BTS’ shortly awaited album ‘BE’ dropped on Nov. 20. By first glance, it appears in a simple aesthetic with a track list of eight titles — seven songs and one skit.
For long-time fans, the album inhibits a sense of nostalgia of some of their old-style sounds. The familiarity in their new songs builds up to the reassurance of hope.
As a fan of BTS since 2014, I feel I’ve come to have an intimate fan relationship with BTS as many others. Their messages and structure of storytelling of relativity for their fans is one of the sincerest purposes laced in the creation of their music.
While this album is considered to be a “Pandemic Album” it’s special to me for releasing the day after my pandemic birthday, so I’ll drink to that.
After reading a few other articles on the album about it being about the everyday routine of being home and living through, it serves as a comforting reminder. That is BTS’ intention for this album after all.
For instance, Jason Pham wrote in his article in reference to a press release, “For this album in particular, the septet took a step further and was involved not only in the music making process, but also in the overall production: concept, composition, design, etc…[BE] reflects the thoughts, emotions and deepest ruminations of BTS while working on the album. This new project offers an even richer musical spectrum experience as well as the most ‘BTS-ish’ music yet.”
As a friend and I had discussed, the album’s vibe reminded us of their old music with the infused hip-hop. Such albums it reminds me of are ‘O!RUL82?’ and ‘Skool Luv Affair’ as well as ‘Dark & Wild’.
There is definitely some freshness also infused in these tracks though. My current favorite would have to be ‘Telepathy’.
With that said, let’s take a look at the meaning behind the songs!
“Life Goes On”
The album was accompanied by the release of the MV (music video) for ‘Life Goes On’, which premiered Nov. 19. The MV reflects BTS in the setting of how the Pandemic is impacting their everyday lives.
V driving shortly with a face mask, Jungkook gazing out his window from his bedroom, to the entire band in their pajamas playing games in the living room.
They also watch a video/slideshow of some sort with memories of them which seems to imply them having fun before the pandemic began. They reminisce together on it with smiles and hugs.
After a close up of Jin in the living room with the rest of the members falling asleep in the background, he closes his eyes and reopens them transitioned to the stage. They are dressed up in white suits, sitting on stools and performing in an empty stadium with their backs turned away from the empty seats to face the camera.
To me, the MV showcases that the pandemic life is something both they and we are experiencing together. Through lonesomeness being cooped inside our homes, but they are making the best out of it by presenting us with music to fill that lonesome abyss.
As written on the album cover summarizing the song itself,
Life goes on
Like an echo in the forest
Like an arrow in the blue sky
On my pillow, on my table
Life goes on like this again
Ultimately, in an article written by Heran Memo on Billboard, they quoted Jungkook at a global press conference talking about the MV, “The emotion I wanted to express is the sadness and the longing that was felt because the tour was canceled due to COVID-19 and because we couldn’t see ARMY much…”
“Fly To My Room” (“내 방을 여행하는 법”)
As we transition through the Pandemic experience down this track list, ‘Fly To My Room’ is about isolation in our rooms.
Four members out of the seven partake in this song — Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, and V.
The song addresses how it is “so suffocating” and they’re “going crazy” as a result of the Pandemic forcing them to stay in the comfort of their room.
It is further expressed (in translation) that they want to leave, but that there is no way and that their room is everything, so they will turn it into their own world:
I want to leave any way
But well, there’s no way
This room is my everything
Well then, let’s just
Turn this place
Into my own world
Staying home in turn of this Pandemic means we must find our own way of keeping ourselves occupied, at least that is what I take from this song. In the chorus, it translates to:
How about I leave, let me fly to my room
Lower my gaze and just go, wherever, zoom
Come out now, let me fly to my room
Get me outta my blues
And now I’m feelin’ brand new
In Suga’s rap verse, he goes into detail about the room being too small to contain his dreams, but that he lands on his bed where it is the safest and that:
Whether it’s sadness or happiness or any other feeling
This place just accepts it all
Even though sometimes this room becomes a trash can of feelings
It embraces me
In J-Hope’s rap verse, he expresses how in his room it’s like he has gone downtown with the toys that look like people, and the tv noise. Also saying that the food is three stars, and to fill himself up with positivity.
So, while this song touches on being suffocated of staying indoors all the time, it seems that going to our room, a place of familiarity and comfort, is a place of imagination and refreshing ourselves.
“Blue & Grey”
This slow song hits the peak of feeling, pun intended, of blue & grey. To summarize that meaning by the chorus:
I just wanna be happier
Melt me, I’m cold
My hand reached out innumerable times
A colourless echo
Oh this ground feels so heavier
I am singing by myself
I just wanna be happier
Is even this too much to ask for?
I believe this is something I have experienced mostly during my school semester, as well as my friends. We’ve all broken down at the verge of wanting to quit, or felt we needed to let at least one thing go in order to relieve the stress.
Three of my friends ended up dropping out in one class of theirs. This is just an example to emphasize that BTS is accurately describing the mass emotion of what many people are feeling, or have felt.
Sometimes feeling this way tends to conjure thoughts that just may be a result of feeling consumed by the tiring year. The kind of thoughts that just seem random, yet convenient because they are born from this atmosphere around us.
Because of this, I have friends considering taking a semester off, and one friend considering to quit school altogether. To me, this is the kind of thought that I believe may be the Pandemic’s fault.
I can only hope that it gets better, for BTS as well as all of us.
“Skit”
Just like in BTS’ past albums, they sometimes have a skit included where it’s a recording of them talking. They talk in their native language Korean, so I personally skip over the track when listening to the album.
According to the translation on genius lyrics, they were discussing being No. 1 on the billboard. When listening to the skit you can tell by their tones and laughter that they seem to be goofing around. It is much more present when reading the translation.
“Telepathy”
The meaning of this song could be interpreted as the relationship between ARMY (the term for BTS’ fans meaning Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth) and BTS, or even us in relation to our friends and family.
The translation of the chorus is as follows:
Even though right now we’re far away
Our hearts are still the same, aren’t they?
Even if you’re not by my side, yeah
Even if I’m not by your side, yeah
We all know we’re still together
When the days all feel the same
I’m the happiest when I meet you
When every day is different
The most special person to me is you
BTS is known for writing songs specifically for ARMY as their thanks and to showcase their love and appreciation. They cherish their relationship with their fans so much, ARMY is one of their motivations for all the blood, sweat, and tears they shed.
I actually would not be surprised if this were a song for ARMY, but I like the general idea of this song. Being separated from people in our life and not able to hang out with them is a relative feeling for us all.
“Dis-ease”
This song was harder for me to interpret. It is an interesting concept. I like the use of “Disease” split as “Dis-ease”. It seems like instead of touching on the ugly of “disease” it’s altered in meaning and representation.
The question from translation of:
Yo, has the world caught a disease or have I?
Is it simply a difference in interpretation
Amongst those who are watching?
The song also touches on that reminder that life goes on. We all do the same thing everyday, and gotta get through.
Everyday, I comfort myself
Everyone’s just the same, ain’t so special
Ay man keep one, two step
Let’s try calmly healing everyone
My disease
Dis-dis-dis-dis-dis-ease
Throw away fear
Fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-ar
Throw away fear
Moreover, this song in terms of style sounds the most reminiscent of their older styles, but also somewhat fresh on the vintage side.
The song is another upbeat-type, so to some extent I could say by implication it’s about getting better and through the lonesomeness and boredom. Come to think of it, our disease could be what the pandemic ultimately casted over us, being it’s not COVID, but the disease of said loneliness and boredom.
“Stay”
Jin, RM, and Jungkook are the only members who partake in this song. This song sounds like it may be directed to ARMY.
In part of RM’s rap verse:
I’m thinking about you right now
Wherever you are
It’s really not important
We connect to 7G
The line that implicates that in my opinion is “We connect to 7G” which seems like a comparison of a network connection. In this case, ARMY’s connection to BTS, because there are seven members.
It’s a cheesy line, but I find it cute that BTS is always thinking about their fans and caring about them.
All-in-all, this song is generally about no matter where we are, or even wherever ARMY is, we will always stay.
“Dynamite”
This song was originally released singularly Aug. 21. This song is completely english, and is upbeat in retro style. It is definitely something that is new to their palette.
At first, I liked the MV more than the song itself because of the appealing aesthetic, but I’ve come to enjoy the song more. It is rather catchy.
I would say that this song is a good song to end the album track list with. It beams a positive vibe, the kind that “life goes on” implies we eventually will return to.
Cos ah ah I’m in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight
Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I’mma light it up like dynamite, woah
The lyrics, the music, the beat, everything about this song sets the mood for looking forward to the best outcome.
Overall, this album, while I had no expectations, was an enlightenment. It’s a dose of familiarity, nostalgia, assurance, and broadening positivity for hope. It’s a short and enjoyable album, and if you haven’t listened I recommend it!
You can find the songs released by the official BANGTANTV YouTube channel, which they organized in a playlist. Other than that, you can also find the album on Spotify and Apple. For the lyrics and Korean to English translations, you can refer to Genius or Color Coded Lyrics. Feel free to check out the other new versions of ‘Life Goes On’ MV:
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