Cryptic: Lyrics Game
This post is a bit more in-depth and longer than what I would call a 'trace' of their past so I'm cataloguing it as another series.
*Revised on 4.5.23 with more details. Won't be doing this for other posts but this was written very early on and there's new information found that was able to clarify certain bits better.
Their conversation laden with double meaning.
Presented by JanJanKook✨
BE album review (2020)
The members split into 2 groups to film an album opening for fans (Suga was in rehabilitation for his shoulder surgery during this time).
Segment 3: dedicate lyrics from the album to someone
Jin started off by dedicating lyrics to Army. He choose an uplifting quote "Oh well, I'll change his place to my world then" from Fly to My Room.
Cleanly, like a pro-idol:
So at least we got one quote from the guys 🥲 because after Jin's explanation was done, it turned very quickly into an internal strife.
It all begins when Jk dedicated his lyrics to Jin.
Double conversation, let's go.
Romantic vibes...trying my best here.
"It doesn't matter where you are" - From Jk to Jin
Anyway. 💕👀 If it didn't sound like JJK's chance to profess his love on camera again.
And Jk's simple reasoning deserves a closer look: "we're a team anyway". Which was what he said after, "it has another meaning" when Jin made him giggle with his response. I highly doubt the 'team' he's talking about here is the 'team' we normally take it to mean.
Peg Hobi's expression = 😄😒
Then, Jhope dedicated lyrics to Jk.
Disco overload I'm into that, I'm good to go I'm diamond, you know I glow up - Dynamite
Interestingly, when Jhope was reciting the lyrics he emphasized on "Disco, overload" by pausing between the two words.
On a related note, here's an exerpt from Jin's 2021 GQ interview describing himself as a musical genre:
This came out long after BE and Dynamite (2020), but it does make me grin when I think about how perfectly it fits together with everything else.
Disco overload? Too much Jk, too much.
Right after Hobi said the two words, Jin had burst into loud laughter and Jk was smiling but with his eyes down..
Now Hobi's quote sounded like a compliment right? But as described, Jk didn't seem too overjoyed at hearing this and Jin was laughing way too hard.
Zooming in on Jinkook's reactions after Hobi finished speaking:
Jk looked down before saying, "Of course, of course." I know, I know.
Jin paused, then asked cheekily, "What does that mean?" He knew already too.
Jin had been asking Hobi but Jk cut in, answering instead, "I know that J-hope's a diamond." Never mind what he means, let's move on. Hm, Jk seemed to already have an idea of what Jhope meant if he was that uninterested in hearing his explanation.
Of course, Jhope went on to explain his reasoning to them.
Hope will not be silenced✨
It's basically a kind bro warning: you're a star and everyone's watching. Control Your Actions On Camera Please.
Which prompted Jk to give Hobi a thumbs up and mutter "agree" while he was still talking. Sure, sure, got it..
This whole thing reminded me of a teenager being nagged by their parent and not wanting to get into it.
Perhaps it was due to Jk's begrudging response or that he simply saw the chance to pour more out on camera once and for all, because Jhope wasn't satisfied with reprimanding Jk and dedicated lyrics to Jin next. He couldn't help himself 🤷🏻
I am so frustrated -Fly to My Room
🤣
To the younger one, he gave out a veiled warning. The kid won't listen. So to the maturer one, he was straight up expressing his feelings. Jhope quickly backtracked saying he's kidding but unfortunately, his impulsive words started the showdown.
Because Jin joined the rumble by replying:
Delivery food is ding ding ding - Fly to My Room
Meaning of the lyrics: change your perspective so you could feel more positive about the situation. That's a direct reply to Jhope's complaint.
The meaning of the line is practically the same as the one he said to Army but much more cryptic i.e. not clear without an explanation. I had to do a bit of research for this. And Jin elaborated in a very coded manner too because he isn't telling Jhope to order takeout out of the blue...
Jin's reply was gentle and not that hostile but next up Jk's retaliation wasn't as mild. (Jk had been searching the lyrics poster diligently since Hobi explained the Dynamite lyrics)
Please warm me who is cold - Blue and Grey
Jk explained his quote as if he was complimenting Jhope but the line itself sounds more like a retort. Open your heart... don't be so stiff (?).
Revision: So the lyrics in the official yt video was surprisingly very different from the ones @doolset provided, who has become my goto for BTS lyrics translations.
Initially with just the yt subs, I thought that Jk was telling Jhope to 'melt his cold self', to loosen up or something along those lines. But with a subject 'me' in the line, I think it's much clearer and straightforward as to what Jk was really saying. In addition, his explanation also made sense. Please support me bro.
However, Hobi's reaction seemed lukewarm,
+++++++++++++++++
A quick intermission here to jump back to the beginning of 2020, their new year Vlive in New York.
What an interesting live that was, with Jhope constantly poking Kookie with a stick as if warning Jinkook to behave on camera:
To this day I'm not sure what Jhope was holding and why he was in charge of poking Jinkook. Within the short half hour, he got ready to strike at least thrice when Jinkook were talking. Our sunshine, always alert.
So it does seem like there's a history of Jinkook getting lost in their own world and Jhope charging in to intervene while on camera.
+++++++++++++++++
Back to the lyrics game. At this point, they're just using lyrics to say whatever they actually want to say to each other without alerting the fans to the real meaning.
After Jk's lyrics to Jhope, Jin stepped in as the mediator. Not his first time having to take on this role in such situations.
Please don't leave yourself alone It hurts so much - Blue and Grey
From Jin's line of vision, their topic at hand and team dynamics, it seems like Jin was speaking to both Hobi and Jk here. I need you all by my side, my boo and my bros. It's a sweet way to pacify Hobi without being too direct.
A lot has been said already but the cryptic messages didn't end here. If Jin is the type to diffuse the situation quietly, Jk is the type who lights it up for the night sky.
Because he wasn't satisfied with replying to Hobi, it was for all the members this time. And what's more, he was using the lyrics from Jhope's song Dis-ease.
Throw away the fear Fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-fe-fear - Dis-ease
"What are you so afraid of?" No need to be so cautious all the time, let us live!
Jk's confident yet cheeky grin as he threw down his pen.
His words send Jin and Jhope into fits of laughter 😂 It's bold yet witty because only they know what he's talking about.
However, in seriousness Jk really meant what he said.
They'll get through it together. If there's ever a true crisis, they'll deal with it then. If they get exposed someday, it'll be ok as long as they have each other.
By this point, they've gone off the rails. I don't think they recall the initial prompt anymore, or care.
Jk using the lyrics to joke about Suga (was in rehabilitation for shoulder surgery).
Life is pain - Life Goes On
🤣🤣🤣
At the very end, after coming down from their high with disagreements and laughter, Hobi decided to dedicate lyrics to Jin again.
Hey, let's leave for the blue ocean - Telepathy
Jin sang back and the scene ended on a harmonious note.
Regarding this last quote, I'm not sure of what Jhope meant exactly as the sea or ocean seems to have a special secret meaning to BTS. They've mentioned the sea many times in their songs in various contexts and different members have said to each other 'let's go to the sea together'. I'm guessing that the sea/ocean here means hopes and dreams for them, and going together means they'll keep moving forward together as a team, making music and achieving career goals no matter what happens. A very broad guess I know. All I know is Jhope's words reassured Jin.
So that's it. My interpretation of their cryptical conversation sparked during the BE album unboxing.
