by Leena Baloch ||

I view poetry as being fueled by interpretation and have always approached songwriting with that mindset as well. For me, the process of discovering the meaning of a song, of piecing together what the artist is trying to convey, is exciting. Language that is more abstract can be honest in a way that bluntness simply is not. There are those moments, they feel like a revelation, when you say to yourself, “Oh. I know exactly what they mean” or “That’s how I feel, too”. I felt I mostly observed this type of writing in the singer/songwriter, folk, and alternative genres. I began to wonder if there was a place for the depth, complexity, and figurative language I associate with poetry in today’s pop music as well.

Then I discovered BTS.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you have probably heard of the global music sensation, BTS. The seven members of this Korean music group—Jin, SUGA, j-hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—debuted in 2013 at what used to be a small music label, Big Hit Entertainment. Each of the members’ skills in singing, rapping, dancing, writing, and producing has contributed to the group’s worldwide acclaim. But what sets them apart? Many would agree that it’s the storytelling and the lyricism in their music that has caused their work to resonate with so many people.

Their most recent album, BE, was released this past November, bringing us to the end of one of the most tumultuous years in modern history. Many people around the world, myself included, have had to juggle several drastic changes within the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have felt discouraged, lost, and afraid. We have had to go on individual journeys to discover what self-care is in our own lives. What motivates us to keep pushing forward? During these uncertain times, songwriting is something that has sustained me, and I have found inspiration in BTS’ lyricism.

With BE, the group explores the complex emotions that they’ve experienced during the pandemic. For example, in “Life Goes On”, BTS reminds us that there is hope despite how hopeless a situation might feel. I found these lines, as translated on Genius, to be particularly moving:

This cold that the world gave me
Prompts me to press the dust-covered rewind
Dancing off-beat lying on the ground
Once winter comes, let’s exhale a warmer breath

That last line stayed with me for days when I first heard it. Of all the seasons, winter is the one we associate with feelings of melancholy and loneliness. I believe that when RM raps this line, he is suggesting that there is something warm, something positive, we can do despite difficult external circumstances. Likening that to an exhale subtly elicits hope as it is a gentle and natural thing that we are all capable of.

Another standout lyric is sung in “Blue & Grey”, a poignant track in which the group members sing about feeling blue in a world that seems grey, or devoid of meaning. Take a look at these lines, also translated on Genius:

My hands have reached out countless times
Colorless echo

My songwriter heart is soaring. In these two brief lines, we are painted a picture of someone reaching out only to have their efforts, their voice, come back to them like an echo that is as dull as they perceive their world to be. Chills! This level of imagery is evident in much of BTS’ music and makes for a powerful storytelling element.

BTS has reignited my love for songwriting—something I grew discouraged from after feeling like my style didn’t mesh with what’s popular today. In an industry that seems to favor a catchy single that goes viral, I admire this group’s ability to produce cohesive bodies of work with lyrics that describe feelings in ways I rarely see (or hear, rather) in pop music. The way they’ve transcended language barriers on such a massive scale is equally inspiring, and a testimony to how impactful the messages in their music are. As a writer, I am inspired by their artistry and as a human being, I am inspired by their authenticity.

Before I finish, I want you all to be able to experience this sonic magic, so I will leave some BTS song suggestions below! In addition to the two I mentioned earlier, I’ve included three more that I find both lyrically and compositionally fascinating. Some feature the entire group while others are solos by certain members. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

• “Life Goes On”
• “Blue & Grey”
• “Spring Day”
• “Awake”
• “Inner Child”

Sources:

https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-bts-life-goes-on-english-translation-lyrics

https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-bts-blue-and-grey-english-translation-lyrics