“Kim Namjoon! Kim Seokjin! Min Yoongi! Jung Hoseok! Park Jimin! Kim Taehyung! Jeon Jungkook! BTS!”

This is the official fan chant for the South Korean music group Bangtan Boys (BTS).

First Impression

One day while I was doing homework, my sister came up to me and showed me a K-Pop (Korean pop) music video called “Save Me” by BTS. I wasn’t paying much attention at first, but when I saw how well-synchronized they were dancing, I was mesmerized. I then started listening to more of their songs such as “Fire” and “Blood, Sweat, and Tears.”

Without a doubt, BTS’s choreography is amazing. Surprisingly, I learned that some members initially found it hard to dance, but as time passed, they have only gotten better at it. Even my brothers, who aren’t interested in K-Pop, were completely amazed.

For a while, I only listened to 3 of their songs, until one day I decided to do research them and how they got started. Learning the band members’ names was hard at first since their names are very different from Western names. For example, their leader is named Kim Namjoon, and the youngest member is named Jeon Jungguk.

My next step in getting to know them was matching their faces with their names, which was hard because they all looked alike to me (except the leader), but once I learned their names and more about them, I began to notice what makes them all unique. Now I can easily tell them and their voices apart.

Connection

Slowly but surely, I started listening to them more and more, from their debut songs in 2013 to more recent ones. I found their music is relatable because they revolve around one topic: youth. They talk about hardships, lost loves, friendships, sorrow, comradery, and happiness. As a junior in high school, I can relate to that, so I feel a connection to them.

I love them because they’re down to earth, sweet, and talented. Usually, after people achieve fame, their personalities change; however, if you ever search any videos of them, you can see how real and honest they are to those around them.

Another thing that caught my eye was the number of members. I had never seen a 7-member musical group before. Later, I learned that Korean groups normally consist of many members.

Fandom

Now that I’ve entered the big world of their fandom, I’ve become interested in their culture. I’ve been trying to learn Korean, but it’s quite hard since there are no English sounds that translate exactly to their alphabet letters.

At first, I didn’t consider myself much of a fan. However, as I started listening to their music more and watching their performances on YouTube, I considered myself an A.R.M.Y (the name they gave their fans), which stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.

Many think that liking a band that speaks a language I don’t understand is stupid. However, if I don’t understand what they’re saying, I read subtitles, and I don’t believe that’s lame. A piece of advice I give to people who are bullied because of what they like is to ignore those people and just be yourself.