Snowflake Challenge #14

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Challenge #14

In your own space, create a promo and/or rec list for someone new to a fandom.

I wasn't going to do this one but in the interest of completeness, I am going to talk about BTS, the Korean pop group.

There are seven members (stage names RM, Jin, SUGA, jhope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook). They've all done solo albums and three have done solo tours. They've all done their compulsory military service (or public service in SUGA's case) BTS is definitely a product of the Korean system of creating pop groups but, in my opinion, they are now much larger than the system that created them. There were and are three major pop music companies in Korea. BTS was created by a different company, a very small company and that is part of their origin story, underdogs coming out on top, disrespected by the industry in the beginning and now worldwide stars. I like their songs and I like their performances. Their fans are called ARMY. I've been an ARMY since August 2021.

This is the video I used to learn who was who in the beginning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFlWlTqHZIo

I recommend the channel DKDK TV for videos explaining BTS songs in the context of Korean culture and music culture. (note you have to do some digging. They've done a lot of stuff and most of it isn't interesting if you look under Kpop playlist then find different BTS songs explained)

They did a very helpful video the history Kpop in 20 minutes to put BTS in context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPS4tCHT6SA

And this is their explanation of Arirang (which is the name of the new BTS album to be dropped 20 Mar and the global tour to start in April): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Tg7JwdepM

Doolset is the only Korean-English translator of their songs I trust 100%. Unfortunately, I don't think they're active anymore:
https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/

The YT commentators I trust for current news are HYBE boy: https://www.youtube.com/@HYBEBOY613 and Asian Entertainment and Culture: https://www.youtube.com/@AsianEntertainmentandCulture

This is the second video I ever watched of them and it's what got me interested. I was actually looking for something on the BBC and accidentally hit their cover of "Missing You" (also BBC radio 1) and then this one and then fell down the rabbit hole. This video is actually not a great representation of their entire body of work, but it was my entry point, nonetheless.

Watch on YouTube