Time is so cruel // Today we fight
March 15, 2017 7:00 AM   Subscribe

봄날 Spring Day // Not Today

Both music videos have English translations via the closed caption button. For a bit more information about the band, here's an article from October 2016: Bangtan Sonyeondan Breaks U.S. Musical Language Tradition

Lyrics on genius.com:
봄날 Spring Day
Not Today
posted by one teak forest (10 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
My daughter just told me about this this morning! She's apparently team NotToday.
posted by corb at 1:01 PM on March 15, 2017 [1 favorite]


Apparently there's some sort of friendly Twitter war to push the hashtags.
posted by corb at 1:04 PM on March 15, 2017


Nice stuff (I especially like the first one)—thanks for posting it!
posted by languagehat at 1:14 PM on March 15, 2017 [1 favorite]


I like BTS' music although I don't call myself a fan because frankly their fandom terrifies me, so I generally ignore most of the stuff posted about them. But I do remember all the think-pieces about the possible meaning and symbolism in "Spring Day." I have a vague recollection that it was somehow confirmed that Rapmon (the rapper with the purple hair) was indeed influenced by Le Guin's short story "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" but it could also just be fan speculation based on the fact he's usually the one who likes to bring literary references into things. This article is a decent overview of the fandom reaction and analysis of the MV.

As an aside, the boys are coming to the States in the next couple of weeks, and it's notable because they sold out both the Honda center in Anaheim and Prudential center in NJ within a matter of minutes, and then an extra day was added for both venues as well as additional dates for Chicago. Basically these guys are the biggest thing in kpop right now, because even bonafide kpop kings Big Bang didn't sell out that quickly or get as many arena dates added during their last tour here.
posted by paisley sheep at 2:30 PM on March 15, 2017 [4 favorites]


My fav BTS is the explicitly political Silver Spoon.
posted by congen at 4:35 PM on March 15, 2017 [3 favorites]


I love Bangtan mostly for their exceptional dance routines. Even in the crazy dancey world of K-pop boybands, Bangtan are something else. The "dance practice" versions of their MVs consistently blow me away.

Watching the We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2 dance practice when it first came out over three years ago, everyone just knew they would hit it big. They were so young, Jungkook (the one in a black T-shirt and long black pants) was barely 16 - maybe only 15? The boy was nicknamed GoldMak (Golden Maknae - maknae means the youngest in a group) for good reasons. That level of performance, at such a young age... unbelievable.

See also this dance practice for a TV performance from roughly the same time (their debut). The group move from 0:34, anchored by Jungkook... WHAT EVEN WAS THAT. Jimin was breathtaking as well. J-Hope, excellent as always. The entire group, even the weaker dancers like Rapmon and Jin, brought it.

In the 3+ years since, they have delighted me with routines like Boy In Lov, Dope, and Fire. In terms of dance, they are my favorite K-pop group by far.
posted by fatehunter at 8:12 PM on March 15, 2017 [4 favorites]


Watched Not Today with the captions on. My most shallow thought with the lyrics is: if they could do an English version, they'd have a huge hit in the US considering the current mood.

And if you're like me and somewhat mystified by "hey crow tits", check out the Genius annotations.
posted by honestcoyote at 2:08 AM on March 16, 2017 [2 favorites]


I really dig Not Today but because Spring Day is really matching my mood from the last year (but especially since November) I'm team Spring Day I guess, lol. I discovered these mvs almost a week ago and Spring Day is still making me cry every time I listen to it. It'd also be fair to say that Not Today matches my mood on many days.

I feel like the main thing I post to metafilter is kpop and that's kinda weird, but due to the excellence of BTS I had to post their mvs. At least its been a month since release, and like honestycoyote says, these two songs (well, imho) really do vibe with the current national mood of the US. I finally was able to put down kpop in 2014 (and for a couplea weeks popped back in for a solo comeback) and catching up with kpop now, I'm floored to discover BTS. This should be the beginning of their domination and I really look forward to their continued progress as a group. by golly that choreo!

BTS referencing Ursula Le Guin AND Snowpiercer? ((and they reference Hermann Hesse's Demian in another mv)) A song that begins in particular frame of mind, CHANGES, and evolves into a mood of hope and persistence????????? My faves (shinee) would never, lol *uglycryface* ༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽

Of course, I must note they're signed with Big Hit Entertainment. Suck it, SM+YG+JYP.
posted by one teak forest at 11:19 AM on March 16, 2017 [4 favorites]


Yeah, I'll admit I shamelessly took advantage to be like "heeeey, do you want to read the science fiction that INSPIRED BTS?" to the kidlet.
posted by corb at 11:37 AM on March 16, 2017 [3 favorites]


Not sure if anyone will see this, but here's a good, more recent release by Rap Monster (one of the BTS members) and Wale, an American rapper: CHANGE

a sample of the lyrics according to genius.com (which of course is a bit of a work in progress for now):
Moonz, prayin' for better days for you and I
I see progress via my daughter's eyes
I think I think too much now and drink too much now
I numb it 'cause I don't wanna cry
Prayin' for better pace for you and I
I see some grass growin' in winter's eyes
I think I think too much now and drink too much now
To numb it 'cause I don't wanna die

Teehee!! I hope she eventually reads it, corb. I finally read The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas and was surprised to find it was a short read. I'm going to read it a couple more times at least to hopefully get it to sink in deep/grok it. And kind of an aside, because I forgot to mention it in my comment from several days ago; I don't see myself following BTS from within their fandom. Like, I know their names now but I've witnessed too much needless haterade, and I don't mean constructive criticism in terms of cultural sensitivities but more like I-hate-ur-faves-cuz-I-can sort of thing, and! sasaeng stuff, from being part of most fandoms be it kpop/marvel/animanga/teevee that I need to keep out of it. I need that part of my mind and uhh sanity for US politics. I'll certainly follow BTS's music, though.
posted by one teak forest at 5:17 PM on March 21, 2017 [2 favorites]


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