At the time, I was writing about Bang Bang Con, a weekend marathon of the seven-member Korean group’s old concert footage that attracted 50 million views. But the words held true this past weekend, when Bangtan Sonyeondan held their two-day Map of the Soul ON:E concert.
It was a virtual event that was originally intended to have both an in-person audience and an online one; in September, Big Hit Entertainment called off the audience portion to abide by government guidelines around pandemic safety. But the group made ON:E no less epic for its online status — the live shows felt huge, intensely detailed, and imaginative, proving once again that nobody in 2020 is doing it quite like them.
Below, we’ve recapped some of our favorite moments from Map of the Soul ON:E, a live virtual concert that made it easy to focus — if only for a few hours — on what we’ve gained, instead of what we’ve lost.
Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment
President Kim Namjoon Takes the Stage
Rising on his podium during “Intro: Persona,” ON:E presented President Kim Namjoon. Though ARMYs have been using the nickname for years to describe member RM’s penchant for motivational speeches and comforting lyrics, the moniker took on new meaning during the ending ments for Day 1. "We'll find a way, we always have,” he said during the concert, referencing BTS and ARMY being able to be together during these difficult times. “If there's no way, we'll redraw the map." —P. Claire DodsonA Familiar Dance Break
Leave it to BTS to kick things off not only with a literal blast but also a blast from the past. The septet started the much-awaited concert on a high note with a transition from 2020’s “ON” to 2013’s “N.O.” However, it was the dance break from “N.O.” to “We Are Bulletproof Part 2” that took the cake. As is customary for Bangtan, the high-powered, zestful dance solo also included an Easter egg for ARMY. The beginning of the dance mirrored the choreography of their 2014 MBC Gayo Daejejeon dance battle with GOT7, a segment that Big Hit later uploaded to YouTube with different camerawork as “Intro Performance Trailer.” Flags were updated with new logos, but the passion remained — only this time with a touch of nostalgia. — Sara Delgado
The Grunge Looks in “Boy in Luv”
Bangtan in school uniforms is a concept. Whether it’s for commercials, music videos, or Run! BTS episodes, the septet has been seen clad in the juvenile attire multiple times but nothing has quite compared to the MOTS ON:E’s rendition. After last year’s Melon Music Awards, Jin pointed out on Weverse they looked more like office employees than high schoolers wearing uniforms at this point, and the stylists found the perfect solution: Make it grunge.
For both days, the seven members took to the stage to perform “Boy in Luv” clad in mismatched, distressed “high school” uniforms that screamed punk rock; complete with safety pins, red and white visible stitching, chains, spiked chokers, and Converse-style shoes on most of the members (JK stuck to his trusty Balenciaga triple soles while J-Hope and Suga favored low, Nike SBs dunks). Footwear aside, the outfits instantly became some of the best inclusions to Bangtan’s tour wardrobe, and the perfect companion to Tae’s indelible growls. —SD
“Black Swan” SOTY
“Black Swan” is the song of the year, it just is. That was clear at ON:E, when the members appeared just after a powerful transition from Suga’s darkness anthem “Interlude: Shadow.” The song itself is packed with cool, broken-wing choreo, but then enter: Jimin, who embraced his contemporary dance origins for a moving modern art solo set to the song’s orchestral version. In the watery blue depths, he flung himself into strong, delicate motion, his body turning into a wave, an electric shock. “Black Swan” — with its fusion of strings and trap beats, fear and longing, thudding hearts and stopped time — continues to be a masterwork. —PCD
Finally Getting to See MOTS: 7 Solos Live
Among the most highly-anticipated parts of ON:E were the members’ solo performances. On Map of the Soul: 7, each musician has a song that embodies both their musical aesthetic and the image they present to ARMY. The costumes and choreographies of ON:E only magnified the specialness of those songs. RM was presidential with a literal flaming mic in “Persona”; Suga pushed through the hands of endless spectators (and on Day 1, was accidentally checked in the face by one) in “Interlude: Shadow.” Jungkook mused on his unorthodox adolescence in “My Time” while feeling himself on the dancefloor (especially on Day 2); Jin incorporated imagery from The Little Prince into his lighthearted “Moon”; and Jimin played with illusion, perception, and rapid outfit changes in the heart-stopping “Filter.” In an especially moving scene, V sang the self-reflective “Inner Child” to a real-life child doppelgänger, bringing new life to the climactic bridge, “You’re my boy.” And when BTS rejoined J-Hope after the contagiously fun “Ego,” the celebration of every member in OT7 felt complete. —PCD
The Chaotic Cuteness of Day 2’s Opening Ments
Day 2’s opening ments gave us plenty of memorable moments from the members – from Jungkook interrupting Jin’s iconic kiss introduction (leaving the oldest in a fluster) to J-Hope briefly singing Jimin’s 2018 surprise solo “Promise” during his turn (after doing so in tandem with Jin the previous day).
The members also took turns greeting fans in different languages. Tae went first in Chinese, then Suga, Jin, and Jungkook followed in English, Thai, and Japanese. Fifth and sixth were RM in Spanish (his “HOLA SOMOS BTS” soon reached Twitter’s trending moments in all caps) and Jimin in Korean (which, fair game). Last but not least was J-Hope’s quippy take on French with his unforgettable “Bonjour, we are BTS.” Suga also got honest about his shoulder injury, which some fans had noticed during the performance. “During the opening song, I couldn’t perform as well due to a shoulder problem but I’m fine now, and there’s nothing to worry about,” he told fans, per the live English subtitles.
That’s not to say there weren’t special moments during Day 1’s opening ments, too. Jin also greeted fans all by himself in different languages and the members discussed how the concert’s setlist and preparation had been more than a year in the making. —SD
Jin Pouting Along With ARMYs
Jin embodied the feelings of ARMYs everywhere when he lamented the fact that the concert must eventually come to an end on Day 2. As he urged ARMYs to sing louder, he also offered up a pout that launched a thousand ships. —PCD
Those ENCORES
BTS have a habit of taking ARMY on an emotional rollercoaster: they drive us to the brink of tears and then descend into pandemonium. On Day 1, fans were taken on a trip down memory lane with renditions of “Butterfly” and “Run.” Meanwhile, Day 2 viewers were gifted with fan favorite “Spring Day” and a wonderfully chaotic performance of “Idol.” This included Jungkook taking over the cameraman’s duties and Suga dancing to the Gwara Gwara in an adorable manner. During “Dynamite,” RM added in a Korean line to the English-language song, which we can call a subtle flex. The only bad thing about the encore stages was that they meant the concerts were about to end. —Natasha Mulenga
“Dionysus,” “BWL,” and “DNA,” But Make Them Remixed
The only thing better than a BTS song is a thrilling new remix of a BTS song. BTS and their live band Ghost (who you may recognize from the NPR Tiny Desk performance) breathed new life into “Dionysus,” “Boy With Luv” and “DNA” by remixing all three songs and giving them a new musical flavor. “Dionysus” was given a more chilled vibe; DNA received a 2020 software upgrade; and viewers were treated to the return of EDM remix of “Boy With Luv” from Bang Bang Con. They even brought back the LED umbrellas!
Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment
President Kim Namjoon Takes the Stage (Reprise)
To wrap up the festivities, Namjoon reminded fans once again why we call him “The President.” He gave a sentimental speech reminding ARMY that the events of 2020 are not the fault of any one person and gave a poignant reminder that without technology, an online concert wouldn’t have been possible. “We’re just doing our best, we’re just doing what we can do,” he said.Xem thêm: Chung Kết Giọng Hát Việt Nhí, À Ơi (Giọng Hát Việt Nhí 2015)
“I’m literally so happy. I have no religion, but I thank God we’re living in 2020. I thank God that we have this technology so we can be connected with no latency, see each other’s faces, like really, you’re literally here. It feels like you’re here and hope you feel the same too.” —NM
“We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” and a Promise to ARMY
If you’ve ever been to a BTS concert, you know things will end on an emotional high note. Last year's tour closer “Mikrokosmos” found a worthy MOTS ON:E successor in “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” as we all likely predicted since it was released back in February.
BTS performed the serenade as blocks of ARMY started floating in the air, above a galaxy of ARMY bombs. The purple galaxy, or purple sea, was reminiscent of the song’s music video but, this time, cartoon Bangtan were replaced by the real members. Paired with the seven members’ ending ments, the song’s message only intensified.
Though cute moments (like J-Hope’s unruly hair during Day 2) were also part of the equation, Bangtan got real about the ups and downs that lead to the creation of MOTS ON:E. “To be honest, I’m 80% happy and 20% frustrated. This online concert is a new challenge for us. It’s the result of our efforts but we’re frustrated that we cannot see you face to face,” J-Hope said, a remark the other members echoed in their own speeches.
Jimin had the tear-jerker moment during Day 1. “From the encore song, I couldn’t really concentrate,” Jimin said as he was brought to tears, mirroring his remarks from last year’s Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Brazil concert. Shouts from the members filled the room (RM even urged Jimin to cry if he needed to), as ARMYs got emotional on the screens behind. “Preparing for this concert, due to COVID-19, we had many challenges. We could not perform as a group for a while and bring happiness to you. This is what I’ve wanted for so long. During the encore, when I heard your voices, ARMY, I got emotional. I’m so happy to be able to see you. I couldn’t focus so much so I'm frustrated that I couldn’t show you the best I got. Regardless, thank you for your support."
On Day 2, he confessed the members had already teased him about his tears. “I’m not crying. Crying once was enough,” Jimin said with a smile. “They made so much fun of me last night.”
Much like the meaning behind “WAB:TE” itself, BTS ended with a commitment and a promise to ARMY that “we are not seven with you,” and that we will meet again. It’s a promise the members – namely V – clearly took to heart. “I’ll look forward to the day we can meet in person again,” he said before adding that he’d be willing to walk from Seoul to Busan (that’s roughly 200 miles) if only they could make that happen soon. As expected, his remark was met with a light dose of teasing from the other members. “I’m just saying that’s how much I miss ARMY,” he then clarified. “I can’t live without ARMY.” —SD
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