V

• comment 1 > 💜 taehyung-ah, are you running?
  🐻 i’m done😌 i have to shower

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All 7 members are included in Sea Hyun Lee's artwork on display at Frieze Seoul, where Joon has been Namjooning!

Clockwork from top left: JK, Joon, Hobi, Jimin, Yoongi, Tae, Jin

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOKiOFwktFK/

https://x.com/BIGHIT_MUSIC/status/1963421915235979347

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I should start off by saying I'm a casual ARMY. I listen to their songs, like all the members (especially Suga and Jungkook) but I don't follow all their content. I have another ult but BTS is the only other group I check out.

As an outsider, I've just been thinking lately that I'm starting to understand and appreciate what ARMY went through, especially in the early days. They didn't make it easy for BTS and ARMY.

You were fighting against BIG 3 fandoms, fighting against solos, fighting against the industry itself. First it was just Korea, but even the west pushed back a lot on BTS. There were so many false narratives and stereotypes you worked hard on correcting. So many tried to paint the fandom as crazy, parasocial, or just young girls— ANYTHING to see what sticks and harms BTS. They were so many opportunities that were both great and scary and many people envied. Opprtunities rightfully earned, btw.

If I understand, you guys were also translating their songs for overseas fans and contacting radio stations to play BTS songs. You called out journalists and news reporters who made misleading headlines. They even got the legal system and government involved. People were THAT desperate to discredit BTS and Army.

While all this was happening, you were worried for the members' mental health and physical health because paving the way is NOT as easy as marketing, promos, or just continously performing like people think. It took more than mental health and a fighting spirit to not break. To keep showing up. To not give up.

And again while ALL this while happening, I'm sure there were also internal fandom conflict that took a lot of effort from OT7 to drown out. I know this one alone takes massive effort and everyone needs to have the shared goal. It's not easy.

I wasn't there for it but I felt the frustration of having every achievement and milestone questioned, doubted, or minimized. I still think kpop fans do this sometimes until now but it must've been 10x worse when the fandom was still smaller.

BTS grew and grew until it couldn't be questioned anymore. Their stats couldn't be doubted anymore. But none of it was luck. BTS worked hard but so did ARMY. Being flanked in all directions is overwhelming but you guys somehow made it through together and I can't help but be in awe. You took control of the narrative, of the hate, and surpassed everything thrown at you. ARMY is a phenomenon indeed. ARMY is also probably the secret ingredient that can't be replicated no matter how much they try to copy a group to be like BTS.

That's all I wanted to share. As an outsider, I see you guys. I see you're enjoying their solo era and post-enlistment era but I also see what you went through to get here. It's admirable as hell.

For early-days ARMY, how did you get through that? What was the mindset of the fandom back then? Have things changed since then?

Whenever I’m feeling down or very unmotivated(which tbh is a lot often these days) I end up watching yoongi’s interviews or lives, which instantly puts me in a good mood. He literally is the embodiment of comfort, he’s so calming and reassuring, even listening to songs like Snooze and So far away feels like a big warm hug🥹🫂

Special mention to Blue and grey, Life goes on and the entirety of Mono🫶🏻

I love all bts songs and will really like some recommendations on some really good lesser known ones. Thanks 💜

Thank you to everyone for your inputs! My sister and i are bts freaks and just love songs we haven't heard! Thank you all so much for making my weekend playlist! Borahae!

Hi ARMY!

So we have been getting a lot of content from most of the members recently, and that has been really fun to see. However, I am Yoongi biased and I know that many people in this sub are as well, and I miss getting updates from him.

I know that he definitely has his reasons why he is keeping a low profile now, and I totally respect that and will wait patiently until he posts something for us.

What are some content that you engage with these days when you miss Yoongi that makes you feel happy? Apart from listening to his music of course.

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