WEEK 3 | Chasing Happiness
January 15-19, 2024
Momentum.
With the whirlwind of Debut behind them, it would have been understandable if the members of Bangtan Sonyeondan decided to take a moment to stop and bask in the glow of what they accomplished. But did they?
What do you think?
Rap Monster, all dimples and no shades, was excited to show the world what the team he was leading was capable of producing next. Having recorded and filmed their next album while in the midst of Debut promotions, BTS was full steam ahead on their journey when autumn arrived in 2013. The next stop was their very first Comeback, O!RUL8,2?.
This mini album continues with the themes of "thinking for yourself” and “living your own dream” from 2 Cool 4 Skool, but goes one step further by asking us, “Are you happy with your dream?” While they promoted O!RUL8,2? BTS would also celebrate birthdays, attend award shows, and get to know ARMY more through fan meets. During all this, they would ask themselves the same question. What happiness was this dream bringing into their lives? As we go through this week and the next, we’ll see the answers they uncovered…
Playlists & Lyrics
O!RUL8,2? ALBUM SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (also embedded at bottom of post)
ARMY PROJECT 529 WEEK 3 VIDEO PLAYLIST (all YouTube links)
DAY ONE:
In contrast to the all-black outfits, masks, and headgear they gave us in their Debut Era, the concept images and clips dropped for O!RUL8,2? showed a glossier BTS. Dressed all in white, wearing lighter jewelry, and showing off their faces, the members still look very hip-hop, but feel more approachable than before. Adding to that was the fact that they were growing more comfortable in front of the cameras that followed them constantly. Their individual personalities were shining through, and so was their ever-increasing bond.
BTS sharing a meal in their dorm where they all slept in one bedroom.
In an interview linked below, V is asked if given the chance to join another, more established Idol group, or stay with BTS, which would he choose? He obviously replies “BTS”, but also explains why: “We’re family now.” Their company wanted to present a hard image of Bangtan Sonyeondan to drive home that even though they were an Idol group, they were rooted in hip-hop. But it wasn’t this image that was building their fan base. Rather, it was moments like V’s response to that question that was encouraging the fan’s devotion. BTS’ music, and the messages inside it drew people in, but their love for each other and their fans is what created an ARMY.
Fun Fact
What is a “Comeback”?
In Western society, when we hear that an artist is having a “comeback”, it implies that they are releasing new content after having been inactive for a large period of time, usually at least a few years. But this term means something very different in the world of K-Pop.
A comeback is when a K-pop group releases and promotes new music. And they happen more frequently than the word would suggest. In fact, Idols can, and are usually expected to, have at least two comebacks per year. Comebacks can also be referred to as a particular “era” for a group (ex. 2C4S being BTS’ “Debut Era”). The first performance from any group’s new album is their “comeback stage”. The following few weeks will be filled with promotional activity, such as appearing on variety and music shows, doing interviews, and/or holding fan events. This all gets wrapped up with a “goodbye stage”.
Comebacks often have a specific theme or “concept” which ties a group’s songs together. This is why we often see “Concept Trailers” or “Concept Photos” released as teasers before the official album or M/V drops. They are meant to give a group’s audience an idea of what to expect from this new “era”. Check out the embedded video for an example.
DAY TWO:
A packed promotion schedule didn’t leave BTS much free time, but the members found ways to have fun with each other anyway, most often backstage in between performances or during down time on the sets of whatever they happened to be shooting that day.
Whether spontaneous or planned, these moments paint a clear picture of Bangtan Sonyeondan.
Hard work is important, but having fun, and making memories with those you care about is an equal necessity.
As we watch the prank pulled on JungKook for his 16th birthday, we might think: “That’s a little mean” (so did JungKook at first), but he was also overwhelmed that they went through all of that to surprise him. A few years later, that birthday prank was one of the core memories in JungKook’s mind when he expressed his feelings about “his brothers” to RM, who then put them into lyrics for “Begin”. And that ended up being JungKook’s first solo song on a BTS album.
“N.O” DANCE PRACTICE (as shown above)
“WE ON” LIVE PERFORMANCE 2015 (Fan Cam)
Fun Fact
Many Idol groups make their own tv/web series now (BTS has had “Run BTS” for many years), or they record specials for their fans in which they play games or solve puzzles, get placed into different scenarios for reactions, or even play pranks on each other.
The origin of these is the popularity of Variety Shows in Korean television. Celebrities, including Idols, are often invited as guests and take part in the hilarity that ensues.
Check out the link below to learn about some of South Korea’s most popular Variety Shows as of June 2023. In the number one spot is a show that two of the members of BTS have actually appeared on. Do you know which ones?
Bangtan Bubble: What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled, or had pulled on you?
Let us know your answer in the comments below, or on social media (include the hashtag #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
Remember last week when we discussed SUGA discovering a love of radio-style interviewing and DJing? It didn’t take long for him to manifest that into a new project. Thus was born the BTS radio talk show: “KKUL (HONEY) FM 06.13”, hosted by DJ SUGA. The group used the show as a way for them to discuss different topics and share their inner thoughts with each other and ARMY. We got to hear more details about their activities as BTS, and also about their day-to-day life, such as what it was like living together in their dorm, and what their personal goals were for the future. The comfortable family atmosphere amongst them is readily apparent, especially when they discuss holidays, like Chuseok, and celebrating their 100 Day Anniversary together, as in the episode listed below.
Traditionally the number 100 has a special meaning in Korea; it represents a deep maturity. Before the invention of modern medicine, a child making it past their first 100 days of life was a sign that they would also live to see their first birthday. And if they made it past their first birthday, that was a sign that they would survive out of infancy. Modern day Korea still celebrates when babies reach their 100th day as a sort of “congratulations” to the parents and families.
This “100 Days” milestone has since been applied to other important parts of life in Korean Society, such as relationship and job anniversaries. So why not also for an Idol Group having its first successful comeback and not fading away after Debut? It’s no wonder that BTS would want to celebrate the happiness of making it through their first 100 days with each other, and with ARMY.
BTS “KKUL (HONEY) FM 06.13”: CONGRATS ON 100 DAYS! (as shown below)
ROOKIE KING EPISODE 3 (as shown below)
Fun Fact
Chuseok, which is sometimes referred to as the “Korean Thanksgiving” is one of the most important and festive holidays of the year. It celebrates the harvest festival and is a time meant to be spent with family gathered at their “ancestral home”
“Koreans celebrate Chuseok by making special foods, particularly a certain kind of rice cake called songpyeon. Songpyeon is made with finely ground new rice and the dough is kneaded into small round shapes and filled with sesame seeds, chestnuts, red beans, or other similar ingredients. The rice cakes are arranged upon layers of pine needles as they are steamed, filling the home with the delicate and fresh fragrance of autumn. On the eve of Chuseok, family members gather to make songpyeon together, illustrating the importance of family in Korean society.”
CHUSEOK: KOREAN THANKSGIVING DAY
For more information on what Chuseok is and its significance in Korean culture is, check out this video from KOREA NOW:
DAY FOUR:
BTS members with BigHit founder, Bang PD (3rd from the left)
In the western music industry, we don’t see bands/groups as families. They might be friends, or sometimes have members who are related to each other, but we don’t see them living together, eating together… essentially doing everything together the way that Idol groups do. Especially early on in their careers. This is a large part of the reason why the fandoms of K-Pop groups form such a strong attachment to the artists they love. It’s normal now for fans to be very familiar with how Idols live their daily lives with each other. But it wasn’t always so common.
BTS invited us in from the very beginning.
BTS was one of the first groups to really document and share almost every moment of their journey. And they invited us to participate from the very beginning. ARMY watched their little family build its roots, and saw certain members take on different roles within.
Rap Monster may have been named as the leader, but Jin is the eldest, and has always made it his priority to look after the younger members, whether it was by feeding them, goofing off with them, or even just speaking his mind. When he disagreed with something (like endless dieting), he said something about it, letting the younger ones know it was okay to stand up for themselves too. Other hyungs in the group, like j-hope, helped guide the maknaes through making Vlogs and telling fans about what they’d been up to. As you watch the clips listed below for today, take note of all the little different things they do to take care of each other, even in the midst of work or silliness. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
Fun Fact
In the episode of Rookie King you just watched, the members of BTS get a chance to air out their grievances to the staff members (some of them their “bosses”) at BigHit who work with them, including the CEO, Bang PD.
It’s all done under the guise of jest, but you can tell that most of them are lodging honest complaints. When it comes to Jin, he calls out one of the staff members who always tells him he’s eating too much, and even says the man calls him “a pig”. “WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME A PIG?” he yells at the man. Everyone’s laughing, but you can tell Jin means what he’s saying. And if there’s one thing we know about Kim Seokjin all these years later, it’s that he will ALWAYS commit to the bit.
FLASH FORWARD! Even six years later, Jin still wasn’t letting this go. Check out his response in an interview in 2019 after the members name him as the one who eats the most.
Bangtan Bubble: What’s the one thing you admire most about Jin?
Let us know your answer in the comments below, or on social media (include the hashtag #BangtanBubble)!
DAY FIVE:
We’ve had a lot of fun with BTS this week, including in the episode of Rookie King you're about to watch below. (Spoiler Alert: BTS goes bowling for the first time and it’s just as hilarious as you imagine.) In the “making of” video for their cover of “Beautiful” we see some of the members comment on who they think would be the most successful at picking up a girl. The staff even gets in on the fun. It’s adorably funny when V says, “I’m only 19, how could you ask me to do this?” and gives us that sweet boxy smile of his.
Remember that question we asked at the beginning of the week? At a fanmeet held in October of 2013 the members read, out loud, letters they had written for each other and for ARMY. Let’s be real… it can be difficult to be honest with our loved ones sometimes. Especially in person. Some of them break down in tears while reading, (Jimin, j-hope, and JungKook in particular) but the other members (and BTS ARMYs present) encourage them to continue. Each message is unique, but all have the same overall theme: happiness. Happiness brought to them by their dream, by their fans, and by each other.
ROOKIE KING EPISODE 5 (as shown)
“BEAUTIFUL” (COVER) M/V (With V being absolutely ridiculous in the background)
LETTERS TO ARMY (FANMEET) (as shown above)
Bangtan Bubble: What does happiness look like to you? Have you reached it, or are you still chasing it?
Let us know your answer in the comments below, or on one of our social media accounts (include the hashtag #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
What was your favorite song you heard this week? Did you enjoy seeing an older BTS perform some of their 2013 songs on the clip we showed you from the 2019 MAMA Awards? No matter where the journey takes them, BTS never forgets to look back and remind us that these pieces of their past are, along with ARMY, the reason for their current happiness.
Next week, we continue on with O!RUL8,2? and explore the rest of the album. And we’ll find out what happens when there’s an “Attack on Bangtan”...
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, HYBE, THE K-POP (SBS), M America, yandevass, KBS Kpop, Channel Bangtan, M-Net Kpop, 1theK (원더케이), kpopchampionblogspot, TT Karaoke Subs, KTV, NReffects, KOREA NOW, Vedika Dodia, Deceryl Kim, Just Bangtan, SHOOKY OFFICIAL, timeout.com, asiasociety.org
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); Website Team: Colette (TikTok: voicesinmyhead2)
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