PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
Sweet Seals For You, Always
pixel skylines
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
trying on a metaphor
PR's Tumblrdome
$LAYYYTER
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⁂
Claire Keane
occasionally subtle
#extradirty
Mike Driver
Keni
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
★
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
No title available
DEAR READER
seen from Bosnia & Herzegovina
seen from Spain
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seen from Canada
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@this-straightjacket-feeling
BTS. "Skit: Circle Room Talk" 2 Cool 4 Skool. 3. 2013. Speaks for itself. This is them and how they came to be here. I also just listened to "Fly" because of this song and what? Definitely not what I expected! It's so interesting that I can tell just from the sound that it's a 90's song. Same instrumental vibe even in America during the 90's. As I love to bring up, music crosses languages. That female chorus sort of sets the stage for them being ok with doing pop songs now too.
Getting Reddy to Listen Series: #GRTL
BTS. "We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2"
2 Cool 4 Skool. 2. 2013
Ok WOW! I couldn't recognize the vocal line voices at all!!! Haha I'm so tickled right now, wowowow! I haven't heard the vocal line rap before! Their sound has really grown so much from here. Lowkey liked this song though haha. This makes me more excited for the new chapter next year! It will take a while to wipe this smile from my face.
Intro: They were definitely trying to come into the idol scene strong and have an explosive breakout effect. Very much pushing that masculine strength and image...which again I'm still surprised how much their lyrics have changed. RM's voice seems much more forceful than nowadays (though his comments in PTD-LA kind of sound similar to him here.)
Verse 1: Didn't recognize JK at all, despite him literally saying my name is Jungkook. He sings raps about trainee life and his sacrifices to get to the debut. Suga comes in hot as always. His lyric writing, bringing up his conflict with the hip hop community, throwing shade at other agency's idol rappers? Suga himself is rapper through and through since he writes his own lyrics, has the flow, the speed, and more. He's definitely talking about how trainees who can't sing are brought on and forced into training to "rap" and how he looks down on them for lacking the qualities/passion of a real rapper. Those little Suga rap squeaks though omg!! 😂😂 These squeaks have definitely turned into growls nowadays… 😏 Puberty hit that boy like a truck!
Pre-chorus/Chorus: Didn't recognize V or Jimin. (or Jin in the second Pre-chorus) But really, how is Jimin's voice this deep here? Is this his normal range and he's been pushing the high notes?? The lyrics challenge the haters to criticize them when they haven't put in the hours or effort that BTS has.
Verse 2: J-Hope talks about how they haven't gotten anywhere yet, and yet are miles ahead of some of these haters. How he was worried (probably about whether they would debut) but he's more secure now. Rap Monsterrrr devouring this beat, and I love his flow here. Someone must have asked if he deserved to be called Rap Monster (bringing up the sell-out question again) and his response is to look at this debut. Again with RM's wordplay, impossible with a period is I'm possible. Also yes, I heard that growl!! RM's part here is my favorite in this song.
MV Commentary: Cause I just had to see their baby faces. They're so tiny and cute, oh gosh. What's interesting is that if they did this concept now, after doing their pop phase, it probably would be better since they're physically built better and more mature now. Meanwhile, I will just say...shoulder pads, pimp cane, skateboard, basketball, whatever is on SUGA's head, and that I like RM's current hair. 🙏🏼 Also, do I spy an OG MIC drop move here? Dance break was great, especially the hat bit with Jikook.
[Intro: RM]
(What) 이리 내놔
(What) 긴장해 다
(What) 끝판대장
(What) We are bulletproof
We are bulletproof
Bulletproof
[Verse 1: Jung Kook, SUGA]
이름은 Jung Kook, 스케일은 전국
학교 대신 연습실에서 밤새
춤을 추고 노래 불렀네
너희가 놀 때, 난 꿈을
집도하며 잠을 참아가며
매일 밤새 볼펜을 잡네
아침 해가 뜬 뒤에 나 눈을 감네
이중잣대와 수많은 반대 속에서
깨부숴버린 나의 한계
그에 반해 재수 좋게 회사에 컨택된 속칭
노래 못 해 랩퍼를 당한
너희에게 랩퍼라는 타이틀은 사치
[Pre-Chorus: V]
Everywhere I go, everything I do
나 보여줄게 칼을 갈아왔던 만큼
날 무시하던 많은 사람들 이젠
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) hey shout it out
Chorus: Jimin, j-hope]
Oh! 나만치 해봤다면 돌을 던져
We go hard 우린 겁이 없어
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
Oh! 나만치 해봤다면 돌을 던져
We go hard 우린 겁이 없어
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
[Post-Chorus: RM]
(What) 이리 내놔
(What) 긴장해 다
(What) 끝판대장
(What) We are bulletproof
We are bulletproof
Bulletproof
[Verse 2: j-hope, RM]
Look at my profile, 아직 아무것도 없지
Still 연습생 and 랩퍼맨
Yeah I do know that's nothin'
고민도 했지만 이제 필요 없어졌지
넌 아직도 아마추어
난 메이저, 쭉 그렇게 썩길
랩몬스터, 말처럼 괴물같이
무슨 비트든 간에 난 싹 집어삼켜
충실한 이름값 얘들아 이리와
미리 봐 한낱 아이돌의 반전
하하 힙부심뿐인 형들은
불가능하다 했지 but
똑똑히 봐 이걸 impossible에 마침표
찍어 I'm possible 자 이제 됐니 boy
[Pre-Chorus: Jin]
Everywhere I go, everything I do
나 보여줄게 칼을 갈아왔던 만큼
날 무시하던 많은 사람들 이젠
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Hey, shout it out
[Chorus: Jimin, j-hope]
Oh! 나만치 해봤다면 돌을 던져
We go hard 우린 겁이 없어
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
Oh! 나만치 해봤다면 돌을 던져
We go hard 우린 겁이 없어
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
(Click click, bang bang) we just sing it like
[Post-Chorus: RM]
(What) 이리 내놔
(What) 긴장해 다
(What) 끝판대장
(What) We are bulletproof
We are bulletproof
Bulletproof
Bulletproof
BTS. "Intro: 2 Cool 4 Skool ft. DJ Friz" 2 Cool 4 Skool. 1. 2013 Not a whole lot to interpret in this song! This is their intro track for the company and the band. Lots of turntable scratches for the sound. It does introduce their tone for their lyrics and goal with: 10대 20대 대신해 쉽게 우리 얘길해 This is going to be so interesting listening to them from the start haha. It's so obvious even with this 1 minute song that this is a totally different sound than their current one. Of course that means they're versatile so I'm down with it. I am going to take this all with a grain of salt since Jin was 19-20 at the time, thus everyone else was in their teens. I was in my early twenties when this album came out though so who knows maybe it will evoke some feelings from back then?
RM. mono. 2018. This was clearly a really personal album for Namjun. The entirety of it is filled with his confessions about his "less than ideal" self and internal conflicts, including battles with depression, suicidal ideation, and a generally dark outlook. Making one final pass through the entire album it reads like a book. 1. As I said, Tokyo is the preface for the book that explains the tone of what is coming and his homesick line felt the most important to the storyline. After finishing the album, I feel that he is homesick for his true identity that is hidden under his idol persona. 2. seoul is the one song that has a very different sound than the others, but it truly does feel like an upbeat anthem to the city that holds a key to RM's identity/soul. The key to the story is "사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul" which shows a love-hate relationship with himself. 3. moonchild first exposes RM's introverted and dark side that he hides from the world. He empowers himself through this song. 4. If badbye refers to his relationship with himself, it could bring up his struggle to let go of his past or the other version of himself. 5. 어긋 shows RM's own internal conflict and how hard he is on himself. I think the line "I feel so lonely when I’m with me" sets the tone for the story. It's a sign of his disconnect between the sides of himself. 6. 지나가 is where RM makes the decision to continue living and fighting. He reassures himself that pain and bad times must have an end. 7. Finally forever rain is where he allows himself to be sad and express his emotions. The rain washes away any facade or questions of who he is, and underneath it all he is just a vulnerable person who hopes that we listened to everything before his, and still accept him as he is. He is Namjun. Nothing more and nothing less. I don't know much about music itself or instruments, but I think there was a heavy synth and bass sound to this album and I really enjoyed it. It helped set the vibe. I was impressed with RM's gritty vocals throughout this album and now that I've heard them so many times I'll be on the lookout in BTS songs too. Favorite Sound: 지나가 Favorite Lyrics: moonchild Most Relatable lyrics for me: 어긋
RM. forever rain. mono. 7. 2018. Verses 1-3: Between these the first 2 verses RM talks about how the rain brings him comfort. How nobody has their eyes on him (like every other day) because their heads are physically down and focused on themselves. In these solitary moments, he finds calm because he can slow down and relax. I think he is referring to himself for the "sad face"; he doesn't need to smile or be extroverted for the cameras or public eye. I need to think about verse 3 a bit more...I interpreted the first line as him emphasizing that he is his true self with the rain. The shadow - heels seems like something I would write to describe a particular moment in time, in which case it may not be possible for listeners to understand what exactly he is describing. But I'll keep thinking on it... Verse 4-5: Again, RM brings up how the rain is like a comforting friend. He personifies the raindrops as a friend knocking on his window to check on him. To which he answers that he is begrudgingly continuing to live though he doesn't know why. It also felt like he was bringing up a reference to the dichotomy of 지나가 in saying that he isn't living since he can't die, while also saying that he is only surviving and doesn't feel alive. Verse 5 indicates a deep desire to feel wanted and loved for the person he is (flaws/sadness and all that he laid bare in mono) and that he would do anything for that kind of comfort and acceptance. Verse 6: This verse explains the chorus by talking about how RM begs the rain to pour forever so that he won't be alone anymore. He brings up the ash again from Tokyo, which seems appropriate to close out the album now. Despite begging the rain to stay forever, he acknowledges that forever can't exist and that the rain will eventually stop. We learned that in the last song, that everything goes. In that moment he will be alone again, and if we tie it to the prior line, he will have to continue living alone.
[Verse 1] 하루종일 비가 왔음 좋겠어 누가 나 대신에 좀 울어 줬으면 해서 yeah 종일 비가 왔음 좋겠어 그럼 사람들이 날 쳐다보질 않아서 yeah [Verse 2] 우산이 슬픈 얼굴 가려주니까 빗속에선 사람들도 저마다 바쁘니까 좀만 느리게 숨 쉴래 평소엔 내 삶도 내 랩도 너무 빠르니까 [Verse 3] 지금 모든 게 제 위치로 하늘엔 나의 그림자가 비치고 난 어둠을 딛고 서 있어 고개를 밑으로 내 발뒤꿈치로 yeah [Refrain] Slow rap Slow jam Slow rain Everything slow Slow rap Slow jam Slow rain Everything slow
[Chorus] Forever rain (Forever rain) x7 (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain [Verse 4] 비가 오면 조금은 나아 친구가 있다는 기분이 들어 자꾸 내 창문들을 두드려 잘 지내냐면서 안부를 물어 And I answer 난 여전히 삶의 인질 죽지 못해 살지는 않지만 무언가에 묶여있지 [Verse 5] 나도 너처럼 어딘가 두드릴 수만 있다면 온 세상에 진하게 입 맞출 수 있다면 그 누군가 나를 맞아줄까 내 고된 몸을 어쩜 받아줄까
[Verse 6] 제발 아무것도 묻지마 그냥 영원히 내려줘 니가 내리면 외롭지 않아 너라도 내 곁에 있어줘 잿빛 세상에서 살고 싶어 영원 따위 없는 걸 알고 있어 [Bridge] Slow rap Slow jam Slow rain Everything slow When it rains, it pours When it rains, it pours It pours (it pours, it pours) [Chorus] Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain (Forever rain) Forever rain [Outro] (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain (영원히 rain) Forever rain
영원히 rain 영원히 (내려줘 영원히) 영원히 rain 영원히 내려줘 영원히 rain 영원히 (내려줘 영원히) 영원히 rain 영원히 내려줘
RM, NELL. “everythingoes” (지나가) mono. #6. 2018.
(So quick side note, I noticed that I was trying to interpret the songs as RM would and speculate how/why he wrote them since it's a mixtape and more individual. I guess I was trying to understand him as a person, but music is about speaking to the listener too. I'll try to have less speculation of him, and more of my own interpretation moving forward!) From the first note of 지나가, I could tell I was going to like this song. The first listen, I didn't know what the words meant, but I just found RM's voice sooo soothing. By the time NELL comes in with the "everything goes" I was done. Just wow, I need to hear more of RM's vocals. It's interesting that they almost immediately jumped into the chorus, and the verses come later, which is also the style in some of BTS' upbeat songs. Well, there is a dichotomy in the interpretation of the song again. 지나가 seems comforting by saying "This pain too shall pass" but "everything goes" came off as the feeling of loss; the depressive feeling you get thinking everything/everyone leaves. After the verses, my interpretation changed to both phrases feeling hopeful. I think I had this interpretation because the rest of the album is a bit more down. This song feels like a turning point in his tone. Verse 1: He's talking about how the cyclical nature and balance of things involves a dark side/pain. He draws several comparisons to make that point (morning/night, spring/summer) and this gave me an image of a sped up time lapse for this movie. (Is there a MV?) He gives some great imagery for what we breathe in (both positive and negative) while encouraging his listener to choose to continue living. His description of cold air (pain) being essential to living is wonderful. RM brings up a nostalgia for when he was happier, younger, and more carefree before he became numb to that feeling of wanting to take another breath or experiencing more of the world. Verse 2: This seems like the most personal part of the song to me, if not the whole album. This is RM choosing to fight, to carry on. It's hard for me to describe my understanding of this, but it's a hopefulness with a peaceful giving up? underlying it. He brings up how he fights any suicidal thoughts, dismissing them with an almost comforting thought of knowing that he will die one day. When he dies, the pain of living will go away too. He doesn't fear death, but accepts that it must inevitably come. But each day he has to choose to face the wind (life and its bitterness). He says you need to face the pain/reality of living to become numb to it, you can't keep dreaming forever. He won't be the one telling you to be strong or lie by telling you to accept that life just is painful. The only thing he will say is that he prays that it will pass. He doesn't know if it will, but given how everything is cyclical, that's the conclusion he has come to. (This felt inspirational for me. I wish I could have more of this type of personality. My mind is always looking for logical solutions, instead of just sitting with a feeling and fully feeling it.) The outro is definitely to tie this song into the next with the sound of falling rain. It's clear RM thought about the order of the album again here. Given my interpretation of 지나가, this may set up the interpretation for the rain cleansing the pain away. We shall see!
지나가 언젠가 분명히 확실히 지나가 언젠가 분명히 확실히 지나가 지나가 지나가 지나가 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 밤이 가고 아침이 오듯이 봄이 가고 여름이 오나 꽃이 지고 열매가 익듯이 모든 것은 아파야만 해 세상을 안고 숨을 훅 들이마셔 봐 내 폐 안에 가득 들어찬 따가운 공기가 모든 걸 말해 그래 수없이 도망치고 싶었던 나 아파하고 무뎌지던 오랜 시간들 바로 그 아래 Everyday I pray 내가 좀 더 나은 어른이 될 수 있게 And everyday I stay 사람도 아픔도 언젠가는 죽기에 무뎌지려면 바람을 맞아야 하잖아
꿈 속에서는 영원할 수가 없잖아 힘내란 뿌연 말 대신 다 그렇다는 거짓말 대신 그저 이 모든 바람 바람처럼 지나가길 I pray 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 지나가 (Everything, everything, everything goes) (Everything, everything, everything goes) 비가 와 비가 와 모든 건 지나가
RM. "어긋 / uhgood" mono. #5. 2018 All I need is me, All I need is me I know I know I know, I know I know I know All you need is you You, All you need is you You know you know you know, You know you know you know
가끔 난 내게 실망해 (내게 실망해) 스스로 나를 짓밟네 (나를 짓밟네) 너 이것밖에 안 돼? (너 이것밖에 안 돼?) 훨씬 더 잘해야 해 (훨씬 더 잘해야 해) 너 훨씬 더 멋져야 해 (훨씬 더 멋져야 해) 지느니 죽어야 돼 (지느니 죽어야 돼) 이겨야 해 넌 넌 넌 넌 어긋나는 건 너무 아픈 것 겪지 않으면 알 수가 없는 것 내 이상과 현실 너무 멀고 먼 그 두 다리 건너 네게 닿고 싶어 진짜 네게 Yeah yeah 진짜 네게 Yeah All I need is me All I need is me I know I know I know I know I know I know But why do I feel lonely (oh yeah yeah yeah) I feel so lonely when I'm with me I feel so lonely when I'm with me 살다 보면 B를 받을 수도 있어 그래 야 너도 B를 받을 수가 있어 몇 날 며칠이 비만 내릴 수도 있어 저 사막에도 비가 내릴 수가 있어 근데 미안 난 나를 포기할 수가 없어 내가 아는 나는 날 놓아줄 수가 없어 내 머릿속의 넌 이렇게 온전한데 완전한데 어긋나는 건 너무 아픈 것 겪지 않으면 알 수가 없는 것 내 이상과 현실 너무 멀고 먼 그 두 다리 건너 네게 닿고 싶어 (yeah yeah)
진짜 네게 Yeah yeah 진짜 네게 Yeah 진짜 네게 Yeah yeah 진짜 내게 Yeah Verse 1: Well, if I ever wondered if RM struggles with idol versus true identity, this song answered it. It also brings up feelings of inadequacy and shortcomings which I did expect him to experience like all of the other members, but he straight up said it. From what I've gathered about Korean culture, they don't really talk much about this feeling because that's the so called definition of an idol; to be idolized, god-like, and beyond reproach or fault. I'm pretty sure RM and I would get along. Chorus: I felt like he was putting himself down a bit in this, like he questions if he is a valuable member of the group. He wants to be better and is still working to be a better version of himself that he can envision. It's important that he can still see this better version of himself. If he ever reads my #GRTL evaluations, I hope he realizes that he is very talented and it doesn't go unnoticed. It's just unfortunate that there are so many words in the world that the positivity and appreciation may not always reach him. But it's there and I'm glad he isn't giving up on himself. He can be that ideal version of himself. Verse 2: This made me think back to an older thought that I had when I first listened to BTS and their older music too. RM was the OG member for the "rap/punk" group idea that they were going for then. An inspiration for the younger ones with his talent who excelled. Then their sound changed to match the popularity (it's not a bad thing, just what happened) and there were other members who began to shine a lot more than before. Then he considers himself as "less than" or a "B." Did he feel lost or left behind with the older ideas? Were his musical dreams tied to the original vision for BTS instead of the current one? Would his ideal have been to have this level of fame and success but with the prior concept? Questions, I'll never get answered but I ponder. I wonder what his ideal is and I hope he is able slowly get there. Notable Lines: Ok I found this neat little part in Verse 2 by mistake (and a quick google search confirmed it so I'm super proud.) I thought I mixed up the lines when I replayed the song line by line while translating. The B grade and the bi of rain...RM you wordplay wizard, I see you! They said you were very talented with lyrics and I'm seeing how you tie English and Korean sounds together. #gettingreddy #GRTL #mono5 #uhgood
RM. "badbye." (feat. 이이언 eAeon) mono. 4. 2018. Unusual short song placement and I'm wondering if this is a divider song for the album . Maybe there's a change in tone for the last 3 songs? Mostly English again, so maybe he will end in English too? Maybe I should stop trying to predict things now? lol Lyrically, the song is very simple and based on the idea of goodbyes being misnamed when they are actually painful. The one Korean line translating to "Shatter me into pieces" makes it seems like the parting wasn't his choice and hurts deeply. I noticed another tie to tokyo's "I don't know"s, as here he says "You know why." I was wondering why he made tokyo the first song on the album, but I think I understand that it's the key for the rest of the map. He's already revisiting ideas in it a few times. I enjoyed the song, but it does feel a bit incomplete as it is. I don't think length is a measure of a good song, but something felt like it was missing to me. I personally don't feel connected to this song despite my own share of endings in life. And since I'd be remiss to even address it, I'm not familiar with eAeon at all but I did enjoy his lighter voice paired with RM's deeper one. He reminds me of a certain acoustic punk rock voice but I can't remember who exactly. AttackAttack, Johnny Franck? No. Sleeping with Sirens, Kellin Quinn? Maybe...but I thought he was more similar to Jimin. Oh, this is going to drive me nuts.
when sunbeams do this thing 🥺
RM. "moonchild." mono. #3. 2018. We’re born in the moonlight Ain’t a fantasy Can’t breathe in the sunlight Gotta hide your heart We’re born to be sad sad. Sad sad Suffer to be glad glad. Glad glad C’mon y’all moonchild, moonchild That’s supposed to be Yeah all the pain, all the sorrow That’s your destiny, see You and my life was like this We gotta dance in the rain Dance in the pain Even though we crash down We gon' dance in the plane 우리에겐 누구보다 밤의 풍경이 필요해 [We need the night scene more than anyone else] 그 어느 누구도 아닌 나만이 날 위로해 [I console myself, no one else does] It's ok to shed the tears But don’t you tear yourself :: To me, it feels like he's talking about how we need the cover of darkness and isolation to console ourselves over what happened in the daytime. He has some amount of discomfort around others and seems to prefer his own company. He encourages us to cry and be sad so we can feel relieved, but not to self-destruct in the process. Moonchild you shine When you rise, it’s your time C’mon yo, Moonchild don’t cry When moon rises, it’s your time C’mon yo, Moonchild you shine When moon rises, it’s your time Moonchild you shine When you rises, it’s your time C’mon yo Moonchild don’t cry When moon rises, it’s your time C’mon yo Moonchild you shine When moon rises, it’s your time C’mon yo 떠나도 절대 한번도 떠나지지가 않아 [Even if I leave, I never leave] 죽고싶다며 그만큼 넌 또 열심히 살아대네 [You say you want to die, but then work harder to live] 다 내려놓고 싶다며 또 다른 추를 달아 [You say you want to let go but then add more weight] 생각하지 말란 생각 조차 생각이잖아, You know [Thinking about not thinking at all is still thinking, you know] 사실은 우린 이런 운명이란걸 you know [ Actually this is our destiny] 끝없는 고통속에 웃는 거란걸 you know [Smiling through endless pain, you know] 자유라 말하는 순간 자유는 없어 you know [As soon as you say freedom out loud, there’s no freedom, you know] Do you know?
:: In this verse he seems to be talking about how those with depression can still experience happiness but they never let go of the sadness entirely. He talks about fighting it in different ways. There is a kind of resolution in how he has accepted that he is this way (destiny) and he will have to continue to fight through it. The freedom line puzzles me a bit though. To me it seems to tie back to the first line, as soon as you say you're happy or free from the depression, you're unhappy. Possibly because you're lying to yourself. I keep using the word depression but it’s a little deeper than that, it’s the wanting to be alone/isolation. 달의 시간에 영혼의 눈으로 저 밤하늘을 봐 [In the moon’s hours, look at the night sky through the eyes of your soul] 너에게 보여줄 거야 너의 창 너의 시간 [I’ll show you your window, your time] 알고 있니 저 가로등에도 가시가 많아 [You know there's a lot of thorns on the streetlight too] 저 명멸하는 빛을 자세히 한번 쳐다봐 야경이란 게 eh [Look carefully at that glimmer in the night] 참 잔인하지 않니 [Isn't it cruel?] 누구의 가시들이 모여 펼쳐진 장관이 [The magnificent sight of someone’s thorns spread out]
분명 누군간 너의 가시를 보며 위로 받겠지 [Someone will be consoled upon seeing at your thorns] 우린 서로의 야경 서로의 달 [We are each other's landscape, each other's moon] 우린 서로의 야경 서로의 달 [We are each other's landscape, each other's moon] 우린 서로의 야경 서로의 달 [We are each other's landscape, each other's moon] :: I think the emphasis in this verse is to establish that so many people are sad and unhappy, even the ones who seem to shine brightly (streetlight). That talking about it isn't a bad thing because then we can help each other and not feel so alone. There will be people who accept us as we are and what we see as our flaws won’t be flaws to them. Despite the darkness we sit in, the moon can still glow brightly but it just has to fight the darkness for its light to be seen. So people like him may not be like the “sunny personalities” of extroverts but they do shine brightly. It’s just relative to the darkness. What a comforting thought. C’mon yo, Moonchild don’t cry When moon rises, it’s your time C’mon yo, Moonchild you shine When moon rises, it’s your time... .
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I like that he is consoling and empowering the child within him through this song. Its interesting that he chose this particular sound for this message as most comfort songs are slower and lullaby-like. I knew he was more open than other Korean celebrities about depression, but he really hit some of these lyrics out of the park. He talks about depression, isolation, and sadness being a part of him and implies that it was always there even when he was younger. (A really healthy acknowledgement since depression tends to run in families and it's not just a product of your environment. Kudos to him.) He almost owns the sadness and isolation of the night. It isn’t a hinderance, but rather the time when he is stronger and “shines” brighter. Maybe because he is comfortable with it, like an old friend. "죽고싶다며 그만큼 넌 또 열심히 살아대네 다 내려놓고 싶다며 또 다른 추를 달아 생각하지 말란 생각 조차 생각이잖아" I'm not sure if it's the way that the language twists around itself or the way he sings it but I kept picking up on this line: "분명 누군간 너의 가시를 보며 위로 받겠지" It just sounds so interesting and I was replaying just that line a few times. Earlier in the song I also liked the sound of "우리에겐 누구보다 밤의 풍경이 필요해, 그 어느 누구도 아닌 나만이 날 위로해." Not knowing what it meant, I could still hear the way the sounds were playing on each other. I'll be honest though, I felt like the use of "sad and glad" in particular feels a bit basic for someone who is able to explore topics more poetically like him. It could fit the theme in the way that he is talking to himself as a (moon)child so he uses simpler words, but when I first heard it, my knee jerk thought was “Uh oh.” That being said, I was wrong and I love the lyrical concept plus the music/production is a vibe. The Korean lyrics and chorus fit the music so well. The way he sings the chorus really suits his voice too. He really is very talented with wordplay in Korean and capturing more complicated emotions. If he can get his English wordplay up to the same level, Namjun would definitely be able to write chart topper songs for global artists.
RM. "Seoul." Mono. #2. 2018 [Verse 1] 차가운 새벽 공기에 In the cold air of daybreak 남몰래 눈을 뜨네 I open my eyes secretly 이 도시의 harmony This city's harmony 난 너무나 익숙해 Feels so familiar to me 내 어린 나날들은 아득하고 My childhood days are far away 빌딩과 차들만 가득해도 Even if if it's packed with buildings and cars 이젠 여기가 나의 집인 걸 Now this is my home Seoul, Seoul [Verse 2] 넌 왜 soul과 발음이 비슷한 걸까 Why does your name sound similar to "soul"? 무슨 영혼을 가졌길래 What sort of soul do you have? 무엇이든 날 이토록 너의 곁에 잡아두었나 What keeps me by your side? (Tough to translate these two lines) 네게 난 추억조차 없는데 I don't even have memories of you (He didn't grow up in Seoul) 난 이제 니가 너무 지겨워 Now I'm so bored of you 너의 맨날 똑같은 잿빛 표정 Every day the same gray look/face 아니 아니 나는 내가 두려워 No, no, I'm afraid of myself 이미 너의 일부가 돼버렸거든 Already, I'm a part of you (I couldn't translate this properly, but I think he's saying that while he's tired of Seoul, he couldn't leave because he belongs there) [Chorus] 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul If love and hate are the same words, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul If love and hate are the same words, I hate you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul If love and hate are the same words, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul (Seoul) If love and hate are the same words, I hate you Seoul
[Verse 3] 가만 있어도 풍경이 바뀌는 bus와 The bus where the views change even when I'm motionless 비슷한 듯 조금씩 다른 building Similar buildings that are slightly different 역한 듯 아닌 듯한 삶의 향과 The scent of life that's both disgusting and not 따뜻한 척 하는 차가운 공원들 The cold parks that pretend to be ____? 늘 헤매야 하는 사람들과 With people who always have to wander 너무 많은 한을 품는 한강들과 The Han River that harbors too much Han 혼자 하늘을 볼 수 없는 그네들과 They can't see the heavens/sky alone 다 큰 애들과 The grown up kids 좀 늦어버린 나 And the ones who are a little late [Verse 4] 친구들은 툭하면 떠나겠다 해 My friends always say they will leave 난 끄덕거려 보지만 웃질 못해 I nod (like I understand) but can't laugh 너무 인정하기 싫지만 Don't want to admit it 이미 난 너의 매연과 Already, I hate you (Does he hate the people who trash talk Seoul or Seoul? I think the language tells but I'm not sure of the nuances) 그 역겨움까지 도 사랑해 Love that gross feeling 청계천의 비린낼 사랑해 Love the fishy smell of Cheonggyecheon 선유도의 쓸쓸함을 사랑해 Love the isolation of Seonyudo 돈만 있으면 살기 좋다던 "It's a nice place to live if you have money" 어느 택시기사의 그 한숨까지도 the taxi driver sighs I love you [Chorus] 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul If love and hate are the same words, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul If love and hate are the same words, I hate you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul (Seoul) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul (I love you Seoul) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul (I love you Seoul) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul (I love you Seoul) 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul (Seoul)
[Bridge] I'm leavin' you I'm livin' you I'm leavin' you I'm livin' you I'm leavin' you I'm livin' you I'm leavin' you I'm livin' you I'm leavin' you I'm livin' you Seoul [Chorus] 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I love you Seoul 사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면, I hate you Seoul [Outro] Seoul (yeah) I love you Seoul (yeah) I hate you Seoul (yeah) I love you Seoul (yeah) I hate you Seoul .
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. Wow, this was hard as hell. Why did I think this was a good idea lol...Oh well let me keep trying!! The chorus of this song is the perfect blend of chill and catchy. It really has a lot of HONNE's vibes from their "Warm on a Cold Night" album, but I really liked it with RM's gritty slow rapping in between. Also, I don't think I've heard a lot of his singing before, but he's good! What is this rap line v. vocal line crap when he can do both? Let's not even get into the poetry of his lyrics because we'll be here all night. Speaking of HONNE, I had no idea that they even collaborated with each other when I saw them in concert a couple years ago. But I vaguely remember hearing this song back then and skipping it because I had no idea what he was saying and was deep into HONNE's own work instead of their productions. Awks...I came back though! 🙈 I'm not doing a full verse by verse analysis of this song because it's clearly meant to be a cohesive back and forth of torn feelings between seeing the flaws and beauty in the city. It highlights how sometimes he wants to leave but always comes back. Though it could apply to a person too if you enjoy metaphors like me. It even could be that since Namjun is from SK, he's talking about the good and bad aspects of himself and how Korea has made him into who he is. He can't abandon his values, traditions, and his background which will always be a part of him and he is protective of them. He doesn't entirely enunciate Seoul either so it almost sounds like "so" or "so much." Which if you replace it, the lyrics could be, "I love you so, I hate you so." So it could be that duality of loving/hating oneself. Interesting parallel that he tied Seoul and Tokyo together with the love and hate being the same concept. My interpretation in Tokyo was that love and hate felt the same (indifference, apathy, nothing) but here he uses love and hate to encompass everything, good and bad. Usually with "city anthems" across genres like "Empire State of Mind" or "California Girls," there's very rarely any mention of the negatives. RM takes the rose colored glasses off to look at Seoul and brings a dose of reality that despite the mixed feelings he still loves his city. Which I love, in case that's not clear. Noteworthy Lines: "The Han Rivers that harbors too much Han" I had to look this up and this is a cultural reference to the Han River in Seoul that is used as a common suicide spot. "Han" also means "sorrow" in Korean, so the river named after sorrow is filled with it too. Amazing wordplay in this line. Actually all of Verse 3 is pretty much my favorite. "혼자 하늘을 볼 수 없는 그네들과, 다 큰 애들과, 좀 늦어버린 나" Isn't it sad that I'm pretty sure this would be my favorite part in this song but I can't completely understand it? *cries in non-native* "The fishy smell of Cheonggyecheon" is a reference to the waterway that cuts through downtown Seoul. As a side note, the pictures reminds me of the Indy canal so I definitely think I know that smell. "The isolation of Seonyudo" is another reference to a landmark. It's a small island that is a park on the Han River.
RM. "Tokyo." Mono. #1. 2018
Wake up in Tokyo, feel like a torn soul/torso? I know it's time to go I see Pinocchio wearing a poncho That's me some time ago Do I miss myself? Do I miss your face? I don't know I don't know :: "I listened to this verse quite a few times but I still can't quite catch that last word, but either way evokes similar feelings for me. If he says "torso" then it could imply a sort of stationary self. Like he is stuck without his limbs to be able to move or do anything. In which case with the Pinocchio line, he feels like a puppet without control of his life.
"Torn Soul" I think speaks for itself about feeling ripped apart. Perhaps from a person (himself or other). I didn't want to read any other analysis of the lyrics, but I understand that he named the album Mono to say he wants to leave Rap Monster behind and just be RM. So it could imply that he is torn between the two sides of himself. If it's a person then they could feel like a part of his own soul and being apart feels like tearing the soul into two. In this interpretation, the Pinocchio line feels like he is lying to himself about who he is.
Does he miss his old self or another person or the version of himself when he's with this other person? Maybe it's everything at once?Somehow I think RM knows but I really don't know 😅
Life is a word that sometimes you cannot say And ash is a thing that someday we all should be When tomorrow comes How different is it going to be? Why do love and hate sound just the same to me?
:: This whole verse is pretty dark for me. Life...say line seems to be that he can't really call what he's doing "living." That he is going through the motions to survive but not live. The second clearly tips its hat to the inevitable fact that we all will die and return to ash. Life is just the same from day to day and he questions if anything will change. He is looking for something, anything, to make him feel again. Now the last line kind of puts my stomach in knots when I reread it. He seems to describe a state of apathy, where he can't feel anything anymore. A deep numbness to anything good or bad. Overall this whole section is very depressed and down so I'm sending virtual hugs to Namjoon now.
I can't sleep Homesick But I just wanna Stop right next to you If I could choose my dream I just wanna Stop right next to you
:: I think the most significant word in this verse is "homesick." Again, it depends what home is here. Home could be who he genuinely is as a person under the "idol persona." It could be a SO who feels like home to him and not being with them is what creates the sickness. Either way, he wants choose his own path in life and be the version of himself/with someone who gives him comfort. He wants to stop pretending and start living authentically.
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Overall, a very interesting song and good for me to start with since it's in all English. I love the irregular heartbeat serving as a beat and the haunting lone whistle at the end. For general interpretation, I could see this going one of two ways (or even both at once.) He is either talking about a longing for a specific person who he is away from which comes across heavily for me in the tune he hums after the first verse. But it could also suggest a longing to be himself and live his own life according to his terms. Tbh as I replayed the song and taking the album name into mind, I started leaning more towards the latter interpretation. Maybe the rest of mono will have an overarching theme that pushes me one way or another. We shall seeeee. Obviously all of these will be my interpretation of the songs and lyrics. I'm not reading into artist comments about meaning or why they were written, it's purely from a listener perspective. This is just the beginning of my little project to explore Korean language and culture. I kept reading that the meaning of BTS songs is lost in translation but that's where a lot of the power is. I saw some subtitles for Agust D's songs and realized I needed to start looking up translations for each song. Basically among the rapline, they seem to have really clever lyrics that nod to different things (i.e. Suga to traditional culture, RM to heavier feelings, etc) I think I picked a good album to start with even if it seems out of order for the BTS discography timeline. I was curious about RM's writing with how much he reads and how he's on a lot of the lyrical credits for their songs. Anyways, I'll probably finish out this album then move onto another one, but who knows what it will be! BE?
You’re most powerful when you honor your own rhythm. If your circadian rhythm is nocturnal, don’t follow those “waking up at 4 am changed my life” routines because they’re not for you. If you function best when you focus on a single task, single job, single goal, then working half a dozen sidehustles may not be for you. Honor your own rhythm, work with it instead of against it, and you will achieve so much more than if you blindly follow what’s considered “correct” by social conventions of the time.
Frank Bidart, “To the Dead”, Half-Light: Collected Poems, 1965-2016
[Text ID: “The love I’ve known is the love of two people staring
not at each other, but in the same direction.”]
happy birthday to our universe, jimin! ♡
“Find someone who loves you well. Someone who never belittles you. Even in the heat of an argument. Someone who is gentle with you, but does not treat you like you are fragile. Someone who knows what you are capable of, and celebrates those pieces of you. Not someone who is intimidated by your strength. Someone who doesn’t make you feel guilty for being flawed. It is not love’s job to punish you. And remember the person you love is just as broken as you are when they fall short. No one is perfect – do not hold them to this standard. Find someone who is patient, forgiving, and apologetic. Someone who practices forgiveness freely and often. Love someone who is humble, kind, and empathetic. Not only with you, but with a beggar on the street, or a stranger in the supermarket. Common courtesy is important. Compassion is important. Kindness is important.”
— Unknown (via thelovejournals)
