I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but RM’s whistling at the end of Tokyo is so impacting. It truly sets the song and closes impeccably. Is it because of how singular, fragile, mundane and sad it sounds? The pitchness? I don’t know someone please talk to me about this
It’s the imperfect perfectness about it.
When I listen to Tokyo, to Namjoon singing and rapping/speaking I feel like I’m on a train - I know where I’m going and what destination I’m arriving at. But the whistling at the end of Tokyo is completely paradoxical. Instead, it feels like you’re walking in nature at night. You’re cold because you forgot your scarf and you feel the winter air nip at your skin. You don’t seem to know where you’re going. You’re... Wandering (wondering too).
It could be a clear whistle. But the whistling in Tokyo is filled with ruggedness. It’s not quite perfect. Like it still needs to be smoothed around the edges, but the rawness of it somehow feels better. It’s how we all can make out what melody he is whistling, it could be regarded as far from perfect but it’s perfect.
It’s hollow yet screams so much emotion. How it’s done in silence. How he’s a little bit off beat. How he’s in a little bit of the incorrect pitch and doesn’t hit the notes perfectly. It reminds me, of when everything isn’t okay. Where you’re trying to fight through the day for the sake of everyone and everything so that you can go home and let it out.
The whistle is like hiding your true feelings behind an empty smile, that no one can seem to look past.
