[ARTICLE]Ā Break the Internet: BTS
PAPER: Whatās the greatest challenge youāve faced as a group, and how did you overcome it?
RM: Seven grown men always staying close together and experiencing work and life at the same time means that we come face to face with numerous contradictions and differences. But I think we overcame that by working on understanding and caring for each other over time.
Suga: Seven men with different values living together was not easy. It was difficult for all of us to focus our thoughts on one single point, but looking back, they are all good memories.
J-Hope: There was a time when we fought each other quite a bit because we all came from different backgrounds and our personalities were so different. But we were able to overcome that after frequently talking to each other and living together for a long time. We now know what each of us are thinking just by looking at each other.
Jimin: Because each member was so different, I think it was hard for everyone to understand each other. But we didnāt give up, and now we are a team where each member is irreplaceable.
Jungkook: When something I said or did caused an issue or made people feel disappointed, I realized that I should think twice before I do anything, and not forget where I am, no matter what situation I may be in.
If you could switch talents with one of your bandmates for 24 hours, who would you choose and why?
RM: I would like to dance like J-Hope just for one day. What would that feel like?
Jin: Vās ability to memorize choreography. I want to say to RM, āHave you already forgotten [the moves]?ā
Suga: RM ā I want to be good at English.
J-Hope: Sugaās amazing producing skills!!!
Jimin: J-Hopeās smiley face. Looking at J-Hope, I think his smiley face is really adorable.
V: I want to borrow RMās brain and make a whole bunch of songs.
Jungkook: RM. I want to write really nice lyrics and have deeper thoughts.
Do you ever feel pressured, in the face of global fame, to present yourselves a certain way to the world? What do you do when you feel overwhelmed to be āperfect"?
RM: It would be untruthful if I said there was no pressure. Still, on stage I want to do really well.
Jin: I try to keep myself on the right lane.
Suga: I would not be telling the truth if I said thereās no pressure. But what can you do? Pressure is also one part of life.
J-Hope: I canāt say we donāt. These days, I feel like I live with a sense of mission. Rather than thinking, āIt has to be perfect!,ā I do what I have to do, making sure I remember the really important and fundamental things and trust that the results will follow.
Jimin: All things aside, I always think that I have to show a performance that is at least close to perfection for everyone who comes to see our performance.
V: I feel the pressure of showing a performance that is close to perfection, but I also think that being natural is important, too.
Jungkook: The pressure is always there. But I want to show them that I am improving.
Is there any advice you wish you could give your younger selves?
RM: If youāre debating whether to go or not, go.
Suga: Please study English.
J-Hope: When things get tough, look at the people who love you! You will get energy from them.
Jimin: Silence is golden. Donāt waste time.
V: You worked hard! [Pat on the back.]
Jungkook: Donāt lose the people beside you because of your mistakes and wrongs. And live [your life] to the fullest.
You recently took an extended vacation in order to rest and get some relaxation after a long span of releases and promotions. How did you spend your vacation?
RM: I slept, worked out and went to art museums quite a lot. I went to Jeju Island, Venice, Vienna and Copenhagen.
Jin: I played games at home. I also went fishing with Suga.
Suga: I focused on resting and worked on some songs. It was a time [for] looking back at myself.
J-Hope: I went to film the music video for "Chicken Noodle Soup.ā I felt and learned a lot of things! I canāt call it a rest time, but it was a meaningful time. After that, I came back home, I had good food and rested well. I also played with my puppy.
Jimin: I just kept on the move and went to a bunch of places. It was an opportunity to think about [the group] in the past and in the future.
V: I took a good rest. It was an eat-play-sleep routine.
Jungkook: I worked on music.
Are there any music styles you havenāt tried yet as a group that youāre excited to dip into in the future?
RM: I want to show our various sides that reflect the progression of our age as well as our emotions and sensibilities.
Jin: I want to try something in the genre of rock. I think it will come out great because our members are pretty charismatic.
Suga: There are so many I donāt know which one to say. Thereās plenty of things to show you, so please look forward to it.
J-Hope: Now it feels like BTS is just BTS. Whichever [style of] music or performance, it comes out in BTS style.
Jimin: There are so many things I want to try, but I donāt want to be too specific about it.
V: I want to try doing music in the style of Conan Gray or āAll Tinted.ā
Jungkook: Itās different from time to time. I just hope I can widen my vocal spectrum regardless of what that might be.
Your fans, ARMY, are one of the most passionate, mobilized music fanbases in the world, especially on social media. How would you define what makes your fanbase so special?
BTS: Itās an honor that people around the world love our music and messages. It seems like thereās no language barrier. We think that ARMY helped us spread our music across the world. All of this would have not been possible without ARMY.
Another theme in your music is dreams. With all the heaviness of the world today, do you think dreams help people find meaning and ambition to move forward amid uncertain times?
RM: We just hope that we can be of help. We did say that you donāt have to dream, but living a life without dreams or hope would be quite dim, wouldnāt it? I think everyone needs motivation and milestones in order to move. Whatever that may be, we want to be of help, even a little, for them to move forward.
So many of your dreams have come true since youād made your debut: No. 1 albums around the world, sold-out stadium tours, Grammys and U.S. award shows, becoming the first Korean music group to perform on Saturday Night Liveā¦What new dreams have sparked for each of you now that you have these accomplishments crossed off the list?
RM: I want to head in a straight path without losing sight of what I feel now. [I want to] keep our passion burning bright and walk straight.
Jin: I talk to Producer Bang quite often about how we should work together for a happy life. How to live happilyā¦I think about that frequently.
Suga: I would like to have a hobby since I never had one. I would love to have a lifelong hobby.
J-Hope: To stay healthy! So that we can keep doing what weāre doing now!!!
Jimin: I know that many people are cheering for us for who we are now. I think about how those people would love seeing our new, better music and performances. What Iām trying to say is, my dream is to show them more performances and better music for a long, long time.
V: Theyāre not new dreams, but dreams that we never imagined could achieve. Iād like to keep them going.
Jungkook: I wouldnāt want anything more than to keep doing music and performances just like now.
What do you hope to get better at or improve upon?
RM: Dancing! And knowing āmyself.ā
Jin: I hope that the team always gets along and everyone is happy.
Suga: Without a question, English.
J-Hope: Our teamās health! And happiness! They are the path to growth!
Jimin: I want to be good at what I am currently doing.
V: I want to widen my spectrum and become an artist who has a variety of talents.
Jungkook: If I had a chance to improve every aspect of myself, then I would work hard to make it happen rather than just sitting idly by.
Your fans, ARMY, are one of the most passionate, mobilized music fanbases in the world. How would you define what makes your fanbase so special?
BTS: Itās an honor that people around the world love our music and messages. It seems like thereās no language barrier. We think that ARMY helped us spread our music across the world. All of this would have not been possible without ARMY.
What music is exciting you right now? Whatās on your personal playlists?
RM: Iām listening to Post Maloneās latest album.
Jin: Taylor Swiftās āME!ā The song has a bright energy, so my mood is lifted when I listen to it. I want to try that kind of music, too.
Suga: Post Maloneās āCircles.ā
J-Hope: I listen to older songs these days: The Fugeesā āKilling Me Softly" and Cheryl Lynnās āGot to Be Real.ā
Jimin: I prefer songs that fill me with emotions. Nowadays, I listen to our song āJamais Vu.ā
V: Iām listening to DaBabyās new album.
Jungkook: Iām listening to Jang Beom Juneās songs these days.
What did it mean for your album to be nominated at the 2019 Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package?
BTS: It truly was an honor. We were happy to be invited as presenters to such a big show, with such great musicians. We also became members of the Recording Academy this year. We hope to be invited to the show next year as well.
The importance and power of āloving yourself" is a cornerstone of the BTS message, in your lyrics, speeches, music videos and beyond. But when and how did the notion of self-love become something you were all so passionate about?
BTS: Our LOVE YOURSELF series bears the message that āloving yourself is the beginning of true love.ā The āloveā that we aim to convey can be both the individual experience and a message to our society today. We once saw somewhere that ābeing able to love is also an ability. If you donāt love yourself, you can never love anyone else.ā Reflecting on the ways you love yourself, we thought that this question could give the answer for many different aspects. We wanted to focus on that searching process and find the answers. [We] think LOVE YOURSELF has a positive impact. [We] also ask ourselves, āDo I really love myself?ā So, [we] looked back one more time and put that notion into the lyrics.
What are the key differences in performing for audiences back home vs. elsewhere in the world?
BTS: Fans all over the world are cheering for us. We get on stage with the mindset to give them the best performance. Every occasion to meet our fans is important and meaningful.
How has social media and the Internet impacted the way youāre able to reach listeners?
BTS: We like communicating with our fans. We communicated [with them online] even before our debut. Fans enjoy it and so do we. Our Weverse app was launched recently, which is a platform for our fans. We can see their messages and leave comments there. We feel that the whole world is truly connected as one through social media. Language is not a big barrier anymore, and we think that with good music, sincere messages and the effort to communicate, fans from all around the world will show their love.
What can you share about any upcoming new music?
BTS: We are currently practicing and working on new songs so we can show you the best sides of ourselves. Please look forward to it.
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