Setting The World On Fire
In the midst of setting the world of Korean broadcasting on fire, three talented and extremely passionate Korean male artists sent a shockwave through the domestic music industry with their dynamic stage performance. Such was the power of Seo Taiji and the Boys’ first performance that they revolutionized Korean pop culture from that point onwards with their stylish fashion, socially conscious lyrics, and fresh musicality. Hallyu exists now because of them. They “took the popular American sounds of rap, rock, techno, and R&B, and combined them with Korean lyrics, inventing a unique hybrid of modern and traditional popular culture from two very different parts of the world.” Back then, the combined influences of “Korean lyrics, Euro-pop and African American hip-hop and rap” were new and captivating.
But wait! Doesn’t this group remind you of someone else?
Almost three decades later, the Korean music scene has continued to evolve. Internationally acclaimed artists BTS have successfully infiltrated the global music industry; reinvigorating, if not revolutionizing, the way we experience art and music in both the East and the West. Social media has played a huge role in this journey, offering a more timely and organic means to disseminating BTS’s music; filled to the brim with their memories, struggles, celebrations, and hopes for the future. Broadcasting still has its appeal, but in a world fueled by computer technology, lighting up the world of social media with a single tweet is now BTS’s mainstay.
Leaders Amongst Leaders
Heralded by Time Magazine as ‘Next Generation Leaders’, it comes as no surprise that Seo Taiji saw elements of himself in BTS, so much so that in 2017 he reportedly dubbed BTS as his “K-pop successors.” This century-old quote, “mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius,” aptly describes Seo Taiji’s foresight and BTS’s uniqueness in an otherwise, very plain world.
Map of the Soul:7 (BTS’s ‘hot off the press’ album), is our newest leader amongst leaders. Throughout the album, there is a continuous weaving and interlacing of musical influences and interpretations, some more subtle than others. Although not officially part of the album, Black Swan’s Art Film was the first to showcase BTS in a new light, ‘wowing’ us with a perfect blend of mediums - music, dance, instrumentals, vocals, and lyrics. YouTube reactors ‘Classical Musicians’, described it as a powerful song, achieved through a “perfect marriage between all forms of media in production.”
This same power, carried over to the album’s title song ‘ON’, is possibly the most ambitious of the 20 tracks, production-wise. Gospel choir, a genre recognized as iconically African American, meets marching band drumline and jazz instrumentals, both iconically American. These live elements share the production limelight as they each weigh-in to enhance the musicality of BTS’s voices, from RM’s sultry rap voice in the first verse to Jungkook’s rich and melodic head voice in the bridge section. Ultimately, all the pieces of the puzzle are brought together in the recording studio to create a masterful blend.
Notions of Inclusivity
RM’s ending ment from 2017, “music and performance transcend language and countries and races” is as inspirational now as it was three years ago. Korea’s President Moon Jae-In celebrated this about BTS when he spoke of their ability to bring people together, turn grief into hope and differences into similarities. Caitlin Evans, Planning Co-Manager here at Borasaek Vision, commented that “BTS has continually shown us that music doesn't have to alienate one form of music production over another, rather both digital music and band music can co-exist.” The notion of inclusivity is ever-present in everything that BTS does, both on and off the stage; crossing cultural boundaries, bridging cultural divides and creating music that unites and unifies.
According to Music Critic Kim Youngdae, BTS’s music has long been described as “both trendy and retro at the same time, keeping a subtle balance between old and new, and between Western and Korean, to acquire unique lyricism with universal appeal.” At the heart of BTS’s music is a tight unit of co-writers, which is where you will see further examples of inclusivity as additional writers are brought into the mix. With new writers come new experiences to draw from, new perspectives to consider and new musical influences to weave into the fray. Singer-songwriter Troye Sivan’s contribution to ‘Louder Than Bombs’ exemplifies this, a song considered by many to be a heartfelt, open letter to ARMY.
Special Mention
This story was about BTS and in particular, their newly released album Map of the Soul:7. Special mention goes to each of the members, all key contributors to the BTS that was, is and will continue to be in the future. With all seven members credited as co-writers on this album, we see each of their ‘colors’ shining through as singer-songwriters. Since pre-debut days, achieving their full potential as vocalists, dancers, and rappers; singer-songwriters and producers, has long influenced the kind of artists that BTS wanted to become. In 2020, the ARMY fandom, dare I say the world, are now experiencing the fruits of this mindset and it is awe-inspiring. “Is it necessary to wish for what others wish for? ‘Not at all’, says BTS.
Map of the Soul:7 is a tribute to all seven members of BTS - their struggles and triumphs, as well as their hopes and dreams. As Big Hit has stated, this is “the heartfelt story of BTS and the search for their ‘real selves'.”
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: Ash
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