Was BTS Just Lucky? Nope.

By Jae-Ha Kim
jaehakim.com
November 16, 2021

In 2018, the French publication, Libération, asked me a few questions about BTS. All my quotes ended up being cut out. (It happens.) Anyhow … I found my notes sitting in my drafts and wanted to share them. Because although this was more than three years ago, I still stand by what I said. 💜 (Reporter: Pablo Maillé, pabmaille@gmail.com)

Q. What are the most important issues BTS tackle in their songs, and what do they express about it?
A. BTS has shown support for so many important issues, either directly or through their actions. But one of the most important things they’ve talked about through their music is that loving and caring for yourself is something that shouldn’t be an afterthought. In many ways, people are taught from a young age to think of others before they think of themselves. This is wonderful, of course, but people — especially young people — are sometimes made to feel as if they are being selfish for taking some time for themselves. As adults, it’s easy to write off the problems as inconsequential. But when you are living through the stress of exams or family expectations, it can become unbearable. It’s these elements that really stand out for me in their music. They take the ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary.

Q. How would you explain their huge success, both in South Korea and internationally?
A. The obvious answer is that their music is really good, their performances are top notch and the group members are personable and engaging. Did luck and timing play a part in their success? Luck isn’t just something that happens while you’re sitting around doing nothing. In an episode of “Burn the Stage,” Jungkook said, “We’ve been lucky, but we worked hard for that luck.” And that’s really important to remember. I think of all these Korean artists who I really like, who I thought might be the ones to break into the U.S., and I wondered, why not them? It’s that it factor that differentiates BTS. That combination of these seven members is magical. Also, RM deserves some credit in all of this. The fact that he is so smart and thoughtful means that he gave foreign press meaningful quotes in a language they could understand. The fact that he speaks fluent English certainly made it easier to get interviews placed in English-speaking outlets. He could express what he wanted to say without having to rely on an interpreter.

Q. Have you ever heard about the controversy surrounding BTS’ supposedly misogynistic lyrics in their song “War of Hormone”? What do you think about it?
A. I love “War of Hormone” and have little issue with the song or the lyrics. They sound like hormonal, teenage boys — which they were at the time. Some of the lyrics are coarse, but are they vile? No. You could be pessimistic and say they apologized for the song to appease the charges of misogyny. But it’s very rock ‘n’ roll to not apologize. They would’ve still kept most of their fan base without an apology. So, this leads me to believe that what they wrote at the time isn’t who they have grown into as men and as artists. When I think about some of the best lyricists of our era, I think of John Lennon. Though “Run For Your Life” is credited to Lennon and Paul McCartney, it’s well known that it’s primarily a Lennon song. In the song, he tells the woman — who he calls little girl — that he’d rather see her dead than to be with another man. The lyrics were horrible and Lennon said that they reflected his misogynistic attitude at the time. Mind you, he would atone for his problematic lyrics later, writing “Jealous Guy,” “Oh My Love” and “Woman.”

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