BTS released “Permission to Dance,” a gift from British musician Ed Sheeran, as a part of their Butter CD single album on Jul. 9, 2021. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, extending BTS’ number one spot for the eighth week in a row. There are lots of statistical parameters involved when a song is released: streams, radio plays, sales, etc. This blog is not about analyzing the numbers that the song could or could not rake. Its primary focus will be on the song’s MV and the messages it tries to convey to the world.
When I saw the MV for the very first time, I felt a burst of energy – a déjà vu of when “Dynamite” was released. A constant smile tugged at my face throughout the song. I believe BTS’ goal to spread happiness with this song was achieved in those cheerful five minutes. But through it, BTS managed to convey some very important messages to the listeners as well.
Homage to essential workers
The pandemic has been difficult for everybody, but it was especially tough for one group of people, who have had to battle the virus and keep themselves at work, the essential workers, such as waiters, delivery executives, janitors, teachers, and office workers. In “Permission to Dance,” BTS pays homage to them in a simple, yet endearing way. They pay tribute to them by giving them a song to dance to, and a purple balloon of hope to look out for. This is a small but beautiful way to honor these selfless warriors.
Diversity and inclusivity
BTS sends a strong anti-racist message to the world in this MV. Throughout the MV, BTS has featured people of color to represent the diversity on our planet. Last year, when BTS donated a million dollars to the cause of Black Lives Matter, and ARMY matched that with another million, we as a fandom and BTS as a band made our stance on anti-racism clear. “Permission to Dance” feels like an official document confirming this stance. My personal favorite moment from the MV is when a group of kids, all belonging to different ethnicities, come together in a group hug, with broad smiles attached to their faces. This is also a reference to anti-Asian hate crimes that have been on the rise in Western countries since the onset of the pandemic.
Not just different races, the MV makes sure to include people of all ages and at different stages of life, riddled by the successive waves of the pandemic. Apart from children, the MV includes teens, the middle-aged, and the elderly and shows them in different settings of life. Students have had to stay away from schools, lovers have been separated by distance, and the elderly have been confined to their homes; BTS gives them a purple balloon of hope signifying that this pandemic will soon be over and that everyone will be able to dance without permission again.
Use of ASL
BTS took “Permission to Dance” to those who cannot feel the music by incorporating American Sign Language (ASL) as a part of their choreography. There was a post by a Twitter user saying that their deaf cousin watched the MV and exclaimed, “Oh look, they asked me to dance.” In a reel on Instagram, a mother has uploaded her deaf daughter dancing to the song. There are so many similar stories surfacing on social media. Once again, BTS’ music has truly transcended even the most difficult of barriers.
Do we need permission to dance?
When we talk about the MV breaking barriers, there were some ARMYs who did not receive the song well. It was a disappointment to some that BTS released a third English song within a short span of time. In response to that, BTS did release a full-length Korean album in-between “Dynamite” and “Butter.” Furthermore, it is important to note that this argument does not arise when BTS releases songs in Japanese, which is also a foreign language. We cannot be bashing them for releasing songs in English, especially when they are asked to speak English during their VLives.
Another major argument was that BTS is now releasing songs with the sole motto of winning a Grammy. During the recent Copa America final, when Leo Messi lifted the trophy for Argentina, I heard a commentator say that his journey as a footballer came full circle, as any great footballer loves winning major trophies. It is an integral part of their career. Whether we like it or not, the Grammys are still one of the highest honors a musician wants to achieve in their career. So, let us ask ourselves why BTS wanting one is wrong. They are the biggest boyband in the world. But as musicians, if they want to win a Grammy, shouldn’t we be supportive of them in that journey? In my opinion, BTS is also releasing songs in foreign languages to expand their network around the globe.
The third argument is the absence of the Bangtan Universe from the albums. Though “Film Out” took us back to the universe momentarily, we as a fandom miss the intricate storylines and theories that were abundant in BTS MVs. We would like to find out if Seokjin was able to save everyone or whether he asks Taehyung for help. A major part of BTS’ discography is the intricate storylines intertwined with the lyrics. So yes, it would be good to get them back, but if the boys decide to change direction and do what makes them happy in the moment, then that’s ok, too.
Despite all the arguments, one cannot deny the fact that “Permission to Dance'' can bring people happiness and give hope for an arriving post-pandemic world. Coupled with the strong messages sent through a fun MV, it is truly an enjoyable and wholesome ride.
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Written By: Basabdatta
Edit By: Esma
Checked By: Vera
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