WEEK 6 | Let’s Jump
February 5 - 9, 2024
Relatability.
Comfort and familiarity are two important factors in a good relationship, whether it be friendship or romantic in nature. When you reach the point of looking past the glossy facade and begin enjoying the realness underneath, that’s when the relationship can start to thrive. As the promotions for SKOOL LUV AFFAIR continued in early 2014, BTS had many opportunities to start deepening their relationship with their growing fanbase: ARMY.
We’ll join them on their second trip to China (SUGA’s first), where they win an award and host a fan sign (the FIRST Korean group to hold one there). They also travel to Berlin and Stockholm for their first fanmeets and concerts in Europe. Lastly, we’ll watch them prepare for a Fan Club exclusive concert: the very first Muster! At all of these events, the members get more of a chance to express their ever-growing gratitude to BTS ARMY.
Most Idol groups from the same generation or earlier just wanted to share the perfect image and the perfect music with their fans. Meanwhile, Bangtan Sonyeondan’s only concern was sharing themselves. (See the teaser for the First Muster, embedded here in the introduction: BTS in full chaos mode, and even in the midst of all the silliness, Jimin is compelled to flirt with us.)
As BTS’ familiarity with their fans grew, so did their confidence—and their unseriousness. Look no further than one of the epic FLASH FORWARDs we have for you this week: a self-made M/V for the track “Spine-Breaker”, along with the accompanying “Making of” special. The hilarity of both show us BTS’ certainty that being real with their fans would make ARMY grow faster than any crafted image of “perfection” would.
And this assumption would be proven correct. As BTS travels more and more, the crowds increase in size and volume. The venues get bigger as well. Speaking on performing at their first awards show in China, Rap Monster reflects, “The seven of us on such a large stage to lead the crowd is actually a really tough task. But we won’t stumble.”
Even if they stumbled, ARMY would be there to catch them.
Playlists & Lyrics
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR ALBUM SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (also embedded at bottom of post)
ARMY PROJECT 529 WEEK 6 VIDEO PLAYLIST (all YouTube links)
DAY ONE:
BTS members playing the game GO in 2014
The theme of SKOOL LUV AFFAIR, as we discussed last week, is “love,” but BTS has never been satisfied with exploring one theme at a time. “Spine-Breaker” sounds fun and cheeky but is also a clever dig at those who waste money they can’t afford to, which is just one of many societal issues covered over the years in their discography.
The members were all hovering on the cusp of adulthood. Some of them were technically adults in age, and they all had careers like an adult, but they were still in the mindset of “children” in some ways. Most of them had gone directly from their family homes to being sheltered by BigHit, where Trainee life consumed their every moment. Still, they attended school and knew the pressures placed on the bulk of people their age: the ones shifting from childhood into becoming “productive members of society.”
Below you’ll also find a rare early track by Rap Monster, Jin, and SUGA called “Adult Child.” It was an unofficial promo release song and was the companion to “Beautiful” by j-hope, Jimin, V, and JungKook. “Adult Child” tells us how finally being considered an adult isn’t what it seems like it will be when you’re young. If you always do as you're told, you end up just another cog in the wheel, just fodder for society.
“Adulthood, it’s nothing, really.”
SHIN DONG’S SIMSIMTAPA: PERSONAL TALENTS INTERVIEW (not in video playlist)
FLASH FORWARD: BTS GAYO - “SPINE-BREAKER” M/V MAKING OF (2016)
FLASH FORWARD: “SPINE-BREAKER” “OFFICIAL M/V” (2016) (shown below)
FLASH FORWARD: MAGIC SHOP STAGE SELF-CAM “SPINE-BREAKER” (2019)
BANGTAN BOMB: A LITTLE BACKSTAGE DANCING - WHATCHA DOIN’ TODAY?
“ADULT CHILD” BY BTS (adapted from “Celebrate” by Common)
“ADULT CHILD” DANCE PRACTICE (Feat. the “Can’t Dance” Line)
BANGTAN BOMB: LIP SYNCING IN THE GREENROOM (JungKook and V release their inner Emo with “Given Up” by Linkin Park)
MPD’S MVP INTERVIEW WITH BTS (not in video playlist)
Fun Fact
The maknae line of BTS has a long history of participating in viral memes and trends, and filming it for ARMY’s amusement. The lip syncing video to Linkin Park which is linked above brings to mind, in particular, JungKook and V’s brief but wild Dubsmash era.
You might be asking yourself now: “What is Dubsmash?” It was a video sharing social media service that was created in 2014 that lasted “officially” until 2022, when Reddit (who had purchased the app in 2020) finally shut it down and archived its contents on their user forums. This was in response to an extreme decline in usage, due to the uprising of TikTok during the pandemic.
Dubsmash users could video themselves lip syncing to audio clips, including sections of songs, movies, TV shows, famous quotes, etc. It was easy to use, and was extremely popular for a few years after its release.
JungKook and V (with occasional cameos from the other members) went through an epic Dubsmash phase and luckily for us, it is preserved for all-time on the internet. Wanna see? Warning: do not attempt to drink anything while watching this video—you will spit it out.
DAY TWO:
Whereas “Spine-Breaker” is a largely cynical song, “Jump” is the opposite. It’s the second track on the album that SUGA co-produced, and though, like “Adult Child”, it's about the imbalance of what it’s like to dream of adulthood as a child vs. the reality of actually becoming an adult, it has a more positive outlook on the message. It tells us to get up, jump, and let our worries go—to dream and be ourselves no matter what—which is something BTS had been saying since the beginning, in fact. Enjoy the FLASH FORWARD performances linked below.
The enthusiastic sound of “Jump” is an accurate correlation to how the members feel as they begin traveling more for promotions and to new locations. They are excited and curious to meet ARMYs as they attend their first fan meets in both Stockholm and China. And even though they only have a small amount of time in both locations, they find ways to make it special each time.
SHOWCASE: “BOY IN LUV” & “JUMP” (shown below)
“JUMP” LIVE PERFORMANCE (MELON SHOWCASE) & OFFICIAL FAN CHANTS (not in video playlist)
BTS FIRST FAN MEET IN STOCKHOLM (shown above)
“CHINA JOB” - YINYUETAI EP. 1 (shown below)
Fun Fact
“Jump” may have been mostly written and produced by SUGA, but if you ask ARMY (and probably BTS too), the song has come to belong to a different member of the group: V.
V has a very powerful pre-chorus in the song:
No matter who stops me,
I go on my way
One life, one shot
Leggo (Leggo!) Leggo (Leggo!)
Even if I live only one day,
There can never be any regret
So let’s jump
The words seem almost like they’re written just for V, who is very well-known for going his own way all the time in life. He is who he is, and he doesn’t care what others think of him.
Just before he delivers his lines, he bursts onto the song by yelling “V!” Ever since, when he enters a room or is doing something important or “V-like,” the members will sing his lines from “Jump” to him.
And here’s a fun stage mix of “Jump” where you can see a mix of V’s unique performances.
Bangtan Bubble: Which BTS title do you think is YOUR theme song?
Answer in the comments below or on social media (be sure to tag @ARMYProject529 and mention #BangtanBubble)!
DAY THREE:
While bouncing between fan meets and award performances, BTS still had plenty of time to get up to ARMY’s favorite backstage shenanigans. They continued to make appearances on variety shows as well.
Everywhere they went, they left a lasting impression and showed more of themselves to BTS ARMY. They appealed to everyone, whether they were messing around, dancing backstage, or never taking themselves too seriously—always willing to be the butt of the joke.
And while they knew what they were doing was working, the members couldn’t always quite believe it. It was still surprising to see fans waiting at the airport or gathered outside of venues just to catch a glimpse of them. In a link you’ll see below, we have another album review from SUGA, this one for SKOOL LUV AFFAIR. He says at the beginning of the video that he hasn’t done one since 2 COOL 4 SKOOL and he’d only done that one as a joke. He mentions not understanding why the fans have been asking him to do more, but he is happy to oblige. (The beginning of SUGA being willing to do whatever ARMY asks of him?)
“OUTRO: PROPOSE” STAGE MIX (RED BULLET TOUR 2015) (shown below)
BANGTAN BOMB: SUGA & V DANCING (shown below)
BANGTAN BOMB: GREEN ROOM DANCE PARTY (Spicy Jimin returns)
BANGTAN BOMB: BACKSTAGE - J-HOPE LEARNING DANCE FOR “FULL MOON” (by Sunmi)
BANGTAN BOMB: LIKE HYUNG, LIKE MAKNAE (sleeping cuties)
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR ALBUM REVIEW BY SUGA (back by popular demand)
Fun Fact
How are Musters different from fan meetings? And what is a “Muster” as it relates to BTS?
Since BTS fans are referred to as ARMY, when coming up with a name for their fan club concerts, BTS decided to continue with the theme. To “muster” in the military means “to assemble” or “to collect”; to attend a muster can also mean to attend a meeting.
Fan meetings are typically opportunities for the members to greet fans individually and sign merchandise for them. There might be a performance of one or two songs. And they usually coincide with an album release. The Musters are special concerts BTS performs only for their fans. There have been six so far, all held in Korea (with separate fan meetings held in Japan as well). They don’t follow regular schedules, and in more recent years they have had multiple nights and sometimes multiple locations.
First Muster: March 2014 at Seoul Olympic Hall (3000 in attendance)
Second Muster: January 2016 - “Zip Code 22920” at Hwajung Gymnasium (9,000)
Third Muster: November 2016 - “ARMY.ZIP+” at Gocheok Sky Dome (38,000 over two dates)
Fourth Muster: January 2018 - “Happy Ever After” at Gocheok Sky Dome (40,000 over two dates)
Fifth Muster: June 2019 - “Magic Shop” in Busan and Seoul (258,000 over four dates)
Sixth Muster: June 2021 - “SoWooZoo” (online only, 1.33 million over two performances)
Hopefully, we can look forward to a 7th Muster once all the BTS members complete their military service. And let’s not forget about that World Tour as well!
DAY FOUR:
Remember all the flirting from last week? Don’t worry, there’s more. The repackage of SKOOL LUV AFFAIR contained a new title track, “Miss Right.” Its lyrics deliver sweetness one moment, followed by sexy wordplay the next. “You’re my Miss Right, Miss Right / Girl you want my kiss, right? Miss Right…” We giggle a little as we listen, imagining they could be singing to us, perhaps.
It’s the same as when we watch their behind-the-scenes footage. Whether they’re dressing up in crazy costumes and pretending to be other hip-hop artists or recreating hilarious viral memes with each other… they always invite ARMY to come and watch—to relate and enjoy. And we do. We are right there with BTS, wanting to dance and lip sync ridiculously with them. As much as they can, BTS treats ARMY like their friends who they’re always inviting over to hang out and be random with. It’s a heady feeling, yet still completely normal. We’ve all got seven famous Korean besties, and that’s pretty cool.
K*STAR LOVERS - BTS MEMBERS “WHAT’S YOUR ROLE AT HOME?” (not in video playlist)
“MISS RIGHT” - LIVE PERFORMANCE (2015) (as shown)
“MISS RIGHT” - STAGE MIX (2015) (peak cuteness and flirting - shown above)
BANGTAN BOMB: LET’S BECOME FAMOUS ARTISTS (during AHL, w/a small sneak peek of “Chicken Noodle Soup”)
JIMIN & JUNGKOOK INTRO SLA BY RAPPING (poorly; not in video playlist)
“CHINA JOB” - YINYUETAI EP. 3 (as shown)
JIN LIKES HOW AMERICANS JUST START CONVERSATIONS: VLOG 07/08/14
Fun Fact
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR (SLA) released on February 12, 2014, but a special edition, also known as a “repackage,” was released just a few months later on May 14th. Repackages happen all the time in the K-Pop world, but what exactly are they?
A repackage is the re-release of an album with its previous tracks, but also includes new songs and a new concept as well. There will be different photos and different collectibles included. In the Western music industry, these are often referred to as “reissues” or “deluxe albums.”
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR repackaged
The repackage of SLA included a new title track, “Miss Right,” and a new version of a previous song, “Like (Slow Jam Remix).” The physical CD had six hidden tracks, all instrumentals of some of the original SLA songs. Included also were two DVDs containing footage from their February Showcase as well as behind-the-scenes and making-of content.
This special edition remained out-of-print for six years after its initial run sold out, but it was reprinted and re-released in 2020 after an overwhelming number of ARMY polled named it the number one out-of-stock merchandise that they wanted made available again.
DAY FIVE:
As their popularity grew with ARMY, so too did BTS’ recognition within the industry. They were being invited to participate in more Showcases and Special Stages throughout the SLA era, and one of those was a Special Stage tribute to some of their sunbaenim (a Korean word that refers to an older, more experienced person within the same school or profession), the First Generation Idol Group, SHINHWA—a huge honor for the members of Bangtan Sonyeondan. They were extremely nervous to cover two of SHINHWA’s songs and, as you can see in the links below, were practicing right up until the last minute.
They were nervous for their very first Fan Club exclusive concert as well. The First Muster (see Fun Fact on Day Three above) was held in Seoul Olympic Hall and held an audience of 3,000 ARMYs. They performed many of their songs and spoke with the fans in between sets. Toward the end, they showed a pre-recorded compilation of some of their VLOGs, including ones from before their debut. As they returned to the stage for their encore, many of them fought tears as they talked about how far they’d come thanks to having ARMY by their side. And in that moment, they set goals for an even more amazing future together.
You can find these thoughts echoed in the group VLOG they filmed just a couple days before the first anniversary of their Debut. They talk about having time to rest but feeling restless while in the midst of it… something each and every one of us can relate to, right? While grateful for everything they’d received and experienced so far, BTS’ main focus was on the future and how they could improve even more—and bring ARMY even closer.
BANGTAN BOMB: BACKSTAGE BEFORE SHOW CHAMPION SPECIAL STAGE (as shown)
SHOW CHAMPION: 100TH EPISODE SPECIAL STAGE - BTS PERFORMS “THIS LOVE” & “T.O.P” (orig. by SHINHWA)
AFTER SHOW CHAMPION - BACKSTAGE (“I’m Taehyung”)
SHOW CHAMPION - BACKSTAGE LIP SYNCING & DANCING (Spicy Jimin is back!)
BTS FIRST MUSTER! - MEMORIES OF 2014 (as shown)
BTS REMINISCE ON THEIR FIRST YEAR AFTER DEBUTING: VLOG 06/11/14
Bangtan Bubble: Do you ever feel guilty taking time for yourself to rest and replenish?
Answer in the comments below or on social media (be sure to tag @ARMYProject529 and mention #BangtanBubble)!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
BTS DARK & WILD Album
How did you enjoy exploring SKOOL LUV AFFAIR? Do you find yourself relating to BTS more and more with each passing week?
Now that we’ve fallen completely, head-over-heels in love with BTS, where’s the next stop on our journey? If you guessed their very first full-length studio album, you are correct! Come back next week as we dive into “Danger” with DARK & WILD…
j-hope, Jimin, and JungKook of BTS with “Tony”, one of their mentors, on American Hustle Life
Side Quest
Our inaugural Side Quest continues with American Hustle Life (AHL)! Filmed while BTS was working on their fourth album, DARK & WILD, it’s a “reality series” that chronicles BTS traveling to Los Angeles to study in the ways of hip-hop with some well-known American rap and hip-hop artists like Warren G and Coolio.
Like Rookie King, AHL is full of cringe-worthy moments, but it also has a lot of worthwhile content as well. It’s the source of many BTS inside jokes and memes, in fact. You saw some of the “behind the scenes” during this week’s content, so let’s go ahead and finish up the rest of the series!
- They have a BBQ with Warren G and later with the same teams made before, they look for girls to be in their MV.
- They learn about dance, beatboxing, and music with special guests.
- They work hard all day to earn money, then buy food to distribute to the unhoused in L.A. with it.
- Their last mission is writing a song for Warren G and they say goodbye to L.A. with a concert.
CREDITS:
YouTube/Web
BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, 1theK (원더케이), 잔디 Jandi, BTS Purple You, SuperKpoplover143, MACKNAE LINE, kpop Anims, DKDKTV, BTS ARMY Update, A.R.M.Y. Base Subs, Seop Kiss, Diana TvSanders, MBCkpop, Beware of ARMY, HALLYU SE, Kpop_Moon, Enjoy BTS More, Channel Bangtan, Qumpela, Joann Ong Che Xuan, vvith, wheresmystach, DAILYBANGTANNIES, dailymotion.com, usbtsarmy.com, bts101.info, wikipedia.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); 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).
