Hi Storm!! It’s me me, hi! I thought about DMing you but decided to ask my question as an ask in case anyone else is wondering too. I’ve seen a TikTok video which is getting some traction of a BTS concert in 2019 at MetLife Day 2. I checked your master list because I swear you have talked about this moment before, but I couldn’t find it under concerts or Jikook moments. Anyway, when Jungkook sings Euphoria, I can clearly hear Jimin doing the backing vocals. At one point when JK returns to the stage, he takes out his earpiece to listen and has the biggest smile. He also says something that is hard for me to understand (trying to learn Korean but it doesn’t sound like the thank you that I’m familiar with) but the poster says that JK is thanking Jimin. I’m not sure if I can link TikTok videos on Tumblr, but I will try. Of course, people in the comments are saying it’s not Jimin and it’s a whole big mess. 🙄 but it sure does sound like Jimin as someone who is a huge fan of his distinct voice and it doesn’t sound like the backing vocals on the recorded version!! And JK definitely has a reaction to it at the end of the song. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRxEb6Hw/

Hi! I DID talk about this before. And I'm so sorry my masterlist can be confusing but I appreciate you checking. It was actually under "jikook theories" lol 😅 sorry!! But here is the post:

But I can go ahead and correct that JK did not thank Jimin, he said "thank you for letting me fly, I love you guys." And he said "thank you for letting me fly" at the end of *most* but not all his Euphoria performances too I believe. Hope this and my original post is helpful at least a bit!

I’ve been digging around and I want to share and discuss this crazy theory of mine with you:

In addition to the recent announcement of Speak Now, I think we could also be receiving the official announcement of 1989 in May, along with the possible book(more on this below) announcement either in June or later this year.

If the speculated book is indeed Taylor's, I believe it will be her narrated journey and experience of re-recording her music catalogue - not necessarily her life memoir (which is only being speculated because of the category of the book), but rather an important and significant moment in her life — (its also important to mention that there’s another nameless/secretive memoir with very few details also to be released this fall - and it’s not Britney, as it has a different publisher than the one Britney signed her deal with.)

I think the book will be like an incredibly detailed, hyper-expanded version of The Lover Diaries - covering not only the different eras through her memories and the feelings she felt when she made those original records and how they came to be, but also how she feels about them now, having re-recorded them, and how things have evolved over time — I also think it will include more in-depth details on the masterheist and how it really went down, her experience while under BMR, and why she wishes to continue shaping and influencing the industry to benefit new artists and songwriters for years to come. 

HOWEVER, if the book being released on July 13th DOESN’T pan out to be Taylor's (BTS seems just as likely), I don’t think it necessarily mean all hope is lost (I really don't think the coincidences with the author in the All Too Well film and her subtle Dear Reader reference can be ignored) —

in a weird twist of fate, there just so happens to be ANOTHER nameless, secretive celebrity memoir (also with very few details) that is scheduled to be released this fall; and before we begin the process of elimination of who else it could be, I can tell you 100% that it’s NOT Britney Spears, as the publisher is different from the one Britney exclusively signed with.

Now, let's talk about 1989 (Taylor's Version) and what makes me think we could be getting a May announcement: 

When I think of 1989, I can think of a few things that instantly come to mind: New York City, polaroid pictures, the girl squad, and…. paper airplanes.

As we know, Taylor loves to use and incorporate dates and holidays to hint at what's to come, and it just so happens that National Paper Airplane Day falls on Friday, May 26th this year:

During the 1989 era, paper airplanes became a significant symbol. It's long been told that Harry Styles (1989's public muse) gifted Taylor a paper plane necklace during their relationship - in the music video for Style, Taylor holds the same paper plane necklace three times, and in Out of the Woods, she again infamously mentions this paper airplane necklace.

But there’s actually even more significance to this date than simply being National Paper Airplane Day - Friday May 26th also happens to be the first of three stops of Taylor's Eras Tour at the MetLife Stadium (the closest stadium located to NY) - and what better occasion and opportunity to announce 1989 (Taylor’s Version) than on National Paper Airplane Day, while simultaneously performing her first of three shows at the MetLife Stadium?  

As of right now, here are a few things that we do know to be true regarding 1989 TV:

1.) As both the album and Taylor's life during the 1989 era embody New York in its entirety, it's only natural to associate this album with the city (which she does)

2.) As we know, paper airplanes are a significant symbol of 1989, because they tie into the public muse of Harry Styles, are lyrically cited, and appear in one of the album's music video

3.) We know that there has been long-standing talk and speculation of Speak Now TV and 1989 TV being released in pairs, starting as far back as 2021 - I don’t believe this speculation and rumour appeared out of thin air, as its continued and remained relevant into 2023

4.) We know that 1989 TV has likely been completed for quite some time now, as Taylor's Version of Wildest Dreams and This Love have both already been officially released and made available to us - in addition to that, we also know that Taylor’s Version of Bad Blood appeared in DC League of Super-Pets, a Disney animated film that was released in the summer of last year.

Now, what makes it even more compelling to me is that the upcoming Barbie film, scheduled for release on July 21st this summer, is said to feature several tracks (!!) from Taylor’s 1989 album throughout the film that will also be included on the official movie soundtrack - it is reported that Taylor has given permission for already-recorded hit songs of hers to be used in the film, including Shake it Off, Blank Space, and Style.

I understand that until there’s confirmation of this, it is still merely speculation - but in terms of speculation and gossip, 1989 tracks being featured in the film definitely holds some weight and believability to it, as many of Taylor's 1989 songs would work perfectly for a Barbie film/soundtrack, and it seems like a no-brainer.

Also, Barbie is highly anticipated and is set to become a cult classic, regardless of the reviews and how well it performs at the box office - what artist wouldn’t want to jump on that opportunity to have their songs included? Having re-recorded songs (ones that you want to build momentum around so they eventually outperform the originals) in a film with so much hype is a big deal, so turning this down would be a silly thing for Taylor to do.

Now remember, we already have Taylor's Version of three songs from 1989: Wildest Dreams, This Love, and (unofficially released, but still exists) Bad Blood - if the Barbie talk is true, then that number would rise to six after Shake It Off, Blank Space, and Style. 1989's standard version only consists of 13 songs, so we would already have half of the entire album available to us in Taylor's version, making it very hard to believe she would not want to just release the product as a whole and complete album…

no offense intended towards you at all anon but this is the kind of dense but loose speculation that is not very shall we say helpful to me in my quest for the truth.

i’m more of a wait and see blog unless there’s hard evidence (like the publisher email for example) to go on.

like we’ll get 1989 when we get it. we know it’s coming and we know given all the clues that it’s probably after speak now. so it’ll come when it comes. i don’t know that it really matters when it comes?

some of my readers may enjoy your theorizing though so publishing all the same.

but if i follow you your reasoning is that 1989 is associated with nyc (you don’t say this but i’m inferring since she seems to be spending more time in nyc in your estimation that is a hint about 1989?) national paper airplanes day is soon, people have speculated 1989 will come at the same time as speak now (but you don’t say why or if it’s worth our time to listen to those speculations), and the barbie movie is rumored to have 1989 songs on it (but ofc we know taylor has released singles off 1989 so people can use them in projects already without dropping the entire album)

like you might be entirely and completely right but i guess i just wonder what we can do with this theory? sit and wait and watch? but we’ll already be doing that.

god i hope i don’t sound bitchy but this is just sort of swiftie calculus i have never found enjoyable. maybe it all lines up maybe it doesn’t we will just have to wait and see!

thanks for taking the time to write this up, i’m sure some of my readers will enjoy it even though it’s not quite my cup of tea but ily anyway ok anon? sorry if i seem like a fun sucker in this answer i don’t mean to be 🥺🙏

💜💜💜 BTS at MetLife Stadium 💜 💜💜

Ending Fireworks 🥺

because bp isn't the biggest girl group and there's data to prove it.

For example, their next concert is at metlife, a nearly 80k capacity stadium that bts managed to sell out in a few hours in 2019; bp has the same concert in 2023 in a few weeks but the concert is not sold out but they are giving tickets to many American influencers to fill the empty seats. Now yg's mediaplay comes into play. As already mentioned the capacity of the stadium is almost 80k but take away 10k for the stage space we are at 70k now the magic arrives: the girls concert has been reduced to a capacity of almost 40k 💀 the same capacity as an arena but YG will publish that BLACKPINK have sold out a stadium and locals will believe it because nobody goes to see how much the capacity has been decreased. This is mediaplay.

It's been almost a year since their tour started and they keep adding dates after dates. Why? the reason is not because they love their fans but because they want to break the record held by BTS with the LOVE YOURSELF TOUR in 2019. The next dates will be with the penguins

I’m not too familiar with their tour, so I won’t comment on that. xx

OMG UR A KPOP STAN? ULT LIST RN OR KAZUHA DOESN'T LOVE YOU 👹

I'M BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT RN, GOD YOU'RE AWFULDJWDJSBDJBDJFFB /lh /hj

okay no fr though:

my ult is bts — has been for... almost six years — but i also really really love txt and twice! ofc i need to get more into twice, i'm trying to become a full-fledged once

ugh god but i used to be so into got7 and exo in the past.. their old music is FIRE AND SO WAS NCT AND SKZ, THEIR OLD MUSIC IS SO FUCKING GOOD IDK WHAT HAPPENED.

biases! bts is namjoon, my day one, my ride or die, my lover, my best friend, my EVERYTHING. but i also love yoongi and jimin, heheh (ofc i'm ot7, but those three are my BABIES.) for txt, i'm a yeonjun and soobin stan AHAH and for twice, jihyo and momo!!

i also like chungha and triple h, there's a few pentagon songs i can vouch for, same goes for monsta x, OH AND CIX'S DEBUT ALBUM??? THAT'S MUSIC. THAT IS MEWZIK DO YOU HEAR ME. MEWZIK.

i've been to two bts concerts — citifield and metlife day 2! i was going to metlife day 2 again with some friends in 2020 but.. pandemic. god i would give anything to see my boys again, but seokjin is.... we don't talk about it actually.

Fan Autoethnography

I discovered BTS back in 2017 when watching the Billboard Music Awards. At the time I didn't think much about their appearance in the award show, but it wasn't until August of that year that I would become a fan. Just like many other K-pop fans, I discovered BTS from watching people react to them on the YouTube channel The Fine Brothers (is now called REACT). This channel had Youtubers, teens, etc. react to different trends that were big on social media. When BTS and Kpop were starting to become more well known these videos were big. Me and my sister would start watching these videos and started to become curious about the members and their music. What would ensue would be me binge-watching all the content I could find of BTS and trying to remember who was who. By the end of August, I was a full-on fan.

Becoming a fan of BTS not only introduced me to the world of K-pop, it also introduced me to Korean culture. When watching videos of the members, I always looked at the food they would be eating and wanted to try it myself. Because of BTS, I discovered Korean food, which has now become one of my favorite foods in the world. I also desperately wanted to go to Korea so I could see all the cool things the country has to offer. For my 15th birthday, I exactly did that. Me and my family went to South Korea that summer and it became one of the best trips ever. Being able to experience it influenced me to want and study abroad in the country.

One of the things that I desperately wanted to do as a fan was to finally go to one of their concerts. Back in 2019, I had never been to a concert in my life so I had to convince my parents to let me and my sister go. We were finally able to snag some tickets and I saw BTS live in Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. It felt nice to be surrounded by people who had the same appreciation for the group just like I did. You feel safe in the environment since no one will judge you which is something that I've struggled with ever since I became a fan.

In the present day, I am still a fan of BTS and K-pop. I've been a fan for 6 years and I don't see myself getting out of the fandom. Of course, I get annoyed with how other fans act but that's how it is for every fandom, there's always going to be toxic fans. Although it hurts to know that BTS is on hiatus due to military service, I've been happy to support all the members solo work since I do love them all equally.

ts1989fanatic: my kind of headline

When my esteemed colleague Conor Orr made 100 bold predictions for the 2023 NFL season last week, he included one of particular interest to me, Sports Illustrated’s resident Swiftie: Prediction No. 88 is that Taylor Swift will play the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show. That’s something I’ve wanted to see for years. But for the first time, it actually seems kinda, sorta plausible. Swift is in a more reflective phase of her career—in the process of rerecording her first six albums, she’s embarked on the aptly named Eras Tour, a journey through her musical past—but she’s also clearly on top of her game. (Just look at the ticket prices for the aforementioned tour—which, not to brag, I saw at MetLife Stadium, in attendance the same night as Aaron Rodgers.)

Right now seems like the ideal time for her to take on a massive cultural stage like the Super Bowl. It also helps that corporate sponsorship conflicts are no longer present. Pepsi sponsored the halftime show for a decade, whereas Swift is a longtime Coca-Cola spokesperson; Apple Music, which has previously partnered with Swift, became the show’s title sponsor as of the 2022 season. This is the moment. So it’s time to make a hypothetical set list.

I went for 10 songs—the same number Rihanna played at Super Bowl LVII in February. Also following Rihanna’s example, this assumes no major portion of the show will be left for surprise guests, unlike many of the acts in the past few years (apologies to Conor, whose full prediction had Swift sharing the stage with Steve Aoki and BTS). I tried to keep it semirealistic, sticking to hits that feel stadium-friendly, much as I’d die to see a set list of deeper cuts. (For what it’s worth, though, Swift’s current tour through NFL stadiums proves that her acoustic fare can absolutely work in that environment: Look up any video of her playing “My Tears Ricochet” to 75,000 people.) But there are still plenty of tough choices to make even within these restrictions. Swift has nine songs that have gone to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and 40 that have been in the top 10. Her catalog has so much variety that it’s tricky to build a cohesive set that still hits all the major points of her career—from the country twang of her early albums to the slick pop of 1989 to the EDM influences of Reputation to the lush atmosphere of Folklore and Evermore. (There’s a reason her Eras Tour set list is three and a half hours!) But here’s my best shot.

1. “Blank Space”

It’s crucial to get the opener right—not so much the opening song itself, exactly, as the opening lyric. Swift’s discography offers lots of choices here. But this feels like an especially good one. Picture it: “Nice to meet you” echoes through the stadium. The stage is dark; Swift is silent for a beat as the crowd roars. “Nice to meet you” plays again. And then Swift launches into the rest of one of her most ubiquitous hits, “Blank Space,” from 2014’s 1989. It makes sense to start in her pop era: This was the period when Swift first seemed truly inescapable to the general public, when she cemented herself as an icon, proving her staying power. And there’s no better intro to that than the delightfully cheeky, self-aware “Blank Space.”

2. “Anti-Hero”

The synth pop of “Anti-Hero”—Swift’s lead single from 2022’s Midnights—is an easy transition from “Blank Space.” It also quickly anchors her in the present moment, subtly gesturing at the breadth of her catalog, jumping from a song that was popular a decade ago to one dominating the charts now. (“Anti-Hero” is also her longest-running single in the Billboard top 10—28 weeks and counting.) This one has to be right up top.

3. “I Knew You Were Trouble”

The dubstep-infused “I Knew You Were Trouble,” one of Swift’s signature hits from 2012’s Red, will signal the next part of the set list—branching out to some more electronic influences from the middle section of her catalog.

4. “Bad Blood” (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Even if there isn’t a major portion of the act set aside for guests, there still has to be at least one surprise, and this is a natural one. “Bad Blood” is one of Swift’s biggest tracks, catchy and fun, yet the best part of the song is easily Lamar.

5. “… Ready for It?”

It’s entirely possible that Swift would do a Super Bowl set without anything from 2017’s Reputation, the dark, EDM-tinged follow-up to the massive global success that was 1989. While much loved by fans, Reputation was met with lukewarm critical reception and has fewer iconic hits than several of her other albums. But I think skipping it here would be a mistake: It’s perfect for a stadium show. There are a few solid options for inclusion: “Look What You Made Me Do” was the album’s lead single and the only one to reach No. 1, “Don’t Blame Me” is a fan favorite, “Delicate” also enjoyed considerable success. (My personal favorite from this album is “Getaway Car,” but alas, if Swift didn’t consider it popular enough to make the set list for the Eras Tour, it won’t make it for the Super Bowl.) But I think the best choice here is “... Ready for It?” This is the album opener, and more than anything else on Reputation, it feels like an anthem. It was used as the intro to all of ABC’s Saturday Night Football college broadcasts in ’17 and with good reason: Its production just feels appropriately intense for football.

6. “You Belong With Me”

And now to go back in time to Swift’s country roots. (Much as I’d love a track from her 2006 self-titled debut album—“Picture to Burn,” anyone?—I think it has to be one from its ’08 follow-up, Fearless, which enjoyed more commercial success and was her first to win Album of the Year at the Grammys.) The twangy, fun, teenage pining of “You Belong with Me” is the perfect entry point.

7. “Wildest Dreams/Enchanted”

This is a little more fan-service-y: “Wildest Dreams” peaked on the charts at No. 5, and “Enchanted” was never even a single, despite its popularity a decade after its release as a viral sound on TikTok. But these songs work together so well—Swift played a mash-up of them on her Reputation tour—and it feels like a great way to work in a pair of fan favorites that are still decently recognizable to the general public. They also break up the country portion of the set without offering too dramatic a sonic contrast. Also: “This night is sparkling / Don’t you let it go”? Perfect for the Super Bowl!

8. “Love Story”

In keeping with the romantic vibes of “Wildest Dreams” and “Enchanted,” there’s no better option for the next song than “Love Story,” one of the breakout hits from early in her career.

9. “Karma”

And back to pop to close it out. “Karma” is the closing song of Swift’s current tour set list: It’s a perfect send-off, fun and danceable and great to scream along to. From Midnights, her most recent studio album, it hasn’t quite reached the heights of most of the other songs on this list, but by the time the Super Bowl rolls around in February, it’ll have had more time to establish itself (especially with the remixed version featuring Ice Spice, which just dropped May 26). Great as it is as a closer, though, it can’t end the show here. One more song is needed to round out the set.

10. “Shake It Off”

C’mon … there’s no show without “Shake It Off.”

And because we have eight months to get through before Super Bowl Sunday, here’s my set list on Spotify. Played in full, these songs are 42 minutes, so it would take quite a bit of trimming to get down to 15. But I have a feeling Swift could find a way to make it work (including every one of her iconic bridges here!) with no problem.

ts1989fanatic: I wouldn’t change a thing on this list and what a halftime show it would be.🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Beyoncé Announces Renaissance World Tour It looks like this year will have a "Summer Renaissance" after all, because Beyoncé is finally taking her latest studio album on tour.For her first solo tour in six years, the pop and R&B queen unveiled the full list of cities she will be hitting around the world in support of her Grammy-nominated album, Renaissance. Kicking off with a European leg in May, the sprawling stadium tour is set to wind its way across North America this summer, hitting every major city along the way. The announcement comes a little over a week after Beyoncé performed at the opening of a luxury resort in Dubai, marking her first live show since 2020. While leaked footage from the show went viral on social media, the artist drew criticism for her decision to appear in Dubai given the United Arab Emirates' harsh laws targeting LGBTQ+ citizens. Beyoncé was allegedly paid $24 million for the performance but didn't play any material from Renaissance, which pays tribute to house music's queer history.Rumors that Beyoncé was set to take Renaissance on tour this summer first cropped up last fall when a ticket package went up for auction at the WACO Theater Center's 5th Annual Wearable Art Gala. The package, which featured first-class international flights on United, a three-night stay at a Marriott hotel and two tickets to the show plus a backstage tour with Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, ended up selling for $150,000.Tickets are set to go on sale starting February 6 with an exclusive presale open to BeyHive members. Most likely looking to avoid the same headache that Swifties had to go through, Ticketmaster will be using their Verified Fan technology "to ensure more tickets get into the hands of concertgoers" per a press release. Ticketmaster is currently facing a lawsuit from fans and a Senate hearing over the Taylor Swift fiasco.Check out the full list of dates for the Renaissance World Tour below and head here to register to buy your tickets. See on Instagram RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR DATES:EUROPEMay 10, 2023 – Stockholm, SE – Friends ArenaMay 14, 2023 – Brussels, BE – King Baudouin StadiumMay 17, 2023 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality StadiumMay 20, 2023 – Edinburgh, UK – BT Murrayfield StadiumMay 23, 2023 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of LightMay 26, 2023 – Paris, FR – Stade de FranceMay 29, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur StadiumMay 30, 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur StadiumJune 08, 2023 – Barcelona, ES – Olympic StadiumJune 11, 2023 – Marseille, FR – Orange VelodromeJune 15, 2023 – Cologne, DE – Rhein Energie StadionJune 17, 2023 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenaJune 21, 2023 – Hamburg, DE – VolksparkstadionJune 24, 2023 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank ParkJune 27, 2023 – Warsaw, PL – PGE NarodowyNORTH AMERICAJuly 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Rogers CentreJuly 12, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial FieldJuly 15, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan StadiumJuly 17, 2023 – Louisville, KY – L&N Federal Credit Union StadiumJuly 20, 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – Huntington Bank StadiumJuly 22, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field StadiumJuly 26, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford FieldJuly 29, 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife StadiumAug. 01, 2023 – Boston, MA – Gillette StadiumAug. 03, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure StadiumAug. 05, 2023 – Washington, DC – FedEx FieldAug. 09, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America StadiumAug. 11, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz StadiumAug. 16, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James StadiumAug. 18, 2023 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock StadiumAug. 21, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – Dome at America's CenterAug. 24, 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm StadiumAug. 26, 2023 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant StadiumAug. 30, 2023 – San Francisco, CA – Levi’s StadiumSept. 02, 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi StadiumSept. 11, 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC PlaceSept. 13, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen FieldSept. 18, 2023 – Kansas City, MO – GEHA Field At Arrowhead StadiumSept. 21, 2023 – Dallas, TX – AT&T StadiumSept. 23, 2023 – Houston, TX – NRG StadiumSept. 27, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – Caesars SuperdomePhoto courtesy of Getty/Mason Poole/Parkwood Media https://www.papermag.com/beyonce-renaissance-tour-2659340564.html

200522 Time

BTS's SUGA Reflects on His New Solo Mixtape as Agust D on D-2

In the past four years, a lot has changed for South Korean star Min Yoon-gi, known to millions of fans as the idol SUGA of K-pop group BTS, and to followers of his rap career as the artist Agust D. In 2016, BTS were making progress towards superstardom, an upstart septet in the K-pop universe who were just beginning to release the record-breaking projects they’re now known for. That was also the year Min released his first solo mixtape, Agust D, a surprisingly raw and honest set of tracks that saw him facing down demons of mental health and embracing his rap bravado over raw hip-hop beats.

Four years later, he’s at it again—this time surprise-releasing his second solo mixtape, D-2, on May 22 after a week of cryptic teasers shared over social media. It’s a strange time around the world, and the K-pop industry and performers worldwide are not excluded; right now, BTS should have been in the middle of a victory-lap world tour, reaping the rewards of the February release of Map of the Soul: 7. (This weekend would have marked their performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.) Instead, SUGA and his six groupmates are all stuck in one place, like many of us—for perhaps the longest consistent stretch of their careers yet.

TIME connected with SUGA ahead of the release of D-2 to discuss the complex themes and inspirations of his new work, from the reflective lyrics of “Moonlight” to the critical eye of RM-assisted “Strange.” His answers, translated into English here, offer a glimpse of an artist who has always been keenly aware of his presence on the public stage and reticent to over-explain himself, instead letting the work talk for him. “What’s good is good,” the motto he expressed to TIME, is an ethos that has often driven his persona: a humble, easy-going star—with plenty to say if you take the time to listen closely.

He’s not the only BTS member to release a solo project: RM and j-hope have also shared their independent statements. But he is the only one who adopts an alter ego when he goes it alone. “I can show a more raw side to myself,” he explains of his Agust D persona. And of his goal: “It’s more that I made the music I wanted to make, rather than fixating on attempting something new.” Even before the D-2 release, fans made sure his project was trending on social media. That’s the story of BTS, and Agust D—low-key as he is—is inevitably swept up in it.

TIME: You’ve now spent seven years as part of BTS, and your last solo mixtape came out back in 2016. Time, change, and growth are on your mind in this mixtape, particularly in the first track “Moonlight.” As you reflect over the past few years, what’s changed to you?

SUGA: My life is the same. My ways of work and day-to-day patterns haven’t changed much. Perhaps my position within the music industry? From a musician’s perspective, a change could be that I’ve had pretty decent outcome with BTS albums or with other external works. Personally, I have become more mature compared to 2016.

Songs like “Daechwita” include Korean traditions both in lyrics and in musical form, using pansori storytelling and Kkwaenggwari percussion. Why is it important to you to continue to include Korean musical influences in your music?

The theme “Daechwita” was already on my mind when I first started working on this track, so I sampled the sound of a real “Daechwita.” The first thought I had was that I wanted to sample the music that is played during the ceremonial walk of the King, so naturally, Korean elements ended up being an essential component to the track as well as the music video.

You’ve collaborated with a wide range of artists this year, appearing on Halsey’s album, putting out a new single with IU, and now bringing in voices like MAX, NiiHWa, Kim Jong-wan and RM for your own project. What makes a collaboration work successfully for you?

I’m grateful that everybody had good things to say about my music, especially Kim Jong-wan of NELL who told me he enjoyed listening to my first mixtape from 2016. My work philosophy is “what’s good is good,” so I think I’m pretty good at leveling with each individual’s standards.

What’s the difference between Agust D the solo rapper and Suga the BTS member? What remains the same?

The difference is that there is a lot more that I can openly express and that I can show a more raw side to myself [with Agust D]. What’s similar is that both sing of dreams and hope.

On “Strange,” you express concerns about certain aspects of society, and the loneliness that can come from having a different opinion. Do you think it’s important for public figures like you to challenge norms and raise questions about how we live?

I just throw the question mark; it’s up to each individual to decide. In my personal opinion, it’s often better for those who have such influence on others to be wary of loudly voicing their biased views.

Trap, hip-hop, rock, pop and R&B all appear on this mixtape, often in the same songs. This mixing of styles is a signature of BTS, and was present on your first mixtape as well. It’s also become normal across the global pop landscape. As a producer, how have you tried to innovate or try something new on this mixtape?

It’s more that I made the music I wanted to make, rather than fixating on attempting something new. I’m not too picky on genre or crossovers between them. What’s good is good, and it’s up to the listeners to judge. I just do what I want to do.

Is there anything else you’d like listeners to know about this project, your experience creating it, and how you’re managing with the unexpected changes of this spring?

It’s good to know that it’s fine when things go in an unintended direction, because you can always start over again. Keep calm, take the next-best option and move forward.

Source: Time

Pics of barricade at a bts concert. I’m so jealous. I went to metlife in the way higher seats bc I was broke TT They got blessed by yoongi twice??! Rockstar jk pt 2, the light looks like something else lol. Tae on the floor omg. I’m feeling delulu from that pic wth. Literally a y/n moment wtf?!

-🖤

so happy for them 😐

NAH JIMIN IS SO PRETTY?????? HIM IN THE WHITE?????????

i’ve never been to a concert it’s so sad. i move country and then two years later they went to the uk and i couldn’t fly back because i was in high school and it’s not easy flying 12 hours for the weekend AND ARG I WANNA GO SO BAD i probably could have gone to the japan concerts but school always got in the way and tickets are a pain in the ass to get 😭 i think i tried once but the wifi at my house was so bad that i didn’t even get through before all the tickets were sold it was a crushing experience, especially because my parents were so supportive as well and my mum said she’d go with me and we’d go for the weekend and stay in a hotel together and :((

i’m determined when they come back to go though, i don’t care. i will sell my soul to the devil if i have to, i will take the nosebleed seats even though my eyesight is shit, i will take anything at this point i just wanna go so bad 😭

the post concert depression is gonna be rough though, i get sad after online concerts idk how i’d survive in person

18052019 - BTS BigHit via Twitter

[#.BangtanDeHoje] Olá, Nova Jersey! O belo estádio MetLife ✨brilhou brilhantemente com os ARMYs, ficamos muito felizes 😍 #.1°ShowEmNovaJersey

© @mygbrazil - Por favor, dê os créditos se usar!

So I know I haven't been on much lately, but I did hear that the MOTS tour was canceled. I felt absolutely gutted for everyone who got their tickets and were eagerly awaiting rescheduling.

Then I remembered that I have several videos from my May 2019 BTS concert at MetLife Stadium that I've never posted *anywhere.*

They're not the best quality, but I love them because they still capture the intensity and beauty and BTS and ARMY being in the same space. I will be sprinkling them here and there on my blog over the next few days as a thank you to my followers for sticking around or joining while I've been busy with life, and a pick me up to any ARMY that needs it. I hope each and every one of you get to experience this in person at least once.

190518 Taehyung at MetLife Stadium

[cr. to THLC/BE MY DESSERT/HORIZON 9597]

💜💜💜 BTS at MetLife Stadium 💜 💜💜

Epiphany pt.2

little bit of a different post here but here are some pictures i took of the stadium today and cropped them for wallpapers!! so feel free to use and if you do, comment! i’d love to know if anyone is planning on using them 💜

overall, the show was absolutely freaking amazing i am once again blown away by their talent as so so proud to be such a long time supporter of these boys