My BTS Journey | How It Started vs. How It's Going

I never dreamed that I'd be living out my teenage fantasy of becoming a crazy die-hard fan of the world's biggest idol group in my thirties...

Photo Credit: Courtesy of BIGHIT

How it started

I discovered #BTS in 2020 (Yes, I was living under a rock!), but initially, I didn’t buy into the hype. Even when I read hundreds of stories by A.R.M.Y. (fans of BTS) all over the world whose lives had been touched by the septet, I could see why one would admire them but get downright obsessed? No way! Or as my 2-year-old niece puts it ‘No Why?’! I pegged it as one of those things that my 30+ self couldn’t relate to. Instead, I focused on their music while low-key observing how they presented themselves and their work to the world.

“.....the lyrics came across as honest, heartfelt messages...Like the answer to a deep longing for someone out there to acknowledge the million unexplainable things that we go through in our lives.”

And honestly, I was blown away. I must have watched Fake Love (my breakout BTS song) countless times, and I still want to listen to it again. The irresistible need to play that song #onloop for more than a month convinced me that I was a goner. The more I listened, the more I found that their songs were not only impressive in terms of the range of genres that had been attempted - sometimes beautifully overlapping to create magic - but the lyrics came across as honest, heartfelt messages that I’d always wanted to hear. Like the answer to a deep longing for someone out there to acknowledge the million unexplainable things that we go through in our lives but can’t seem to express without occasion. After the 4th or 5th song, I went down a rabbit hole of tracks, videos, shows, and essentially all things #BTS. With eyes sore, mind blown and a happy heart - I remember thinking that I didn't even realise when I’d been snagged - hook, line and sinker!

How It's Going

Now, 3 years later, despite the fact that group activities are on hold courtesy of each member’s upcoming military enlistments (Stay safe uri Jinnie & Hobi! Sugaaa kajimaaa 😭), I couldn't be more proud of what they have achieved already and frankly, I can't keep calm anticipating what they’ll do next! 2025 seems to be aeons away, so this blog is a way for me to decode all their work and quell some of the separation anxiety during what the fandom is calling our ‘military wife’ era. Fellow armies can relate 😜, but for those of you who are new to BTS, you may be wondering what exactly is so special about them.

Why A.R.M.Y. is gaga over BTS

After 3 years of stanning BTS, I truly believe that whether you find them at rock bottom or on cloud nine, your experience will unfold like a beautiful dream filling you with warmth, love and joy. While watching endless Vlives(now Weverse lives), Bangtan Bombs & Episodes on YouTube and keeping up with their regular interactions with fans on Weverse, you'll find yourself becoming giddy with happiness by just sitting witness to their playful energy. They may be world-famous public figures earning millions of bucks, but I'm often bowled over by their humility and humanity. I still haven't heard the 200+ songs from the supergroup’s decade-long tenure since their debut in 2013, but I’m in no hurry. From time to time, these songs come to me like beautiful gifts, messages from the past that enrapture me with their inspiring verses and soul-stirring melodies.

BTS's Chapter 2 is going to be (even more) legendary!

As if producing a massive repertoire of songs wasn't enough, every member of BTS has worked through crazy schedules to keep up with their fanbase, which is increasing exponentially with each passing day. They worked their butt off for 10 years without break - through sickness, injury, burnout and more. It was only after they decided to switch to solo careers, did they finally get time to relax and take a breather.

“The BTS-verse is truly a universe with no end in sight..”

Even now, as we’ve seen with their solo albums, they continue to devote a significant amount of time to putting their best foot forward and giving A.R.M.Y.s a fitting swan song before their departure into the military. Although it’s not the end of BTS, it is the end of an era and seeing how their individual personalities shone through each new song and MV, I’m sure Chapter 2 is going to exceed our expectations!

The BTS-verse is truly a universe with no end in sight since the members keep joking that they would like nothing better than to perform well into their sixties as harabojis or 'grandpas' and grow old along with A.R.M.Y.! While we wait for our boys to return, together, let’s decode everything about #BangtanSonyeondan, and what they have done so far!