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for those of you who don't know what's going on in the BTS/ARMY world and are curious, here's a short rundown. on the 20th of november, BTS are releasing an album entitled "BE". they dropped the tracklist today, and it looks like this: https://twitter.com/BigHitEnt/status/1326177837552816128?s=20
BTS are known for their inspirational, empathetic messages, as the group's name (bangtan sonyeondan, or bulletproof boy scouts) has alluded to--the concept behind it meaning, boys taking bullets for the youth. they will set "BE" off with new single "life goes on."
"life goes on" is looking to be a song with a deeply inspiring message about keeping hope and figuring out how to move forward during times of crisis--it's very much relevant to, and framed around, the current COVID-19 pandemic. https://twitter.com/u4eakooks_net/status/1326178917133115392?s=20
what's cool about the announcement period for new BTS albums is that anticipatory ARMYs always dig up clues and theories as to how the record will sound and what each record means. there are ideas purely based on song title/BTS' track record: https://twitter.com/seokjinbit/status/1326183127358713856?s=20
which sometimes can be a bit over-the-top, but ARMY have enough comedians to make fun of themselves better than you can atp: https://twitter.com/OKJOONlE/status/1326184266997276674?s=20
there are also clues being taken from livestreams. BTS have said this will be their "most BTS album yet" and are not only participating greatly in the creative process (as they always do, but perhaps most now) but they also showcased the process to us: https://twitter.com/FILTERJlM/status/1326181673852002304?s=20
there are also potential teasers for songs dropped all over different BTS content. many feel "blue and grey" may be a long-form version of this song teased in "in the soop", one of BTS' reality shows in which they camp out and decompress. https://twitter.com/TAEVERSACES/status/1326179496366542848?s=20
the album and its encompassing packages are said to be "self-directed", in that BTS not only are creating much of the content, but have collaborated to take different directorial roles in the creative and production process.
this is embodied in the concept photos/clips leading up to the album. each member is featured in a room set to their own creative direction. these showcase personal sentiments and ideas from the members, as well as working off the "in a room" theme https://twitter.com/BigHitEnt/status/1325453030913830913?s=20
these things showcase BTS at their most essentially themselves. "BE" is showcasing BTS' longstanding creative agency, their longstanding ability to share the personal, and their longstanding ability to push a healing, empowering message for people around the world. and we love it
these things are subversive towards the world's preconceived ideas of BTS. globally, outsiders assume BTS to have little agency and little depth--some kind of trend or dog-and-pony show. but at the peak of their powers (so far), BTS' message is simply to exist honestly. to "be."
