WEEK 31 | Take My Hand Now

Monday Muster
Written By Quince

July 29 - August 2, 2024

Discovery.

Do you, like me, think that movies and television are far too predictable now—that we see the same stories over and over again? And what’s the most prominent one? The protagonist is alone, either hopeful for love, or completely against it… they meet someone who challenges their outlook, and at first there’s resistance, but inevitably they fall for each other. Then, of course, our protagonist gets in their own way and a rift occurs. This is followed by a montage of heartbroken wallowing (crying, ice cream eating… Celine Dion is probably singing in the background), until someone or something causes the protagonist to come to a realization that everything happened not because of the other person, but because they didn’t trust and/or love themself enough to give the relationship the chance it deserved. So then our montage turns from heartbreak to self-acceptance. And after that—after understanding and self-love have been achieved—reconciliation can happen. Our protagonist can find their ‘happily-ever-after’.


The actual story can look a little different depending on the setting and characters, but there’s no denying that this is a formula we see all the time. But why is that? I found the answer (see what I did there), amazingly enough, in BTS’ music. Examining their discography has given me the opportunity to truly consider the way I think about myself and the world. They have a special way of taking our shared human experiences and breaking them down to their most fundamental elements… all so we can learn from them.  

BTS’ Love Yourself series is designed to take us on a journey through ‘love’ itself, and all of its stages. Over the past six weeks we’ve experienced extreme highs and lows—the joy of discovery and the pain of loss. Released on August 24, 2018, the final album in the trilogy,  LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer', gives us everything from start to finish. It’s a repackaged album, with two discs, so it revisits all the songs from the previous two in the series (‘Her’ and ‘Tear’), but also intersperses eight new songs amongst them that bring the entire story together. This week, we’ll explore the theme of ‘discovery’—we learn new things about ourselves through love—for better or worse. BTS shows us we should embrace the conclusion, no matter what, because it’s all part of the journey toward reaching that final answer.

So now, when I find myself—in the middle of a movie plot—thinking, “Wow, I’ve seen this so many times, can’t they come up with something new?” I remember that there’s a reason the story of how we find love is told over and over. It’s universal. It’s something that we all experience in one way or another, no matter who we are… an inquisitive woman writing a blog in the United States just wondering what she should have for lunch, or seven men in South Korea who regularly sell out stadiums around the world.

 
 
 

Skip to Content: Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five

 

DAY ONE:

Before I had a true understanding of who Jeon Jung Kook, the Golden Maknae, really is, I saw him flying through the air above an adoring crowd while singing “Euphoria”. My first thought? “Oh wow, that seems unsafe.” Followed by “This song is so sappy.” (I know, go ahead and laugh. This was early in my BTS rabbit hole days.)


This is the song that opens LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'. Its lyrics evoke the sweet and sentimental feelings that accompany young love and new beginnings. It was the perfect song for Jung Kook to sing as he celebrated his 21st birthday (in International age) just after the album was released. He said, in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine, “I specifically like ‘Euphoria’ among many BTS songs because it has a voice that’s between a very young boy and a very mature man.” He put his personal struggle with feeling he’d lost the voice of his younger self while discovering his new voice as an adult into the recording of the song, and it worked. 

Jung Kook flying high over the crowd performing “Euphoria” at the Rose Bowl Stadium, LA

I hear the ocean from far away
I walk across the dream over the forest
and go towards that place as it gets clearer
Take my hands now
You are the cause of my euphoria
Euphoria

The song starts softly; it feels innocent and wonderous. As it builds, so too does Jung Kook’s beautiful voice, filling us with elation and joy. Listening to “Euphoria” legitimately feels like falling in love… whether it’s with ourself or someone else isn’t important… it’s the feeling that matters—the discovery of that place within ourselves that is capable of such emotion.

Two years later, I still think “Euphoria” is sappy, but in the best way possible. Just like Jung Kook himself. He is sentimental, and feels deeply, even if he doesn’t always know how to express it. Singing is his way of showing his love, and he poured all of it into this song. It was a brilliant idea to put him on a drone so that he could sing while flying above concert-goers during the LYS tour. It allowed him to get closer, and let ARMYs really feel the emotions of “Euphoria” with him.  

Take my hands now
You are the cause of my euphoria
Euphoria
Close the door now
When I’m with you I’m in utopia


Same, Jung Kook. Same.

 

Our bliss is all seven together in the “Euphoria” Official M/V

 

  1. LOVE YOURSELF 結 “ANSWER” TEASER CONCEPT PHOTOS (03:06)  

  2. BANGTAN BOMB: LOVE YOURSELF 結 “ANSWER” JACKET SHOOTING SKETCH (05:53)       

  3. BANGTAN BOMB: JIMIN POSES LIKE MANNEQUIN! (01:22 - as shown below)   

  4. BANTGAN BOMB: PLAYING WITH FILM CAMERA (01:16)                   

  5. BTS: LOVE YOURSELF 結 “ANSWER” INTERVIEW | APPLE MUSIC (03:15)        

  6. "EUPHORIA": THEME OF LOVE YOURSELF 起 “ANSWER” (08:53)                    

  7. BANGTAN BOMB “EUPHORIA : THEME OF LOVE YOURSELF 起 “ANSWER” SHOOTING (05:01)                                         

  8. BANGTAN BOMB: JIN’S OUTFIT OF CHAOS … BEHIND STORY AT MORNING MUSIC BANK DAY 08/31/18  (01:14 - as shown below)       

  9. “EUPHORIA” LIVE | JAPAN (04:32, The one where JK ascends to the heavens.)

  10. “EUPHORIA” PERFORMANCE | LYS TOUR – TOKYO DOME (03:59)    

  11. “EUPHORIA” | 2018 KBS SONG FESTIVAL (01:39)        

  12. “EUPHORIA” STAGE MIX (STAGE COMPILATION) (04:01)   

  13. FLASH FORWARD: JUNG KOOK REACTING TO “EUPHORIA” BEING PLAYED OVERHEAD AT KBS GAYO DAEJUN (01:01)  

  14. FLASH FORWARD: JUNG KOOK PERFORMS “EUPHORIA” | GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL (03:38)

  15. BONUS: EXPLANATION OF THE UNOFFICIAL “EUPHORIA” FANCHANT (05:06)

  16. BONUS: “EUPHORIA” | DJ SWIVEL FOREVER MIX (04:05) 

  17. BONUS: BANGTAN BOMB: BEHIND THE SCENES, RECORDING “EUPHORIA” | DJ SWIVEL FOREVER MIX VER. (05:56)   

  18. BONUS: THE MAKING OF BTS’ JUNG KOOK’S “EUPHORIA” WITH DJ SWIVEL | DECONSTRUCTED (12:21)

 

Bangtan Bomb 190322 Jimin Poses Like a Mannequin

Bangtan Bomb | Behind story at morning of MUSIC BANK day 180831

 

Fun Fact:

When we say BTS “paved the way”, we mean it in more ways than one.

On September 24, 2018 BTS was invited to speak (for the first time), as global ambassadors, in front of the general assembly at the United Nations in order to represent their “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF. The campaign, which began on November 1, 2017, has been committed to standing against “violence to children and teens around the world, while hoping to make the world a better place through music.

Namjoon (as the Leader of BTS) gave a speech that detailed how they were just seven boys who had a dream, and why they owe everything they’ve accomplished, including the success of the “Love Myself” campaign, to their fans: ARMY. He emphasized the importance of loving ourselves (“True love begins with loving myself”) and using our voices to be heard in order to make a difference in the world.

In the Bangtan Bomb linked below, we get the behind-the-scenes for the speech. The rest of the members were in attendance for solidarity and moral support, and they were all extremely proud of Namjoon. As he prepares for the speech they each encourage him in their own way (Jung Kook even gives up his comfy seat on the plane so Namjoon can get some rest.) They help him with memorization, and share in his nerves, wishing they could all contribute more.

After the speech, Namjoon says having his members there helped him be more confident, and that it was a group effort. They all gush over their leader, calling him handsome and humble. Jung Kook jokingly calls him a “dangerous man” because of how amazing he is.

j-hope: “He’s PERFECT.” ARMY agrees.

Enjoy the content linked below, and please check out the website for the “Love Myself” campaign to learn more about their ongoing mission.

 
 

DAY TWO:

Chant with us now: “j-hope, j-hope, j-hope!” Just Dance Performance at the Speak Yourself Rose Bowl LA Concert

When I think of dance, I think of j-hope. It’s that simple. He is always one of the first people who come to mind when I think about dancers who inspire and move me. So the first time I heard “Trivia 起: Just Dance”, it immediately made sense why he wrote this song. It’s about finding joy in small moments with someone you love… while doing something you love. j-hope writes about the feeling of letting go, and embracing the dance with someone else, even using it as a form of communication when words fail.

Within that atmosphere, we play the music,
and we each do our stretching
The tension is relieved
If I had hidden how I feel now,
I would have regretted the sunset with you
Hey, dance with me dance with me
Any bounce is fine, dance with me
Where we are from, why we dance,
a conversation that flows so naturally, say something


As Jung Kook uses singing to express his emotions, j-hope often uses the visuals of dance. And this song is one that is definitely better understood and appreciated when you see him perform it. He weaves movement seamlessly alongside his rap and vocals, bouncing energetically around the stage, inviting everyone there to dance along with him—to partake in the joy, and share in his love.

j-hope is Dance Personified during the Speak Yourself Tour at Metlife Stadium

Following the rhythm of the music,
just following how our bodies move,
we’re shadows under the moonlight
Fall in.. fall in..
I like the feeling of being together, with you
I like the dances we do together, with you
I just wanna, wanna, wanna
I really wanna, wanna, wanna
Just dance

 

We can’t help but to understand it on a cellular level, bodies moving along to the beat of his infectious smile without even meaning too. And who can forget that moment near the end of the song when, as the crowd chants his name, he executes a seemingly effortless, yet devastating spin while fireworks and water cannons erupt around him? The love and adoration in that moment, the palpable joy in the air speaks volumes.

 
 

"Trivia 起: Just Dance" | 2019 LY: SY World Tour Seoul

"Trivia 起: Just Dance" j-hope Stage Mix

 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: j-hope has dancing… what brings you joy? What’s your love language?

 
 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 

DAY THREE:

Namjoon giving hearteu to ARMYs and dancing in confetti during the Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour

As he wrote “Trivia 承 : Love”, RM thought back to his solo song from WINGS, “Reflection”, because he initially thought he wanted to create another dark song like that for LOVE  YOURSELF 結 'Answer'. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that “Reflection” had been more about communicating with himself. This time, he wanted to communicate with his audience and, more importantly, give them a way to communicate back.


So as the song developed, he included plenty of his customary wordplay. In an interview on the Zach Sang Show, he mused about the way in English, the words ‘love’ and ‘live’ sound similar, while in Korean, ‘love’ (사랑 [sarang]) sounds like ‘people’ (사람 [saram]), so he put all of those words in the song, wanting to encourage listeners all over the world to sing along, both in English and Korean.

I live so I love

I live so I love

(Live & love, live & love)

(Live & love, live & love)

I live so I love

I live so I love

(Live & love, live & love)

(If it’s love, I will love you)

You make I to an O

I to an O

I learned thanks to you

why person [saram] and love [sarang] sound similar

You make live to a love

Live to a love


The song is about moving past the initial rush of first discovering love. It’s about delighting in the feel of joy and destiny. RM has also called it a parallel to another BTS song: “DNA”, about the developmental phase of love. His lyrics, along with the smooth, jazzy instrumental, tell us that real love is simple and will develop naturally, without the need for many words. (The definition of irony, coming from Kim Namjoon.)

“Trivia 承 : Love” Stage Mix

 
 
 

Bangtan Bomb: Broken English Time with Jimin & JK

VLIVE: Visit to "24/7=Serendipity (Five, Always)" Exhibit

The old joke of pretending the live feed is frozen and it’s usually Jimin or j-hope that breaks first. BTS after the Grammy Awards.

 

Fun Fact

In 2019, BTS was invited to present the award for “Best R&B Artist” at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. The ceremony was held in Los Angeles on February 10th.

The invitation and decision to go happened very last minute and BTS quickly rearranged their schedule so they wouldn’t miss the opportunity to attend their first Grammy Awards ceremony. Even though they weren’t performing, or nominated themselves in a major category, they were still nervous and in disbelief right up until they actually arrived at the venue.

Enjoy the content we’ve linked below which shows bits of BTS at the ceremony, presenting their award, and behind-the-scenes footage, including several hilarious attempts at connecting with ARMY on VLIVE after the show had concluded.

There are so many amazing moments to watch, but what stands out to me the most is their genuine pride and excitement to be there. It’s so endearing to watch the other members constantly hover around RM in order to practice (over and over again) the one or two responses they had to say in English and to rehearse presenting the award.

Afterwards they laughed at their little missteps and slip ups, and gushed over all the artists they’d met, or seen perform. It never fails to warm my heart how genuine and sincere the members of BTS are, always grateful for any opportunity given to them, even when their part is relatively small.

 

DAY FOUR:

When love is good, it’s amazing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always remain so. We’ve all been there: stuck in a relationship or situation that we knew wasn’t good anymore, but unable to somehow find a way out of it—stuck in limbo. 

SUGA in sparkly red for a performance of “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw”

Performance from the Speak Yourself Tour, Soldier Field Chicago

SUGA’s track on LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer' explores when love takes this ‘turn’ and uses the metaphor of a being on a seesaw to do it. “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw” talks about being trapped on a metaphorical seesaw with someone else, wanting to get off, but not able to stop the repetitive up and down motions… not being able to take a chance on letting go of a relationship that isn’t healthy anymore because they are afraid of being alone.

FLASH FORWARD: SUGA performs an acoustic version of “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw” during his 2023 D-DAY tour, Oakland CA

In the beginning, well, it was fun
Just going up and down itself
Before we knew, we both became sick of
the meaningless waste of emotions
A repeated seesaw, seesaw game
Having come this far, I got sick of, got sick of it
A repeated seesaw, seesaw game
We both got tired and became sick of it


Let’s think back on the times we played on seesaws as kids. It would be really fun at first, the little thrills felt in the belly as we traveled up and down. But after a bit, that thrill would fade, right? And then it would just feel monotonous, and if we kept doing it long enough, we might also start to feel ill. The same holds true when we let ourselves sit in an unhealthy relationship for too long. Eventually the emotional pain starts to feel physical too. SUGA argues that love shouldn’t feel repetitive, it shouldn’t be a constant up and down that weighs us down and makes us tired or sick. And if it does, we shouldn’t hold on to it longer than necessary.

This IS the off-the-shoulder yellow sweater you’ve been looking for.

I said earlier this week that when I think of dance, I think of j-hope. I cannot make the same claim for SUGA. He is not the first member of BTS who pops into my head when I think about choreography as he is not a natural dancer. He’s come a long way since debut days however, and he loves nothing more than to challenge himself artistically, so as he was writing “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw”, he made the chorus of the song purely vocal driven, something outside of his comfort zone at the time. And when it came time to stage the track for concerts, he equally embraced the challenge of choreography for it too. The performance is an ARMY favorite, especially the one in which he wore a certain off-the-shoulder yellow sweater. 

You instantly pictured it, didn’t you? Yeah, you did.

 

A bit of the performance for “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw”

VLIVE: BTS Dancing to SUGA's "Trivia 轉 : Seesaw"

Fun Fact:

“I suggest you take my words with a grain of salt.”

So says RM, BTS’ most prolific lyricist, right before he begins his review of LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer’, the last album in the Love Yourself trilogy. Riiiiiiiiiiiiigt.

He also, moments later, says “The goal of today’s VLIVE is to stay calm.” After watching several of his album review/behind-the-scenes VLIVE broadcasts, we know he has a tendency to get a bit… hyper when he talks about his songwriting process. So when he closes his eyes, and says in a very determined voice that his goal this time is to remain calm, we can almost believe him. Except he then immediately begins babbling while manically adjusting his chair height.

Sigh. We love him.

As always, it’s a joy and a pleasure to listen to RM talk about creating an album, going through each song and giving us insights on how it was written, and/or the inspiration behind it. This album in particular feels monumental because it’s the last in a trilogy that took over two years to complete. He says that even though the word ‘Answer’ is in the title, he doesn’t want it to sound like BTS thinks there is only one. He says there could be several answers. Some might be correct, and some might even be wrong, but they could all be valid. As such, he tells us to think of the album as more of a ‘conclusion’, rather than an answer.

 
 

DAY FIVE:

What’s the most beautiful: His voice, his performance, or his visual? FALSE; TRICK QUESTION: The answer is all of the above.

Did you know that Jin wrote the original melody for “Epiphany”? Unfortunately it was not the one ultimately selected for the song, and we didn’t get to hear what it sounded like then. On his VLIVE talking about making LOVE YOURSELF: 結 'ANSWER’, RM mused that he was curious about hearing Jin’s melody himself. ARMY agreed. (We did eventually get to hear it on another album a few years later…)

However, we can’t be too upset. Because the version of “Epiphany” we did get is a masterpiece. I think we can all agree on that. It’s a perfect storm of beautiful music, touching lyrics, and incredibly moving vocals. 

An ‘epiphany’ is defined as a “moment of sudden or powerful realization”. The title of this track is perhaps more significant than any of the others in the Love Yourself trilogy, as it represents the defining theme of the entire series. It has all brought us to this moment, when Jin sings about coming to realize he is capable of unconditional self-love. And this is the conclusion each LYS album has been moving toward. 

“Epiphany” Performance for 2019 Love Yourself Tour, Osaka Japan

I’m the one I should love in this world
The shining me, the precious soul of mine
I realize only now, so I love me
Though I’m not perfect, I’m so beautiful
I’m the one I should love
(Even if you get disturbed and feel afraid, walk forward)
(Meet your true self that you hid inside the storm)
Why did I want to hide my precious self
What made me so afraid that I hid my true self 
I’m the one I should love in this world


We know Jin very well for his almost overpowering confidence and charisma. Who else would go around calling himself “World-Wide Handsome”?  But ARMY also knows that he began acting that way in order to compensate for how self-conscious he actually feels most of the time. Jin was the only member of the group who didn’t audition first—he was literally approached on the street by a casting director from BigHit purely because of his good looks. He had to learn to sing and dance, having zero experience with either prior to becoming a trainee.


When BTS debuted, the company advised Jin to act cool and aloof, like an “ice prince”, in order to play up his handsome face. This was the opposite of how he really is; he’s a big goofball who just wants to make others laugh and have a good time. He didn’t like pretending. Eventually he dropped the persona and began to let fans see more of himself, but he continued to struggle with Imposter Syndrome and feeling like he didn’t have enough worth to contribute to the group. Over the years, Jin’s worked hard to improve his skills and accept his role in BTS. This is what led RM to also say about “Epiphany”:

It’s very powerful. I think Jin understood this song well… Jin is the only one who can do this. It’s the track that earns the most applause at the concerts.


If we all work hard to accept ourselves as we are, we can reach our own moment of ‘epiphany’. And when we do, when we truly love ourselves, that’s when we will finally be able to allow someone else to love us as well.


And we should. We’re worth it. Even if we don’t believe it yet, BTS certainly does.

 
 
 
 

BTS being "Epiphany" No. 1 Fanboys

 

Bangtan Bomb: Jin's Sunglasses Collection in Hong Kong

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: What’s an ‘epiphany’ that BTS has helped you reach?

 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 
 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

BTS LYS: Answer Album

Any time I hear someone calling BTS another “boy band” I want to shove their face directly into the Love Yourself series. Not only is it a perfect road map to self-actualization and a better understanding of love, but it also sounds so damn good. Style AND substance. Honestly, what more could we ask for in our music?


Next week we’ll wrap up LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'. And if this week wasn’t enough to get you fully aboard the self-love train, don’t worry, we’ll soon have you singing at the top of your lungs: “You can’t stop me loving myself!” right along with Jimin…

 
 
 

Side Quest

Well, friends… I can’t believe it. We’ve FINALLY reached Season 3 of Run BTS! Woohoo! Now, I know what you’re thinking and don’t worry—this season is just as long as the last one.

I know I say this every time, but seriously y’all… this batch of episodes have some of the greatest meme moments in BTS history. During the “Chef” episodes we have peak VMin adorable soulmate antics, and in the “Sauna” series we get a Top Five moment from my list and that’s when Taehyung hands a piece of watermelon to Namjoon, only to immediately take a bite and eat almost the entire thing. The look of exasperated betrayal on Namjoon’s face along with the sly smile Tae has as he walks away chewing will never NOT be hilarious.

Speaking of Namjoon, who can forget his vehement debate against mint chocolate in the “School” episodes? (It’s one of the only times I’ve had to choose to agree to disagree with him.) The true highlight of those episodes though is the water game, and Hobi not being able to figure out what the trigger is and why he keeps getting sprayed. The absolute bewilderment and confusion on his face makes me almost pee my pants because I’m laughing so hard.

And we all love it when BTS tries to employ their bullshitting skills, right? We also know that Min Yoongi loves to lie about the most trivial things just for his own amusement, so it’s no surprise that he jumps into the comic book bluffing game with every tiny bit of enthusiasm he can muster… with varying degrees of success. Of course, these episodes also yield us the brilliant moment of Jung Kook nonchalantly bluffing with his entire soul and uttering one word: “Bonobonoya.”

 
 
 

Taehyung absolutely roasting the hell out of Yoongi in RUN BTS! Episode 63

 

Jung Kook lying through his teeth in RUN BTS! Episode 67

 
 
 

CREDITS:

YouTube/Web

HYBE LABELS, BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, Apple Music, babykook, Bang TanS, Billboard, Brilliant, BTSxEditing1, crazyformyself, DKDKTV, Enjoy BTS more, Entertainment Weekly, Genius, Global Citizen, JoseOchoaTV, KBS WORLD TV, NME, ORIGINAL SOURCE, sweetoothsuga, Swiks Domain, tata kor, teumy zone, Txra, United Nations, VLIVE; Web: ibighit.com, love-myself.org

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 blog and current BTS events/releases. It’s hosted by the AP529 Admin Team on Stefne’s 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).

Quince
Previous

WEEK 32 | Learning to Love Myself
Next

WEEK 30 | We Dreamed the Same Dream