WEEK 18 | End of the Rainbow
April 29 - May 3, 2024
Ascension.
When we began our exploration of WINGS, we found ourselves in a very dark place of self-examination—surrounded by temptation and feeling very lost. The album has taken us on a journey of discovery, allowing us to acknowledge the duality within ourselves that is necessary for growth and change. This musical journey wasn’t easy—from “Intro: Boy Meets Evil”, through the member’s solo songs, and then “Lost”, we stumbled and had to continually regain our footing and get back on the path.
BTS reaching for the stars on stage in Bangkok in 2016
And now here we are—our last week with WINGS. It feels surreal. We’ve spent a month with this album… we’ve talked about so much, and yet I feel like we could probably spend another whole month discussing it even more. There’s so much content and not enough time! Same old story, right?
Last week, “Cypher Pt. 4” kicked off the conclusion of the album… leading us out of temptation and on to acceptance. The Rap Line sends a strong message to all of BTS’ naysayers with that track—I love myself, and maybe you should worry less about me and start loving YOURself. Once we’ve self-reflected and examined all the pieces of ourselves (good AND bad) and realized we’re worth loving anyway—that’s acceptance. And that’s exactly where the conclusion of WINGS brings us.
We’ve walked the path, but now it’s time to take a breath, count to three, and use our wings.
Playlists & Lyrics
BTS: WINGS ALBUM SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (also embedded at bottom of post)
ARMY PROJECT 529 WEEK 18 VIDEO PLAYLIST (all YouTube links)
DAY ONE:
Callback of BTS “War of Hormone” concept shoot
Remember when we discussed 2014’s “War of Hormone” all the way back in Week Seven? The lyrics of that song stirred up a bit of a controversy, with some listeners and media outlets calling them “misogynistic”—claiming they objectified women, valuing their worth only through the male gaze. Whether you agree with that assessment or not, it’s an important conversation to have and should be taken seriously. BTS eventually apologized for any potential harm caused and vowed that they would work hard to learn from the lesson and do better in the future.
Fast forward two years later to the release of WINGS. The group had already seen plenty of growth in the time that had passed since the “War of Hormone” controversy, but they were determined to let everyone know they didn’t forget their promise. RM had taken it to heart, feeling an attack on BTS’ lyrics was an attack on him in particular. So he was determined to get it right this time and capture the true essence of a feminist anthem.
Enter “21st Century Girls”... just kidding! (I thought about drawing that joke out a bit longer, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it.)
If anyone keeps insulting you (insulting you)
Tell em you’re my lady go and tell em (tell em)
No matter what others say, no matter what the world says,
You’re the best to me just the way you are
With lyrics that still quantify female empowerment through a man’s opinion, we can’t seriously call this song a feminist anthem. However, it does perfectly fit in with our journey through WINGS in that it encourages self-love and acceptance—something women tend to struggle with on the whole. It does show some growth in that way, and we all know that RM and BTS would only continue to evolve lyrically.
“21ST CENTURY GIRLS” MCOUNTDOWN PERFORMANCE (03:28 - shown above)
BANGTAN BOMB: BTS AND SHINEE BEING ADORABLE ON MUSIC BANK (01:11, Minho is DETERMINED to bother V.)
BANGTAN BOMB: ARMYs SING “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” TO JIMIN (03:59, Right before they perform “21st Century Girls”)
“21ST CENTURY GIRLS” ON MUSIC CORE ( 03:19)
BTS REACT TO THEIR PERFORMANCES OF 21CG AND BS&T ON MUSIC CORE (06:50, Jimin pouts as they rag on him for his “shoulder porn” AGAIN, V is a vampire, j-hooooooope, and NAMJOON’S DEEP V. - shown below)
ACTING LIKE CHILDREN AT VARIOUS FAN SIGN EVENTS (00:27, mostly Jimin & Jung Kook annoying each other)
JIMIN’S QUOTE OF THE DAY: VLOG 11/13/16 (02:08, Jimin-ssi being adorable AF. - shown below)
BANGTAN BOMB: “EAT JIN” BACKSTAGE (FEAT. JIMIN & OTHER MEMBERS) (04:04, Jimin takes his “guest” duties seriously, the others just want food; V eats in “Tiny Pout”.)
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW AT MUSIC BANK (01:06, Not in YT playlist.)
J-HOPE BEING J-HOOOOOOOOOPE AT A FANSIGN EVENT (01:02, No subtitles, but the body language is universal.)
JIMIN & JUNG KOOK MAKE 2016 LIST OF MOST POPULAR MALE IDOLS (05:28, Really nice video tributes to them, not in YT playlist.)
BONUS: V KEEPS HIS PROMISES TO ARMY: VLIVE 12/13/16 (25:28, Delulu Life Hacks with Taehyungie.)
Fun Fact
As we have learned throughout our coverage of the HYYH and WINGS eras, BTS often plans their content down to very minute details, like featured artwork, or even what color a door might be.
And then other times… they don’t. But it still works. A prime example? The song “Otsukare” began with j-hope, just adlibbing and making up songs during the Japanese stops from their HYYH era tours. His little songs became so popular, they were later fleshed out into one song by SOPE, the iconic sub-unit of SUGA and j-hope.
The word “ostsukare” is derived from “Otsukaresama Desu”, which, when translated from Japanese, literally means “tired way”. The implication of this is “You’ve worked hard,” or “You’re doing a great job.” In Japan it is used to convey appreciation and respect for the time and effort someone has put into whatever they’re working on.
j-hope, then subsequently SUGA and the rest of BTS, wanted a way to thank their Japanese fans for all of their love and support, and this slightly longer than two and a half minute masterpiece is what we got. We have some performances linked below, as well as the SOPE/“Otsukare” origin story. Please enjoy.
DAY TWO:
Our main take away from “21st Century Girls” should be that it’s a fun bop that makes us want to get up and dance. Live performances are full-energy and the choreography is crazy. And sometimes… that’s really all we need.
BTS performing BS&T on M!Countdown
The title track, “Blood Sweat & Tears”, is very serious and sensual. The song and the choreo are both fully steeped in the early themes of WINGS—temptation, seduction, inner turmoil. The members enjoyed performing it, but it didn’t exactly leave room for them to be relaxed and goofy.
“21st Century Girls” did offer them that opportunity. When you watch any of the live stages we have linked above or below, you can see how much fun BTS is having, and how good it must have felt for them to be able to blow off some steam that way.
In particular, we’d like to spotlight the song’s hallowed place in the “BTS Halloween Dance Practice” hall of fame. Truly, is anything better than the annual tradition of the members of Bangtan putting on ridiculous costumes and trying to perform the choreo of one of their songs?
The answer is: NO. No, there isn’t anything better. Check out 2016’s legendary Halloween Dance Practice down below, along with the “Things you might have missed…” video that follows. Highlights include Jimin trying to see out of his costume, Jin not knowing where to put his ass, and Jung Kook dressed as… himself.
“21ST CENTURY GIRLS” LIVE STAGE MIX (03:22 - as shown)
A “COORDINATED” EXIT FROM A FANSIGN (01:54, They attempt to leave à la “21st Century Girls”.)
BEHIND THE SCENES “21ST CENTURY GIRLS” OFF THE RECORD (MPD CAM) (05:44, Playing around & being goofy, not in YT playlist. - as shown)
HALLOWEEN DANCE PRACTICE “21ST CENTURY GIRLS” (03:14, The Jung Kook is a Bunny Agenda is REAL - as seen above.)
THINGS YOU DIDN’T NOTICE IN THE 21CG HALLOWEEN DANCE PRACTICE (03:55, “Jung Kook is dressed as himself.”)
BONUS: 35 MINUTES OF RM BEING THE LITERAL CUTEST HUMAN ON THE PLANET: VLIVE 12/14/16 PRACTICE (35:42, “Shut up, Malfoy!”)
Bangtan Bubble: Which BTS Halloween Dance Practice is your favorite?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
When the voices inside are telling us negative things about ourselves, it’s easy to listen and believe. Remember Jimin’s song, “Lie”? What’s even more difficult is realizing that, sometimes, the voices are an indication we need to make a change within ourselves—think of RM’s “Reflection.” Harder still? We may never achieve every result we want, but still loving ourselves enough to try is important. Accepting this—as Jin does in “Awake”—is not easy.
The journey BTS takes us on through WINGS is one that is deeply personal to the group. Even before their Debut in 2013, they faced criticisms not only from the outside, but from within themselves as well. As they navigated the tumultuous first few years of their career, there was always a strong and constant force by their side, helping them along the path—ARMY.
“2! 3!” is the album’s penultimate track, and it’s the first official “fan song” released by BTS as a thank-you gift for ARMY’s unwavering support. It contains an important personal message of perseverance in the face of opposition. A K-Pop Idol lives under a microscope lens. There is endless scrutiny. It can be easy to focus only on the negatives. The lyrics of “2! 3!” credit ARMY with boosting BTS’ confidence and giving them the strength to carry on during times when they felt beaten down by the pressure.
And even though this song is a gift for the fans, we, in true ARMY fashion, couldn’t accept a gift without giving one back (we learned it from BTS—it’s their fault!) During the performance of “2! 3!” at the 3rd Muster fan meet, BTS was surprised to see all the ARMY Bombs in the audience light up purple instead of their normal white color. (First-generation ARMY Bombs could not change colors.) This was the very first “Purple Ocean,” and it inspired something very intrinsic to BTS’ and ARMY’s relationship from that moment onward. See today’s Fun Fact for more info…
“2! 3!” COLOR-CODED LYRICS (04:33 - show above)
THE FIRST “PURPLE OCEAN” 2016 (DURING “2! 3!”) (06:31, BTS performs & reacts to ARMY’s surprise. - shown below)
“2! 3!” UNOFFICIAL FAN MADE M/V (04:38, Have your tissues ready.)
SHOW CHAMPION QUIZ CUT (FEAT. BTS & VARIOUS OTHER IDOLS) (15:34, They all try to answer questions about each other, and it’s very amusing.)
“PURPOSE” COVER BY JUNG KOOK (03:18, Orig. by Justin Bieber - shown below)
BONUS: JIMIN COLORS & IT’S FREE THERAPY: VLIVE 11/26/16 (25:56, No, you’re not crazy, the first minute is dark AND silent.)
BONUS: JIN & JIMIN ON “HELLO, COUNSELOR” (01:17:23, Variety show on which Jin & Jimin are adorable, lots of memes.)
Fun Fact
When you started diving down the BTS rabbit hole, did you find yourself confused by some of the phrases and terminology you saw the fandom using? ARMY and BTS have a bit of a shared language together, and it’s a lot of fun discovering the origins and meanings behind it all.
Arguably, the most important and beloved ARMY phrase of all time is “Borahae” (보라해). It’s a mashup of two Korean words: Bora (보라) and Saranghae (사랑해), which mean “purple” and “I love you” respectively. You may have heard this term before, but did you know it was actually coined by V?
Today we shared a video of the first “Purple Ocean” that ever happened, and it was during BTS’ 3rd Muster Fan Meet (Covered in Day Three’s Fun Fact). ARMY planned a surprise for BTS by covering their ARMY Bombs with colored cloths (they used to not change color), so that they would light up and look purple during their fan song, “2! 3!”. When BTS saw this, they were incredibly moved, and had much to say about it in between songs.
Taehyung, in particular, was struck by the significance of the moment, and the color chosen. On the spot, he equated the color at the end of the rainbow to the relationship BTS and ARMY share, saying, “Let’s love each other until the very end.”
And thus, “Borahae” was created.
DAY FOUR:
Have you recovered from learning all about the origin of “Borahae” yesterday, or do you need more tissues? Keep them at the ready, because we’re not done with “2! 3!” quite yet…
Though the song credits an outside source (ARMY) with giving the speaker (BTS) strength to persevere, it does so by encouraging us to then look for the strength within ourselves to be able to keep going, to be able to leave the bad feelings behind and move toward happiness, love, and acceptance.
It’s okay When I say one two three, forget it
Erase all the sad memories Hold my hand and smile
It’s okay When I say one two three, forget it
Erase all the sad memories Hold each other’s hands and smile
Here, they encourage us to, on the count of three, let go of all the negativity. This message, as it’s the title of the song, has a special significance—it’s how they introduce themselves to us each time they perform or make an appearance anywhere. They count themselves in with “2! 3! Hello! We are… Bangtan Sonyeondan!” When ARMY hears that phrase, we instantly feel better. We know we’re about to enjoy time with seven normal guys from Korea who hold a very special place in our hearts.
We know—and so does BTS—that it’s not realistic to be able to forget every single worry indefinitely just by counting to three. Nor is it practical to focus only on the positives in life all the time, but it is okay to let go sometimes. And so that’s what they invite us to do when they count us in with “2! 3!”... to let go for a while, to let them lend their strength to us.
Do you need more tissues? Yeah, me too.
“2! 3!” LIVE (WINGS TOUR) (04:33 - shown above)
FLASH FORWARD: JUNG KOOK “2! 3!” BIRTHDAY KARAOKE: VLIVE 08/31/21 (03:37, Kookie harmonizes and raps effortlessly… of course.)
BTS RINGS IN 2017 AT MBC MUSIC AWARDS FESTIVAL (07:51, V is UNHINGED. - shown below)
“ALWAYS” BY RM COLOR-CODED LYRICS (03:13, A New Year’s Gift from Namjoon.- shown below)
BONUS: RAP MONSTER BECOMING RM: VLIVE 01/03/17 (25:17, Namjoon says “Goodbye” to his old self.)
Fun Fact:
“Calm down, my daughter.”
How many times have you found yourself saying this iconic line from “House of ARMY” to your ARMY friends? Here at AP529 it’s in heavy rotation everywhere from our meetings to the Discord Server—even in our TikTok Lives!
It can be easy to forget that “House of ARMY” was part of the VCR package for BTS’ epic 3rd Muster fan meet, called “ARMY.ZIP+”. It was held in November of 2016 at Gocheok Sky Dome, over two days. 38,000 ARMYs attended, which is over FOUR TIMES the number (9.000) from the 2nd Muster, held just ten months earlier, in January!
Enjoy all the memorable performances, the funny games and heartfelt words, and of course (as we highlighted yesterday), the creation of ARMY’s signature greeting and expression of love: “Borahae!” (“I Purple You!”)
ARMY Z.I.P 3RD MUSTER (PT. 1) (44:31, not in YT Playlist)
ARMY Z.I.P 3RD MUSTER (PT. 2) (45:28, not in YT Playlist)
ARMY Z.I.P 3RD MUSTER (PT. 3) (54:53, not in YT Playlist)
ARMY Z.I.P 3RD MUSTER (PT. 4) (52:54, not in YT Playlist)
BTS HOUSE OF ARMY (09:57, SO. MANY. MEMES, not in YT Playlist)
DAY FIVE:
We’ve discussed the significant influence Demian had on the creation of WINGS. Themes and imagery from the book can be found throughout the entire album, both in the lyrics and in the visual media.
One of the most prominent symbols we see pop up over and over again is that of the sparrow hawk. In Demian, the sparrow hawk represents a recurring desire for freedom and independence. We see the image of the bird all throughout the M/Vs and short films for WINGS.
“Intro: Boy Meets Evil” echoes “The Fall of Icarus,” a figure in Greek Mythology whose wings made of wax melted because he flew too close to the sun. In “Blood Sweat & Tears,” V shows a winged statue to Jin that is likely representative of Lucifer and thus—temptation. Jin kisses the statue, seemingly giving in to temptation, and then we see that V has apparently lost his own wings. Is he Lucifer? (I have several compelling PowerPoint presentations on why I believe that Kim Taehyung is, in fact, the Devil.)
The sparrow hawk is also a constant throughout the members’ solo short films. Jung Kook draws it and sends it to RM, who then tattoos it on himself. In “Awake,” Jin sees a painting of the sparrow hawk at the end of a long hallway and walks toward it as though he’s walking toward his freedom.
The entire album feels a bit like a young bird trying to find the strength to grow and fly. By the time we reach the end, and “Interlude: Wings,” we’re approaching the pinnacle of self-discovery. We’ve faced the duality within, we’ve realized that temptation lives within us all, and understand that it’s a necessary part of life. And lastly, we’ve found the strength to overcome the negative obstacles we create for ourselves.
I believe myself and that my back’s hurting is
for the wings to sprout
I believe you and that though now it seems humble
in the end you’ll leap into a prosperous future
It’s time to take what we’ve been given and use it. It’s time to fly…
BTS LIVE TRILOGY EPISODE III: WINGS TOUR TRAILER (01:53 - shown above)
“INTERLUDE: WINGS” LIVE IN JAPAN (GET UP AND DANCE!) (06:37, RM & SUGA both in glasses?! - as shown )
BTS RED CARPET AT THE GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (02:49, Not in YT playlist)
CLIPS OF BTS (& OTHER IDOLS) DURING THE GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (2:27, BTS vibing with EXO, SHINee, Seventeen, & others)
BTS COVER “WITHOUT A HEART” AT GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (02:32, Orig. by 8Eight - as shown)
J-HOPE BACKSTAGE AT GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (02:34, j-hope’s New Year’s Wish Corner.)
BTS CHRONICLE AT GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (08:13, A “greatest hits” mashup.)
RECEIVING THE “GLOBAL K-POP ARTIST” AWARD AT GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (01:47, No subtitles, but they communicate with AGGRESSIVE finger hearts.)
BTS INTERVIEW WITH VLIVE AT GOLDEN DISC AWARDS (09:40, SUGA: “ARMMMmmmMMMMyyyyyYYYYYY!” - as shown)
Bangtan Bubble: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken away from the WINGS album?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
WINGS: “You Never Walk Alone” Album
What a month this has been! When you compare the BTS who released 2 COOL 4 SKOOL in 2013 with the BTS who released WINGS in 2016, it feels like the difference between night and day, right? They came out of the gate undeniably talented and passionate, but the growth we are witnessing along this chronological journey is astonishing.
So what’s next? Where do you even go after an album like WINGS? Well, if you’re BTS, you go back to it… and make it even better. Next week, we learn that You Never Walk Alone.
Side Quest
RUN BTS! Season Two continues this week and we can use the laughs after the emotional ending of WINGS, right?
These are some of the six best episodes of the show ever, including a special one about their “Fucuoka” fan meet in Japan! Once again, so many memes and inside jokes come from this show…how could we ever forget Jin getting assaulted during a game of air hockey, or SUGA ENDLESSLY roasting Jung Kook during their bowling game?
My personal favorite though? “Taste of Korea”, hands down. V’s “Squirrel Locked in a Garden” sauce and Jung Kook’s glazed sweet potatoes never fail to make me laugh so hard that I cry. Enjoy!
RUN BTS! SEASON 2, EP. 17: “ARCADE OLYMPICS PT. 1” (20:41- shown above)
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
HYBE LABELS, BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, Brilliant, Naekoma, purple sakura, MBCkpop, Gamze Polat, BTS Live Archive, MIN Rya, Seishu, Tan Gent, HEXA6ON, Minseok, Lajibolala -REST-, Rhiannon, Thanh Tra Nguyen, Lynn Eksonyeondan, BTS Biased, Purple BTS, TSN1995, KBS WORLD TV, 현아바라기, 걸스 온 파이어 X KPOP JAMM, P r i n c e V, Nadya Liza, Lemoring, K - Highlights, af taehyung, Jssc Vllnv, Ven Ratanakmony, Maka Art 13, Nat S2, Bangtan, dailymotion.com (Kim taehyungie태태, Kimmy Yang, W1 THINGS)
ARMY Project 529 Volunteers
Research Team: Angel (TikTok: Lilangel2828), Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Merry (TikTok: merryj67), Sam T (TikTok: samt_26), Shelley (TikTok: shels167), Trudy (TikTok: theeducationmommy), Viv (TikTok: VivEliz); Video Team: Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day); Editing Team: Kendra (Discord: Mudskipper); Website Team: Colette (TikTok: voicesinmyhead2)
Join us on TikTok every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's The 529 Connection. It’s hosted by AP529 Founder, Stefne, on her channel (@StefARMYProject529). If you can't watch live and want to watch later, Lives will be recorded and posted to our YouTube (@ARMY Project 529).