번민하던 청춘 BTS, 어른이 되었음을 선언하다 (​source​)

Troubled youth BTS declares adulthood

[Kim Youngdae, music critic]

BTS - ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’​ Review

Reaffirms what was achieved in previous releases with its depth and artistry

The later half articulates the essence of the album, keying in on its themes

IDOL incorporates Korean traditional sounds with African rhythms

A novel response to the question of identity in K-Pop

Projected to surpass the record set with ​Fake Love​ on Billboard Hot 100

BTS released the repackage album ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’

Image credit: Big Hit Entertainment

Translation
by
@realmyystik
The repackage album ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’​ by BTS, released on the 24th, is an album that
declares growth into mature adulthood from the troubled youth portrayed previously in ​The Most
Beautiful Moment in Life,​ concluding the project that lasted over 2 years or so.

The album’s key narrative is tightly woven through the vocalists’ tracks in the series. With Jungkook’s
depiction of fluttering thrill using his distinct emotional depth in his solo track ​Euphoria​, V’s uniquely
deep voice in the neo-soul track ​Singularity​, and Jimin’s delicate timbre fully expressing ​Serendipity,​ the
arrangement is designed to elicit natural emotional transition with its clever composition.

Their presence as musicians is also striking. As evident in J-Hope’s ​Just Dance​, in which his
characteristically optimistic energy is expressed in the house genre, RM’s ​Love​, where his weighty tone
is paired with the classic strings instrumental, and Suga’s ​Seesaw,​ with its bittersweetness coming
through the cynical honesty and disco groove, they are able to convincingly blend the old and the new
and fortunately, are not losing balance even as many global producers participate in their music.

Cover art of BTS’s repackage album ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’

Image credit: Big Hit Entertainment

The later half of the album surely is the essence of this album, bringing the main theme of the series to
its dramatic closure. ​Epiphany​ captures the enlightenment of learning to embrace and love one’s
imperfect self at the end of sorrow and disappointment. As Jin’s appealing cry evokes a deeply moving
sensation in this new-found awareness, ​I’m Fine​ also conveys the message that “the only person that
can save me is myself,” elaborating more concretely. Finally arriving at the ​Answer​, it all wraps up with
the emotions characterized by sorrow and sympathy transforming into hope.

Translation
by
@realmyystik
The depth of the narrative and the musical artistry of this album reaffirms that what they had achieved
in previous works before ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’​ was not a coincidence. While embodying
familiar genres, they stand out from others in their ability to maintain individuality in rap, dance, song,
and attitude. It is what demonstrates their value as artists and at the same time, what makes people
foresee a brighter future for them.

Scenes from the music video of IDOL, the title track of ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’
Image credit: Big Hit Entertainment

Translation
by
@realmyystik
In the past few decades, K-pop has been a race of modernity, valuing the lack of ethnic identity as its
aesthetic, and thus, it has been scathing to question its identity. It must have been no different for BTS.
In that vein, incorporating the afro-beat with traditional sounds of Korea in the title track ​IDOL​ is very
interesting and provocative. In the sea of similar-sounding Moombahton sounds still reigning in the
mainstream music scene today, the novelty of the hybrid between African Gqom (a genre of house
music originating in South Africa) -- a genre even new to the US mainstream -- and Kkwaenggwari
(T/N: traditional Korean musical instrument)​ with “Dunkiduk kungduruhruh” ​(T/N: onomatopoeic saying
for traditional Korean beats) ​is indeed commendable. It does not display gugak​ (T/N: traditional Korean
music) ​at the forefront but sufficiently showcases the “Korean” color through the trendy beat, as if
responding with this track to show their deliberation on the question as they find their place as a global
group.

There is also positive response to ​IDOL​ from the US media and music fans. The Korean exclamation
“eolssu” garnered attention on social media and moreover, from the tiger to paljak roofs, interest in
Korean traditional culture has notably risen. Furthermore, with its original version and the version
featuring Nicki Minaj taking #1 And #2 on US iTunes, ​IDOL i​ s positioned to perform well on the
upcoming Billboard charts. ​Forbes​ magazine predicts that it will place higher than ​Fake Love​, which
topped at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Savoring the genuine message and interesting musical trials of the Love Yourself​ ​series from the
beginning reminded me of Seo Taiji, who once was called the “zeitgeist” of the time. Speaking for
youth, further encompassing a generation, and finally beginning to tie together the inherent universality
and authenticity of music across different regions and races, they seem to be asking what the new
“zeitgeist” of the now-global genre K-pop is, through ​LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer,’ ​which serves as
their final note and at the same time, a new beginning.

Translation
by
@realmyystik