Jump online any time of the day or night and you’re bound to see an ARMY (or two) declaring how much they miss the members of BTS. Considering all the BTS-related content that currently exists though, how is it possible to miss them? The fact that BTS is literally a ‘click’ away and available to fans in multiple forms and formats, the notion of missing them might seem a little exaggerated. Especially after a live event, such as a concert, social media comes alive with fans commenting things like ‘missing them already.’ However, for millions of dedicated ARMYs throughout the world, missing BTS is an everyday reality, even for those who live in the same country and city as BTS. No one is exempt from this feeling.
The feelings associated with missing someone are unique to every individual and can manifest in multiple ways. For some, it may be a niggling feeling of loneliness, while for others it can be felt as a deeply emotional sense of loss. Remember when Jin said that he felt uncomfortable when he didn’t have his members around him, the same feeling that one might experience when their wallet or phone is missing. Likewise, Jung Kook has spoken of his trainee days, sitting in a convenience store eating noodles and then crying because he missed his mother so much. Finally, all of the members have mentioned how much they’ve missed performing live and being on the stage. The desire to once again look into ARMYs eyes, hear them chanting and singing, and feel the intensity of ARMY’s energy became almost unbearable for our septet. Yet they continued to work tirelessly with only one thought in mind – that one day BTS and ARMY would be reunited once again.
Staying Connected
The ARMY fandom is known for its organizational skills and mobilizing large numbers of fans for BTS-related causes. Yet, while these activities and events have a specific focus, they are in fact a powerful way for ARMYs to express their love for BTS. During these moments, it is also inevitable that fans will feel a sense of closeness to the members and be able to share their own experiences of BTS with those around them. That feeling of missing BTS may not go away entirely, but at least there are others around you who are possibly feeling the same way, and collectively there may be some comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in your feelings.
Social media plays a big role in maintaining a sense of connection between artists and their fans, and if you’re an ARMY you’ll have your favorite ways of staying informed and up-to-date with what’s happening with the BTS members. Many ARMYs have accounts specifically set up for this purpose, while others may keep their general, all-purpose accounts and just manage who has access to these spaces. Some may prefer the social intimacy of Weverse when engaging with BTS while others may prefer Twitter because of its ability to be curated and maintained more readily. Instagram, too, adds another dimension to the BTS and ARMY relationship as it allows the members to show off their creativity and more unique characteristics of their BTS personas. Ultimately though, these are all valued platforms for differing reasons, and fans are fortunate to have so many options available to them.
Fear Of Missing Out
When it comes to BTS, many fans understand too well the notion of ‘FOMO’ – fear associated with missing out on something, especially when it comes to merchandise, products, or the ultimate opportunity to see BTS live. We saw this recently with concert ticket sales and the BTS “Artist-Made Collection.” When products sell out faster than the time it takes for you to log in, a glitchy internet connection can be the difference between successfully completing a transaction or unfortunately missing out. Add the words ‘limited edition’ to the mix, and those feelings of missing out are magnified knowing that there will be no further opportunities. While this is a different perspective of ‘missing BTS,’ it still fits within the scope of this topic – both directly and indirectly – and for many ARMYs it is an unfortunate reality on a daily basis.
보고 싶다 (I Miss You)
In the opening lines of “Spring Day,” RM wrote the words 보고 싶다. 이렇게 말하니까 더 보고 싶다 / I miss you. Saying this out loud makes me miss you even more. Through @doolset’s English translation, we see that the entire song is an embodiment of love — the loss of love, friendships, and life. With that, the perpetual yearning that comes from wanting to be with loved ones once again, or the recollection of past memories that can’t be revisited. However, instead of remaining trapped in this state of loss, Spring Day ends with the hope of a new day and the promise that we will find our way back.
그것에 좀 더 머물러줘, 머물러줘 / please stay there a while longer. Please stay.
Spring Day may have been released in 2017, but BTS’ messages within that song are timeless. If interpreted one way, it is a hopeful reminder that if ARMYs are willing to wait a little longer, they (BTS) will find their way back to us. Nothing will deter them from fulfilling that dream, especially considering the global experiences of the past two years. Missing BTS is a forever thing, just as loving them is, and that’s okay… anyone can join this club!
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Written by: Mama
Edited by: Aury
Checked by: Juju
💜💜💜💜 soo good this