This is a random collection of appreciation pieces I wrote on the app Amino under the user name BTS = ARMY but ultimately decided to post here as well because I won't be using Amino anymore.
Feel free to comment and make suggestions on future piece...
In 1284, while the town of Hamelin was suffering from a rat infestation, a 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 dressed in multicolored ("𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐝") clothing appeared, claiming to be a rat-catcher. He promised the mayor a solution to their problem with the rats.
He had to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refuse to pay for this service as promised, he retaliates by using his instrument's magical power on their children, leading them away as he had the rats.
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Alternative Ending:
In some endings, the kids and the piper are said to never be seen again. In other versions, the kids are drowned like the rats.
And, in the younger readers' version of the story, the kids are either brought to a magical land or returned once the citizens pay.
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𝐌𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬
BTS are calling themselves the Pied Piper, a fashionable, magical being who can hypnotize people with songs.
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They see themselves, in the way that I think they imagine we see them, as this thing that swoops into our lives and hypnotizes us (see 'Important Business, title: -less'). But that also means that throughout this song they're comparing themselves to this... at best, morally neutral character, depending on what type of ending they were referring to in the song.
This song brings light to a foundation of young people (the fans) who are "destroying" themselves by being consumers of an industry that is by nature predatory. And, being a part of this industry, BTS condemn and accept themselves throughout the song.
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𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫
I do not claim that BTS, Big Hit Entertainment, or any other artists / music companies are malicious people. I'm simply giving my opinion on the meaning of a song that I truly believe to be amazing.
One thing I would like to clarify is the reason I put the word destroying in quotations (" "), it is because I wasn't referring to the literal sense of the word.
To give you an example of what I mean by destroying, think of how easy it is to lose track of time when we are watching TV or listening to music.
Let me direct you to a translation written on Genius.com of the second verse:
"Stop Now stop watching and study for your test Your parents and boss hate me Video clips, pictures, tweets V app, Bon Voyage I know, you can’t help what you like But stop, interpret the music video later You have so many pictures of me in your room anyway It’s not just one hour, it’s a whole year that’ll disappear So this song is an award I’m giving to you"
In this verse, RM (Kim Namjoon) is saying that we become consumed by the various content that we are provided. So much so, that he claims our parents or implores hate him. Because we neglect other responsibilities to follow them.
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They (BTS) are aware of the fact that fans' obsession with them is unhealthy, but in the background, there's still this voice echoing "Be obsessed, please, be obsessed." Because they also know that their fame and success, that their careers depend on people being obsessed with them.
So, in a way, they are asking:
If we’re ruining you, will you forgive us?
Because they can't live without us. Because they know they’re taking over us.
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