Random Things

[jungkkyuk]

JIMIN & JUNGKOOK | black swan intro

↳ 211024 | permission to dance on stage

[humanuser0613]

OH GOSH!!!! I FINALLY STUMBLED UPON THE PERFORMANCE GIFS!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I lost my breath during this part (and a few others)! I love these Black Swan performances so much!

This song really gave BTS another huge avenue for creative explorations with their dancing and performances and stages!

[stormblessed95]

Okay, but let's talk super quick about this almost jikook moment!

Jungkook caught the drone, did his part, did some jumps around with Taehyung when it was his turn to sing and then immediately turned his head looking for Jimin to get into his camera shot with him for Jimins part. Who didn't notice in time 😭 but got in there for a second at the end! Lol Jungkook just loves having those on stage moments with Jimin, he seeks them out!

[chikooritajjk]

god i've missed you my stormalooo

[stormblessed95]

@chikooritajjk I'm here 🥺😇

[akookminsupporter]

Between Support and Entitlement

Another long freaking post. sorry.

When the announcement of BTS’s new album came out, the complaints, the demands and the entitlement all started again. But, to many people’s surprise, it didn’t just come from the industry, the press or other fandoms; it came from BTS’s own fandom.

There were countless complaints and even more accusations. Everyone seemed eager to point fingers, carefully avoiding placing any responsibility on the seven people they claim to support. Because, of course, whenever it suits the narrative, they suddenly become nothing more than pawns of a company that controls them and uses them purely for profit. It is a convenient argument, one that removes any need to acknowledge that BTS are grown men with agency, opinions and creative control over their own work.

Different reactions emerged almost immediately. Some things were praised by one part of the fandom, questioned by another, and outright rejected by others. It created a strange atmosphere where no one seemed fully satisfied. Even when something was objectively well done, it was still not enough for everyone.

Then the album was released. It is different. It is more mature, more introspective and, in many ways, more restrained. It is also excellent. Yet the complaints, the demands and the entitlement didn’t stop. Some people tried to present themselves as satisfied, but there was always an underlying reluctance, as if they were forcing themselves to accept something that didn’t align with what they had imagined.

What followed was almost predictable. Critical acclaim began to pour in. Reviews highlighted the growth, the cohesion and the artistic direction of the album. The numbers spoke for themselves as well, reflecting a successful and well-received project. Suddenly, the tone shifted. There was pride again, because if there is one thing a large portion of the fandom values deeply, it is validation through numbers and awards. Those achievements become tools for comparison, for proving superiority over other fandoms. In that moment, everything seemed fine again. Yet beneath that surface-level satisfaction, the expectations for the tour had already been firmly established.

When the tour was announced, people began constructing their ideal versions of it. Everyone created their own setlists, imagined transitions, and visualised specific performances. These imagined concerts were built from personal favourites, songs from different albums, different comebacks and different emotional attachments. In doing so, many forgot a very simple and consistent pattern. Tours are usually centred around the most recent album. That has always been the case. And that is exactly what happened here. The difference is that this particular album doesn’t demand the same intensity in terms of choreography. Its tone is calmer, more reflective, less focused on high-energy performances and more on musicality and atmosphere. For many, that was disappointing, not because it was objectively lacking, but because it didn’t match the version of the concert they had already created in their minds.

There was also an expectation that this tour would resemble the PTD concerts. Or maybe the free concert in Busan. However, those concerts were built around a different concept. They were structured in a way that allowed for a broader selection of songs from across their discography. This time, there is a clear album identity guiding the tour. The structure is not new; it is simply being applied to a different kind of project. Yet that distinction seems to be overlooked.

The deeper issue lies elsewhere. While BTS have clearly evolved and moved forward, a significant portion of the fandom has remained attached to the past. Nostalgia plays a powerful role here. It shapes expectations, influences perception and creates a fixed idea of what BTS should be. This affects not only long-time fans, but also newer ones. Many of them experienced their first comeback in real time with this album. When it didn’t match the stories they had read or the moments they had seen from previous comebacks, it led to disappointment. Those expectations, built on past experiences rather than present reality, became the foundation for frustration. And instead of adjusting those expectations, many chose to criticise the outcome.

Having expectations is not inherently wrong. It is natural to anticipate something you care about. The problem arises when those expectations turn into rigid demands. What is happening now goes beyond simple disappointment. It has turned into open criticism of BTS’s work, their artistic choices and their direction. People dismiss the album, question the concert and undermine their decisions, often hiding behind the excuse that it is the company’s fault. This argument persists despite the fact that it has been stated repeatedly that BTS have significant involvement in their careers. They are not passive participants. They contribute to the creative process; they make decisions, and they shape their own path. Ignoring this reality simplifies the situation in a way that is both inaccurate and dismissive of their autonomy.

The reaction also highlights a broader issue within the fandom. There is a tendency to selectively acknowledge information. When something aligns with personal preferences, it is accepted. When it doesn’t, it is dismissed or misunderstood. This is evident in the way some people interpreted Bang PD’s interview with Billboard or parts of the Netflix documentary. Rather than engaging with the content critically, many filtered it through their own expectations.

Now, yesterday’s concert. Looking at the concert itself, it is important to consider the context. The first show was affected by heavy rain. That alone introduces variables that impact performance, staging and overall flow. Jimin himself addressed this, indicating that adjustments had to be made. It is reasonable to expect that future shows, under different conditions, may present a more accurate representation of what they had in mind for the tour.

Even so, the core question remains. What are people attending these concerts for? Is it solely for choreography, or is it for the music, the atmosphere and the connection between artist and audience? Performance is a combination of many elements, not just physical intensity. If BTS chose to prioritise certain aspects over others, there is likely a reason behind that decision. Another recurring complaint has been the duration of the concert. The concert lasts approximately two and a half hours; it is not a short show by any standard. The absence of solo stages and extended VCR segments contributed to a slightly more condensed structure. However, those elements serve specific functions. In this case, the structure appears to have been influenced by both the album and the stage design. A more complex stage setup can limit movement and increase transition times, leading to adjustments in how the show is organised. The lack of solo songs also aligns with the album itself, which doesn’t feature individual tracks. This consistency suggests intentional planning rather than oversight.

I was actually going to compare the number of songs on this tour’s setlist with previous ones, and the difference really isn’t that significant when you look at it properly. But someone on Twitter already did that breakdown, so I’ll just post a screenshot instead. That honestly saved me the time and effort, and it also helps to have everything laid out clearly in one place.

What stands out when you look at those comparisons is that this tour is not some huge outlier like people are making it seem. The structure is actually very consistent with what BTS have done before. Most of the songs in each setlist have always come from the album that the tour is centred on. That has been the standard approach for years. The only real difference this time is that the album itself has fewer tracks, so naturally, the setlist feels more limited in variety to some people.

But that does not mean the concert is lacking. It just means the focus is tighter. Previous albums often had more songs to pull from, which made it easier to create the illusion of a broader mix while still technically centring the tour around one project. This time, because the album is more concise and cohesive, that structure is more noticeable.

It also highlights something else people tend to overlook. Setlists are not just about cramming in as many songs as possible. They are designed with flow in mind, with pacing, with transitions, with the overall experience of the show. Adding more songs from older eras just for the sake of variety could easily disrupt that balance, especially when the tone of the current album is so distinct from their past work.

So when you actually take a step back and compare things properly, the difference is not as dramatic as people claim. It only feels that way because expectations were built around a different idea of what the tour should be, rather than what it was always likely going to be based on how BTS have structured their tours in the past.

So maybe the problem is that some people expect too much of different things.

When I became a fan years ago, I remember seeing comments from people who were angry at the agency in the past for pushing them too hard on tour, for putting them in situations where they needed oxygen masks backstage, where they would collapse from sheer exhaustion, where they had to step on stage and perform just days after losing a family member. Do you remember when everyone was genuinely upset about the level of pressure they were under, especially after they revealed in 2018 that they had even considered disbanding because of it? Do you remember when they were finally given a proper break in 2019 and people praised that, saying it was long overdue? Because that is what I remember seeing. But now, those same fans are the ones asking for more. More intense choreography, more tour dates, more output, even under conditions like performing in the rain, as if none of those past concerns ever existed. All of this is justified simply because they are fans, as if that alone gives them the right to demand more and more without limits.

At what point did that shift happen? When did the conversation stop being about their wellbeing and start revolving entirely around expectations? When did they stop being seen as human beings with physical limits and emotional realities, and start being treated like products designed to deliver a specific experience on demand?

Because that is what it starts to feel like. Not support, not appreciation, but consumption. And there is a difference, even if many people refuse to acknowledge it.

“But it’s my money… I didn’t pay for this.” Then don’t. Don’t listen to them. If this version of BTS doesn’t resonate with you, go back to their older songs, revisit their past content and enjoy what you already love. That option has always been there, and it still is. Their earlier comebacks haven’t disappeared just because they’ve chosen to move forward.

And to be fair, the agency has done a good job preserving all of that. There is a huge catalogue of past comebacks, performances and tours that people can return to at any time. Nothing has been taken away. If anything, there is more access now than ever before.

Supporting an artist has never meant having control over the direction they take. You are choosing to engage with what they create, not dictating what they should create next. If the current direction does not align with your preferences, stepping back is a valid choice. But demanding that they go backwards just to meet those expectations is something else entirely.

Like Hobi said, they haven’t changed. Not in the way people claim. The core of who they are is still there. What has changed is the context, the stage of life they are in, and the way they choose to express themselves. The real shift has happened within the fandom. And that is what makes it disappointing. Not that BTS have grown, but those parts of the fandom have struggled to grow with them.

 I’ve always believed that the only thing a fan can demand from an artist is good music, and BTS have consistently delivered quality music. That is the one expectation that can reasonably be held, and they have met it. Beyond that, their artistic direction is theirs to define. Each member brings different influences, different perspectives and different goals. That diversity is part of what allows them to evolve. Staying the same indefinitely is not sustainable in any creative field. Growth requires change, and change inevitably leads to division in audience response. Ironically, those who criticise them for changing would likely criticise them for stagnation if they had remained the same.

The ability to explore new sounds while maintaining a core identity is what sustains longevity. It allows artists to remain relevant without losing themselves. And Arirang confirmed it.

In the end, this situation reflects a broader dynamic between artists and their audience. Change is inevitable, but acceptance of that change varies. Some will adapt, others will resist, and some will choose to step away.

The reality is simple. The past cannot be recreated exactly as it was. It can be revisited, appreciated and remembered, but not relived in the same way. Expecting it to return unchanged only leads to frustration.

So for those who find themselves disappointed, there are two options. Accept the direction BTS are taking and experience this new phase with an open mind, or remain with the version of them that resonates most personally. Both choices are valid, but they require honesty.

Because at the end of the day, supporting an artist should not mean controlling them. It should mean allowing them the space to grow, even if that growth doesn’t always align with what you expected.

[humanuser0613]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Thankfully haven't seen the "criticism" but have seen people talking about it. Most I see think similarly.

I wonder if the discontent with the world is informing their views and truly nothing would make them happy. Misery loves company so spreading misery is their goal. Therapy would serve them better if that's the case.

[rjshope]

iamurhope: Finally, Jin n Namjoon 😂(Look how excited i am..)

[rainydayslike]

V for Snow Peak Spring 2026 Collection (x)

[humanuser0613]

💜

[jung-koook]

260207 - taehyung's instagram story: It’s a really good workout. I'm not talking about it, but it's going to be very stressful.

[minyoonjin]

i just think that debut yoongi 🫦 | for @raplinenthusiasts

{cr. 0613data}

[humanuser0613]

The cheekbones were 🤌🤌🤌🤌

[btsisinart]

💜 BTS is/in Art 💜

It fills me with extra satisfaction to put a member into a painting I think they'd enjoy. I think Tae would love this one.

ART USED: Suprematism, Kazimir Malevich (1917)

*******

Kazimir Malevich (1879-1935) was a Russian avant-garde artist and art theorist whose pioneering work influenced the development of abstract art in the 20th century.

READ/SEE MORE: https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/kazimir-malevich/m04dvd?hl=en

⭐️SHORT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3YS6uZ87Ec

*******

[minyoonjin]

tiny low qualyooty gifs of the love of my life because i miss him :(

[jung-koook]

my favorite jungkook ending fairies moments 🧚‍♂️

[seoul-bros]

Riding in elevators with boys (2023-2026)

2026

2025

2023

RM IG posts 2023-2026

Post Date: 28/01/2026

[minyoonjin]

i am actually going crazy | for @jinstronaut

{cr. ouranxingg}

[jay-bunny]

More Yoongi tattoo practice💉🎨

[minyoonjin]

babygirlest of them all

{cr. ouranxingg}

[hon3ymo0n]

'Soulmates'

The general meaning of 'soulmate' that we find on the dictionary is "a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner", or "a person with whom one feels a deep or natural affinity". More spiritually, whether you believe in that or not, an actual definition that I've liked reading comes from a known blog around here and is "souls of a similar vibration". Romantic, platonic, familial, even someone you meet once and will never bump into again. Still quoting: "the people you vibe with, your best friends, a special teacher or a parent, they're your soulmates". It does not mean inseparable, it’s not just romantic.

The more I grow and experience this absolutely heaven sent ARMY life, and the more I get to know about Jikook growing together and stepping into new life phases together, the more I hold back from giving any of this any kind of definition. I've learned to become more and more comfortable with the idea of welcoming a feeling or a thought without labels.

Life gets in the way of a lot of things I'd like to do, try, buy, say, ask, see, feel. It often forces me to pause the things I love to do - such as being corny or embarrassing on here - just so I can do what has to be done, keep it going, follow the line. And when I say that BTS as a whole is one of my best go-to places when I need to feel something familiar but different I'm not lying (crowd rolls eyes at the 100th emotional declaration of the year).

When AYS ended I felt something weird. I had just watched the most sincere, authentic, romantic and funny variety show I've ever come across. I know comparing is not the best option in these cases, because people and bonds evolve and they deserve some grace for it, but I couldn't stop thinking about the huge difference between season one and season two, how everything changed once that mental weight of the military was lifted, and how close Jikook showed us to be right after spending those 18 months together - that people bet would've actually ended their relationship.

I seriously couldn't put words together, because all I felt like saying was "have you people watched it?", "have you seen what I've seen?", "what did we just witness?". And I knew it wasn't just about the eye contact, the constant touching to the point that I wanted to throw my laptop out of the window, the intimacy, the closeness or the lightness. It was all of those things and more, but that more was unclear to me.

Then my photobook was shipped and I received it just a few days ago. Stickers and photocards and fake tickets were all super fun, but when I opened the actual book I started feeling like an elephant sat on my chest (probably the well known ~ elephant in the room ~ that we all see when it comes to Jikook). I wasn't just looking at the two goofy goobers I've always known who visited a couple of places and ate a lot, or the two best friends who played in the snow next to the scuzzi.

I was literally looking at two new people, not new to each other but new to me. I got emotional because I kept turning the pages and imagining if one day Jimin, or Jungkook, or both of them, will have someone younger and close, who will look up to them, asking them about their lives, a son or a daughter or a nephew or a friend's kid. And I kept looking at the pictures and thinking "they'll mention each other. There is no way they could ever tell their life story to someone without mentioning one another".

The whole Jikook's couple phone thing going on is HILARIOUS and it just keeps getting deeper and deeper to the point of being defined lore. It's incredibly funny, but whoever that phone belongs to, one thing's for sure: it was Jungkook's first, and he admitted to taking pictures with it, and mainly pictures of Jimin.

Jungkook is someone I always felt immense empathy for, and I think the fandom got so used to defining him as the one who wears his heart on his sleeve that it often gets confused with him being opened about his feelings. I personally don't always agree with that: I think he often keeps the depth and intensity of his feelings - positive or negative - to himself, there are a lot of things he has shown but not mentioned, and a lot of emotions that I personally feel he processes in private.

All of this to say that I think photography is probably his way of dealing with some kind of nostalgia, or more in general of making sure something - or someone - he loves freezes in time and stays somewhere it can't be cancelled or forgotten. I think it's the general feeling we all get when we take pictures, that need to make sure something that matters to us stays alive even when the moment's gone; in his case, that's probably very much accentuated.

Observing the pictures on the photobook made me feel really close to whatever might go on in Jungkook's mind when he feels like taking pictures or filming something - or... someone... - even though I'll never fully understand that, since photography is not my thing as much as it is for him. I looked at their silly moments, just them eating at a table, or drinking, or literally flying, all captured in one frame, and it got me. Totally.

I was like “Jungkook, I get you. Now I get you”. Because if we feel like they’re important to each other, imagine how much they feel it, and how much Jungkook’s emotional intelligence does, and how strong and natural the need to frame that feeling somewhere, anywhere, is. The closest he can get to his memory and visions staying concrete is by taking pictures. Filming. Remembering. Because one day the moment will be gone, but he’ll have the pictures to say “I felt it, I saw it, I was there”. And that beautiful man he can’t stop looking and smiling at and filming was there too. It must feel supernatural.

It's the kind of pictures you'd want to look back at in 30 years. The kind of memories you keep in a special place in your heart, not just where everything else goes. It's the kind of memories that you only get with someone who matters, and to be able to pass their intensity to so many people all over the world who don't even know you... it must definitely be strong and precious too. Because I agree that you can find beauty in pretty much anything, but intensity... mhh. A few, few people can look at each other the way Jimin and Jungkook do, and even fewer can be caught on camera in the exact moment that glare happens and still convey all the love that's behind it.

That show left me speechless, in a way that I wasn't expecting, because we've had different kind of phases in the community, different kinds of crazy moments, of unbelievable chemistry, of "checkpoint" moments. But this second season felt like all of that combined, multiplied, and deepened. It was, of course, also Jungkook constantly touching Jimin, and dropping the hyung chronically, and the excitement of sharing a bed vs the sadness of getting two separate rooms that they ended up ignoring to sleep together anyways, and of course it was also the domestic attitude they have with each other, the way they blend, the way they match.

Of course it was also their post-military glow and Jimin seriously being a funny bouncing ball, and of course it was also their conversations, their silly jokes, their care and tenderness with each other mixed with playfulness and teasing. But you know, this can't be enough to leave me in such disbelief. It can't be, considering the hickeys and sucking we've been through.

So just to not go crazy, I simply told myself that this season was special because it allowed them to show themselves more freely and deeply, specifically after a period of time spent together in a way they never experienced before, that made them feel like clocking eyes as if none else was around or that made Jimin feel like being in a drama with music playing in the background; that made them sleepless and tired but always there for each other, and that was a choice, because if there's a chance they can be anywhere together, then they'll take it and go there, together.

And I told myself that it was always clear for those who have eyes to see that these two are soulmates, because they fit perfectly in every definition I put above and, even then, they leave you precising "soulmates AT LEAST". Because it’s even more, and it was always them, and it's a non-negotiable conclusion for me.

When the show ended I was so caught up in the feels and so dedicated to not letting any outside noise diminishing their bond or pretending they're not close, that I didn't really reflect much on what all of this could mean for us as supporters and for them as individuals who seem to be clearly seeking more freedom in their own relationship. And it's not my place or right to give verdicts, but one thing I'm sure of is that it meant something for them more than it did for us. It's always "what are we gonna get next?", "what are they gonna do next?", "what's their next interaction that proves something?", and I get that entirely considering how much I miss and love them, but my perspective has shifted and now the question I often ask is "what do they need?", "what could they feel comfortable doing next, now that they've clearly showed to be the closest duo out there?". "What are they feeling?".

Scrutiny and speculation, just as much as gossip and rumors, can really get in the way of people's mental health and well-being. Individually and together, Jimin and Jungkook had a crazy couple of years and for most of it the public opinion and curiosity is to blame. Seriously. So I just feel like saying that to be brave, deal with all of that, work hard and try, at the same time, to make your relationship work, and breathe, and stay healthy, is not a joke. I genuinely appreciate that Jikook always prioritize each other and gradually stopped minding people judging or ignoring what's between them - at the end of the day, it's a spectrum: people either bully them or pretend they're invisibile - and whatever that could mean for the present and the future is up to them.

All I wanna keep doing is creating a safe environment, in my corner of the internet, knowing they'll probably - and hopefully - never end up here but also knowing that I'm doing the right thing, adding drops to the sea that's supposed to cradle them instead of drowning them. All I can do is make my bingo cards - which I'll put, by the way, below - and scream at the top of my lungs that these two love each other, understand each other, that they are the two soulmates we all should be celebrating peacefully, defending firmly, and being respectful of.

After looking at that photobook and thinking of everything their bond has been through, I can honestly just put the pen down, put my hands up and accept that this universe had probably never seen something so strong and genuine until Jikook met in 2012, out of an infinite combination of coincidences, clueless that the person they were greeting for the first time was gonna become their best friend, their trusted other in an industry of liars and opportunists, companion through everything - war included - and indispensable puzzle piece of their heart.

(Genuinely wanted to put some heavy !!! on “are they gonna kiss?”, some heavy 🥸 on backhug, some heavy !!! again on taking pants off, and just a huge WTF all over it cuz I thought this was unhinged… but boy it turned out to be STANDARD.)

Here’s also some of my favorite pics from the album - there would be soooo many more but it would be just too much. Choosing was HARD.

Thank you, Jimin and Jungkook💜

[bts-trans]

V's Instagram Post

1230🙋🏻‍♂️ 멤버들 친구들이 저 아주 챙겨줘서 행복했습니다 내년엔 아미들이랑 한번 보내봅시다

1230🙋🏻‍♂️ My members and friends did so much for me, I'm so happy Let's celebrate with ARMYs next year

Video translation:

JH: Happy Birthday~ V: Thank you JH: Happy birthday bro! J: Happy birthday bro! V: Thank you JH: Hurry, blow it out RM: Mr. VuVeVo JH: Go "boo" and blow it out. V: Boo! V: Thank you. JH: HBD, HBD.

Translation of the other videos in the post:

Video 2 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Kim Taehyung, happy birthday to you! V: Thank you! RM: Happy birthday bro! Video 3 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Taehyungie, happy birthday to you! Video 4 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Taehyungie, happy birthday to you!

Trans cr; Aditi @ bts-trans © TAKE OUT WITH FULL CREDITS

[chikooritajjk]

Hobi and his 3 babies

Something about them all calling him “Hobi Hyung” just makes me want to cry lol 🥹

Feeling v emotional today