[ Why I unstanned BTS. ]

[ introduction. ]

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Before I tell you why I unstanned them, I believe it is important that you understand my timeline as a kpop fan. Here's (what I hope will be) a short summary.

I started following BTS on 23rd November, 2016 and have followed them through the years as they rose to popularity. My first ever kpop song was obviously Gangnam Style. However, that was back when I was too young to understand that it was, in fact, "kpop". Hence, I don't really count it. I consider my first "actual" introduction to kpop to be BTS' Blood Sweat & Tears.

I was home alone that day, having been under the weather. It's also the day right after my parents' marriage anniversary, which is how I remember the date in case you're wondering. Anyway, that's unrelated to the topic. I've a habit of straying a lot with my thoughts, as you will surely find out if you follow through with me on this long ass ride. :D (Mark, is that you?)

So, I was studying, watching lectures on YouTube to try and prepare for my upcoming exams. After a considerable time, I finally took a break. And that's when I noticed them.

Blood, Sweat & Tears had been on my recommendations for a long time by then. I'd promised myself to pay that song a visit when I had the time. So, that's what I did.

Be real with me, here. How many of y'all are intrigued by the thumbnail? Because I still am. It's one of the few thumbnails that intrigues me til date.

The long intro before the song, the images they portrayed— it all drew me in immensely. The song is so... Stimulating.

The visuals, the rap, the vocals, the MV... DAMN.

But what shocked me most was that this was a group that served me both quality rap AND vocals all in one song. I don't know if it's just me who feels/notices this... But most groups and/or individual singers only focus on one of the above. It's so rare to find a song that switches between them so flawlessly. And I was in love with the song for doing that.

Then came Fire.

After I'd listened to a song like that, I got curious. What else could a group like that offer me?

So, I clicked on the first song by them in my recommendations, which just so happened to be Fire.

Again, the silence (of course, I know it's not exactly silence. They've Dope playing in the background while all of them just kinda hang out. But I'm referring to the lack of the song in question, Fire, playing immediately here) interested me. The imagery, the visuals, the rap, the vocals... AGAIN, E V E R Y LITTLE THING WAS ON POINT.

And that's when I knew, it was over for me. I was basically going to flunk that exam I was studying for. :D

Yoongi jumping over the gate that had the word "youth" carved into it with fabric, only to set a man ablaze was a big woah moment. Watching the same word be set on fire by them later through the MV was a good kind of confusing. The uncoordinated chaos that represented the fears and stages of youth that we're all so afraid of... Man, I loved it. Within those two MVs alone, I knew they had a plot connecting those two and what I also assumed would also be the rest of their MVs.

And so I binged watched a whole lot of BTS related videos that day. Dope, the highlight reels, the explanation videos, guides, all that shit lol

(Yes, I managed to pass the test, even if just barely. :D)

I was so interested in them, that I recommended them to one of my irls. Turns out, she was also just getting into them at the time. And that pretty much solidified our bond as besties. In fact, we're still really good friends to this day.

Fast forward to a week later and I could tell them apart by their faces. Two weeks in, I knew their real/birth names. Three weeks in, Taehyung solidified himself as my bias and Yoongi my wrecker. Four weeks in, I could tell you their positions. Five weeks in, I could tell them apart by their voices. Six weeks in, I could tell them apart from their features. Oh, those are Yoongi's eyes. Ah, that's Joonie's nose. And Jin's smile. Psh, girl, please, those are Taehyung and Jimin's hands respectively. Nope, I can't be mistaken. That's Kookie's coconut haircut. By the seventh week, I was laughing at the fact that I couldn't tell them apart in the beginning. (Please don't cancel me, it's just that my facial recognition skills are horrible lol!! As an Asian myself, I absolutely hate the "all Asians look alike" stereotype.)

Anyway, you get the point. I was in love. I was a solidified stan. They were breaking the Asian stereotypes, breaking into the Western market; slowly, but steadily.

And it led me to believe that they are the only ones. That they were the first ones to chart Billboard. That they were the only good group.

Boi, was I wrong. But I believed it. Until very recently.

Sorry for such a lengthy chapter, but I think it's really important for y'all to know how much I loved them and WHAT it is I loved about them before I tell you why I'm leaving. Speaking of which, we shall dive into each reason one by one starting from the next chapter.

Until next time,

Strawberry.🍓

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