‘Life Goes On’ With BTS As They Talk About Holding On To Hope

BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)

SEOUL – A wave of hope continues with BTS as the group returned with a highly anticipated “BE” album that reaches the discouraged amid the pandemic.

After dominating the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with her previous single “Dynamite,” the global pop sensation held a press conference broadcast live in Seoul last Friday prior to the release of the new album.

Strict disinfection measures were carried out at the entrance, while journalists sat at an additional distance. Excitement and tension filled the air as the six bandmates in the same suit (Suga did not recover from shoulder surgery) entered their first official offline media event since the outbreak of the pandemic.

“Our press conference for ‘Dynamite’ was held online, and it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you (reporters) again. We look forward to having a great time together, ”Jimin said, looking quite cheerful.

At the beginning of the session, the musicians explained that “Life Goes On”, the title track of the new album, was more attenuated than “Dynamite”. But in the same vein as the disco-pop track, “Life Goes On” tells listeners to keep moving forward even in these harrowing times, plus an alternative acoustic hip-hop sound.

“The central message of the song is simple and clear, that life still goes on. We unraveled such an obvious yet severe fact in our own language with a little more weight, softness and solidity, ”explained RM, who partially created the song together with Suga and J-Hope.

Jin said, “We are in a situation where everything has stopped. I feel like the last year passed sad and empty. We try to express our honest thoughts on the album, that it is okay and that we feel the same as you. “

The eight-track album also shows the band’s effort to maintain their connection with their fans. Taking a more progressive role in the album creation process, Jimin was assigned the role of project manager, while V and Jungkook served as visual director and music video director, respectively.

V said that he tried to capture the more natural and ordinary sides of the bandmates, while Jungkook, who enjoys filming, shared that he would like to shoot a music video in the future.

RM added: “For the first time in our career, we have shared our work process which was always kept secret. It’s like sharing a secret recipe for a sauce from a popular restaurant. And we did it so that our fans could feel more engaged with us. “

With the Grammy nominations just around the corner on November 25, BTS once again expressed their hope of being recognized at America’s most prestigious pop music awards ceremony.

“We are awaiting the nomination with excitement and nervousness. In fact, we’ve talked about what Grammy means to us. For me, I still can’t forget the ‘Swagga Like Us’ stage at the 2009 Grammys, when we were still dreaming of success. That was the best performance, and still is, for us, which has left a huge mark on our youth. So I think it’s obvious to dream of winning at the Grammys, “RM said.

J-Hope chimed in and said, “As we are a team, it would be great to receive an award as a group, as we could have accomplished everything as a group and everything toured as a group. That is so important to us. If they reward us, I think I’m going to cry. “

With all those tours suspended and in-person interactions with fans, BTS have had a rough year like everyone else, even to the point of questioning their identity as musicians. But it was the music and the close bond between them that has brought the bandmates out of the abyss.

“I had fallen emotionally several times. Performing on stage and meeting the fans had great meaning to me, something I had to do. When they were taken from me, I was confused and thought, ‘Who am I and what should I do?’ But thanks to the bandmates, with whom I talked a lot about the music and my feelings, I could have gotten over it, “said Jimin.

V also shared that he used to get emotionally burned in the past, but it could have surfaced by expressing his feelings in music.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on K-pop in general, but it didn’t seem to have taken BTS out of its main purpose, which is to share their honest thoughts and emotions through music. They are not sure what kind of message to deliver and what records to set next. But there is one thing they can say out loud.

“We don’t dance and sing just to set records. We are the people who feel really happy when we perform on stage. We will not hold on to the results and will continue to send messages that we want to share with our fans, “said Jungkook.

On Friday night, “BE” also features “Blue & Gray”, “Skit”, “Stay” and “Dynamite”.

BTS will perform “Life Goes On” at the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.

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