Recently, the ARMY fandom celebrated as the seven members of BTS were appointed as President Moon Jae-in’s special envoys for public diplomacy. This prestigious appointment will see the septet attend major international meetings on behalf of the President as spokespeople for global issues impacting today’s youth. Rarely do the two worlds of K-pop and politics interact in this way, and as the news of this development spread quickly around the world, some global media outlets took a liking to the term ‘celebrity diplomats.’
Celebrity diplomats are not a new phenomenon, especially within the realm of international relations: a key facet of the United Nations agenda. George Clooney and Angelina Jolie are prime examples of celebrity diplomats. However, for BTS, who have worked diligently to debunk the illusion that they are mere K-pop idols, their diplomatic appointment is a welcomed opportunity.
“Because We Come From Different Sides,” as the title of this blog acknowledges, that despite all of BTS’ record-breaking achievements, there are still many people who regard BTS as too foreign to be mainstream, too factory-like to be genuine artists, or too managed and manipulated to be able to make their own career decisions (this last narrative a particular favorite of many supposed ‘fans’ of the group). Yet time and time again, BTS’ words and actions remind us that if people can look past the prejudices that arise out of fear, the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, and the politics of othering, then they might actually like what they see and hear.
Coldplay and BTS’ newest single “My Universe,” and the subsequent story that documents how this song evolved from a thought to reality, is a powerful example of what can happen when the dominant (Western) narrative is disrupted. In fact, this newest collaboration between Coldplay and BTS captures the essence of coming from different sides quite poignantly. Their ability to collaborate together despite the geographical distance between their two countries, their different languages, and the current constraints of a global pandemic are testament to that.
In the opening comments of HYBE’s “Inside ‘My Universe’” video documentary, Chris Martin, lead singer of the British rock band, Coldplay, revealed that when he was first presented with the idea of doing a collaboration with BTS, he instinctively wondered how that could ever happen. Yet 18 months later, in the middle of a global pandemic, surrounded by people he didn’t know and a language unfamiliar to him, Chris found himself in South Korea in a HYBE recording studio with BTS, singing in both English and Korean.
Additionally, J-Hope highlighted that “My Universe” could have been completed in the same fashion as previous collaborations― that is, remotely through the online sharing of files ― and still, there would be no doubt that the end product would have been just as amazing. However, being together in the studio allowed for a more sincere experience and expression of their artistry. Just as BTS and Coldplay draw energy from their fans when performing live concerts, the documentary showed how seamless their communications were in real-time and how they motivated and inspired one another with their humor, passion, and genuine love for what they do.
Sincerity, hard work, and love for their fans have always been at the core of everything BTS does. These core values stand true for Coldplay as well. So, although one is a rock band that plays instruments and the other is a band with dancing as their instrument, the same values they share enabled the two bands to come together in the most surreal way.
The concept of coming from different sides also played out strongly in the official MV for “My Universe.” Released on September 30th, the opening prologue introduced us to three holobands ― BTS, Coldplay, and Supernova7, who are all being hunted by ‘The Silencers.’ The irony of that name, ‘Silencers,’ is deafening, as one could equate the silencers to those institutions that strive to maintain the status quo within the existing music and entertainment industries. A status quo that claims to be universal, but only as much as its local borders will permit.
Through the power of music, the three seemingly disconnected and distanced bands are able to come together, aided by technology and a roving DJ ship in outer space. This concept reminded me somewhat of the infamous 1964 event that occurred as a result of the British Broadcasting Corporation refusing to play rock ‘n’ roll music on the grounds of immorality. While this concept is part of the worldbuilding storyline for the “My Universe” music video, it is known that BTS and their music have been criticized heavily in some pockets of the world for the perceived harm their music is causing to those nations’ status quo. This example is quite ironic, considering that BTS’ various inspirational messages promote hope and love for oneself and others.
The part in the lyrics that says, ‘because we come from different sides,’ and are preceded by the line, ‘and they said that we can’t be together,’ have a very insightful tone to them. Imagine a world where BTS does not exist because that would surely be our reality had the naysayers gone unchallenged. Yet, because of BTS, we know that mutual respect, human kindness, hope, and love exist. Likewise, through their unprecedented collaboration with Coldplay, we believe that all music is welcomed, and there are no language barriers in music. Why? Because music is its own language.
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
Edit By: Cassie
Checked By: Aury
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