WEEK 7 | Into the Dark
February 12 - 16, 2024
Frustration.
A new relationship can be a heady experience. Every emotion, positive or negative, seems to be amplified. During SKOOL LUV AFFAIR, BTS wooed us. We floated away on the notes of “Just One Day” and fell in love. But what happens after that? What happens when school is over and fantasy becomes reality?
BTS Dark & Wild Jacket Photoshoot
In late summer, on August 14, 2014, BTS released a new comeback. Their first full-length studio album was DARK & WILD—an older, more complicated look at romance than what we saw from SLA. According to ATK Magazine:
“DARK & WILD is a post-graduation narrative, when the dust from classroom chaos and crushes has settled and a darker, more volatile side of love is exposed.”
‘Love gone awry’—the perfect theme to transition away from their “School Trilogy” and move toward a more mature, adult side of BTS. The album was written while the group was filming American Hustle Life, and it’s easy to feel the frenzied energy of that time throughout the track list. In particular, the title track, “Danger”, which was recorded in a makeshift garage studio in Los Angeles, sounds like a raw nerve being exposed.
During the rest of 2014, not only did BTS promote DARK & WILD, but they also prepped for and began their first concert tour: Live Trilogy: Ep. 2 - “The Red Bullet.” And though their momentum was steady, it didn’t match the initial rush of love they’d felt the previous winter while winning a slew of “Rookie of the Year” and “Best New Artist” awards. Awards season this time brought them many chances for performance and exposure but not as much recognition.
The first track of the album, “Intro: What Am I to You?”, sounds very grand; the orchestral instrumentation, along with Rap Monster’s flow, builds and carries the feelings of high expectations for a love realized. But at some point, the song takes a turn. “Blowing hot and cold…Don’t you dare confuse me…” The realization that love isn’t always as strong as you want it to be—that it ebbs and flows like everything else—well, that’s another facet of growing up, right? And as Bangtan Sonyeondan promoted DARK & WILD, that “everything else” began to manifest into disappointing chart numbers and a lackluster awards season.
Playlists & Lyrics
BTS DARK & WILD ALBUM SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (also embedded at bottom of post)
ARMY PROJECT 529 WEEK 7 VIDEO PLAYLIST (all YouTube links)
ARMY PROJECT 529 FEBRUARY 2024 YOUTUBE PLAYLIST (all official M/Vs from SKOOL LUV AFFAIR and DARK & WILD)
DAY ONE:
Jin, when asked in interviews, describes “Danger” as a direct sequel to “Boy In Luv.” Having successfully confessed their feelings to us, now the members find themselves in what appears to be a one-sided love affair. Or at least, one in which they are more heavily invested than we are. “Danger” is a warning. “Hey! Treat me right or this relationship is in danger of failing.”
The message is intense. Naturally, so is the M/V and the look for the concept. We’re back to dark colors—lots of leather this time. The member’s performances are spot on. Offstage however… well, let’s just say they weren’t giving up on the “wooing” part so easily. They continue to flirt with ARMY (we’re looking mostly at you, Jimin) and only increase the amount of silly backstage antics we get to witness. Some highlights you’ll find below include V accidentally cutting his own hair while filming the M/V, Jin and Jimin attempting to freestyle rap, Rap Monster declaring mournfully that his only perk as the leader of BTS is getting to sit in the front seat when they’re in cars, and j-hope adorably asking us if we want snacks.
While it may have looked like all fun and games behind the scenes, BTS was indeed working hard. You’ll see the Rap Line writing lyrics even in the middle of promotions. Every day more collaborations were coming their way, like the remix of “Danger” (linked below) performed with Vietnamese singer THANH.
“DANGER” OFFICIAL M/V (as shown below)
“DANGER” DANCE PRACTICE (“Bachelor Appeal” version)
“DANGER (MO-BLUE MIX) FT. THANH” OFFICIAL M/V (as shown above)
Fun Fact
In “Intro: What Am I to You?” there are a few different pop culture references to be found, but one in particular is a really fun “catch”: “Now it’s the beginning, I’m your Pokémon.”
This is a reference, of course, to the extremely popular Japanese media series, Pokémon, which was created in 1996 but is still developing and releasing new material to this day. The franchise takes place in a shared universe in which humans coexist with creatures known as Pokémon, a large variety of species endowed with special powers. The target audience is children, but the series famously attracts fans of all ages.
The BTS members count themselves among those fans. There have been many, many instances over the years when they have mentioned Pokémon, shown merchandise they own or have been gifted from fans, even dressed up as some of the different characters. Please check out this adorable video compilation of some of these moments:
As you could tell from that video (and the fact that he wrote it into a song lyric), Rap Monster is particularly smitten with Pokémon. The word “Pokémon” basically translates to “pocket monster.” In a LIVE he held on Weverse in August of 2023, Namjoon responded to an ARMY’s request that he rap about Pokémon in the most adorable way:
“POCKET NAMJOON” (not on video playlist)
DAY TWO:
Despite our relationship seemingly being on the rocks, BTS remained determined to let us know that they were ready to be ‘our man’ with their second single, “War of Hormone.” The song is upbeat and fun but with a bit of grunge to it.
The concept look included more color than in “Danger,” but in a very edgy, pop-punk sort of way. The promo photos featured cheeky shots of the members in a convenience store market. At first glance, everything looks a bit playful (SUGA eating whipped cream, V with a lollipop, etc.), but look closer and it’s not hard to spot the suggestive, flirty undertones.
The lyrics continue on in this vein of teenage infatuation just bordering on the maturity of an adult relationship. The group describe the song as what happens when a teenage boy/young man’s hormones take over his thoughts. In his verse, JungKook raps, “I’m 18, I know what I need to know.” (In Korean Age he was 18, but everywhere else? Still 17.) An 18-year-old might think that they know everything, but in reality, they do not. The bravado though, especially in the M/V, is charming, and if the catchy chorus doesn’t pull you in, the astonished look on V’s face after he slaps Jimin’s butt definitely will.
“WAR OF HORMONE” OFFICIAL M/V (shown below)
“DARK & WILD” TAIWAN EDITION (shown below)
“WAR OF HORMONE” PERFORMANCE ON MUSIC BANK (shown below)
“WAR OF HORMONE” HALLOWEEN DANCE PRACTICE (“Why so serious?” - as shown below)
JIN & RAP MONSTER BIRTHDAY CHAOS (Tipsy Bangtan?)
POPS IN SEOUL STICKY NOTES INTERVIEW (JungKook rates Jimin 7th place in “looks” AGAIN.)
Fun Fact
We know BTS as a group of seven men who have a very strong core of integrity. The messages in their songs often inspire, uplift, and celebrate all of us and our uniqueness. This has been true since the start of their career, but it doesn’t mean they’re perfect. They have had missteps along the way.
“War of Hormone” is commonly viewed as one of those missteps. The song was initially well-received, with those who praised it calling it a satirical look inside the brain of a horny teenage boy. But about a year after its release, controversy began to surround the song due to its lyrics. Critics called it “misogynistic” and claimed that the song reduces women to objects to be ogled for men’s pleasure. Fans started asking for a response from BTS and BigHit, which they eventually provided on July 6, 2016, via a post on their official “Fan Cafe”:
“The agency as well as all of BTS feel very apologetic towards all the fans who may have felt uncomfortable from any lyrics or social network posts, and we will take the criticisms and the points in question into consideration for future works.
Through self review and discussion, we’ve learned that we can’t be free of societal prejudices and mistakes, as they are a part of each individual’s growth and experiences, things that are seen and learned in society.
We’ve also learned that defining a woman’s position or value in society from a man’s point of view could be wrong.
We feel heavily responsible for not being more careful with the production of BTS contents, and causing everyone so much worry. Please continue to watch BTS grow, and if you would continue to point out our shortcomings, we will continue to work hard, always listening to the words of our fans and society.”
No matter which side of the fence we sit on in this debate, it’s clear there is a lesson to be learned. There is always room for reflection and growth, which is what the members of BTS decided to do. They don’t perform “War of Hormone” live anymore and have made concerted efforts to evolve the lyrical content of their songs.
You can check out the lyrics here and decide for yourself what you think.
Bangtan Bubble: “War of Hormone”: is it satire or just problematic?
Answer in the comments below or on social media (be sure to tag @ARMYProject529 and mention #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
At its core, BTS’ music has always been hip-hop. In an interview we linked on Day One, Rap Monster says that they hoped to continue to evolve their sound to include different genres, like ballads, rock, and electronica, while still maintaining a solid foundation in hip-hop.
With that thought ever-present, they never passed up an opportunity to pay homage to their artistic influences. DARK & WILD’S “Hip-Hop Phile” (or “Hip-Hop Lover”) is a love letter written to some of the artists who inspired the Rap Line members growing up, and to hip-hop itself. As you listen to the song, think about the amazing fact that BTS has now actually collaborated with some of the artists mentioned, like Snoop Dogg, J. Cole, and Epik High’s Tablo.
During album promotions and award show season, the group also had chances to honor other hip-hop greats during their performances. BTS did a dance cover to “It’s Tricky” by RUN DMC on a KBS showcase and also performed “Let’s Get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas with the group Block B during their “battle” performance at the 2014 MAMA Awards.
“HIP-HOP PHILE” STAGE COMPILATION (shown below)
BANGTAN BOMB: JIMIN CONTINUES HIS REIGN OF GREEN ROOM TERROR
“IT’S TRICKY” (BY RUN DMC) DANCE COVER ON KBS (also feat. Vixx performing “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer - shown above)
“ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS” WITH MPD (loser has to do a sexy dance)
BACKSTAGE AT MAMA: TWEETING WITH MPD (V eating fries, SUGA repeatedly popping in with two seconds of “Bohemian Rhapsody”)
V’s SELF CAM AT MAMA (“Keep your eyes on me.”)
Fun Fact
Over the years, BTS has participated in many collaborations, both on their own songs and also as features on tracks for other artists.
They have worked with highly-respected musicians within Korea and all over the world, covering all kinds of genres (as we saw in their collab with THANH that produced a piano rock version of “Danger”).
Whether the song is for an album, a video game, or even for the FIFA World Cup, the members of BTS always bring their best to the table and typically inspire the same from their collaborators.
As we continue along our chronological journey, we will be covering most, if not all, of these collaborations. But we can give you a little bit of a sneak peek in the meantime. Maybe you’ll discover one you haven’t heard before…
DAY FOUR:
If we only observed the members of BTS during their Bangtan Bombs behind-the-scenes footage in green rooms or on set, we’d probably think they were a troupe of improv comedians, not an Idol group. From the hilarity of their individual “runway styles” (please comment who was your favorite below) to Jimin and V “fighting” over ARMY’s affections, their sweet and often unserious natures don’t immediately suggest they’d be capable of writing about the depth of feeling involved in a love affair falling apart.
But “Let Me Know,” which is co-produced and entirely vocal directed by SUGA, shows that they can do exactly that. The song is raw and emotional, and it showcases their individual singing abilities in the best way possible. Around the Rap Line’s intense verses, V’s smooth baritone sets an eerie tone for the majority of the song, and then JungKook, Jimin, and Jin come in and deliver sucker punches with their higher registers.
BANGTAN BOMB: LET’S SEE YOUR RUNWAY WALK… (peak comedy gold)
BANGTAN BOMB: JIN EATS A SALAD… ADORABLY (JungKook observes… learning how to bunny?)
“LET ME KNOW” LIVE PERFORMANCE (shown above)
RAP MONSTER ON BLOOMBERG DISCUSSING THE “KOREAN WAVE” (while the rest of BTS does their best to embarrass him from offstage)
JIMIN CALLS HIS “GIRLFRIEND”, ARMY, THEN V TRIES TO GET ARMY FOR HIMSELF
MELON SHOWCASE (INTERVIEWS AND THREE SONGS) (shown below)
Fun Fact
In the Bloomberg interview linked in Day 4, the reporter asks Rap Monster and the other guest to speak on the “Korean Wave” that seems to be overtaking the globe.
Wikipedia defines the “Korean Wave” or Hallyu (한류) as “a cultural phenomenon in which the global popularity of South Korean popular culture has dramatically risen since the 1990s.” The worldwide interest has been largely in K-Dramas and K-Pop, with leading success stories like those of Squid Game and BTS dominating the news in recent years.
But what brought about this Korean Wave? The end of the 1990s saw the end of military censorship over the entertainment industry in South Korea as well as an economic crisis all over Asia. In the wake of this, South Korea became a leader in the exportation of popular culture, beginning with their dramas and movies spreading to China and parts of Southeast Asia. During the 2000s, the spread continued over Asia and into the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The second generation wave, or “Hallyu 2.0,” is due mostly to the growing interest in K-Pop on online platforms like YouTube and started after Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became a worldwide smash hit. Its M/V has over five billion views to date and ranks #11 on the list of the most-viewed YouTube videos of all-time.
PSY - “GANGNAM STYLE” OFFICIAL M/V
If you’d like to learn more about the “Korean Wave”, check out the rest of the Wikipedia article here.
DAY FIVE:
As we progress through DARK & WILD, the song “Rain” sounds as though it could be a direct follow up to “Let Me Know.” It seems as though our relationship has ended as the members sing about feeling miserable and directionless. The rainy day is a metaphor for the intense self-reflection one can only experience post break-up. “Without saying anything, I look down at the world / There, a not-so-beautiful me is looking at me.” The lyrics invoke the kind of emotions that make you feel like sitting on your couch and eating ice cream directly from the container.
But even if we’re ‘on a break,’ don’t worry—BTS will still always be there to cheer us up with their unique brand of distraction. They can’t resist challenging each other in games, and the results are always hilarious. And they never let an opportunity pass to show off their amazing individual talents to us, like they do on the Global Request Show, linked below. A prime highlight is V’s impressions of famous actors and JungKook’s never-ending Rolodex of girl group choreography at his performance disposal.
Bangtan Bubble: How do you comfort yourself on a rainy day?
Answer in the comments below or on social media (be sure to tag @ARMYProject529 and mention #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
BTS DARK & WILD Album
We’ve been on a roller coaster of emotions with this album so far, haven’t we? We’ve been warned, flirted at, begged for information, AND finally broken up with! What could possibly be next?
We’ll continue next week with DARK & WILD. BTS will still be ridiculous, and we’ll see a return to the cypher series… along with another appearance by SUGA’s hands perhaps?
Side Quest
Strap in for another Side Quest, 529liners! This week we’re bringing you something truly epic! BTS’ very first concert series: Live Trilogy: Ep. 2 - “The Red Bullet”.
We talked about it enough during the main quest that we wanted to make sure you could all see it for yourselves. The first round of concerts was held at the end of 2014, and then a second leg of the tour was added toward the end of Spring 2015.
We’ve already shown you some promo material and performances from the tour in the Main Muster, so you might find the occasional repeat below. But we promise it’s not too much. Enjoy on your own time, and don’t forget to let us know what you think about it in the comments below!
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
HYBE LABELS, BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, 1theK (원더케이), 잔디 Jandi, Arirang Kpop, KBS Kpop, soymlk_03, Colleen Nguyen, KBS WORLD STAGE, Archive Bangtan, hanni, shookga, Diana TvSanders, soso kook, M2, Fall Out Boy, MAX, Enjoy BTS More, Lauv, officialpsy, dailymotion.com, soompi.com, wikipedia.org, atkmagazine.com
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); 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).