#llbtsanswer

[lesbianslovebts]

Have you seen this?

Yes, and I'm so glad you brought it to my attention again. Kim Namjoon saying, "Lesbians love BTS? Ah, yeah!" is all I could ever hope for asfhshdjfkdl.

[lesbianslovebts]

Thoughts?

I see why you came to the blog of a Pi Mu Epsilon member for this. 🤓

(Disclaimer: I'm following is a JOKE.)

Theorem 6.13:

Hobi = gay.

Proof:

Assume the man sticking his tongue out with his arm around another man in Figure 1 is Jung Hoseok. By Property 7,

Jung Hoseok = J-Hope of BTS.

Additionally, by Property 7',

J-Hope of BTS = Hobi.

Therefore, by the Transitive Property of Equality,

Jung Hoseok = Hobi,

and the man sticking his tongue out with his arm around another man in Figure 1 is Hobi.

Next, let the location in Figure 2 be the bar called Trunk. According to Figure 3, Trunk is a gay bar. Now compare Figure 1 and Figure 2. Clearly, this is the same location. Thus, the location in Figure 1 is the gay bar called Trunk.

So far, the following has been ascertained:

The man sticking his tongue out with his arm around another man in Figure 1 is Hobi, and Hobi is located in the gay bar called Trunk.

Then, by the Law of Common Sense:

Hobi = gay. □

[lesbianslovebts]

I'm looking forward to your reviews on their individual albums/music etc

Okay, I will tell you as long as everyone promises to be nice!

First, I want to be upfront with the fact that I do not have the technical knowledge required to critique their individual singing or songwriting skills in depth, so this is not that kind of review. However, I believe that people should actively engage with art, be it music, painting, or writing, at whatever level of expertise they may have, rather than consume it mindlessly. The following are my personal opinions and observations as a fan since 2015. I will focus mainly on their Chapter Two individual works, but I will also reference their previous solo and group work. And as a friendly reminder, the members of BTS are not above criticism as artists or as people.

"Indigo" by RM

If I had to use one word to describe this album, I would use "growth." More specifically, I would classify the transition from "RM" to "mono." as linear growth, and the transition from "mono." to "Indigo" as exponential growth. This is a project that Namjoon worked on for several years, which is apparent by the way each song is like a chapter of the same overarching story. The diverse genres and moods depict the ups and downs of life really well, and listening to the entire album in one sitting is a cathartic experience for me.

When I first saw the tracklist and noticed how many other artists were featured, I was nervous because a lot of BTS' collaborations feel like forcing a puzzle piece into a spot where it doesn't fit. What I mean by that is, they either cut out a chunk of the original song or insert a blank space and then fill it with a clipping of what sounds like an entirely different song. A substitution rather than a collaboration, if you will. However, that was not the case here. I think Namjoon did an excellent job of blending his own sound, style, and emotion with that of the other artists.

The only thing that I actively disliked on this album is the beat in "Change pt.2" from about 0:49 to 1:00. It's grating on the ear, which might have been intentional given the content of the song, but it isn't pleasant to listen to, and I cringe every time I hear it. As for a favorite, I can't really choose, but I think the objective number of replays would point to "Lonely."

"The Astronaut" by Jin

This one is an outlier because it's only one song, but I will discuss it just the same. I really liked Seokjin's voice in this one. I don't know the official terms, but it's lower and less breathy than usual. To me, that makes his voice sound warmer. Overall, this was a soothing song that left me wanting more when he gets back. I am waiting (im)patiently.

P.S. I know people tend to love or hate Coldplay. I don't listen to them or know anything about them as people, so the fact that this was cowritten by them doesn't really factor into my opinion of the song, if that makes sense.

"D-DAY" by Agust D

The amount of money I spent to see him live in Chicago should tell you how much I liked this album. Similar to what I said about Namjoon above, there's tangible growth from his mixtapes "Agust D" and "D-2" to his studio album "D-DAY." It's to be expected that experience will improve the craft, of course, but I still have to say it.

Yoongi is my favorite composer of BTS, by far. "Interlude: Dawn" and "Snooze" give me goosebumps every time I listen time them. Also, I love it when he uses traditional instruments like the haegeum. There's just something about the emotions he conveys in his tone, lyrics and melody that made this album a nonstop repeat for me.

My complaints are few and small. The autotune gets to be too much in the song "D-Day," and I'm not crazy about "People Pt. 2." Personally, I am not a fan of IU's voice. I have nothing against her, by any means, and I know she can sing, but I prefer women with deep, husky voices. And for the life of me, I can't figure out what her part means. I'm guessing this was a direct translation from Korean that didn't really...well, translate.

"Jack in the Box" by j-hope

When I first watched the MV for "More," I stimmed for joy. I was rocking, flapping, and squealing. I braved Lollapalooza as an autistic person, surrounded by a hundred thousand people in the summer heat, wearing the denim jacket I painted and an N95 mask to hear this man live. Hoseok's personality shone through in the concept, the MVs, the music, and the lyrics. He burst out of the box to show who he is as an artist. Perhaps I am (Hobi-)biased, but I don't have much else to say other than that I love this album, and I'm excited to hear more from him in the future.

"FACE" by Jimin

"Set Me Free Pt. 2" was the first single that was released, and it thoroughly crushed my hopes for the rest of the mini album. Though I liked the melody of the chorus, the 9 repetitions of "set me free-e-e" left a lot to be desired lyrically. I think he was trying to portray the desperation he felt by repeating the phrase, but his voice didn't show a progression in emotion as he continued through the chorus. For comparison, in Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name Of," the last line "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" is repeated 16 times, but the way it starts as a murmur and builds up to a scream is powerful; it hits you in the chest. "Set Me Free Pt. 2" didn't have that effect. Also, the autotune in the middle when he "raps" is awful. I saw people on here reaching to explain why the autotune wasn't actually that bad, but...it just doesn't sound good. And him saying "fuck all your opps"? Yikes.

The other single "Like Crazy" was much better and more in line with what I was expecting. Rarely do I like any of the excessive remixes they put out, but the deep house one is actually good. I liked the music video, too. But unfortunately, the mud on his hand after all that bathroom imagery was a...shitty decision. Overall, I don't go out of my way to listen to any of the songs but "Like Crazy" and "Letter," which is my favorite.

"Layo(v)er" by V

I was underwhelmed by this mini album. I expected R&B and jazz from him, and I think his voice suits those genres well, but none of the songs had a particularly strong impact on me. I would say I like "Love Me Again" the most, but it doesn't even compare to "Singularity" and "Stigma" for me. I have to be in a specific mood to listen to slow music in general, so the odds were stacked against this album from the beginning.

"Golden" by Jung Kook

This album was the biggest disappointment I have ever felt as a fan. Honestly, I didn't think it could get any worse than "Permission to Dance," but I was wrong. Before I continue, I feel like I need to offer some context on my general opinion of BTS' music from 2020 onward before I get too deep into the weeds. So let me start with that.

A lot of people think BTS peaked before or during the "Wings" era and sold out with the release of "DNA." I am not one of those people. Most of my favorite BTS songs come from the "Love Yourself" and the "Map of the Soul" eras. There are songs that tug on my heartstrings, songs that give me energy, and songs that are inextricably tied to certain memories from college and my first job. This was when I felt like I was changing and growing in a positive way thanks to BTS' message and music.

That changed with Covid-19. I loved "Map of the Soul: 7" and had tickets to see BTS in Chicago, but then the concert was postponed. Later, it was canceled. Half a year into the pandemic, BTS released "Dynamite" as a fun summer song to lift everyone's spirits. It was their first all-English song, which might've had more global appeal due to the number of people who speak English as a first language, second language, or lingua franca. Personally, I don't hate "Dynamite," but I do hate what it led to.

This was their first Billboard #1. It succeeded far beyond anyone's expectations, and I was proud of them for that. I was glad that more people were checking out their music because BTS is one of my main special interests. However, a lot of what followed felt like an attempt to recreate the success of "Dynamite" rather than an effort to grow as artists. Whether that desire for numbers came from the company or from BTS themselves, I'll never know. All I can say is, I'm glad DynaButterPTD did not get a Grammy. Let's continue.

"BE" came next, and if I had to describe it in a word, I would say "homemade." BTS were more involved in this album than any other, including the concept, the album design, the photoshoots, the music video, and the songs. Because of that, the overall vibe was different, and combined with the effects of the pandemic, the album gave me the feeling that the members of BTS were struggling with who they were as a group, as artists, and as people.

This continued into "Butter" and "PTD," two more all-English songs, and various collaborations of the puzzle-piece-that-doesn't-fit variety I mentioned above. It was an identity crisis. I can't think of another way to describe it. Eventually, BTS decided for themselves that they had to take a step back, spend some time alone, and regroup later. I was both sad and relieved to hear the news. Releasing "PROOF" was a good way to look back on what they'd accomplished so far and put an end to Chapter 1.

That brings us to Chapter 2. More specifically, "Golden." Now, I love Jungkook. Spend 5 minutes scrolling through my blog, and that much will be obvious. But this album was not it for me. First, I want to make it clear that the members of BTS can sing in whatever language they so choose. Having said that, I do tend to prefer their songs that are entirely in Korean or are a mixture of Korean and English. Why? Emotion.

BTS' all-English songs tend to be written by other people, and those people tend to be the ones who write the same bland, unoriginal songs for overrated American/Canadian/British pop singers. Although Jungkook sings the English lyrics of this album with excellent pronunciation and technique, it doesn't have the magnitude of emotion in songs that he participated in writing, such as "Your Eyes Tell," which is in Japanese and English.

I don't know a lot about song credits, but I've noticed the following pattern: the more the members' names show up in the credits, the more I like the song. Looking at the credits for Golden? Jungkook's name isn't listed on a single song. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lot of wonderful singers all around the world can take a song that is given to them and make it their own by contributing their own talent, their own voice. But frankly, Jungkook didn't do that with these songs. I didn't want to say it, but...these are Justin Bieber songs. Especially "Too Sad to Dance," which is nearly indistinguishable from Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself."

On episode 21 of Suchwita, Jungkook said he recorded five songs in a week, which amounted to one song per day in a 3-hour session, give or take. Yoongi said that was a sign of unbelievable growth, and for comparison, Taehyung said it takes him 3 days to record one song. If I remember correctly, Namjoon worked on "Indigo" for 3 years. So, it's really no wonder why this album is the music equivalent of fast fashion.

I've already talked about how much I hated "Seven" (the song and the MV) in other posts, I can't do it again. Jack Harlow's part in "3D" makes me gag. I can't take the lyrics for "Shotglass of Tears" seriously. I mean, "she the life of the party...42 in her body...tell me, am I ever gon' feel again?" Yikes! "Closer" is generic runway music. "Yes or No" is tolerable. The only song I really liked is "Standing Next to You." I'm just disappointed. I don't have anything else to say.

[lesbianslovebts]

Do you have a link for the origami dragons you mentioned? That sounds super cool!

Yep, this is the general design:

Simple Origami Dragon

Simple Origami Dragon: Personal Recommendations: - 6" square paper - Foil paper - Single-sided paper Time: Takes me about 10 minutes to

I don't know if I'd say it's for true beginners because there are some more complex folds you'll need to know, like a open sink fold, but it is pretty easy.

[lesbianslovebts]

Hi can i ask what books/textbooks do you use for korean?

Of course!

"Elementary Korean" by Ross King and Jaehoon Yeon

"Elementary Korean Workbook" by Insun Lee

"Continuing Korean" by Ross King, Jaehoon Lee, and Insun Lee

"Advanced Korean" by Ross King, Jaehoon Yeon, Chungsook Kim, and Donald Baker

"500 Basic Korean Verbs" by Kyubyong Park

"Essential Korean Vocabulary" by Kyubyong Park

"Korean Grammar: The Complete Guide to Speaking Korean Naturally" by Soohee Kim, Emily Curtis, and Haewon Cho

"Korean Stories for Language Learners" by Julie Damron and Eunsun You

The one big complaint I have with the 3 textbooks is that they only put the verb stems in the vocab list instead of the full dictionary form of the verb (i.e., "먹-" instead of "먹다"). But all you really have to do to fix that is add "-다" when you make your flashcards.

Also, all of these books are published by Tuttle, so you can order them straight from their website instead of using Amazon (🤢).

[lesbianslovebts]

it means Ur hot (I'm an expert u can trust me)

Shfhagsgfjfk thank you for your interpretation of my zodiac signs, but I am ugly [lesbian sexy].

You like fat butches?

[lesbianslovebts]

How and when did you find Bangtan? And who was your initial bias? Or who made you think “damn, if I wasn’t gay”?😂 cuz jungkook gave me heart palpitations in the beginning haha

I got into BTS in 2015 after a friend from college showed me a lyric video for Converse High and said something like, "Listen to this garbage my babies put out." True story. 💀 But then they told me to look up one of their actually good songs, and Dope was the first MV I watched lmao. I was new to Kpop as a whole, and it actually took me forever to figure out who My Guy was. Hobi is my bias, and 3J is my bias line. I still question why I'm so obsessed with these three dudes as a lesbian, but it's pretty obvious when you think about it. I love all things gay and gender fhsgscdbfjfk.

[lesbianslovebts]

Can I ask why you love hobi specifically? Was he always your bias?

Of course you may ask! I'm honestly not sure if Hobi was my original bias. I got into BTS in 2015 or 2016, when I was either a first or second year in college. I was just introduced to Kpop as a whole and started to get into a bunch of different groups like SHINee, EXO, VIXX, GOT7, B.A.P, and many more. It took a while for BTS to become my favorite group (and the only one I continued to keep up with), and it seemed to take even longer for me to find My Guy, you know?

Back then, I still thought I was bi and couldn't even pick who I was most attracted to based on looks alone lol. It took me a while to realize that they are attractive, but I am not attracted to them (or any other men for that matter). So, I continued to learn about their personalities and talents through Run BTS, interviews, music shows, etc., but I still wasn't sure, I guess?

I'm autistic, and BTS became a special interest of mine, so I infodumped about them to my mom and gramma all the time. They had no choice but to become fans by proxy. 😅 I think my mom said something at some point like, "You really like your Hobi, don't you?" And I was like, "...Yeah. 🥺" That helped me recognize how happy Hobi makes me, and that was that. Hobi is my ultimate bias, and 3J are my bias line.

So now here is me gushing about Hobi:

Jung Hoseok is a dedicated man who puts everything into his craft. He started off as a dancer despite his family's reservations and committed to showing not only them but also himself that he can and will make it. His talent is admirable in and of itself, but what's more is that he's always taken it upon himself to help the others when it comes to their performances. His absence at practice is sorely felt by the others, as we have seen them express time and again. They have all praised his leadership, and we know he has been an indispensable asset to the team, from even before debut.

My understanding is that prior to joining Big Hit, Hobi didn't really know how to rap or make music. In all honesty, he could have made do with just his dancing, but he chose to continue developing himself in different areas. He's credited on well over 100 songs at this point. His solo debut was a massive success despite the lackluster promotion from Hybe, which shows that he can stand on his own. And from what we saw behind the scenes, it was clear that he took that step not with arrogance but with vulnerability.

And hope. For all these years, Hoseok has downplayed his own struggles and emotions to embody the persona that is J-Hope. The bubbly, extroverted, sunny personality he showcases in public might not be his natural state, as he's admitted to us before, but it is no less a part of him precisely because that is who he chose to be for the fans. He has sacrificed parts of himself to be a bright, positive influence on his fans. Me included! His silly antics make me happy, but I know there's so much more to him than that. At the same time I respect him for his commitment to his name, I feel for him. As an autistic person, I know how hard it is to wear a mask.

And there's just so much more to love about him. He takes a million photos to document precious memories with his friends, made his first solo song for his mama, loves his elderly dog, is a scaredy cat, has a contagious laugh, can be a mother hen to the younger members as well as their co-conspirator, cannot hold his liquor very well, is the coolest guy around, carries little purses and paints his nails, loves shopping and fashion, and speaks with a southern twang...I could go on forever, but I will stop here.