. BTS V INTERACTION WITH ARMY | STARRY NIGHT RADIO SHOW (1:40)

  5. BTS V'S 2023 NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS | STARRY NIGHT (1:20)

 
 

DAY TWO:

 

“Blue” Official M/V

The next stop on our “layover” is “Blue”, and it starts rather abruptly—as though we walked in on the middle of a conversation already happening.

Opening lines like “On and on and on…” and “What if I showed you?” reinforce this feeling—that we’ve somehow entered a scene that’s repeating on a loop. This is another facet of heartbreak—those frustrating conversations we seem to have again and again.

The track pays homage to old school R&B but also leans heavily on a Blues influence. Hence its name, perhaps. When asked to describe the song though, V said that while it’s titled “Blue”, it actually sounds more achromatic, like various mild and subdued shades of gray.

The music video, in fact, is shot in black and white. It also begins just as abruptly as the song, with V in a car, in the middle of driving somewhere. We see him returning to the same location over and over again—an apartment he cannot get into, with no one answering his knock on the door. It loops repeatedly—with him driving there, up and down the stairs, knocking on the door, and looking for a key.

These days
Deep sigh of relief
It's sinking me too
Tell me everything
So, swing my way, baby
And let me close you
And feel the world move
Fly away, fly away

Eventually, the song and the video both seem to move on to a little bit of acceptance. The lyrics above give a sense of “Ok, what will be, will be.” In the video, V goes down the stairs one last time and ends up sitting quietly on a swing set nearby. In the background we can see a person step into frame and set something down. A small, dark blob starts moving toward Taehyung, and after a few moments we can see it’s a fluffy ball of fur running quickly on tiny legs. It’s Yeontan (or rather Rocky, the look-alike). It becomes quickly clear that this was why V was stuck in a loop—he was just trying to get his dog back.

Again, this “moment in time” is so relatable. Most of us have been through a break up that involved the negotiation of divvying up shared belongings, including pets. It can feel like doing the same thing over and over again… sort of like banging one’s head against a wall, right? Perhaps the lesson we can take from “Blue” is that sort mentality is futile. To truly get to where we need to be (and what we want) we have to sit in acceptance of our situation for awhile—we have to reflect.

 

“Blue” Naver NPOP

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: Have you ever felt stuck in a moment, living it over & over?

 
 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 

DAY THREE:

On August 10, 2023, V released “Love Me Again”, his first pre-release track for LAYO(V)ER. He said that he wanted it to be the first song ARMY heard from the album because he wanted us to listen to it “without a reason to”. In other words, he wanted it to be a surprise—in every way it possibly could be.

LAYO(V)ER Promotional Photo

It sounds dreamy, and has a very natural vibe. And, much like “Blue”, it feels like a conversation we’ve just walked in on. Maybe it’s a walk back in time, before the bargaining. It sounds like a moment of weakness—soft pleading.


Am I thе only one like this?
Are you okay if I'm with somеone else?
Let's take it way back, slowly
Make it feel better, yeah, make it forever
Don't say it's okay
Said I'm alright, said I'll be fine
I'm sorry, they're all lies
Please don't leave
Please don't go, so far away



The M/V was shot in a cave in Mallorca, Spain. It begins like an old karaoke video, with countdown numbers. Then we zoom in on Taehyung’s absurdly beautiful face, lit up by the lights reflected off the sequins he’s covered in. When the camera pulls out, we see the gray and brown rock formations surrounding him—looking dull in comparison. As he sings, he doesn’t make eye contact. Though he stands out because of how glamorous he looks next to the scenery, he feels unsure. The lyrics are him asking for another chance. The request is simple: “love me again”.


Every performance V gave of this song felt very intimate, as though we weren’t meant to see them, but we happened to stumble in. When he made an appearance on “K-Pop on Spotify” to promote LAYO(V)ER, he mentioned that he recorded the guide for “Love Me Again” at Jung Kook’s house, and that he had gotten advice from his fellow member on a better vocal direction. I often wonder if it was Jung Kook who advised him to sing it in that sort of secretive manner, to make it seem like an overheard conversation. When I look at his performance of “Hate You” a few months later from Golden, I think if he didn’t, then he took inspiration from his hyung. But I’m getting ahead of myself…


As we watch Taehyung sing slowly and hesitantly into his wired microphone, it’s hard to imagine that anyone wouldn’t give in to his pleas. He looks like gold and sounds like velvet. And to answer the question from the lyrics: no. No, Taehyung. I wouldn’t be okay if you were with someone else.

Would any of us be?

 

“Love Me Again” Official M/V

 
 

“Love Me Again” Band Session

 

“Love Me Again” MNET

 

WHAT IF YOUR FAVORITE CELEBRITY HUGS YOU SAYING THANK YOU? | DINGO STORY

 

Fun Fact

Did anyone have V filming commercials with Jackie Chan on their 2023 Bingo Card? Anyone…?


And yet, it happened. In 2023 Taehyung became a global brand ambassador for Siminvest, which is a stock and mutual funds platform that allows users to simulate investments in the stock market. With these simulations they can create a virtual portfolio and track the performance of their potential investments, using real-time market data. Yup… I had to look that up.

The ad campaign that followed the announcement of this partnership was nothing short of hilarious, brilliant, dangerous, and so very Kim Taehyung.

Grab your tennis racket and jump into the links we have below. Even if you have no interest in the stock market… it doesn’t matter, it’s V! And Jackie Chan! And if there’s one thing we know Taehyung will ALWAYS do… it’s commit to the bit.

  1. THE LONG-AWAITED TIME HAS FINALLY COME! | SIMINVEST (1:04)

  2. HELLO FROM BRAND AMBASSADOR V SIMINVEST | SIMINVEST (0:34)

  3. STARTING TODAY, SIMINVEST HAS A NEW BESTIE, YOU KNOW! | SIMINVEST (0:17)

  4. FEEL THE LIMITLESS EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS BY YOUR SIDE | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  5. WITH FRIENDS, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE! | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  6. BEST FRIENDS BEHIND THE SCENE PHOTOSHOOT | SIMINVEST (1:29)

  7. TENNIS SHOWDOWN | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  8. EVERYTHING YOU WANT IS POSSIBLE | SIMINVEST (1:01)

  9. WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU? | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  10. MY INVESTMENT, MY CHOICE (SIMPLE VERSION) | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  11. MY INVESTMENT, MY CHOICE (MASTERY VERSION) | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  12. MY INVESTMENT, MY CHOICE (INTELLIGENT VERSION) | SIMINVEST (0:16)

  13. MY INVESTMENT, MY CHOICE FULL VERSION | SIMINVEST (1:00)

  14. VIDEO BEHIND THE SCENE "MY INVESTMENT, MY CHOICE" | SIMINVEST (2:03)

  15. TAEHYUNG SIMINVEST | TWIXTOR CLIPS (1:32)

  16. SIMINVEST INTERVIEW WITH BRAND AMBASSADOR | SIMINVEST (8:02)

 

DAY FOUR:

 

“Slow Dancing” Official M/V

One of the most unique things I’ve noticed about V is that he is a singer who really appreciates music. That might sound like a bit of a no brainer—like, duh. But in today’s music industry, there are plenty of singers who just show up and lay down their vocal tracks without giving a second thought to the music that will be accompanying them. They leave it all up to the composers and producers.

But V is not like that at all. When he was learning how to play the saxophone in middle school, he was introduced to a lot of classical and jazz music. Over the years, as he got older, he’d randomly hear some of those old songs and think “I know this!” He developed not only an appreciation for the genres, but a genuine love. He’s recommended or played countless jazz standards and classical pieces on social media or during a livestream while hanging out with ARMY. He doesn’t just tolerate instrumental tracks, he revels in them. His vocals are phenomenal, but he’s also brilliant for knowing when to pull them back and just let the music breathe.

 

“Slow Dancing” Official M/V

This is perhaps most evident on LAYO(V)ER’s title track, “Slow Dancing”, which also happens to be Taehyung’s favorite song on the album. He described it as the track with the most “romantic vibes”, and this is due in part to the immersive instrumentals—especially the improvised flute solo in the outro of the song.


It's about time we get it straight
Gimme a minute if it ain't too late
It sounds about right
This can't be forced, babe
It shouldn't feel like this
Hurts too much already
Stay with me 'til the end of the day


The lyrics ARE romantic, but still tinged with a sense of foreboding. This is, it seems, the last gasp before the end. Trying to reignite the spark between two people before it’s gone for good—and how better to do that than with some sweet slow dancing?

Could it ever really be that simple? A relationship that is truly at its end can rarely be fixed with something as simple as just dancing. It sounds like a pipe dream. The M/V builds on this idea of fantasy. We see V on a beautiful island location—going on a road trip and playing on the beach with a beautiful cast of characters. They’re surrounded by absurd props (fruit in a suitcase?), strangely iridescent butterflies, and a pirate ship. Again, it all seems just a little too perfect to be true. And we realize it is once we see that it’s all part of a virtual world that V has created for himself. A world where his problems CAN be solved just by dancing.

Every time Taehyung perfomed “Slow Dancing” during his album promotions he always switched it up with either different instrumentals if the band was live (there’s even an alternate piano version on the album), or different “choreography” during the outro if he was singing with the backing track. During his “debut” performance on MNET, he made it Yeontan’s Idol debut as well. His beloved Tannie joined him on stage, adding to the sweet, “dream world” quality of the song.

It’s such a nice thought, isn’t it—that we could create our ideal world and live inside the romance of it, dancing our problems away with our pets and our loved ones? We can thank V for giving us an idea like that to build in our mind, and to work toward in real life.

 
 
 

"SLOW DANCING" - YEONTAN FANCAM | MNET

 
 

Fun Fact:

SEOUL X V.


In late 2023, a very devastatingly blonde V was asked to take part in a campaign to promote tourism in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

He wasn’t a stranger to the idea, BTS had filmed similar things in the past, but this one was uniquely themed to 2023. In some of the videos below, V discusses current fashion trends, as well as exhibitions and activities open in the city at that time.

If you haven’t already been bitten by the travel bug before now, you will be after watching what we have linked below. Taehyung (along with his six brothers) is the greatest draw Seoul has anyway, am I right?

  1. [SEOUL X V] V'S SEOUL EDITION PREMIER! (0:20)

  2. [SEOUL X V OF BTS] SEOUL EDITION 23 - SELFIE WITH V (0:16)

  3. [SEOUL X V OF BTS] SEOUL EDITION23 - NEW TRADITION (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (1:34)

  4. [SEOUL X V OF BTS] SEOUL EDITION23 - NATURE IN THE CITY (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (1:28)

 
 

DAY FIVE:

“For Us” Official M/V

I’m sure that you’ve noticed me talking about more music videos this week than I usually do. In a very unusual move, Taehyung decided to have a M/V for every song on LAYO(V)ER. Not only did this allow him to tell a complete visual story for the album, but it also gave him the opportunity to perform any or all of his songs live on the music shows he participated in. This was a brilliant move, as it technically meant there were no “b-sides”—all the tracks had nearly equal exposure to V’s audience.

The M/V for the last song, “For Us”, looks like a simple compilation of leftover shots from the previous four videos—and that’s true—it is. But it’s also a retrospective, a thank you, and an end to the “dream world” story.

“For Us”, my favorite song on the album, is full of passion and longing. Aside from being far too short, it is sonic perfection.

Come before it's too late
I got things to say
Before I go
And there's no time to wait
We can hide away
Need to let you know that

It’s the final piece of the “make believe”. The last “moment in time”. We don’t have to face reality—we can hide here where everything is perfect. Though the lyrics have us immersed in the “what if”, the video shows us the “behind-the-scenes” of what it took to bring the dream world to life. V showed us the dream, and he also shows us what’s real—his love and gratitude for ARMY. There is one scene, obviously shot while they were filming “Love Me Again”, where Taehyung is sitting in a director’s chair between takes. He breaks the fourth wall, looks directly into the camera, and just claps.

It’s my favorite moment, because you can see everything on his face. The love, the thankfulness, the almost disbelief that he’s sitting where he is, doing what he’s doing. There were a lot of times that year that he probably thought he wasn’t going to be able to make an album happen. He’s said many times that he speaks and acts much slower than the rest of the members of BTS, and sometimes (he thinks) it’s a bad habit. But I think it shows his commitment to existing in the moment and really being present. He listens, he absorbs, and he gives measured responses.

I think, as he sat in that director’s chair, he was taking a mental snapshot—reconciling his accomplishments against his upcoming (and as yet unannounced) military service. I think he was living in that moment, grateful to be “V of BTS”. And while the Taehyung of 2013 would have been loudly kissing the camera or doing some crazy dancing, the Taehyung of 2023 just silently smiled and applauded.

 
 
 
 

"For Us” Music Bank

 

V of BTS | Tiny Desk Korea Special

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: How have you changed the most from ten years ago?

 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 
 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I have only one complaint about LAYO(V)ER, and it’s that it is criminally too short. This album is my therapy, my eye of the storm, my safe space. The way V understands how to use his vocals to create not only a moment in time, but a mood for that moment. Every time I listen to his album I’m transported… doesn’t matter where, because wherever it is, that’s where I want to be.

And speaking of where I’ll be… come back next week and “I’mma be, I’mma be, I’mma be wherever u are…”

 
 
 

Side Quest

DEVASTATION.

Have you ever just found something so unbelievably beautiful that you’re certain it doesn’t actually exist?

Yeah, that’s how I feel about Kim Taehyung.

Especially when he gets in front of a camera to pose for a brand ambassadorship or a spread in a magazine. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more dangerous than when Taehyung’s eyes find a camera.

For your enjoyment (pain) we’ve collected here all of his appearances/photoshoots from 2023, including the Celine event with the infamous black leather pants, his WILD spread for Cartier in “W Korea”, and the recklass abandon of sanity that was his solo “Dicon” book.

Go ahead and click. Might as well. What a way to go…

 

V OF BTS GETS READY FOR THE CELINE HOMME SUMMER 23 SHOW | VMAN

 

TAEHYUNG W KOREA CARTIER PHOTOSHOOT | TWIXTOR CLIPS

 
 
 
 
 

CREDITS:

YouTube/Web

BANGTANTV, HYBE LABELS, BTS DAILY UPDATE, BTS for the Soul, CDTV, Clips Ray, DICON, DINGO STORY, ELLE Japan, ESQUIRE KOREA, fangirlriddhi, Gemjjk, HIDDEN VOCALS WORLD, Hortensia25, JAEGUCHI, K-Pop ON! Spotify, kartikey, KBS Kpop, KOREA DISPATCH, MBC Radio, Mnet K-POP, NPOP, NUNA V, OK_KOOKIE, PICKCON, PIXID, SBSKPOP X INKIGAYO, SimInvest by Sinarmas Sekuritas, sNack!, TaeBearMD, TaehYunGshi, taetaehyungie, THE FIRST TAKE, Tiny Desk Korea, V MAGAZINE, V NATION, VisitSeoul TV, W KOREA, ymluvr, 엘르 코리아_ELLE KOREA, 유 퀴즈 온 더 튜브, 이지금 [IU Official], ⟭⟬ BTS BORA CREATIONS⟬⟭; Web:

ARMY Project 529 Volunteers

Research Team: Angel (TikTok: Lilangel2828), Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Merry (TikTok: merryj67), Sam T (TikTok: samt_26), Shelley (TikTok: shels167), Trudy (TikTok: theeducationmommy), Viv (TikTok: VivEliz); Video Team: Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Namz (TikTok: Namz07)

 
 

Join us LIVE every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's “Monday Muster”, thoughtful discussions, and tons of laughter! And catch us on TikTok each Wednesday night at 9pm ET for #the529tea, when we talk Bangtan news and dish about any TEA that might be happening on Kim Namjoon’s internet. 

Sunday’s LIVE is hosted on ARMY Project 529’s YouTube channel: @ARMYProject529 while Wednesday’s LIVE is on our project TikTok:  @ARMYProject529.


Quince
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