(Our new column 'The Stream' debuts with a look at South Korean sensation and K-Pop megastars BTS)
Seoul power! When I'm not trying to get this writing dream off paper (yes...we have real jobs), I work in the retail record store HMV (yes...there are still some out there). And this year even though music isn't even the biggest seller (it's a sad day when Pop Vinyls sell more than actual vinyls), between the usual suspects of Ed Sheeran, Eminem, Post Malone, Lady Gaga, Adele, Andre Rieu and Hugh Jackman (ladies and gentlemen did you forget about that soundtrack you've been waiting for?) teenage girl after teenage mother have kept asking, "do you have any BTS"!
"I'm sorry madam! We're not that kind of store!"
Turns out BTS isn't text speak or a medical condition. But in fact a South Korean pop revolution of megastar idols that can even finally get that Psy 'Gangnam Style' song out your heads, hips and the lips of every party playlist requests (C'mon dad! Not again! You said last time ten chin poses ago). One so worldwide huge they are about to be the first K-Pop act to speak at the United Nations. And if you don't think much of that (and you really, REALLY should!) the guys from the Far East have just eclipsed the girl from Nashville. As the video for these idols new song 'IDOL' has just taken over Taylor Swift's youtube record by just...ya know 2.7...MILLION views.
Look what you made them do!
But you have to hand it to their legion of loyal Bangtan Boys squad of (st)fans and their patient, penniless parents. BTS C.D.'s (yes...we still sell these Spotify) have gone from tax like import prices to being sold alongside discounted merch and free posters that elict the same screams these boys produce that lies on the richter scale somewhere between One Direction and more needle leaning towards Beatlemania. You earned it BTS Army! And if you think they're huge here. Just imagine what they're like in their own country. Let alone continent...and the watching world.
Just see them on 'Ellen', Fallon or award show live featuring Hollywood stars like iPod kid, 'Baby Driver' Ansel Elgort with their smartphones out recording and posting like the fans they are. Because like it or not BTS are the pin up posterboys of the hashtag generation. Or should we say the top trend?! And refreshingly in a time where the all Chinese cast of 'Crazy Rich Asians' becomes the number one movie in the country, there's absolutely nothing Hollywood about it all. It's its own entertainment world of wonder. If you thought flicking through the hotel T.V. with Bill Murray in 'Lost In Translation' was weird and wonderful, then wait until you see these crazily colourful and chereographed, coated in candy popping, vivid visuals of music videos featuring digital giraffes, tigers and sharks OH MY!
And when they catwalk that fashion to those dance moves you'll be emulating like 'This Is America', if you thought Harajuku in Tokyo had style then you better shop again in the 24 opening hour city of Seoul. Because these kids look like they raided Prince's wardrobe when everyone else was blow torching his vault of music. Who else can pull off color combos and ruffles like this?! The artist formerly known as! And it's all coordinated like this perfect pop manufacturing. And this Bowie gender fluid look has a real positive message in a smaller world that's finally in some corners becoming more open. These guys dress how they feel...and they are heartthrob adored for it. How's that for respect? And guys if you have a problem with that you wouldn't if it was a gang of J-Pop girls with guitars living out your favourite anime fantasies...just saying!
And after finally adding them to the work playlist to "see" (it's only right) what they're like (normally I try and look cool with some Dylan or Black Keys) much to my co-workers shaking head dismay, I get it. This is why they're rapping (and they actually can...with formidable flow) with queen Nicki Minaj or throwing cakes with Steve Aoki on the dancefloor like "go shawty it's your birthday". As everyone around the globe sings and 'Idol Challenge' dances along, inspiringly without translation after decades of international countries lip syncing in English (except with artists like Johnny Cash and Nat King Cole who amazingly added to their countless catalogues and body of work by recording albums in multiple different languages) to their favourite pop songs. Barriers and borders have been broken. Influence is inspiring when it's not about what makes money, but what makes people happy.
The energy that emnates from their power bar like lift of music will be streaming and surging on your next gym playlist. Replacing aggression with happiness. And forever at the risk of sounding corny isn't that what the world needs right now? As their 'Love Yourself' message isn't selfish in this selfie age...it's all encompassing. These young BTS men are crazy, sexy, cool like TLC without trying to be hard, intimidating or bullying. They're all inclusive and this is exactly what their country or we all need right now. With North Korea playing nuclear hot potato with that spud Trump and that whole side of the continent unaware of the beauty they are going to war with below. It's time for open eyes, minds and hearts.
And these positive male role models are what S. Korea also needs now desperately with depression and suicide rates over there soaring to epidemic levels. Especially tragically with young men and entertainers. You only have to look at late last year and the loss of the lead singer of Shinee, Jonghyun. A man who in spite of his sadness brought so much joy. Or this writer himself whose close friend from over there, having lost a brother a decade ago still feels that puncuated pain. This writer who now is also hopefully himself finally coming out the other side of the worst year of his life. We all need this and see who we've lost to tragedy in these boys' happiness and humanity. Coupled with their poetic lyrics about mental health that can help lift us out of this depression. It's positivity in a time of unfortunately the exact opposite. It's heart and soul from Seoul in a time and trending tide were we all need a little more hope. BTS I'm actually a fan. You yourself should be too. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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