Oooh…Try Me, B****
[image error]
Group Leader: Okay. Who would like to share now?
Me: *Raises hand.
Group Leader: Okay. Introduce yourself.
Me: Hi, I’m ARMY. And I feel exploited.
*Resounding gasps.
If any of you watched the Teen Choice awards this past weekend, then you already know what’s about to go down.
Not only did our boys win Choice “International” Artist, but the squad won Choice Fandom.
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Congrats! Really, if anyone deserves consistent recognition for their hard work and the positive way in which they influence the social sphere, it’s Bangtan Sonyeondan and ARMY.
But no one ever asks ARMYs WHY Bangtan deserves their devotion and affection until we’re all putting our dentures in a glass and making a special request in our wills to have our shield engraved on our coffins.
[image error]
Damn right…that is the exact design I want, and if you attend my funeral and don’t see that sh*t, somebody better perform a motherf****** resurrection, so I can regulate.
Just saying.
Anyway…
All interviewers want to hear is a bunch of young girls–though ARMYs extend across several generations: ahjussi, ajumma, and sunbae along with noona, unnie, hyung, and oppa–scream and end it with “BTS.”
This “trend” has been ongoing: Billboard, The Ellen Show, and more…every question is prefaced with, “You have amazing fans. I’ve never heard such loud cheering in my life” (if you think the U.S. ARMYs are loud, go to Brazil and see how they get down).
Then: “WHO are the ARMY? WHAT are the ARMY?”
And, of course, Bangtan doesn’t make the situation any better by replying with super sweet sh*t like, “ARMY are our life. ARMY are our family.”
*Sob
Shut up. I’m NOT crying. You are.
And that’s why WE LOVE Bangtan: They have never treated their fans like fans–i.e., with fake love–they treat us like friends, like family, with love, care, and concern.
And they’re strangers.
Strangers who tell you that it’s okay to not know what you want to do in life; it’s okay to fail; that you can only live your life for yourself and no one else. That you will never be happy and love yourself if you follow the path others have set for you.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard ARMYs say I was being bullied and “School of Tears” got me through it, or I’m about to start college and I’m really scared, but I listened to “N.O.” and “No More Dream” and I kind of know now how to handle the new obstacles that are about to come my way.
Or. I’ve never been confident in myself, but “21st Century Girl” makes me feel like the baddest b*tch on the planet.
Or. I work really, really hard and I make decent money, but I’m afraid to spend it, because “I never know…” but “GoGo” helped me realize that what’s the point of making money if I can’t enjoy it?
Or. I used to hate myself, but Bangtan taught me to love myself, something no parent, friend, lover, teacher, etc. ever did.
[image error]
What other artists are out there telling folks to turn off their cellphone and have an actual conversation at a table, eating a meal, with people you care about?
What other artists are out there telling you to ignore the videos, pictures, trivia, tweets, etc. associated with them and go study for your tests, write your essays, or go to bed early to be fresh and prepared for work?
No one.
No one, but BTS.
[image error]
Correction in graphic: RM not Rap Monster.
They’re UNICEF ambassadors for the fight to end violence, especially violence against children.
They were the only foreign artists asked to participate in the MLK 50th death anniversary “Keep the Dream” alive campaign. Even their song “Not Today” is inspired by MLK.
And the worst scandal they have ever been in: Leaking lyrics to new albums while drunk on vlive.
Sidenote: 17 more days until Kookie can legally drink in the U.S. and they will be in L.A. I can’t wait for the shenanigans that will follow as he spends the first month and a half of being 21 Stateside.
To say that BTS are role models wouldn’t adequately describe these young talented businessmen and artists from various provinces in South Korea.
They’re life models.
Encouraging people near and far to live their best life.
That’s how ARMYs should respond when people ask them about BTS.
For all the interviewers and venues who don’t know anything about BTS, and don’t care to know anything about them, who only want to feed off the buzz they create…
YouTube did not make BTS (if the videos came on television in our countries, they’d be watched there; *hint, hint MTV).
ARMY did not make BTS.
BTS made ARMY
…into better versions of ourselves, into people we never thought we could be.
…
Please visit and buy at LV Bangtan: https://lvbangtan.com
Proceeds from purchases at LV Bangtan go to BTS’s UNICEF #ENDVIOLENCE campaign.
[image error]
Remember: Love yourself.
Peace.
