Hi, there, I read your post to JiminDiscussion about Jimin's hidden song Letter. You gave the best argument that I have seen on how it was a song for fans, in spite of its hidden feature. I was wondering what you think of the line in the Closer Than This video where he says, "So in a way, this really is a fan song." Thanks.
(Funny that this is my very first post in this blog I've had for years. I normally only send asks to other people but this is the first time I've received an ask and I wanted to answer it.)
Unfortunately I don't remember this quote you mentioned so I can't really comment on it without knowing the full context.
Now, onto what you said about my post being a good argument for Letter being a fan song. I actually didn't write that post with the intention of proving it's a fan song but I think I know what you're talking about. I assume it's about how some shippers insist it's not a fan song and it's instead a love letter to Jungkook.
Honestly, I think it's sad that we even need to prove anything considering Jimin himself said multiple times Letter is not only a song for fans but a song about fans. I've seen some of these shippers try to use this distinction to avoid straight up calling Jimin a liar by saying he never actually said the song was about fans but yes he did. If those shippers are really going to insist on this theory of theirs they should commit to it and admit they are in fact calling Jimin a liar.
Another excuse they use it's saying that Jimin can't say the song it's about Jungkook so he had no choice but to lie. This is actually an excuse shippers use a lot whenever something happens that goes against their ship. They want to say it's fake or a lie and to not sound like they're accusing the members of doing fanservice or lying they say they had no other choice. But most of the times there is actually another choice.
In the case of Letter Jimin could've simply not said who the song it's about or not said anything about the song at all. And it's not like that would've been suspicious or anything because for most of his songs Jimin either gives vague explanations or no explanations at all so no one would've even batted an eye had Jimin not talked about Letter, especially since it's already a hidden song.
This means that Jimin had the option to not lie so if he did lie then it would've been a deliberate choice. And what kinda of person would that make him if he chose to lie? And it's not just any lie either, it's quite the cruel one. Because he didn't just lie to fans and said the song it's for a friend or something like that, no he said the song was for us. To give a gift to someone — a loving letter that makes the recipient think they are loved and appreciated — only for it to be a lie it's in my opinion very cruel. It's playing with our emotions, it's making us feel happy only to pull the rug.
So again, what kinda of person would Jimin be if he chose to do this to fans? This puts him under a very bad light but shippers don't care as long as it gives them proof their ship is real. Upon release they immediately assumed Letter was about Jungkook just because he did background vocals on it and when Jimin said it was actually about fans it was too late and these shippers had already gotten attached to this theory and refused to let go (especially since Face does not give the impression Jimin is in an long and loving relationship so they really needed something).
Jikookers like to differentiate themselves from taekookers but aren't they doing the same thing? Ignoring the members' words, calling them liars, all for the sake of their ship.
Also, about Jungkook doing background vocals. Like I said in my post, that could be considered a BTS reference just like 6:13, Sea and Spring Day. Letter is a song for armys (the actual english name of the song is 'Dear. ARMY', we just like calling it Letter) and armys are BTS fans meaning this song is inevitably going to be connect to the group. Jungkook is a member of BTS so it makes sense to have him rather then another vocalist (like Adora for example) doing background vocals in the song. And remember, Jimin said he wanted the members to have sung Closer Than This with him so we know he likes the idea of having members be a part of his fan songs.
But why Jungkook and only Jungkook, some may ask? First I think that, unlike Closer Than This with it's choir, Letter is a more quiet song so it's more fitting to use only one member instead of the whole group. Second, Jungkook is the main vocalist so whenever the members need a vocalist they usually go to him. An example would be Jungkook being the one to do the vocal guide for People Pt.2. He's also used to doing background vocals since he did it a lot in BTS songs.
If some people still don't believe me I would recommend that they watch the Face Production Dairy and the 8th episode of Moments: Beyond the Star because they both show footage of when Jungkook record Letter and it's very interesting what you can gather from it.
For those who can't find a place to watch I'll tell you what happens:
The Letter recording happened the same day Jungkook also recorded Dreamers so he was already at the company.
< Jungkook exits the recording booth after finishing recording Dreamers >
Pdogg: Jimin said he wants you to help him with the chorus of his song.
JK: Oh, really? I wonder what chorus...
(He clearly didn't know about this request beforehand or what song this is)
JM: I made a fan song and it'd be nice if you sang the chorus.
JK: (Jokingly) How much are you paying me?
JM: Just name your price.
JK: Let me hear it first.
< They play the song for Jungkook >
JK: I'm liking it already.
(It's clear he didn't previously know about Letter and this is his first time hearing it)
< While Jungkook is in the recording booth >
JM: Since he came we are using him.
Pdogg: Jimin, is there something you want to add more of?
JM: I'm already very sorry right now.
(Jimin took the opportunity that Jungkook was already in the company to record Dreamers and asked him to record background vocals for Letter but he felt bad about asking for too much and potentially inconveniencing Jungkook.)
< After Jungkook finishes recording >
JK: The song is really nice.
JM: (Jokingly) You're going to record a message to the fans at the end.
JK: What? It's your song, why would I do that?
< As Jungkook is leaving >
JK: Finish your recording well.
JM: (While bowing) Thank you. It was an honor.
JM: (While bowing again) Thank you so much.
(It's clear Jimin is very thankful Jungkook took the time to help him when he didn't have to since, as Jungkook himself said, Letter is not his song.)
I'm sorry, but when I watch this footage I sincerely don't understand how someone would think Letter is a love song from Jimin to Jungkook. Up until the very moment Pdogg asked him to help with the chorus it's clearly Jungkook didn't even know about the song's existence. And if Jimin intended to show it to him only after the song was finished as a surprise why would he chose this as the way to reveal it? In the company's recording room in front of cameras, really?
Jungkook is also very nonchalant about the whole thing. I'm not saying he doesn't care at all but it hardly seems like this is a particularly important song to him, which it should be if it's a love letter from his boyfriend. Jimin also doesn't act like someone who after much work is finally revealing the love song he made to his boyfriend. In this specific instance Jimin seems to see Jungkook as a professional who's work he's requesting which is why he feels sorry for asking too much and shows a lot of gratitude (this is not me saying they're only co-workers, obviously they're great friends, I'm talking only about this specific situation).
I know writing this much may make some think I'm too bothered by this situation but, aside from the fact that I write long about any subject regardless of how important it is, I actually normally try to ignore shippers and their theories but this is one theory that, to be completely frank, really pisses me off.
Shippers want to say Jungkook was secretly hiding behind the camera in a Jimin livestream? I don't know why in the world he would feel the need to do that considering the members have never had a problem doing lives together but whatever, they can believe that if they want. But to completely go against Jimin's own words about his music is where I draw the line.
I don't care about a livestream but there's nothing more important to me when it comes to an artist than their art. It's why the thing that upset me the most during Face era wasn't the lack of playlisting or radio or anything like that but instead it was that Jimin couldn't have the visual album he wanted and barely had any opportunities to perform because the music and the performances are the most important things to me. So this is why I'm so bothered by this situation.