WEEK 42 | Run, Beautiful…
October 21-27, 2024
Identity.
“Two bare feet are our gasoline…”
If we were to collect interviews with all the artists and music industry people that BTS have collaborated with over the years, and then watched them back to back (and some industrious ARMY probably already has), we would immediately be able to discern a pattern in their responses to the question “What is BTS like?” or “What was it like to work with BTS?” And no matter who it is, the same words pop up over and over: ”kind”, “humble”, “funny”, and most often—”hard-working”. In fact, in an interview on iHeartRadio that Halsey did with BTS in 2019, she said “They work really hard… too hard, sometimes.”
ARMY knows how much literal blood, sweat, and tears the members of BTS have put into their career over the years. How sleep deprived, hungry, and in pain they often were… particularly in the early days. It’s always gratifying to see others, especially their peers, recognize all of that hard work as well.
Last week we began our exploration of the PROOF anthology album, and we discussed Disc 1, which was a nod to how far the group as a whole had come (including a retrospective look at their title tracks over the years) as well as a promise of hope for the future. This week, we’re covering Disc 2, which includes another brand-new song that talks about the hard work and dedication they put in to forge their path, as well as fourteen songs from their discography that the members selected themselves. Each member chose two songs, and we will learn why they picked them, and watch as they reflect on how these songs, and the journey they’ve been on in BTS, shaped who they are as individuals.
Playlists & Lyrics
BTS: PROOF ANTHOLOGY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (also embedded at bottom of post)
ARMY PROJECT 529 WEEK 42 VIDEO PLAYLIST (all YouTube links)
DAY ONE:
South Korea has a bit of an obsession with variety shows. They’re typically composed of various performances, quizzes and games, skits, stunts, comedy acts, etc.—and they’ve become a major part of television entertainment in Korean society. But, why is that?
The fan culture in South Korea values a close bond between celebrities and their fans, and variety shows offer a unique platform for entertainers to cultivate that bond. The humanizing aspect of the shows allow them to connect with their fans on a more personal level—sharing laughs or tears, and watching entertainers put themselves in funny or embarrassing situations makes them feel more relatable which further endears them to their audience.
As such, Idols have always been frequent and popular guests on these variety shows—BTS has appeared on a fair number of them during their career. However, those opportunities were few and far between in their early years after Debut. Broadcasting networks and the entertainment companies that contract these Idols in South Korea have a mutually beneficial relationship—the variety shows give Idols that chance to bond with their fans in a more human way, and in turn, the Idols’ appearance on the show gives the broadcasting network a ratings boost. BTS debuted under Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music under HYBE), which was a very small company at the time. They didn’t have the resources or influence that other, larger companies did and as such, BTS was often ignored and not offered appearances on these variety shows. The networks didn’t believe that the group could bring them the ratings numbers they desired.
While it was frustrating to the members of BTS and Big Hit, they were used to doing things their own way. After all, the group had been contributing VLOGS and other content to their YouTube and Twitter accounts since before they debuted. So, it seemed a very natural move for them to create their own variety show in 2015, allowing them the freedom to do what they wanted and not have to worry about meeting the expectations of major television networks. They called their show “Run BTS!” and it was an immediate hit, allowing fans to get to know the group even more, and to laugh along with them every week as they took part in crazy games and challenges.
The show also served as a token of BTS’ relentless determination. While innocuous on the surface, we know that “Run BTS!” is also a big middle finger to all those networks that snubbed the group and didn’t want them on their shows. Years later, when the members were creating PROOF and reflecting back on their career, “Run BTS!” was finishing up it’s third wildly successful season and they were filming a series of special episodes to wind up the show’s tenure (we hope not permanently!) before the group left for the military. There was a new song being written for the upcoming album, and it was meant to be an ode to BTS’ hard work and determination, two of the biggest contributors to their massive success. So, since we know how they are with inside jokes and repeating titles, they decided—why not name the song after their variety show?
I was right
In the Nonhyeon-dong studio leaking on a rainy day,
I would drink soju without any snacks, complain about life,
and tell myself, “you’re all done for if I make it”
The reason for Bangtan’s success?
I don’t know either, why in the world would such a thing exist
It’s just that we all ran strenuously
It’s just that we ran no matter what others said
The answer is here, hahaha
“Run BTS” is an edgy, rap-dominated track with a decidedly rock and roll sound. The guitars and bass are heavy, and the fast pace of the music echoes the sentiment of the lyrics. The song reminisces about BTS’ early days, even before they debuted—the countless hours of practicing they put in, determined to keep going no matter what. And it goes to present time, with them reflecting on their eventual success. They’re still a bit baffled by it, but ultimately attribute it mostly to the fact that they never gave up. Toward the end of the song, in j-hope’s verse, he calls all the members out by name and says they all ran fast and worked hard.
The choreography is just as fast-paced and intense as the rest of the song. “Run BTS” was not released as a title track, so ARMY didn’t expect an M/V, but a few months after the album dropped, they did give us a now VERY beloved dance practice. And we were also lucky enough to see them perform it live at their “Yet to Come” free concert in Busan, in late 2022. The very next day after that, Jin’s upcoming military enlistment was announced, and BTS’ first chapter came to a close…
"RUN BTS" (FILA VER) | FMV (3:22)
"RUN BTS" | "YET TO COME" IN BUSAN (3:30 - as shown below)
"RUN BTS" DANCE PRACTICE (3:30 - as shown above)
RAPLINE RECORDING "RUN BTS" CHORUS | CLIP FROM BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR (6:40)
"MIC DROP" & "RUN BTS" STAGE CAM (BTS FOCUS) @ BTS "YET TO COME" IN BUSAN (7:49)
TO THOSE WHO JUST HAD A LONG DAY OF STUDYING|BTS' VOICE LETTER (5:21)
TO ARMY WHO HAVE A HARD TIME LOVING THEMSELVES|BTS' VOICE LETTER (6:46)
WHEN YOU'RE HESITATING BEFORE A NEW CHALLENGE|BTS' VOICE LETTER (3:58)
BONUS: UPPER BODY WORKOUT FOR GOOD POSTURE | WORKOUT WITH BTS | DAY1 (12:17 - as shown below)
BONUS: IT'S CHUSEOK | VLIVE (20:49)
Fun Fact:
BTS couldn’t possibly have had time to create a webtoon series, right? Wrong!
Not only do they have a webtoon, but they have a web novel series that goes along with it, and it is called 7FATES. Both the novel and the webtoon were released simultaneously on January 14, 2022.
The first story in the series is called 7FATES: CHAKO and it’s an urban fantasy that takes place in the not too distant future in a corrupted city. It incorporates a lot of themes from Korean mythology and folklore.
The main plot revolves around seven boys who grow up together and discover that they are bound by fate to always be together as they learn what destiny holds for them. Below we have some links for you to be able to check out what has been released so far, as well as the M/V for “Stay Alive” (my favorite Jung Kook solo EVER) which was written for the webtoon and produced by SUGA.
DAY TWO:
For the second disc of PROOF, each member of was asked to select two songs from BTS’ discography that they wanted to include in the anthology. Two songs that they felt represented them, or their feelings best. The songs were meant to encompass their “proof”. For the rest of this week, we’ll be going through that list of songs and each member’s reasons for picking them—examining why they felt those in particular resonate so much with them.
And around the same time, the members were also curating another new project that was deeply personal for them—a series of photobooks, or photo folios—one for each member and one for BTS as a group. The series was entitled, Me, Myself. and was meant to be a look at the group as a whole, as well as the individuals who made it up. Each photo folio was a chance for the members to express themselves as they picked the concepts and had control over the styling and locations as well.
The group book is the only one with a different title; it was Us, Ourselves and BTS ‘We’. Many of the photos in it were taken by the members while holding a camera remote—just catching quiet, candid moments. There are also shots of them having fun together, playing games as they often did on “Run BTS!” The vibe of the book is very laid-back, sweet, and simple. Coming out of the pandemic and facing the start of their Chapter Two, BTS was exuding a sense of quiet reflection, as well as determination to embrace the future while still remaining true to themselves.
RM’s photo folio, Me, Myself and RM ‘Entirety’, was a study in simplicity. This should come as no surprise to anyone. In his PROOF clip explaining his song choices for the album, he described wanting to regain an understanding of who he is. “Intro: Persona” literally asks the question “Who am I?” His photo folio answers that question. He said he has many facets: Kim Namjoon as a person, Kim Namjoon as a friend and family member, and RM, who makes the music. He shows us Namjoon in the places he feels most comfortable and natural—an art museum and in a sunny park. Lastly, we see his vision of confidence and leadership as RM, the leader of BTS in a sexy photoshoot with a motorcycle at a motel.
When talking about the second song he selected for PROOF, the unit song “Stay” from their previous album BE, RM said that although he has all these different sides of himself, he feels that ARMY and his fellow members have accepted him for who he is and have chosen to “stay” by his side regardless.
77Q 77A INTERVIEW (19:38)
BONUS: US, OURSELVES, AND BTS 'WE' PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (7:12 - as shown above)
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: RM (0:53)
"PERSONA" | MOTS ON:E (3:08)
ME, MYSELF, AND RM ‘ENTIRETY’ PHOTO SELECT SKETCH (0:57)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND RM ‘ENTIRETY’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (9:01)
BONUS: BURN THE MOST CALORIES WITH LOWER BODY EXERCISES|WORKOUT WITH BTS|DAY2 (15:53)
BONUS: THE STAFF CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU|WORKOUT WITH BTS|DAY2 (16:04)
BONUS: RM - HEWWO | WEVERSE LIVE (36:27)
Bangtan Bubble: What would YOUR photofolio concept be?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
Jin has often said that he makes himself happy by making those around him happy first. This is why he’s such a jokester, and always goofing around. He loves to entertain and make people laugh. And though he also claims to not be much of a self-motivator, when he’s faced with a task to complete, he does like to challenge himself.
When developing the concept for his photo folio, Me, Myself and Jin ‘Sea of Jin’ he knew he wanted to pick themes that had similar origins but were diametrically opposed. And he knew he wanted it to take place on the water, since it’s a place where “all things begin and end”. His challenge to himself was to dress up in obvious costumes. So, naturally, he chose “pirate”, “Navy captain”, and simple “boat worker” as his three themes.
While shooting for his photo folio, Jin was also recording and preparing for the first release of “Super Tuna”, a silly song about fishing he was planning to release to make others (ARMY) happy. In his PROOF film, Jin names his relationship with ARMY (that he wrote about in “Moon”) as his “proof”—making us happy has become his “remedy”, like it’s described in “Jamais Vu”. (Let’s all go take a moment to scream into our pillows about this.)
SUGA also wanted to challenge himself with his photo folio, and show a different side than he was used to showing as well. The shooting location for Me, Myself, and SUGA ‘Wholly or Whole me’ was in America, and was filmed during BTS’ “Permission to Dance: On Stage” concert series in Los Angeles. The shoot location was four hours outside the city, so SUGA had to book it out there with a crew and get back before he was needed again. He wanted ARMY to see him somewhere they never thought they would—and “camping in the desert” definitely did the trick. He continued the boyfriend vibes by playing around and posing with a dog, roasting marshmallows at a campfire, and stargazing. He wanted ARMY to see a different side to him.
Cool. No, everything’s fine. I’ll just scream into my pillow again.
When it came to selecting his songs for PROOF, SUGA also said he wanted to make ARMY think carefully about who he is as an artist, and to see all sides of him. This is why he selected two songs that are very different from each other in sound and message. “Cypher Pt. 3: Killer” is hard-hitting, fast-paced, and doesn’t take any prisoners. On the other side of the spectrum, “Trivia: Seesaw” shows a more romantic (though still patently pragmatic) side to SUGA, as he worries about how to leave a love affair that may have run its course.
This is one of the most incredible things about the members of BTS. Just when we think we have them completely figured out, they find a way to keep surprising us.
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: JIN (0:53)
"MOON" | STAGE MIX (3:59)
"MOON" | FESTA 2024 (3:34)
"JAMAIS VU" | BANGBANGCON (3:51 - as shown above)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND JIN ‘SEA OF JIN ISLAND’ MAKING FILM (8:38 - as shown below)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND JIN ‘SEA OF JIN ISLAND’ PRODUCTION FILM (10:29)
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: SUGA (0:42)
"TRIVIA 轉 : SEESAW" | STAGE MIX (4:39 - as shown below)
ME, MYSELF, AND SUGA ‘WHOLLY OR WHOLE ME’ CONCEPT FILM SHORT VER. (0:33)
ME, MYSELF, AND SUGA ‘WHOLLY OR WHOLE ME’ CONCEPT FILM FULL VER. (1:58)
ME, MYSELF, AND SUGA ‘WHOLLY OR WHOLE ME’ PRE-PRODUCTION MAKING FILM (2:51)
ME, MYSELF, AND SUGA ‘WHOLLY OR WHOLE ME’ | UNBOXING (4:12)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND SUGA ‘WHOLLY OR WHOLE ME’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (6:38 - as shown below)
BONUS: CORE WORKOUT FOR A BALANCED BODY|WORKOUT WITH BTS|DAY3 (13:10)
Fun Fact
A web novel? Child’s play. How about a real book, they don’t have one of those, right? Ha! I thought not—wait, they do? Oh.
When I first became ARMY in 2022 I thought to myself, “Man I wish they had like an official biography or something like that out that I could read…” And then I would inevitably lose myself to several minutes of delulu in which I imagined that (for some WILD reason) BTS decided to hire ME to write their biography, and flew me to Seoul to meet them and follow them around for “research”. Nevermind the fact that I knew maybe five words in Korean at the time. (Now I know ten.)
Imagine both my delight AND dismay when it was announced not too much later that BTS would actually have a biography releasing, as part of a celebration of their 10th anniversary. Delight because YAY, that’s what I’d been wanting, and dismay because BOO, I wasn’t the one writing it.
Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS released on July 9, 2023 (ARMY DAY!) and was written by Kang Myeongseok, well-known for having previously written about K-Pop and other K-Pop artists.
Kang Myeongseok followed BTS around for three years in order to get in-depth coverage for the book (WHY COULDN’T THAT HAVE BEEN ME?!) which is split into seven (of course) chapters, chronicling their journey from the time they all met, up until the book’s publication.
The book is wonderful. (She said, begrudgingly.) It gives wonderful insight into how the members were feeling over the years, as well as sharing lots of previously unknown tidbits of info. Check out the trailer below, and a link to buy if you still haven’t read it yet.
Also, don’t worry about me. I’ll be FINE. I’m writing this blog now, right? It’s almost exactly the same. I don’t get to follow BTS around to do it, but who needs that anyway? I’m sure that was just a big hassle… excuse me, I have to go sob in a corner now.
DAY FOUR:
Confession time… the first time I saw pictures from j-hope’s photo folio, Me, Myself and j-hope ‘All New Hope’ I didn’t believe they were real. Where was Hobi? Where was the sunshine saying “I’m your hope, you’re my hope, I’m j-hope”? He wasn’t kidding with that “all new” part in the title. This was a j-hope I’d never seen before. I’d learn soon that this… this was JAY.
In the making of film for the photo folio, j-hope said he wanted it to be risky. He wanted to erase his normal bold, bright colors and his street wear look that ARMY was used to and show something new. Like Jin, he wanted contrasting themes, though his were centered more on the overall look and feeling of the concept rather than the costumes. First, he gave us soft fantasy—dressed all in white, while wearing a purple wig. It gave strong elven "Dungeons & Dragons” vibes, which speaks to my nerdy little heart. Then, the light fantasy gives way to “Dark Hobi” (as he put it), where he was filmed in black leather levitating rocks and then surrounded by fire. (A prelude to “Arson” perhaps?)
The choices he made are bold, and they truly show that j-hope has accepted all parts of himself. His song choices for PROOF tell us why. “Outro: Her” and “Outro: Ego” were his two picks. He said that “Her” was essentially a love song, but that some ARMY interpretations had caused him to look more closely at the lyrics, and he realized how it could be seen as a song about giving up one’s identity to hide from someone you love—afraid they won’t love you back. While he sometimes feels like he has to “wear a mask” because of his career, his ego is what helps him to love and accept all his parts no matter what. His ego is his proof.
In his photo folio concept, Jimin takes a brave step toward unveiling new sides of his identity as well. He uses Me, Myself and Jimin ‘ID: Chaos’ to explore his different emotions and moods. In the first concept he is thoughtful and feeling a little moody. He’s dressed in rich-looking lounge wear, but surrounded by broken mannequins—its soft textures and sharp edges. In the “freedom” concept, it’s all bright colors and fun accents—tattoos and props, some projected wings, and posing on a giant cutout of his name. He’s wearing makeup and glittery jewel stickers, but in jeans and a simple t-shirt. He describes the look as “unrefined boy”, and it’s clear that we’re meant to see two sides of a coin, both real, depending on your point of view.
When he next puts on a suit and directs a sultry gaze at the camera (in the making of film), he’s asked, “What are you trying to portray?” and, after thinking for a moment, he replies, “I’m not sure. I just want to show the divide between the different sides of me. This is how my tough side feels and I just want to show off that coolness.” Lastly, he dons similar outfits and masks in black and white, surrounded again by mannequins. It’s another study in dichotomy and how not everything is as it first appears to be.
It’s reminiscent of “Filter”, one of the songs he chose for PROOF, in which Jimin tells us he can change himself and be whoever we need him to be, even if he’s not always sure who he really is. His second pick, “Friends”, the song he performs with V is a testament to how he is loved, no matter who he is. His fellow members, and ARMY are his proof of that.
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: J-HOPE (0:51)
"OUTRO: EGO" | STAGE MIX (3:38 - as shown above)
ME, MYSELF, AND J-HOPE ‘ALL NEW HOPE’ PRODUCTION FILM (1:26)
ME, MYSELF, AND J-HOPE ‘ALL NEW HOPE’ | UNBOXING (2:38 - as shown below)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND J-HOPE ‘ALL NEW HOPE’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (7:14)
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: JIMIN (0:42)
"FILTER" | STAGE MIX (3:00)
"FRIENDS" | BANGBANGCON (3:24)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND JIMIN ‘ID : CHAOS’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (7:56 - as shown below)
BONUS: WHOA, SWEATING BULLETS AFTER CARDIO, MY BODY IS ON "FIRE" 🔥|WORKOUT WITH BTS|DAY4 (14:55)
BONUS: JIMIN - I'M HERE 😊 | WEVERSE LIVE (1:03:37)
Fun Fact:
Okay, we must have run out of content about them by now, surely… what? A docuseries, too?! Well, hell.
In December of 2023, BTS did indeed release a docuseries on Disney+ which, like the biography that had dropped earlier that year, celebrated their 10-year anniversary with a look back over their entire career, as well as discussing their hopes for the future.
The series takes part in eight episodes, and covers highlights over the years, like how BTS was formed and how they made it to their Debut, as well as winning “Best New Artist” in 2013. The series also focuses on them discussing their first concerts as well as what it felt like to make their debuts at the American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards in the U.S. There are unforgetable moments like ARMY serenading BTS at Wembley Stadium in London and them speaking at the United Nations included also.
In addition, the series interviews the members and gives us insight into how they felt in all of these moments throughout their career. What did they think of each other when they first met, or when they had to go through their first contract renewal process? How did the Pandemic and everything that came with it affect them and their mental health?
While we could not secure any free versions of the actual episodes for you all to watch, we did want to show you the previews. We’re sure that if you haven’t already seen it, you’ll find a way to watch it one way or another. Enjoy!
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR | SPECIAL TRAILER | DISNEY+ (1:39)
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR L EPISODE 1 PRE-RELEASE VIDEO L DISNEY+ (1:51)
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR L EPISODE 2 HIGHLIGHTS L DISNEY+ (1:59)
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR L 3 PRE-RELEASES L DISNEY+ (1:30)
BTS MONUMENTS: BEYOND THE STAR EPISODE 4 HIGHLIGHTS L DISNEY+ (1:59)
DAY FIVE:
Before I discovered the amazing world of K-Dramas and K-Pop, I was (and still am, honestly) a devout Anglophile. I love all kinds of British media and entertainment. In college I studied British literature, and yes, I LOVE Jane Austen. So, just go ahead and imagine my reaction when I discovered that the concept of V’s photo folio, Me, Myself and V ‘Veautiful Days’ was straight out of Regency Era England and all of my Mr. Darcy fantasies. Go ahead… picture the absolute feral meltdown I had. I promise that, whatever you’re picturing, it was ten times worse.
V often seems to be the member of BTS who gets lost in his thoughts the most. He, like RM, sees a clear difference between who he is on stage (V) and who he is in every day life (Kim Taehyung). Despite the divide, he admits that he still gets mixed up sometimes and doesn’t know where each part of his personas begin and end, and this can leave him feeling out of step with himself and those around him. One of the songs he chose for PROOF, the sultry yet vulnerable “Singularity” perfectly shows that divide in his character. When he was working on that song and M/V, he thought he had to choose one side of himself over the other in order to be happy, but eventually realized he can embrace everything about himself—including feeling unsure and out of step with everyone else occasionally.
”00:00”, his second song choice helped him reach that conclusion. The song reminds us that tomorrow will always be a reset, and we can choose to try again and find our happiness each time. His embrace of the “classic” themes in his photo folio showed us that he was finally accepting all those different parts of himself, and wanting to share them with ARMY and the world.
From classic romance to gothic horror, Jung Kook will always throw himself head-first at a challenge and do his absolute best to conquer it. His photo folio, Me, Myself and Jung Kook ‘Time Difference’ was indeed a travel back in time like V’s, but instead of soft and sweet, he gave us… sexy vampire.
And no one is complaining.
When he was asked why he chose to go with a vampire concept for his book, Jung Kook replied simply that he hadn’t had a lot of opportunities to try out conceptual photoshoots before, so he wanted to. And a vampire theme seemed easy enough for people to get and it would suit him well. Practicality—thy name is Jeon Jung Kook.
But that really is him. JK is always simple and straight to the point. While explaining his song choices for PROOF (“Euphoria” and “Dimple”), he said he is happiest when he is singing with his fellow members and performing for ARMY. When he hears us cheering for him, he knows he is where he belongs, doing what he is supposed to be doing.
And our pragmatic golden maknae knows how to elicit those happy cheers as well. He knows what ARMY loves and he enjoys driving us crazy with it. So he knew the “sexy time traveling vampire” theme would be something he could pull off and delight ARMY with. (I’m firmly convinced that’s why he chose “Dimple” instead of something like “Magic Shop”. I see you, JK, you cheeky little scamp.)
Hmmm. “IleeeeEEEEeeeegal”, indeed.
PROOF OF INSPIRATION: V (1:02)
"SINGULARITY" | STAGE MIX (3:54 - as shown)
ME, MYSELF, AND V ‘VEAUTIFUL DAYS’ CONCEPT FILM (1:01 - as shown)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND V ‘VEAUTIFUL DAYS’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (6:54)
"EUPHORIA" | STAGE MIX (4:01)
"DIMPLE" | STAGE MIX (3:18 - as shown)
ME, MYSELF, AND JUNG KOOK ‘TIME DIFFERENCE’ CONCEPT FILM (0:47)
ME, MYSELF, AND JUNG KOOK ‘TIME DIFFERENCE’ PRODUCTION FILM (2:36)
ME, MYSELF, AND JUNG KOOK ‘TIME DIFFERENCE’ | UNBOXING (2:44)
BONUS: ME, MYSELF, AND JUNG KOOK ‘TIME DIFFERENCE’ PHOTOSHOOT SKETCH (6:34 - as shown)
BONUS: FULL BODY STRETCHES FOR TIGHT MUSCLES AND INJURY PREVENTION|WORKOUT WITH BTS|DAY5 (12:04)
BONUS: JUNG KOOK - HAVE YOU BEEN WELL (1/3) | WEVERSE LIVE (1:53:11)
Bangtan Bubble: If you could select two BTS songs to add to PROOF, which would you choose?
Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I think that the Pandemic caused many of us to become more introspective, but I can imagine how this was multiplied tenfold for the members of BTS when during lockdown they were also tasked with combing through their extensive discography and finding just two songs to add to PROOF which best represented them and what they felt their meaning of “proof” was. And then they also had to design a theme for an entire photo book to explore the concept of their own identities. That’s… a lot. But BTS always rises to the challenge, and they’re more than willing to spend time on self-reflection, especially when they think it will benefit ARMY.
When we return next week, we’ll close out the PROOF anthology with our exploration of Disc 3, which contains my favorite bits… all of the previously unreleased fun! (We finally got our grubby little paws on that “Epiphany” demo, hah!)
Side Quest
“Run BTS!” The Special Episodes.
The members spend five minutes apart and get super excited when they manage to find each other again.
The members get tied up in yoga poses, but somehow manage to escape.
The members finally achieve their dreams of becoming YouTube stars.
You think you know which member is the smartest, but do you really??
The members test their athleticism in one last magnificent hurrah.
RUN BTS! 2022 SPECIAL EPISODE - FLY BTS FLY PART 1 (34:30 - as shown)
RUN BTS! 2022 SPECIAL EPISODE - RUN BTS TV ON-AIR PART 0 (0:43)
RUN BTS! 2022 SPECIAL EPISODE - RUN BTS TV ON-AIR PART 1 (39:54)
RUN BTS! 2022 SPECIAL EPISODE - RUN BTS TV ON-AIR PART 2 (39:01)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - NEXT TOP GENIUS PART 0 (0:39)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - NEXT TOP GENIUS PART 1 (32:43)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - NEXT TOP GENIUS PART 2 (34:57)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - MINI FIELD DAY PART 0 (0:34)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - MINI FIELD DAY PART 1 (35:21)
RUN BTS! 2023 SPECIAL EPISODE - MINI FIELD DAY PART 2 (37:03)
HAVE FUN WITH "BEST OF RUN BTS!" | BTS YTC IN BUSAN, WARM-UP! WITH WEVERSE (1:56:06)
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
BANGTANTV, HYBE LABELS, 7FATES: CHAKHO by HYBE, Blackswn, Brilliant, BTS LIVE ARCHIVE, BTS 방탄소년단 LIVE, Cake X, ctc0128, DISNEY+, DOSE OF BANGTAN BY HZL, ENJOY BTS MORE, Jaeguchi, Jemi Castillo, K-Highlights, outroawake, seesaw._. sugar, SEOULSUB, SISSY TRIOS, South_Korea348, wokobee, 장방울[ ZZOZZI FANCAM ]
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)
Join us on TikTok every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's “Monday Muster”, thoughtful discussions, and tons of laughter! It’s hosted by AP529 Founder, Stefne, on her channel (@StefARMYProject529). Catch us every Wednesday night at 9pm ET on our project channel (@ARMYProject529) for #the529tea, when we dish about all the news going on with Bangtan.
If you can't watch in real time and want to catch up later, Lives are recorded and posted to our YouTube (@ARMY Project 529).