If the ARMY fandom thought that 2022 was a force to be reckoned with, they’re not wrong. So much happened last year, some of which we tried to capture in our first blog for this year. 2022, like all the other years of BTS’ existence, was definitely “A Year To Remember.” Chapter 2 was introduced, and as a result, hearts were captured, wigs were snatched, and a few more unsuspecting (but very blessed) people fell down the infamous BTS rabbit hole.
J-hope welcomed fans into the New Year in typical BTS style with swag, song, and dance, while other members lovingly shared words of hope, encouragement, and celebration. Jin, too, came to visit ARMYs, promising to make more visits in the future – absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder, doesn’t it?
NEW YEAR, NEW SONG!
Perhaps the biggest surprise thus far came from a picture that BIGBANG member Taeyang shared on social media earlier this month. Without even mentioning names, fans quickly deduced that the unknown person in the image was in fact BTS member Jimin. Since then, their collaborative efforts have given us “VIBE” – described as a fresh pop song with an old-school hip-hop vibe. Noting that this is Taeyang’s first comeback since 2018, BIGBANG’s fandom VIPs have been showering the song with well-deserved love and praise.
When news of this newest collaboration was released, ARMYs were excited to see how the result would be, because we all know that Jimin is one of Taeyang’s biggest fans. The song dropped on January 13th with a captivating music video that you can enjoy here. As expected, after the song was released, ARMYs played the song over and over again to support the project between Jimin and Taeyang. The other BTS members also supported Jimin by posting it on their personal Instagram accounts along with their best wishes.
In less than 24 hours after it was released, the song achieved some significant achievements. “VIBE” made a debut at #1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart and European iTunes Song Chart, eventually achieving the #1 spot in 82 countries. It was also the #1 trending music video on YouTube worldwide. Due to the love and support of both fandoms, the list of achievements for this song continues to grow.
YOUNG
By K-pop standards, BTS is still a young group in terms of when K-pop first made its presence known with the music of 1st Generation idols such as Seo Taiji and Boys, Shinhwa, S.E.S., BoA, and others. As 3rd Generation idols, it’s not surprising that the BTS members were heavily influenced and inspired by many artists from the earlier generations. How exciting must it be for the members to now be in the position where they are able to collaborate with the artists they have looked up to and grown up with. Artists such as Coldplay, Taeyang from BIGBANG, Erykah Badu, Cho Youjeen, and of course, the dynamic PSY. Chapter 2 has opened the doors to many new and exciting collaborations for the BTS members, and who knows, perhaps there are younger artists hoping to fulfill one of their own dreams, by one day featuring with BTS.
WILD
Six months have passed since the members first shared their intentions to pursue their solo careers. Since then, we’ve seen the members attend several international events as individuals, and fans who happened to be close by have often been treated to a rare sighting of the members as they move from one venue to another during their busy schedules. Seeing the members out in the ‘wild’ like that must be an exhilarating experience for fans. In those surreal moments, it’s easy to appreciate how one can lose all sense of being. However, it is reassuring to see how respectful and considerate fans have been during those situations – remembering not to impose on the members’ precious time and space. Sadly, this doesn’t always occur, resulting sometimes in the members’ privacy being violated, but hopefully, those instances remain the exception rather than the norm.
FREE
To be in a position where the members are free to nurture their solo careers in ways that are unique to their own personalities and artistic qualities is a very liberating space to be in. Especially in an industry that is often criticized for its factory-made, conveyor belt status. Yet we have seen exactly this in both j-hope and RM’s solo album releases and promotional activities. This freedom also extends to whom they choose to collaborate with, appear in television broadcasts, and of course, which music award shows they decide to attend.
CHAPTER 2 CONTINUES
2023 will see BTS celebrate its tenth year anniversary; a decade in the K-pop industry has seen them advance from one of the first groups to actively (and successfully) promote themselves on social media. In their earlier days, they were seven young boys who practiced to the point of exhaustion, burning the candle at both ends to make a name for themselves. The desperation they often spoke of feeling in their rookie days may not be the driving factor in their careers now, but the strong work ethic that they developed way back then still features prominently in all that they do. Five of the members are still to release their solo albums, and many fans are anticipating that Jimin’s will be next.
However, it’s not the order that matters most. It’s the fact that EACH of the members will eventually release their first official solo albums and fans will be seven times blessed with all the new music (and merch) making its way to the hearts and homes of ARMYs across the globe. In the meantime, ARMYs will keep doing what they do best – loving and supporting BTS.
DISCLAIMER: We do not own any audio & visual content in this video except for the editing. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS. No copyright infringement intended.
Written By: Shelley & Endang
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Miranda
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