BTS THE ROLLING STONE INTERVIEW

The global superstars get candid about the philosophy of their music, the experiences that inspired their upcoming record ‘BE’ and the ever-evolving definition of success

- RIDDHI CHAKRABORTY

The day before I began writing this piece, I decided to listen to BTS’ discography in its entirety. It’s not my first cruise through their impressive arsenal of hip-hop, jazz, blues and glimmering pop–far from it, in fact–but it’s a powerful reminder as to why we’re doing this interview in the first place.

BTS isn’t the overnight sensation you’ve probably been led to believe. The rise to the top of the charts didn’t happen as a result of a fluke, a ‘rabid’ fandom or paid views. A lot of the time I see articles in mainstream media or reaction videos splashed across YouTube that demand to know how this happened, or where exactly BTS emerged from. There’s been everything from admiration and dismissal, obsession and skepticism, all of it leading back to questions about ‘how’ and ‘why.’

Their music isn’t for a certain group of individuals; it is for everyone who has moved through the stages of life. BTS’ lyrics break down moments that the majority of us living on this planet have in common, including experiences during school days, bonds (forged and broken) with friends, expectations placed upon us by our parents and the roles thrust onto us by society, all leading to the seemingly unavoidable fate of falling into the rat race. By addressing these stages of our lives, the core of this band’s message ties into the examination of what it means to be human, to understand where you lie in the grand scheme of things. There is no limit to who can be a fan or who can see themselves in these seven men from South Korea, and with this very simple truth, it is a legacy cemented for all generations to discover and fall in love with.