De Leon: BTS: Transcending language and race

WHAT is this phenomenon that's sweeping people around the world? Yes. World, not just Asia. It's BTS!

For those who are living under the rock, BTS (Bangtan Sonyeonda) is a group of seven Korean boys and is now considered to be the most popular boy band around the globe.

I learned about BTS from my sister, who just became an avid fan. Ever since she got bitten by the BTS bug, they are her daily dose of booster.

Initially, I frowned at her being a fanatic from merch to meals. How can you love when you cannot even understand their songs which as expected are mostly in Korean?

Subsequently, I learned that a huge number of local and foreign celebrities, as well as influencers are also into this BTS craze. Their fans club, called ARMY, has millions of members from various nationalities, cohorts and languages.

To top it all, the Korean government has amended a law allowing their globally K-pop artists to defer their mandatory military service to age 30 (it was 28 before). This came at a time when BTS's oldest member (Jin, 28) is nearing the call to service. Now, they really are must more than the headlines.

So if you want to discover what's I wanted to find out what’s drawing these people to this Korean boy band, I learned a thing or two:

The message of their songs is universal. (I watch their recordings with the English interpretation so I can comprehend). Their melodies mirror the assessments and issues of the adolescent, which is most of their fan base. The ARMY can undoubtedly identify with their tunes since they express the musings and sentiments that they, at the end of the day, need to impart yet can't. They are singing the melodies of their fans!

More so, their songs are not only relatable but also talk about positivity. Amid mental and emotional issues, discrimination, and depression, their songs resonate messages of hope, self-love, grit and chasing dreams.

It reminds us that we can use our talents, position, and popularity to be the voice of those who cannot and do not have the means to speak for themselves. We can always choose to be the source of love, hope, and anything positive to others.

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