WEEK 47 | You Are My Pain Divine.

Monday Muster
Written By Quince

November 25-December 1, 2024

Lost.

As 2022 came to a close, RM was busy promoting his first solo album, Indigo. It debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 chart, and then reentered the same chart at #3 with the release of the CD version. This made Namjoon the first member of BTS to reach the Top Ten on Billboard as a solo artist. The first of many to follow, of course. Indigo was also named as Billboard’s best K-Pop album of 2022.

In the midst of all this, at the beginning of December, Jin (having reached his 30th birthday), enlisted in the South Korean Army, in order to fulfill his mandatory military service. The members all gathered with him at his base camp, to say goodbye (for now) to their hyung, and to Chapter One of BTS’ career. At the entrance ceremony, Namjoon, while watching Jin run over to join his fellow enlistees, mused offhandedly to the camera:


Jin hates the cold, so I’m a bit worried, but we’ll follow him soon. I don’t feel great sending him off, but he always does well wherever he is… It’s sad, but this is everyone’s duty… Stay safe and healthy, I’ll get ready to follow. Fighting!

 

Candid photo from Namjoon’s Instagram @rkive

As 2023 began, ARMY had no idea who would next be enlisting—in fact at the beginning of February, Jimin announced that his debut solo album would be releasing in March, and then a few days later, SUGA announced that his alter ego, Agust D would be embarking on a solo tour that spring. But Namjoon didn’t seem to have any projects happening at the time, and his demeanor at Jin’s entrance—resigned, but quietly reassuring, seemed to indicate we wouldn’t have to wait too much longer for his announcement to come. However, in his first Weverse LIVE of the year (2023.02.16), an ARMY asked him how he was doing and he replied that he was feeling okay, and feeling really calm in general lately. Then he dropped this bombshell on us:


I’m going through some really exciting, new, and fun experiences, but I can’t tell you guys right now… And I think I’m off the Indigo mode. I think I’m on the next stage already.


What? What new experiences, Namjoon? What next stage? What was he talking about, he was about to enlist soon, right? But then, just ten days later, it was actually j-hope who announced he’d be going next, at the end of March. We were stunned. What was RM working on? Turns out—a lot. But as 2023 continued, he didn’t say much more about it. He had a few amazing collaborations happen, and hosted a radio show for ARMY during FESTA in June, but for most of that summer, he was very quiet. And as we were being spoiled with solo projects from other members, we almost forgot his words from that Weverse LIVE.



Until November 22… when RM’s upcoming enlistment (along with Jimin, V, and Jung Kook) was finally announced. That same day, a new Instagram account popped up that was followed by him. The letters “rpwp” repeated in the profile, and strange, almost art school film quality photos began being sporadically posted to it. Suddenly, we all remembered when he said he’d been working on something new. Was this it? When would we find out? Why was this dropping now when Namjoon was just weeks away from joing the military?


We wouldn’t find out for another FIVE months. On April 25, 2024, RM’s second full studio album, Right Place, Wrong Person was announced, and we would never be the same after. This week, we’ll cover Namjoon realizing he had MORE to say after Indigo, and that we all NEEDED to hear it. This is our journey into Namjoon’s Brain, the “lost” time he spent creating RPWP, and him trying to find his way back to himself.

 
 
 
 
 

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

 

DAY ONE:

RM and So!YoON! in “Smoke Sprite” Official M/V

When listening to anything written by RM it’s clear that he is a master at interpreting visceral emotions. And as we’ve seen repeatedly over the past few weeks, the honesty in his songwriting makes him an ideal collaborative partner for other artists. We have a few more to cover this week, including my favorite feature he’s done so far in his career—”Smoke Sprite” with So!YoON!

So Yoon (stylized as So!YoON! for her solo work) is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who fronts the South Korean rock band Se So Neon, which debuted in 2017. The groundwork for her collaboration with Namjoon was laid all the way back at the time of that debut—he shared “The Wave, a song by Se So Neon, on one of his VLIVEs. After that, they ran into each other at award shows from time to time. So Yoon actually presented the daesang for song of the year to BTS at the Korean Music Awards in 2019, the same year she debuted as a solo artist. Eventually, the two met up and became friends naturally, listening to each others albums. Fans suspected they might be working together as early as December of 2022, when RM visited her in the studio. So Yoon posted a picture of the signed copy of Indigo he gave her, with him in the background.

RM being amazing in the Official “Smoke Sprite” M/V

They wrote “Smoke Sprite” together, and it was released in March of 2023. So Yoon described it as desire awakening and being felt in a dream, which makes sense. The music video itself feels like a fever dream moving slowly through a series of non-sequitur vignettes. The song sounds gritty and raw, and the lyrics evoke a sort of hazy, yet intense passion. ARMYs collectively dropped their jaws when they heard RM come in on his verse the first time…

Honey, what you doin’ in my bed? Yeah

Uh, baby, welcome to my favorite place, yes


Where’s your favorite place? Okay. Yeahhhhhhh… I’m just gonna go stick my head in my freezer for a little while.


On the other side of the coin, two months later, RM collaborated again with his friend Colde, this time on one of his songs, “Don’t Ever Say Love Me”, a hauntingly beautiful slow jam about a love affair seemingly coming to a bitter end. The music video is simple, yet extremely turbulent which is often how the ending of a relationship can feel—especially when it is one you can see coming from a mile away.

Love is a violence
You did know that somebody someday is
Gonna break all of the silence
We lose the balance
Lost all the pilots
Lost in a dream, lost in a city
You beggin' for all the pity
Just keep it all
Ruin me, and you will be happy again
Please go now
Please go now

I think I’ll just stay in the freezer a bit longer. Seems wise.

 

“Smoke Sprite (feat. RM of BTS)” Official M/V

 
 

"DON'T EVER SAY LOVE ME" COLDE (FEAT RM OF BTS) | OFFICIAL M/V

 

Fun Fact:

A look behind the scenes at HYBE.

At the end of 2023, HYBE released a series of videos featuring some of the employees that play an integral part in the lives of the trainees and Idols at their company—the “Training & Development” team.

The series provides a real look at what the T&D team does for their charges: looking after and preparing them for their debut, and then continuing to support them in their growth as their careers move forward.

The series is incredibly interesting, and (bonus) Namjoon appears in it! Enjoy!

  1. HYBE T&D STORIES | PART 01 FAREWELL AFTER DEBUT (6:27)

  2. HYBE T&D STORIES | PART 02 FIRST TIME AS A TRAINEE (5:18)

  3. HYBE T&D STORIES | PART 03 BEYOND NATURAL TALENT (5:15)

  4. HYBE T&D STORIES | PART 04 WE BELIEVE IN MUSIC (6:19)

  5. HYBE T&D STORIES | PART 05 WE ARE T&D (4:24)

 
 

DAY TWO:

RM knowing full well what he had prepared for us…

While the final four members of BTS enlisted in December of 2023, across the globe, the newly formed Admin Team of ARMY Project 529 was just starting to get to know each other. Just a few weeks prior, our founder Stefne randomly came up with the idea and posted about it on her TikTok account. What if we gathered a list of all of BTS’ content, and came together to watch/listen to it during the time they were going to be away in the military, until their return in 2025? Not only would it keep BTS fresh on our minds, but it would bring ARMY together while the members were away. She put out a call for help, and some of us answered. (I made Google documents… yaaaaay!)


We thought we were going to be bored while they were gone. What fools we were! Little did we know what the members of BTS had spent the end of 2022 and basically all of 2023 preparing for us—enough new content to ensure not a moment would go by without at least one of them on our minds. Solo albums, concerts, documentaries, TV series, photobooks, exhibitions, etc. Weverse announcements around every corner! Our wallets weeping and begging for mercy! BTS’ plan became obvious: spoil ARMY rotten while we’re gone so they never even think for a second about forgetting us.

As though we ever could…

And when we FINALLY found out what the mysterious “rpwp” was… the payoff was sweet. An entire ALBUM from RM? While he was enlisted?! Intriguing details trickled out… eleven tracks, produced by San Yawn (of Balming Tiger), and only a few features this time—all from lesser known artists. What was it going to sound like? Would it be mostly rap, or would he be singing some this time too? Wild speculation abounded.


Nothing could have prepared us for the reality however. When Right Place, Wrong Person released, we were hit with sounds we’d never heard from RM before. As the album begins with “Right People, Wrong Place”, it’s a cacophony of experimental instrumentation and lazily murmured lyrics. It sounds raw and exposed, reminiscent of his first mixtape, RM, but in a completely different way.

“Nuts” Official M/V promotional photo

The next two songs on the album, “Nuts” and “out of love” continue on in the same vein. They’re both angry and aggressive. The lyrics of “Nuts”, in particular, seem to be directed at people who use others—both physically and mentally. People who chew up others and then spit them back out.

She a pro rider
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, rider
Must be an A1 guider, always throw a fuckin' slider
When it comes to love, she could be an all-nighter


In “out of love”, that theme continues, but this time on a broader scale. The lyrics feel grimy and dirty, like how it must feel for someone as famous as RM to find out they’ve been manipulated and used by someone whom they were close to—maybe even had considered a friend or more. Or how gross it likely feels to have strangers judging your life and decisions in one breath, while asking for a handout in the next.

Just tell me if you need a dime
But I can't give you my time
Can't waste you my goddamn time
You know you was a grime
You can fuck my body
Can't fuck my mind

The messages are pointed, and very clear. And they left all of us asking, “Who hurt him?”

 

“Nuts” Official M/V

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: Have you ever felt like the wrong person in the right place?

 
 

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

 

DAY THREE:

The first half of Right Place, Wrong Person feels a bit like guerilla warfare. The production is expert level but it seems like it shouldn’t be. We’re thrown from one song to the next with no regard for a peaceful transition, or a moment to catch our breath. RM delivers lyrical punch after punch at us.


”Domodachi” is a combination of two Japanese words, that when put together, mean “Thank you, Friend.” It’s a track that celebrates real friendship, and warns against those who would try to pose as a friend in order to use you. The song, featuring British rapper Little Simz sets a brutal pace, from start to finish. It speaks to, especially when paired with the M/V, the chaotic nature of navigating fame, and the trappings that come along with it—most notably spotting fake people trying to hide amongst the real ones.

RM filming the M/V for “Groin”.

No more goofin' around, I want cool shit
I'ma stay calm when they come up with that new shit
Just light up the embers of this bonfire, my friends gather around me, one by one

On the “MiniMoni Album Exchange” (see Day Five’s content for more on that), Jimin was intrigued by “Groin” the moment he heard the first few seconds. He asked Namjoon, “Why did you name it that?”

The reply was, “Because that’s where the feeling behind it came from.” And it’s not surprising. “Groin” is a visceral experience. On the surface it sounds like just a 90’s throwback hip-hop track. But the lyrics are basically a giant “Fuck you” to anyone who has ever tried to tell RM or BTS, how to think, feel, talk, or act. He doesn’t want, nor does he deserve the pressure put upon his shoulders every day. He saunters around the M/V in an Adidas track suit, twerking on a lampost, slapping his own ass, and telling everyone, “You walk like a duck, bitch.” Honestly, it’s perfect.

I can't be a monk, others' words always misunderstand me
Not a fucking diplomat
Now that life is a bit easier, they shove responsibilities onto me
What do I represent, I only represent myself
Before I die from anger, let's say what I havе to say


Too many people, some ARMYs included, have put expectations upon Namjoon and the other members of BTS that aren’t realistic. They get put on a pedestal and asked to make statements or represent certain causes. The lyrics above speak to the unfairness of that. While it’s true that BTS has a massive platform, they can’t just say or do whatever they (or fans) want. They are humans with their own thoughts and feelings, and they often make mistakes, just like the rest of us do.

After “Groin”, the album begins to make a shift. Some of the themes are the same, but the feel of the music pulls us in other directions. “Heaven” is gorgeous, and if you didn’t listen to what the lyrics are saying, you could easily mistake it for a love song. In reality, the lyrics explore the nature of toxic relationships, what can happen if you don’t protect your peace, and instead allow them into your life, and your heart.

So take my heaven
'Cause you ain't inside it
If that's your delight (Ah)
Take my heaven
Oh, you ain't invited
Go grab your knife
And watch me collapse
So take my heaven

 

“Groin” Official M/V

 
 

“Domodachi (feat. Little Simz)” Official M/V

 
 

Fun Fact

RM on Weverse in 2023.

2023 was a bit of a scattered year for Namjoon. He didn’t do too many Weverse LIVEs, but the ones we got were random, insightful and introspective, infuriatingly adorable, prone to clumsiness and profanity, and him constantly at war with himself over not giving out spoilers.

Let’s take a moment to always remember Namjoon trying to convince ARMY that the dark bruise-like spot on his throat was an injury from Cross Fit and working out… riiiiiiiiight.

  1. 230216 Hi ~ㅎㅇ~ | WE-LIVE (8:01)

  2. 230401 Weekend.... | WE-LIVE (15:33)

  3. 230716 Hi Hi | WE-LIVE (11:30)

  4. 230812 Bald head | WE-LIVE (39:46)

  5. 230830 a rainy bald head | WE-LIVE (21:11)

  6. 230914 Late birthday | WE-LIVE (23:06)

  7. 231010 Hi | WE-LIVE (21:09)

  8. 231019 Hi Hi (1/2) | WE-LIVE (14:51)

  9. 231019 Uh? (2/2) | WE-LIVE (27:17)

  10. 231114 Hi, hi | WE-LIVE (49:47)

 

DAY FOUR:

 

Promotional image for Right Place, Wrong Person

By the time we get to “Lost”, the title track for Right Place, Wrong Person, we’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions with Namjoon while he exorcised some demons from his life.


As “Lost” begins, we know what we’re in for as soon as the first chorus hits:

I'm goddamn lost
I never been to club before
I hit the club
I never felt so free before
You're goddamn ghost
I never felt so fine before
I hit the cloud


The M/V shows us a label at the beginning that reads “Namjoon’s Brain”, and indeed that’s what listening to “Lost” feels like—a dream-like trip through Namjoon’s mind while he’s sorting through all of his thoughts and emotions that went into creating Right Place, Wrong Person. Musically it feels like a chaotic info dump, sort of like a sonic screaming into the void. It’s his way of saying to us, “This is what I’ve been going through. I hope you understand why I had to do this.” And we do.

After sifting through RM’s mind palace in “Lost”, the album moves into it’s denoument. Wanting to leave behind the anger, bitterness and resentment, “Around the World in a Day (Feat. Moses Sumney)” celebrates the lasting impressions love can leave on us, and tells us that sometimes we need to sit in that to discover the truth of what true connection and worthwhile relationships mean to us.


Look around
Say I love 'em, all your lies
Only time will sort it out
If it's right, if it's wrong, then I'll tell you
Only time will sort it out
Oh, now what's wrong?
Is it right? Is it wrong? I can tell you
That I've outgrown


As the lyrics say, only time can sort out some things, and it’s not easy to come to that realization. Often our reaction to the loss of something (or someone) we perceive as precious, is to grab it, and fight to hold on. We fight to fix. But that’s not always what’s needed. Sometimes the best solution is acceptance and time.

“Credit Roll” also speaks to the theme of time. It’s the penultimate track on the album, and it’s message is short and simple—it’s Namjoon asking us if we’re still with him. After everything he threw at us on this album, after baring his soul… are we gonna stick around?

When the credits roll do you hang tight?
Do you stay inside or go off to life?
I'm so grateful for everyone's time
Hope you all had such wonderful night
When the credits roll do you hang tight?

It’s a question the members of BTS have asked us many times through their career. “Will you stay?” And on the cusp of them having to enlist in the military, it seemed to be weighing on their minds more than ever. Would ARMY stick around even after the credits rolled on Chapter One to see what might happen next, or would we get up and leave the theatre immediately once they left the stage?

I think we all know the answer to that one.

 

“Lost” Official M/V

 
 

"ㅠㅠ (Credit Roll)" | Official M/V

 

Fun Fact:

“What’s up, Stallion?”

Three words was all it took for Kim Namjoon to reduce his very own internet into shambles.

BTS always trades collaborations, so after Megan Thee Stallion appeared on a remix of their 2021 smash hit “Butter”, fans knew to expect a feature from them (or some of them) on an upcoming track of hers in the future.

When? That was anyone’s guess. We wouldn’t get an answer for just about two more years. On September 1, 2024, via her official Twitter account, Megan announced that she was releasing a brand new track featuring RM, called “Neva Play”.

Speculation was rampant. When had they recorded this? Would there be a video? Would he be in it? What would it sound like?

Nothing could have prepared us for the answers to those questions, or the things Namjoon’s deep voice did to us as he slid his way onto the track and his verse.

“1, 2, 3, 4… 5, 6, 7, 8…”

  1. "NEVA PLAY" MEGAN THEE STALLION (FEAT. RM) | OFFICIAL M/V (2:40)

  2. "NEVA PLAY" MEGAN THEE STALLION (FEAT. RM) | OFFICIAL AUDIO (2:38)

  3. "NEVA PLAY" MEGAN THEE STALLION (FEAT. RM) | COLOR CODED LYRICS (2:38)

  4. WWE SMACKDOWN OFFICIAL THEME SONG - "NEVA PLAY" (2:38)

  5. SMACKDOWN ON USA’S BRAND NEW INTRO VIDEO FEATURING MEGAN THEE STALLION AND RM OF BTS (0:39)

 
 

DAY FIVE:

On the third and last day of Agust D’s “D-Day: The Final in Seoul” concert, he was joined on stage by his bandmate, RM. They performed the track “Strange”, from D2 which had originally featured RM as well. Afterward, as he had the previous two nights with Jimin and Jung Kook, Yoongi left the stage so RM could perform a solo song.


But what would he perform? He didn’t have any new music out like the other members did. Namjoon had buzzed his hair off that summer, seemingly trying to get used to the feel of it before enlisting. As he stood on stage in front of ARMY for the first time in almost a year, his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses—something we hadn’t seen in a long time. His hands were also shaking around his microphone as he asked us if we’d be okay if he sang us something new and unfinished.

RM performing an early version of “Come Back to Me” at D-Day: The Final in Seoul

“I’m nervous,” he admitted.

What followed was an unfinished piece of what we would eventually find out was the pre-release track for Right Place, Wrong Person, “Come Back to Me”. It sounded raw, honest, and emotional. And featured RM’s sweet, rough vocals, something we don’t get to hear enough of. ARMY went wild with speculation. What was this song from? When would we get to hear the rest of it? Would Namjoon release another album before he enlisted?


When we got the final version of “Come Back to Me” the following year, it preceeded the rest of RPWP. Many of us here at the project said that it felt like an ending, and Katie even predicted it would be the final song on the album, and she was right!

RM in the “Come Back to Me” Official M/V

Come back to me
Like you used to
Now, I could see
What a life is about
I told you I'm fine tonight
Staying good
Spring's always been here
I will sleep in her eyes


The credits rolled and “Come Back to Me” was RM’s post credits scene. The one in which he reflects on everything he just went through, and searches for the meaning of it all. In the M/V, he runs from room to room in his house, entering different potential scenarios for how his life could play out but watching them like a stranger. What is it he’s looking for? Is it perfection? Something unattainable? A way out?



While he’s looking, someone is also looking for him. A young woman in a purple dress… is she meant to be ARMY? Eventually they find each other, laughing and talking like old friends. She shows him to the door he couldn’t open before and together they walk through it. To me, this symbolizes Namjoon’s acceptance of who he really is.



Most of Right Place, Wrong Person is him railing against what fame and celebrity has thrown at him over the past decade or so. It’s his anger over failed relationships, betrayals, faked friendships, and the constant doubt following him around… “Do I deserve this?” I often think back to what he said to ARMY during BTS’ dinner party for Festa 2022: “I’m so afraid I’ll disappoint you, but there’s so much I want to share with you too.”




“Come Back to Me” is him accepting that he’s ready to share, and knowing that ARMY is there, ready to accept him too.

 
 
 
 

“Come Back to Me” Official Teaser

 

“Come Back to Me” Lyrics

 

MMM (Mini & Moni Music) Album Exchange Teaser

 
 
 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: When you don’t feel like yourself, how do you “Come Back to Me”?

 

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

 
 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Namjoon uses his songwriting as a form of therapy, and it has never been more apparent than with Right Place, Wrong Person. In the “MiniMoni Album Exchange” he told Jimin (and us) that he had originally planned to join the military at the same time j-hope did, but he didn’t because he realized that he still had so much more to say, and if he didn’t say it before enlisting, he might never get it out. It’s a beautiful reminder to us all that sometimes we just have to listen to that voice inside ourselves, even if it isn’t telling us something smart or practical.

Next week we will continue down the Fan Chant line and begin our month celebrating all things Kim Seokjin! If you loved Namvember, buckle up and get ready for a World Wide Handsome Jincember!

 
 
 

Side Quest

Kim Namjoon’s slow quest to destroy us with magazine pictorals.

You don’t need to read what I’ll say about it. Just go look at him.

He’s beautiful and he has no regard for our sanity.

 

RM, The Reader | Dazed Korea

 

RM Exclusive Interview with GQ Korea

 
 
 
 
 

CREDITS:

YouTube/Web

BANGTANTV, HYBE LABELS, Ami2017nj, ARMYPROJECT529, ASIAN ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE, Asian Mania, BORAHAE YO, BTS LIVE ARCHIVE, Busan International Film Festival, Choi's Lab, CURV, DAZED KOREA, Dewshinim, Fly With Yuriko, HQSTAE, JAEGUCHI, Jayne Alexander, Jiwoo amv, k-habitué, KBS WORLD TV, Megan Thee Stallion, MINSAE, moonchild 1013, 온스테이지ONSTAGE, SHADOWBYYOONGI, Sunset Rollercoaster落日飛車, TaeBearMD, Watermelon SUGA, WWE, yoshhie, 새소년 SE SO NEON, 콜드 Colde; Web:

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), Namz (TikTok: Namz07)

 
 

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).


Quince
Previous

WEEK 48 | I Want to Dream More.
Next

WEEK 46 | When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground.