How BTS carved my way into K-pop

14 min readNov 15, 2020

First of all, I just think that this experience might be different through multiple perspectives because I know that BTS is a global phenomenon and really think that a lot a people would have the same opinion or impact from BTS, but this is really just another personal journal and might be opinionated or biased but I guess that’s fine for me.

How I defined my musicality

I’m not a really a musical person, I don’t really enjoy music for it’s as a form of art and have a critical judgement towards one piece. I just listen to it intuitively or if I could say that if some music at least give me a feeling melodically, then I will liked it. However, I would consider myself as a creative person and really appreciate every creative process and if music is fundamental element to that, then I will try to explore more about it.

I wasn’t really exploring through the world of music or genre. whatever it’s popular or I might found that music thematically. It’s when a song is associated with some context or moment, then obviously I would really really liked it. Because of course that music can means as a memories of feeling that I experienced in a certain of time. For example, I don’t really have any favourite artist since College Years, but then when I joined the expedition team to Ambon and actually listens to the song out there, then *Boom* my playlist would’ve actually turned into one of Ambon’s most loved collections. or when I joined the Tokyo University Workshops and teamed up with those folks from Japanese I would loved to listens to anything Japanese in particular in that moment. And when I listens to those songs again maybe a month or a year later than I would totally embracing the moment back then. That’s the kind of feeling I want to experience when I listens to music, I’d like Imagine a place or somewhere that’s is not usual.

What I see in an artist or songwriter is how they able to tell a story, maybe that’s why I really enjoyed good musicals such as Le Misérables stage or maybe some disney flicks that I used to play over and over again. Another alternatives sounds that really quite comforting like a low-tempo bass guitar of 2000’s coming of age soundtrack. HAHA, this might sound cliché but it really does gives me certain vibes. I really likes the sounds of all Coldplay’s discography, I worshipped them, I cried to it, it is the definition on how I grew up and can really be something personal. Other similar bands/artists gave the same kind of vibes too, old-rock or some british simple and traditional instrumental, not much beats etcetera just really come easy to my ears and definitely leaves some feelings for me.

Perceptions Towards K-pop Fans

Musicians like The Lumineers or The Kooks, The Strokes, Radiohead or any other ‘pensi’ underground band is the most common and popular especially during high school years. You would be considered as one of those cool kids if you listens to it. However, not the same goes for k-pop fans prior to the 2nd generations of k-pop. I used to humiliate them all my high school years, and yes I would definitely regretted that. The biggest backlash that I know, however, came from this so called ‘cool kids’ and not just boy but girls too. Some Indonesian students, unapologetically published homophobic behaviour attacking both Korean boy and girl group or their fans and Korean men in general because how they looks (wardrobe, make-up and stylish etc). Which is kinda shameful if we looked back in these times.

Persona: How Jungian Archetype introduce me with BTS

In that time I was doing my final project about Carl Jung archetype on heroes stories and doing my ethnical research on Polynesian People including their music and mythologies and their stories connects and passed on through lyrical and melodic sounds of traditional instruments and folklores. So at that times I mostly just listens to Polynesian folklore and disney’s Moana soundtracks, because it really nice to work in the studio with the same vibes as my projects and slowly learning about their culture.

About Jungian Archetype, all I know is that the theory of how Persona, Anima, Ego and Shadow can be found within one’s soul and how it can defined each archetype of a persons or a character. And I really liked that BTS’s chose this as their album concept, it’s the same book I was reading for my thesis project. and then I found out that the other albums was still having the same connectivity theory for each album. This made me realise that they’re not just another product of this K-pop industry, their agency (BigHit Ent) and the artist really works together in crafting every releases and production that just well thought and the result was really sophisticated.

Based on how I listened to music those years, I constantly just updated my playlist momentarily per semester with the same bland artist. but the last semester before final project I found some Japanese pop band, like Sunny Day Service or Awesome City Club that gives electro-pop citylights scenery every time I listen to it. Just like cyberpunk, I grew fond of some of that sounds and how I imagined myself being there. but I still hates the sound of K-pop because I think that it’s just too noisy.

But as you know it was 2019 and it’s quite impossible to avoid any hype about BTS. whether it was on TV or Youtube and any social media platform. No matter what type of music I’m currently listening to, I’m going to try to listen to that ‘Boy with Luv’ and all I could say is that I’m surprised because this song was actually ‘listenable’ it was not as noisy and annoying as I thought it would be a K-pop generic songs.

‘Boy with Luv’ exploits a coral echoes as the intro and the rest of the song is sounds like what J-pop electronic that I really liked. It has some groove vibes, relaxing and carefree especially in the times of my final project. The visuals was mostly this pink sunset and it really breaks my stereotype on how boys should not wear pink or whatever because, hell! they all looks fabulous in the music videos. The white shirts in contrast with the sets and how halsey actually lifted the song, all I could say is that this song is enough for me to want to know and hear more from BTS.

The next song I listen to was ‘Trivia 轉 : Seesaw’ which exactly the same beat and possibly lo-fi slow tempo rap and it was really nice sounds to listen to, I ended up being addicted to it, and many many more ( — I would call it soft-BTS songs). I started to listen to more B-sides of Map of the Soul: Persona. Knowing from their old song that they’re singing about objectifying idols by not seeing them as artist makes me want to understand how they are talking about their ‘Persona’ in this album. How the urban and domestic duality can really exposed by RM’s ‘Persona’ compared to their title track ‘Boy with Luv’, but the details of the music and type-beat still have connectivity in this album. The rest of the album sounds about the same because they maintain this consistency in crafting the combinations between rap and vocal that sounds really melodious but not boring. For example, one of my favourite’s was ‘Jamais Vu’ that really combine J-Hope’s deep slow rap with Jin’s harmonic vocalizations. And ‘HOME’ was another breakfree song, the comforting aura and energy really makes me feels like home. and I really cherish the time I was in final studio working with my friends, and yes, officially MOTS: Persona is my studio soundtrack alongside with ‘Spring Day’ and ‘Just One Day’.

One more I admired about them is their storytelling ability within songs and music videos throughout ‘Bangtan Universe’ that wasn’t just merely a selling point in terms of marketing goods and merchandises, but really something substantial and fans really invested by it’s story and connectivity. You could find a lot of fan theories and dissertation regarding Bangtan Universe, but I don’t really want to dig deep into that, it’s just really fascinating because it was unprecedented and executed beautifully. my favourite piece was one of ‘Euphoria’ by Jungkook with the intro of Claire de Lune really caught my attention in the first place about this Bangtan Universe.

BTS’s Performance and musicality

Another type of videos (other than BTS’s funny compilations HAHAH — ) that I stumble across (or purposely search) on YT was their performance. I firstly hates the song ‘Idol’ because it was so loud and — what for? but after saw their stage on Jimmy Fallon and SNL etc,.. DAMN these people are good. they’re that Good and it was so intriguing watching their entire performance and the energy was really lifting and just so full of colours. It really opens my ears for that electro dance pop kind of beats, kinda ‘Dangdut’ but damn that’s THE LIFE. It’s 10 out of 10 journey roller-coaster from beginning to end. Next thing I know I ended up in multiple playlist of BTS’s Dance Practice.

Prior to that, I really liked BTS’s musicality and how they write their own music. I discovered some of their old debut performance and it just seems really organic. The live session of armypedia (please looked it up on youtube, they sang ‘No More Dreams’, ‘Just One Day’ and ‘Like Pt.2’) They were doing small stage like NPR Live Music or MTV Unplugged, pure live vocals and without any embellishment. It wasn’t like any k-pop stages at all, remembering that both Namjoon and Yoongi were underground rapper, I could really see their reference built-up and how it affected the whole group performance (and don’t even get me started on Main Vocalist’s Jungkook)

Yes BTS worked on total of 16 albums for 7 years (did not include Japanese release). They saved the big hit agency despite on their verge of bankruptcy on 2014-ish, and they were really small agency. How k-netz used to mock BTS, because they seemed like a try hard, pretentious and don’t really fit the concept material of K-Pop back then. But they overcame it. In their songs they reflected their storytelling and connectivity through making multiple part of the song; for example, the rap-line wrote ‘Chyper’ as their signature rap-song (RM, Suga and J-Hope) and it was from Chyper Pt.1,to Pt.4. and their 2019’s title track: ‘Boy with Luv’ was a reverence from their old hit ‘Boy in Luv’ in 2014. as well as ‘ON’ was the reverse of their ‘N.O’ back in 2013.

Not only from song writing and title tracks, but the whole albums have their continuity too. I really liked the idea of Map Of The Soul have 2 parts and it was ‘Persona’ and ‘7’ and in both albums have the track ‘Persona’ and ‘Shadow’ as their interlude and ‘Ego’ as outro. The selection within these songs were not merely as because Jungian Archetype theory, in fact it’s a complete journey from question each Persona “ — how the hell am I?” realizing each Shadow and how they overcame their Ego to Love Yourself even more. Trust me, maybe this is just how BigHit Ent would market’s BTS album into thinking fans to buy more with different versions but it’s not empty and army’s definitely purchasing! (I mean, look at those sales)

Whether language being barrier or not, but I was able to resonate with their music and I was grateful for that ( — but also shoutout to my ARMY friend who painstakingly help to recommend me some good contents!). In gratitude, I wanted to get to know more of their personalities. Who they are as people aside from their stage personas, I fell down a rabbit hole. I started watching videos of their channel (‘BANGTANTV’), ranging from dance practices to random backstage compilations and reality-show episodes. From all these, I was quickly discovering more and more about their individual quirks and personalities. Before I knew it, I knew all their names and random little facts about who they are.

During an interview, BTS’s were asked on their opinion why audiences internationally were able to connect with them despite the language barrier. They talked about the message behind their lyrics and how their passion in performing excites both themselves and the audience. Most importantly, they really emphasised that sincerity is what keeps them real. Sincerity in what they say, in how they act, in what they sing, in what they think.

mono.

The next thing my army friend recommend to me was ‘mono.’, all because I liked the soft-bts things and lo-fi music and because I was really interested in RM’s speech and BTS’s appearance on United Nations to spoken up about how ‘Love Yourself’ was a reflection on self care and mental health awareness. What surprised me about listening to ‘mono.’ was how comforted I felt, somehow the style of music and Namjoon’s unique way of transitioning from rapping into singing (and vice versa) really calmed me down. As someone who is gets anxious on and off in varying intensity, the album felt like therapy for my mind.

What really hit hard was ‘everythingoes’ with NELL and every ‘jinaga’ chorus repeatedly and overlapped with Namjoon build-up rap. It’s a song about growing up and facing the world and required not to fucked up as it goes and you must through a lot pain but eventually everything goes, it will passed and pain don’t last forever. As reviewer on CelebMix described ‘mono’ as the journey of ‘the growing sensibility of an individual named Namjoon.’

All the previous ‘stereotype’ that is attached when it comes to someone being a fan of K-Pop, The members of BTS have also spoken up about this. wishing that fans do not have to deal with the struggle of being fans of ‘idols’. It’s not about ‘stanning’ a visual. But talent, hard work and perseverance that all the package of an idols had to overcome and how they can be inspiring to other individuals.

I felt their sincerity, towards the dreams they pursued. They are unashamed to admit that they too are still learning everyday about who they are as a person and who they want to be seen on top of their wonderful idol’s packaging. Their sincerity in finding who they are had also revived my own journey to find out who I really want to be.

Expanding The Barrier

After grow fond of how K-pop music sounds. My friend started to throwing me some girl groups, at first I haven’t even listens to any female musicians after finding out about BTS for about 3 months. I started to think that BTS was the leading tier in K-pop so I don’t try to listens to other K-pop. but then, my friend came with ‘Fancy’ by TWICE. Man, IDK what to say.

I’ve heard them once at TV Program alongside with ‘Boy with Luv’ because I guess they were release the same month, and at first I thought it was really annoying sounds K-pop used to made, but yes then again it was long ago before BTS. But after listen to it again and while watching their performance, it was really magical because I couldn’t take my eyes off them the whole performance, I mean these girls are crazy. The music was crazy good, it lifted the whole room and the instrumental were so complex it really gives me butterflies. I mean nobody does it like they do anymore these days, I really liked their choreography and synchronizations and might probably the closest vibes I get to as I watched BTS. There were 9 girls and I know I immediately had to run my ‘BTS’s routine’ to get to know them. They might not be as good musically to BTS, but they know how to be throw a performance so lifting and literally fills anybody’s heart not just once but TWICE with their vocals-dance and visuals. ( — no pun intended)

As I starting to get to know TWICE, I can say that they are the most consistent with the whole concept of cute candy-pop. Not only constantly execute the concept, they perfected it. In a way that people used to look down on shallow candy-pop music being ‘Basic’. They matured the concept in a sophisticated way, as they grow up from teenager when debut at 16–20 and now they’ve grown as mostly they are 20s and started their craft on writing lyrics and producing music, as their songs more mature and serious but still has the same colourful TWICE’s trademark over it. And all I could say is that their discography improving because JYPE finally let them join in the album making. Just like BTS, Seventeen or DAY6 who are self-produce, but things like this were not really common in girl groups.

Waiting for their comebacks were really fascinating because my first K-pop comeback was TWICE’s ‘Feel Special’ which Released in my most difficult times. I was at my first jobs and it was really hard, but the Songs never failed to makes me smile despite the language barrier. And when I listens to the lyrics it was really relatable, and it was both heart-breaking and endearing because sometimes we both feel the same ways, and idols are just human too and they were teenagers too and now we are on the steps of maturing into the adulthood who no ones could prepare. How they keep receiving hates as an idols but keep maintaining to focus on positive energy and remind us to feel important and love ourself. What I liked most about them were because although people might known their music as this colourful shallow pop vibrant, that sometimes we forgot that the lyrics were really deep and spoke about the issues we face nowadays, ex: ‘Likey’, that speaks about how social media affected out perception of doing things in daily basis, ‘Feel Special’, ‘Breakthrough’, ‘21:29’ etc.

Nesting in BTS and TWICE really made my days even brighter than before, and I was really enthusiast and looking forward for their comeback, and I think that it was enough for me only listen to the top nation’s boy and group of Korea. But the truth is that it’s not enough, I ended up enjoying recent releases of 4th gen K-pop such as TXT and ITZY (yes, both are BTS and TWICE’s successors). Day 6 as K-band that still use the concept of K-Pop, they’re underrated but are really good. And I enjoy some of that Red Velvet, known as having one of the best discography of all girl groups and it did Not Lie. Seventeen and G-friend were amazing, their music fits so well to me and they were under the BigHit Labels now, their recent releases were outstanding plus Seventeen is self-produced too. And Last but not least, Big Bang, who were like BTS’s predecessor and I really got the hypes over VIP’s. Some of the new groups I just found out such as; Loona, NCT, Oh My Girl and Stray Kidz, starting to make ways into my listening routine. These groups filled my everyday playlist now for more K-pop combinations.

For closing I just want to quote;

“We become a fan of an artist or music because we are all looking for something or someone we can relate to.”

I’m thankful that they became someone I could relate to — not only through their music, but also through each of their personal takes on life.