BTS Gives You “Permission to Dance”!

BTS will appear for two consecutive nights on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They last visited the talk show in September 2020.
Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
BTS will appear for two consecutive nights on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They last visited the talk show in September 2020.
BTS approaches their music as art, because that’s what they want to create – something beautiful and meaningful that withstands the test of time.
BTS has the Midas touch when it comes to making hit records. “Butter” is their fourth chart topper (in less than nine months) to hit No. 1!
I never paid that much attention to McDonald’s previous celebrity collaborations (Travis Scott, J. Balvin). But when the hamburger chain announced that its latest celeb partnership would be with BTS, it made me happy. I know it’s easy to trash talk fast food. And while fast food usually is something we reserve for road trips, I will buy it on occasion for my son as a treat, just as my parents did for me.
In this essay, writer Jae-Ha Kim examines BTS’s recent statement calling attention to anti-Asian racism. Content warning for discussions of racism and use of a quoted slur.
Let’s get real. BTS doesn’t need to do much promotion these days. But knowing that their fans are missing them big time, the septet have gifted ARMY with a special talk show called “Let’s BTS.”
In this op-ed, writer Jae-Ha Kim unpacks the racist comments of German radio host Matthias Matuschik towards Korean band BTS in the larger context of the rise in violence toward Asian people globally. Content warning for discussions of racism and use of a quoted slur.
Teen Vogue asked 49 journalists to write about the best K-pop moments of 2020. I wrote about how BTS’ No. 1 hit single “Life Goes On” brought the Korean language to the forefront.
By refusing to allow naysayers to define who they are or who they should be, BTS have remained true to themselves. And with their latest collection of songs, they are encouraging their fans to also just … BE.
The South China Morning Post recently interviewed me to chat about BTS and the upcoming Grammy nominations: “If BTS aren’t nominated this time, it’s not because of their lack of talent,” said Jae-Ha Kim. “All it will mean is that the Grammys are as clueless as they were in 1989, when they handed the trophy for best hard rock/metal performance to Jethro Tull, rather than Metallica.”
BTS speak at the United Nations (again!); Shin Min-A talks about female empowerment; and Ji Chang-Wook and Kim Ji-Won will co-star in a new K-Drama!
While the challenges of feeling up close and personal with a group that’s not even in the same city are obvious, one of BTS’ charms is their ability to make fans feel valued and seen.
Graduates in 2020 are getting the short end of the stick, with very little pomp and circumstance. But BTS & Barack Obama are helping honor their achievements!
Are you ready for IU’s comeback? The singer-songwriter recently collaborated with BTS’ Suga. She also has a new film in the works, starring opposite Park Seo-Joon.
Have you ever attended a BTS Muster? You’re in for a treat this weekend with the free, two-day online event, BANG BANG CON.
Bang Bang Con is happening in a few days. But if you NEED to watch more BTS before then, here are some options.
In an attempt to remain anonymous, Gong Yoo donated money to help fight coronavirus under his real name of Gong Ji-cheol. The star of the film “Train To Busan” was among a slew of Korean celebrities (including Suga from BTS) who gave money to help medical workers and those afflicted by the disease.
BTS has done its share of guest spots that follow the standard routine: perform a song and then sit on the sofa chatting about what American food they like. But ever since their appearance last May on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” some American variety shows have gone out of their way to make things more unique.
“Anytime you hear the finished version of a song, it’s exciting,” says Ellis Miah, who co-wrote a song with BTS. “I think in any language, all the creators feel something special when they hear it. A song is more than lyrics. It’s melody and it’s emotion. While I don’t understand Korean, there is no mistaking the depth that V puts into this song.”
A breezy “Hey-na-na-na” precedes their declaration of nothing being able to “Hold me down/ ‘Cuz you know I’m a fighter” makes it obvious that, like this entire album, “ON” is an exhortation to their fans, but also homage to their own career.