It seems like a lifetime since BTS performed their hearts out in front of thousands of fans in Las Vegas back in April of this year, before stunning fans with the announcement of their album comeback on June 10, 2022. Then, as ARMYs were waiting excitedly for Festa, Muster, and a possible world tour announcement, something entirely unexpected happened. Apart from resuming their duties as ambassadors for youth and stepping out onto a new platform to speak at the White House, the members were finally able to reveal their hush-hush plans for the future. While solo albums and activities were mentioned, BTS was adamant that they would continue to deliver their messages of hope, goodwill, and strength, through their music.
For the ARMY fandom, the BTS world as we once knew it has changed considerably. We’ve witnessed J-hope’s solo debut at Lollapalooza, Jin’s solo debut collaboration with Coldplay at their Argentinian concert, and very recently, Jung Kook’s solo debut at the FIFA World Cup 2023 opening ceremony in Qatar. Thousands of fans even had the opportunity to attend BTS’ free concert in Busan in support of Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. A free BTS concert? None of these events were on our ARMY radars back in April and yet, here we are in November, with three members having successfully debuted as solo artists and RM’s solo album Indigo soon to be released. With all these wonderful changes that ARMYs have been experiencing recently, we’re going to use this blog as a chance to take a little breather by revisiting BTS’ Permission to Dance on Stage era. So many wonderful memories were made during each of those unforgettable performances — we hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.
Encore! Encore!
If you’ve ever watched BTS perform a winning song on one of Korea’s regularly televised music shows such as Music Bank or M Countdown, then you would also have seen them perform an encore at the end to celebrate their win. Sometimes quirky, always playful, BTS’ encores are a refreshing treat for ARMYs who are fortunate enough to attend. Encores are one of the most endearing acts of gratitude displayed by artists to their fans and a pleasant way to send ARMYs off after the show, often with words of comfort from the members to be healthy and happy.
Within the world of music and performance, an encore is generally a call back to artists at the end of a show – initiated by a passionate plea from fans to hear their favorite artists once more before the stage fades to black. BTS embraced this concept within their concert stages and turned it into a time of celebration, while at the same time sending off their fans with a promise that they will return one day.
Just over a year ago, Sydney Rubin (writer and fan) wrote an in-depth analysis on the way in which BTS concerts are designed titled “The way to travel back to earth: Mapping the design of BTS concert endings.” We highly recommend this article for insights into the “last song-lie” that has become a special part of a fan’s BTS concert experience. Once a member has made this announcement, it’s usually an indicator that the encore setlist is coming up after the break and a telltale sign that fans probably have an hour left of concert time before it’s time to head home again.
According to Rubin, “BTS are masters of something extremely difficult: ending well” and for the thousands of fans who sit silently after BTS has left the stage, lovingly processing all they have just experienced, the encore stage becomes a gentle reminder that an ending is inevitable. BTS’ venture into the world of solo activities has definitely signaled an ending per se and yet, life as an ARMY seems so much busier now. Proof that BTS really are the masters of ‘ending well.’
PTD: An unexpected ‘encore’
With the advent of the Permission to Dance on Stage series of 12 concert performances, both on and off-line, the notion of an encore was experienced in a whole new way by fans, with BTS demonstrating once again just how truly remarkable they are as artists, as performers, and as human beings.
During Day 4’s final ending ment in Las Vegas, RM reminded us that PTD on Stage was a one-time thing, something that was never part of their original plans. We all know that the outbreak of a global pandemic resulted in the cancellation of their entire BTS Map of the Soul world tour. Yet, for over a year, many of us still held onto the hope that the extended pause placed on our tickets would suddenly reset itself, and all would be well in the world again. Unfortunately, we all know how that ended! Which is possibly why BTS’ first Permission To Dance on Stage concert performed at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in October 2021 was a resounding success, with fans from 197 countries logging into the live-streamed event.
For ARMYs worldwide, this entire series of 12 concerts – in and of itself – was like an encore, on the grandest scale possible. The entire setlist was OT7, with no solo or sub-unit performances, thus giving the BTS members the maximum amount of stage time to connect with their fans. Precious moments for BTS to see their fans’ eyes, to hear their cheers (or their clappers), and to feel their energy.
In turn, each of the 12 stages brought an amazing array of songs ranging from those trusted friends that tug at the heartstrings like “Young Forever,” “Love Myself: Answer,” and “Spring Day” to the hip-thrusting favorite “Baepsae” and the comedic duo “Anpanman” and “Go Go.”
Sadly, fans didn’t get to see the highly requested “Louder Than Bombs” performed live. During episode 144 of Run BTS! producers revealed that the number 1 song that ARMYs most wanted to see performed live was “Louder Than Bombs,” followed by “Dis-ease,” “Paradise,” “ON,” and “Telepathy.” In his Day 2 post-concert VLive, RM saw a comment requesting a live version of “Louder Than Bombs” and instantly replied with “와. 그게 애들이 많이 연습해야 뒬 텐데 그거 노래가 엄청 어려워요. (Wow! The members will have to practice a lot, but that song is really difficult to sing.”) He didn’t however rule out the possibility, so maybe one day, ARMYs. One day we might receive the news we’ve all been hoping for. The possibilities are endless!
Every encore stage performance ended with the theme song for this concert series, “Permission To Dance,” which proved to be the perfect finishing touch to the three hours that BTS and ARMY had just spent together. Seeing the joy on the BTS members’ faces, despite knowing that PTD on Stage was one of the most grueling concerts for them to perform, made the experience even more special. 12 concerts spanning two countries, with almost 38 hours cumulated of performing live on stage, while navigating ongoing pandemic restrictions is no mean feat. Yet BTS did it all! Why? Because performing live on stage, surrounded by thousands of fans is literally ‘music’ to their ears, as well as a much-needed panacea for their bodies, minds, and hearts.
When One Door Closes
“Yet to Come” has shown us that one chapter may have ended, but the next chapter is going to be even better! We’ve seen it these past months — each of the members busily preparing for their solo debuts while Jin has also been preparing for his military service. While the amount of content has been overwhelming for some, fans continue to promote BTS’ discography, stream, vote, and purchase merchandise, knowing that all of these activities are supporting BTS, both now and in the future.
Every encore ends with the reassurance that BTS and ARMY will be together again, and this new chapter is no exception. The members told us this after Permission to Dance on Stage and they’ve been true to their word ever since!
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
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Juju
