Stage. Lights. Screams – or rather, clappers. The long-awaited Permission to Dance in Seoul concerts mark the return of BTS to two of their homes: the spotlight, after five months from their last show in LA, and Korea, after two and a half years without performing there with an audience. Despite different circumstances brought on by COVID-19 – a crowd fully sitting down and bound with a no cheering rule – BTS and ARMY still managed to share a lot of energy and emotions during the three shows that happened on March 10th, 12th, and 13th. Whether it be with intense clapping, lovable words, songs, or even tears, the band and the fans did not disappoint in creating a joyful and touching reunion in the Olympic Stadium in Seoul. And this reunion did not fail to include international fans as well, as events of simultaneous live-streaming and releases in cinemas allowed this experience to be worldwide.
Though the stadium houses 70,000 seats, the attendance was limited to only 15,000. Nevertheless, that did not take away from the grandiosity of the performances and production. Starting off with "ON" and its battle-like drums, we took a trip through the group’s discography. The three days included many surprise numbers and a constantly changing set list – but no solo numbers, because all the members wanted to be on stage as long as they could. Songs such as "Outro: Wings" and the ARMY tribute "HOME" were added throughout the three shows and others like "Airplane pt. 2," "Anpanman," and "Spring Day" were sprinkled each in one day of the performance.
During the show, the fans were also able to see a myriad of stage outfits – fiery red and white ensembles in the beginning, sexy and slick black suits for the darker songs, care-free colorful attire for the brighter set, and casual clothes to finish off the encore. BTS also showcased elaborate stage scenes – the highlight being a giant installation of hands twisting together to reveal a blooming flower during "Black Swan," "Blood Sweat and Tears," and "Fake Love". Rain, despite not being planned, also became a part of the show, especially on March 12th. It soaked both the group and the audience. But, even with the uncomfortable environment, this weather was used by the members to show a whole different set of charms – slick back hair, water splashes, and glinting faces.
More than anything else, though, the boys' personalities were able to shine during each of the days, through actions, performances, and words. Jin’s cute hat project continued to reveal his sweet side, V’s unprovoked cartwheels showed that even the biggest band in the world can be silly, Yoongi’s small dances reminded ARMY that the fierce rapper is playful as well, Jimin’s new tattoos were a glimpse to his artistic interests, J-hope’s ever impactful stage presence serves as proof of his talent and professionalism, RM’s wise and poignant speeches were once again a source of inspiration for many, and Jung Kook’s bright-eyed wonder looking at the fans were a testament to the maknae’s never-diminishing passion. The group showcased its unique dynamic with grace and style, switching easily between the graveness of “Blue & Grey” to the absolute chaos of “Stay” and “So What,” with the seven men always bouncing off each other in terms of switches and improvisations.
In the end, the three BTS shows demonstrated that, even though two and a half years had passed, the group hasn’t lost one ounce of its ardor, and the member’ connection with ARMY has stayed just as strong as before. After all, being on stage with the fans is where the septet belongs. No one phrased it better than RM himself during his first day ment: "We didn't know when we had it all. The physical interaction, exchange of energy, shouts, jumps — what all this meant. We performed "HOME" today because we're really home. This is our home. Right? Imagine how happy we are to be back home."
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Written By: Carol
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Esma
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