FESTA: 8 Years of Bangtan Sonyeondan

It’s that time of the year again! The biggest festival for Bangtan Sonyeondan and ARMY! Festa 2021 was a highly anticipated event after the successful year BTS has had since Festa 2020. The twelve days leading up to June 13th (BTS’ birthdate) is a special time every year and this year was no exception!

This year marked the 8th anniversary of BTS. With a Grammy nomination and performance, three Billboard number 1 songs, and the renewal of their contract for seven more years, this year has been one of their best. We celebrated these thirteen days with wholesome content from BTS. The opening ceremony of Festa was kicked off with BTS family portraits in themes of pastel, white, and brown.

Source: https://twitter.com/bts_bighit/status/1399742870915993600?s=09

Other events of Festa included the 2021 BTS Profile, 2021 ARMY Profile, BTS Photo Collection 20/21, and others. BTS played Mission 4 BTS to win prizes (and V was very insistent on winning a Tata mic).

Source: https://cdn-contents-web.weverse.io/admin/xlx2048/jpg/945083e388c045f3a13e95f2c7c4aaea829.jpg

Source: https://cdn-contents-web.weverse.io/admin/xlx2048/jpg/12a335a7d4f54d6daec5bea01c88cf7c845.jpg

HYBE also released 3 choreography videos for “MOTS O:NE” dance break version of “N.O.”, MMA 2020 “Black Swan” Intro performance, and “Dynamite [cute & lovely version]. In BTS Room Live, BTS revisited previous albums with performances of songs such as “I Like It” and “Look Here.” A BTS Exam was also held for BTS and fans on various topics related to BTS and ARMY. For those interested in checking it out, the test is available on Weverse.

On the eve of “Sowoozoo,” HYBE released a BTS stage clip of “Mikrokosmos” from BTS’ last concert in 2019, setting the tone for the BTS 2021 Muster which was to follow. Festa 2021 was concluded with the Closing Ceremony where the members took pictures of each other.

ARMY in Echo and ARMY on Air was conducted for ARMY to participate and interact with BTS through their songs in the Muster.

“Bicycle”

RM released his new song “Bicycle” as a part of this year’s Festa.

“If you’re sad, ride a bike

Let the wind be under your feet

oh let’s ride a bike

open your arms freely”

RM has always been a healer through his lyrics and words. The lyrics of this solo depict the familiar and comforting experience of riding a bike, painting images of the invisible, everyday things that are truly precious.

“Sowoozoo”

“Sowoozoo” (Korean for “Mikrokosmos”), the two-day BTS 2021 Muster virtual concert was highly anticipated by ARMY across the world. Although HYBE had initially put out the notice for offline tickets, due to the pandemic laws of South Korea, eventually it was restricted to a two-day online Muster. Set in a galaxy of purple planets and stars with the infinity-shaped stage, BTS and ARMY’s “Mikrokosmos” came to life in Seoul.

Source: BTS_official via Twitter

The first day of the Muster started with BTS entering the venue on a caravan to the tune of “Life Goes On.” A summery feel was brought to the concert with BTS, in outfits of yellow and white, singing “Butter” and “Dynamite [Tropical version].” The surprises came one after the other as BTS went on to perform their subunit songs from BE. While the high energy “Stay” was performed by Jin, RM, and Jungkook on an open stage, “Fly to my Room” was performed by V, Suga, Jimin, and J-Hope in an elaborately decorated room that quite resembled the room BTS had drawn for ARMY before the release of BE.

The ultimate surprise came in the form of “Daechwita.” When “Daechwita” was revealed as a part of the setlist, ARMY anticipated Suga to perform his masterpiece. But when hanbok-clad Jimin appeared, ARMY was surprised and overjoyed. Gradually all the members appeared, rapping their portions on a historically-themed stage (and Jin iconically smacking Jungkook on the head with a basket). Suga has not performed “Daechwita” live before, making this performance a memorable one for ARMY, especially after V came back from the dead to fulfill his dream as an aspiring rapper!

Source: BTS_official via Twitter

After a grand first day, ARMY came back for an even more eventful Day 2. While most of the setlist remained the same, BTS added a few foreign language songs to the lineup for the World Tour version (Day 2) of the muster, the stand-out ones being “Film Out” and “Chicken Noodle Soup [feat. Becky G].” If it was “Daechwita” the previous day, it was “Chicken Noodle Soup” on Day 2. All the members again joined hands to perform this creation of J-Hope’s. The solo dance break of the members, RM and Jimin’s rap in Spanish, Jungkook’s rendition of Becky G’s parts – the list of highlights goes on. The whole performance of the song could be seen as one grand highlight!

BTS had their last outdoor concert with a live audience back in 2019. Since then, it has been a series of online concerts held at indoor venues. As an ARMY, I found the energy of this concert different from their previous online concerts. Whether it was the open air, or the Seoul skyline, or just the happiness from the extraordinary year BTS had, this experience felt like a more intimate one. Concert traditions like Jin splashing water on his members and BTS asking ARMY to turn on their mobile flashlights for “Mikrokosmos” made this Muster feel so real and vibrant. Across these two days, BTS performed classics such as “Moving On” and “A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone” and high energy numbers like “Fire” and “Not Today.” BTS performing “Disease” amidst the virtual rows of ARMY has to be one of my favorite highlights of BTS 2021 Muster.

Source: BTS_official via Twitter

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everybody. BTS and ARMY are no exception. But like RM said in his closing speech: “miracle is not a huge thing.” Let’s continue to make memories, enjoy our time with Bangtan Sonyeondan, and wish for many more happy Festas to come!

Source: BTS_official via Twitter

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Written By: Basabdatta

Edit By: Esma

Checked By: Clare