WEEK 29 | A Door in Your Heart

Monday Muster
Written By Quince

July 15 - 19, 2024

Be Present.

Picture it… you’re at a BTS concert. 

You got barricade tickets. The guys are on fire, performing one amazing song after another, and you are living your best life. Suddenly, you hear it—the opening notes of YOUR favorite song. OMG. You can’t believe it. You quickly pull out your phone, hold it up and start recording, staying as still as you possibly can so that you don’t shake the camera, and focus hard on getting the best shot. You don’t hear the music or feel the beat anymore. Then, while trying to focus on who’s singing, you don’t see your bias come to the edge of the stage right in front of you… and then walk away again when he just sees your phone in front of your face, and not your eyes. 

 

BTS LYS: Tear photo shoot

What a missed opportunity, yeah? Sure, you got some good footage of your favorite song, but would that beat a moment of personal connection with your bias (or any of the members) while they were performing it? Absolutely not. And yet… that’s what so many concerts look like today, a sea of phones being held up, constantly recording, people viewing what’s happening through their camera lens and not with their own eyes. 

Is that a memorable experience? Many of the BTS members themselves have asked fans not to hide behind their cameras all the time, because they want to see our faces. They want those moments of connection. They want us to be present in the moment with them.

And this is the theme that takes us into the next segment of our journey through Love Yourself 轉 'Tear'. Last week we learned about how seductive the promise of love can be, even if it’s at the expense of who we are fundamentally. Because it’s scary to show every bit of our true self to someone else and hope they love us for it. 

This week, BTS will help us conquer the fear of being real—to appreciate and love ourselves first, so that we’re not tempted to give someone less than who we are, simply because we think they won’t want us. They’ll remind us how to be present in each moment, so we don’t miss opportunities for growth, enjoyment, or for healing. These lessons aren’t just for us, though. This album is just as much them talking to themselves as to us—processing where their feelings were at the time (considering disbandment), and trying to find the joy in being BTS again. 

 

BTS LYS: Tear photo shoot

Suffice to say… they needed the Magic Shop just as much as ARMY did. Maybe even more. But they invited us along with them, and that invite has never expired. All we have to do is keep our eyes open, and we can always find the door…

 

Playlists & Lyrics

 
 

Skip to Content: Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four | Day Five

 

DAY ONE:

In the introduction I mentioned ‘favorite’ songs. There are quite a few of mine on Love Yourself 轉 'Tear', there’s a reason, after all, why it’s my favorite album. I’m sure we all have multiple BTS playlists, right? For different moods, obviously. This next song always seems to find itself on every single playlist, no matter what the theme of it is. And that’s because, it never fails to lift me up, and make me feel better about the moment I’m in… no matter what’s going on around me. 

“So What” Yoongi Confetti Gun (PTD in LA Peformance)

So, I know what you’re thinking… why are we going out of order? “So What” is actually the penultimate track on this album. I hear you. Just bear with us… I promise there is a method to our madness. For purposes of story flow, we fudged a bit. It’s fine. You love us. 

Co-written by the Rap Line, and produced by Pdogg, “So What” is an upbeat dance track that was made to be performed in arenas. It has no set choreo; BTS members bounce around onstage, chase each other, throw water on the crowd, and pull all kinds of faces into the camera. It’s the ultimate hype song, with a beat that keeps you moving the entire time.

The lyrics hype us up as well. They encourage us to let go of our worries and embrace the present. Worrying too much can be counterproductive to solving your problems, so you might as well enjoy where you are in the moment, and think about it again later with a fresh perspective.

“So What” Water Fight (Muster Sowoozoo 2021)

So what
Let go
In a sigh, lots of worries are hiding
Stop thinking about it You already know it all
In the middle of the road, in the moment you want to give up,
Shout out louder 
So what what what

And they’re right. Most of the time, when we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we already know what to do. But we go over the issue in our head endlessly, thinking “But what if I do this? Or this?” A lot of us struggle, at least sometimes, with a desire for perfection—wanting something to go exactly according to plan—no matter what. But that’s not a realistic expectation, and if we live our lives trying to think and plan endlessly, we’ll just make ourselves unhappier.

The brake is broken, so step on the accelerator
However you do,
where’s the fun if you know it all
Pain is my medal
So, so what?

Where’s the fun if we know exactly how everything is going to happen all the time? Mistakes are a natural part of life. BTS has told us several times, as they do again here in the above lyric, that if we think we’re going to crash, we should just go faster. We learn our best lessons from making mistakes, and if they’re inevitable, might as well buckle up that seatbelt and just enjoy the ride.

 

"So What" Stage Mix

 

TinyTAN Performs "So What" in BTS Dream TinyTAN house

"So What" Live Video

BTS Mimic Iconic Dance Moves

 

Fun Fact:

Press Conferences can be overwhelming, with the constant flashbulbs from the cameras going off and the rapid-fire pace of the questions, but they do also offer us an opportunity to hear BTS talk about their albums while all together. The questions are typically slightly more thoughtful than those they encounter during regular interviews.

The press conference held for Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’ is informative, and it’s also endearing to watch as the members are all shy about expressing their feelings on their sky-rocketing fame. They discuss what it was like being in America when the album was released and how worried they were initially for its reception.

RM, talking about the album’s overall theme, sums it up nicely by saying that it’s about what happens when the “pretty lie” is exposed, and love becomes a goodbye: 

If you don’t love yourself, you won’t be able to find genuine love—loving yourself is the true master key…

Some other highlights to keep an eye out for are Jung Kook discussing making “Magic Shop” as well as its place as a fan song and what it means to them, j-hope analyzing the choreography for “Fake Love” and giving the backstory behind how “Airplane Pt. 2” came to be, V praising RM’s lyrics in “Intro: Singularity” and saying they gave him all the inspiration he needed for his performance, and lots more. Enjoy!

 
 

DAY TWO:

Just imagining Taehyung playing the saxophone on one of these balconies…

Have you ever been to New Orleans? I used to live there—for about ten years—and friends and acquaintances would always ask me for recommendations and advice when they were coming to visit. (Stick with me, it’s relevant, I promise.) New Orleans is a culture that likes its cocktails, and the French Quarter is well known for its 24/7 party atmosphere. The bars don’t close, and when you leave to go to the next one, you can take your drink with you. So my one piece of advice I always give to anyone traveling to NOLA, looking to have a good time? 

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Something tells us Taehyung would also fit right in at a Bourbon Street party. (PTD Concert in Las Vegas)

Try to drink too much at once, you’ll end up passed out on Bourbon Street at 6:30pm, which is not a good look. This is the message of “Paradise” as well. (Excluding the drinking part.) Life itself is a marathon, not a sprint—if we’re lucky, we’re in it for a long while. When you’re running a marathon you need to conserve energy or you’ll burn out quickly. The song uses this metaphor for tackling life and all of its milestones—reaching goals, finding answers and happiness for yourself, etc. 

SUGA, when talking about “Paradise” during their ‘Tear’ press conference, said it was their “social phenomenon” song for that album. A lot of BTS’ discography deals with the topic of having dreams, but something they’ve been equally vocal about (SUGA in particular) is that it’s also okay to not have a dream, whether it’s temporary or forever.

It’s okay not to have a dream
as long as there are moments to briefly feel happiness
It’s okay to pause
We don’t run now without knowing the purpose
It’s okay not to have a dream
Every breath you exhale is already in the paradise

SUGA in LYS: Tear photoshoot

“Paradise”, whatever that means to us as individuals, is the ultimate goal. Others will be reaching for the same goal, but we must focus on our journey, not theirs. Living in the moment, and finding happiness in the journey is what matters most, and comparison is the thief of joy. The song itself even sounds laid-back and carefree, reminiscent of 90’s R&B. The beat keeps us moving, and the vocals dip along around it, encouraging us to “live in the moment”. It’s okay to take our time, to pause, to reevaluate… and most importantly, to appreciate everything as we go. 

Remember Bobby McFerrin? “Don’t worry… be happy…”

"Paradise" Unofficial M/V

 

Laughing during an interview with “The Morning Mess” | Live 101.5 Phoenix

 
 

12 Minutes of Love BTS Ask Anything Chat

Jung Kook Eats & Talks Japanese Fanmeet: VLIVE 04/18/20

 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: Tell us about a “marathon, not a sprint” goal you have for yourself.

 
 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 

DAY THREE:

RM in LYS: Tear photoshoot

It’s important to enjoy our journey, but that doesn’t mean discounting that it will sometimes be difficult. We might have to go through a “Love Maze” before we reach the “Paradise” of the “Magic Shop”. (See what I did there? Of course you did, I just smacked you in the face with it.)

“Love Maze” was written by RM, and he did so using one of his favorite metaphors, that of being lost in a maze. This time it’s specifically that love itself is a maze, and while we might find ourselves lost in it from time to time, the destination always remains the same. We’re all always doing our best to get to happiness. The lyrics of the song tell us to not go through the maze alone. Find someone to love and never let go of their hand. The first and obvious connotation is romantic, but as with other BTS songs, the partner in love here can represent so many different types of relationships. Friends or family as well as lovers—whoever we choose to take this journey with.

Let them be them
Let us be us
Love is a maze damn
But you is amaze yeah
Take my (ay ay) hand Don’t let go of my hand

We see here the same message we got in “Paradise”—comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing relationships in your life to those you see on TV or on social media.  We don’t always get to see the “maze” from others, just their final destination. By focusing on the people in our lives who are going through the maze with us, we’ll learn to appreciate what we have all along.

“But you is amaze yeah…”—RM loves his wordplay, doesn’t he?

"Love Maze" Color-Coded Lyrics

 

Bangtan Bomb: Jin tries to get JK's attention

Red Carpet Interview | E! Red Carpet & Award Shows

Photographer V

 

Fun Fact

"International Pop K Sensation Sunshine Rainbow Traditional Transfer USB Hub Shrimp… we are BTS." 

One sentence has never summed up an entire season of a show so effortlessly before… and may never again. Bon Voyage Season 2 is something that has to be seen to be believed. If you thought BTS got up to some crazy shenanigans in the first season of their travel show, well… they did. But the shenanigans are MORE extra this time! 

They traveled to Hawaii for this season, with a theme of “Let’s Eat, Have Fun, and Play”, that centered around friendship. Armed with the loudest Hawaiian shirts (JK wore his for DAYS) and most ridiculous hats their staff could find, BTS spent days running around first the Big Island, then Oahu while on break between the American and Asian legs of their WINGS tour.

There are literally SO many amazing moments in BV2 it’s hard to pick some to spotlight. Certainly the above-mentioned name change for the group is top tier, but we also can’t forget the members also introducing themselves with alter ego names. Jung Kook rehashes one of the longest-running jokes in all of Boralore when he calls himself “Justin Seagull” and if you don’t laugh out loud when Namjoon follows that up, completely deadpan, by calling himself “Pornesian Parrapio”, then… you should get your sense of humor looked at.

There’s ATV riding and surfing, but some of the best moments happen when they’re just walking around. Who can forget some person just randomly shouting “K-POP!” at Jimin and Jung Kook as they passed by them? Or Yoongi very sweetly saying “Aloha!” to strangers as Taehyung carried him piggy-back style through the streets of Hawaii at night? (We found out later on Tae’s episode of Suchwita that Yoongi still has the friendship necklace that Taehyung got for him while there, but that Tae doesn’t have his anymore. Yoongi looked ever so slightly salty about that…) Jin also has the time of his life just randomly striking up conversation with people he passed while out on a hike.

Perhaps the best moment though comes at the end of the trip, when the members read aloud letters they wrote for each other over the days they’d spent in Hawaii. They were all truly touching, and a lot of tears were shed (mostly by us… Taehyung’s letter to Jimin is what every friendship should look like), all while sailing on a boat with the beautiful Pacific Ocean behind them.

We don’t have any free resources for BV2, but it is available for purchase on Weverse, so we’ve provided you with the necessary link here to do so. Enjoy!  

 

DAY FOUR:

“Magic Shop” is about finding love and acceptance in ourselves, with the understanding that some sort of equivalent exchange must take place in order for that to happen. We can’t move on while we still have baggage weighing us down. In other words, we have to let go of the ‘bad’ to get to the ‘good’. The song is based on the book Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James Doty. (For more information, see today’s Fun Fact.)

 

BTS (방탄소년단) - 5th Muster 'MAGIC SHOP' (Teaser Image)

 

“Magic Shop” is the second official fan song released by BTS, after “2!3!” from 2016. Jung Kook actually co-wrote and co-produced the track after encouragement from his fellow members and the rest of the production team. It’s amazing to know this, considering how much JK talks about his struggles with songwriting. But during the press conference for Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' I referenced in Day One’s Fun Fact, he said that because it was a song for the fans, writing it didn’t feel like work for him. He took his inspiration from a source he often looks to for guidance: their leader. Jung Kook said:

Jung Kook giving you a purple heart at the 5th Muster Magic Shop Fan Meeting in Chiba, Japan

During our concert, RM said to the fans: “You found us and acknowledged us, and that makes you capable of anything.” This song is based on those words.

BTS always acknowledges everything that ARMY has done for them. While they are amazingly talented, they would not have accomplished as much as they have if they did not have the strength of the fans propelling them forward. When they fell down, especially in the early days of their career, ARMY picked them back up, dusted them off, and dressed their wounds. BTS wants to return the favor, but more importantly, they want us to realize we can do it for ourselves too. They want us to love ourselves the same way that we love them. In “Magic Shop”, the lyrics spell it out very simply.

You gave me the best of me
So you give you the best of you…                                            

Jung Kook said that it’s a song that is supposed to speak to us when we are tired and frustrated. When we can’t cope with whatever is going on in our lives. It’s meant to be a reminder that we are capable of great things. And the members of BTS know this to be true, because we lifted them up from obscurity and made them the group they are today. 

When you think about it like that, suddenly it doesn’t feel quite so hard to open that door to the “Magic Shop” and step inside, does it?

"Magic Shop" Performance 5th Muster in Japan

 

"Magic Shop" LYS Tour at Tokyo Dome

Camera Director V & Jung Kook

Fun Fact:

At first glance, “Magic Shop” seems like it might be just a cute name for a fan song, right? Turns out, there’s a lot more too it than you might have thought…

The song is actually based on a book written by James Doty, a world-renowned American neurosurgeon. The book is called Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart (I know, it’s a mouthful).

The book is one part memoir, one part inspiration, and one part science and practical instruction. Doty grew up poor in California, in a less-than-ideal family situation. He never thought he’d amount to anything, until his life changed after walking into a magic shop at the age of twelve. The book details how what happened to him there helped him learn to understand the relationship between the brain and the heart, and it also shows us how we can all utilize that relationship to fundamentally change our lives.

Below you’ll find more information on the book and how to order it, and also more information on Doty himself. Enjoy!

Bangtan Bomb: j-hope's mission to annoy Jung Kook

 
 

DAY FIVE:

I have a confession to make… Despite the very convincing pep talk I gave all of us regarding this song, I very rarely listen to “Magic Shop”. It’s not on any of my playlists. 

I know, I know. I just heard your collective *GASP*. Hear me out.

I rarely listen to “Magic Shop” because it turns me into an emotional wreck. I physically CAN’T hear it without crying. And I can’t put myself in a situation where I’m driving, it comes on in the car, and suddenly I have to pull over because I’m sobbing so hard I can’t see the road in front of me. Nor do I want to have an emotional breakdown in the middle of the produce section in the grocery store because Jung Kook is singing “So, show me…” in my earbuds. But BTS has many emotionally powerful songs. So what is it about this one in particular that affects me so deeply? 

 
 

It’s bold of BTS to have “The Truth Untold” and “Magic Shop” on the same album, because one says “You know that I can’t / Show you ME” and the other demands “So, show me…”. The two seem diametrically opposed. But again, I think Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' is all about the process. It’s all the pieces of the journey. There’s a reason this album is the one in the middle of the trilogy. It’s the messy feelings we all have to deal with after the excitement of beginning, and before the satisfaction of reaching our resolution.

I know that you’re hesitating because, even if you speak your true heart,

it all comes back as scars

I won’t say obvious things like ‘cheer up,’

but rather I’ll share with you my story

They’re saying, “Let’s do this together.” Which, BTS says that to ARMY all the time. But here… here, they’re asking us to really look at ourselves. They know it’s hard, and that it will hurt, so instead of offering empty platitudes, they offer to lead the way and do the hard work with us.

On a day you hate being yourself, on a day you want to disappear forever,

let’s build a door in your mind

Once you open the door and enter, this place will wait for you

It’s okay to believe Magic Shop that will comfort you  

When we feel like we have nothing else, when THEY feel like they have nothing else… BTS and ARMY will always have each other. Our symbols are a shield, but they are also a door. A door that’s meant to be opened, so that everyone can be welcomed inside. And once we’re there, that’s when we can find the strength to go from “You know that I can’t show you ME” to “I’ll show you!”

Let’s all walk through the door together, friends. Borahae.

 

"Magic Shop" Live from the 5th Muster (Stage Mix)

 

BTS NEWS in LA (Behind Mission)

 
 

Bangtan Bomb: Photographer Jin

 

This or That | Radio Disney Music Awards

 
 
 

Bangtan Bubble: Have you reached your “I’ll show you!” moment yet? Why or Why not?

 

Let us know your answer in the comments below or on social media (include #BangtanBubble)!

 
 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

This week was very tough for me to write. Apologies if some of it was tough to read. Examining what we don’t like about ourselves with the objective of healing and reaching love and acceptance is much harder than just criticizing ourselves… why is that? I think this is the crux of the message behind the Love Yourself series. BTS always reminds us to keep questioning, to keep searching. The journey is long.

And it continues next week—with more of my favorite songs! We’ll learn that sometimes you have to almost break something in order to realize how precious it is. Please keep all hands and feet inside until the ride comes to complete stop, this rollercoaster is still going at full speed!

 
 
 

Side Quest

You know the drill by now, folks. It’s more Run BTS! Season Two.

This week we’ve got possibly one of the greatest moment on Run BTS! of all time and it’s from Episode 51 (pictured below) when they all go on the Pirate Ship ride and have to answer questions while the ride is in motion.

When it’s their turn, Yoongi and Hobi are wearing plushie bear hats and fighting for their lives while Namjoon screams questions at them from across the boat. Neither one of them could care less about what the green fruit is Namjoon is demanding they name… they’re just screaming and wishing it would end. Meanwhile, Taehyung and Jung Kook (who are voluntarily on the ride again) are throwing their hands in the air and having the time of their lives. When the ride does come to a stop, Hobi is clinging pitifully to the side of the ship with just two fingers as he famously “logs out” of his application.

A masterpiece.

RUN BTS! - Ep. 51 (The Pirate Ship Ride!)

 
 

RUN BTS! - Ep. 49

 
 
 

CREDITS:

YouTube/Web

HYBE LABELS, BANGTANTV, Bangtan Subs, AFOBANGFO⁷, Alsvior Kook, ARMY ROOM, Ask Anything Chat, Audacy, baby mochi, beloved galaxy, BTS Live Archive, btsphotobook, ctc0128, DICON, E! Insider, Enjoy BTS more, friz프리즈, International, pop sensation sunshine rainbow traditional transfer USB hub shrimp BTS, Jaeguchi, KpopAddictBTS, LimitNoMore, LIVE 101.5 Phoenix, mochimin박니콜 지민, Muscular Bunny, Radio Disney, Radiodotcom, SAWOK_2MIN, Taesoo, theultimatedodo, Toony Tan, Yoonji Lab, Zach Sang Show 바카라 고딩TV15; Web: wikipedia.org, penguinrandomhouse.com

ARMY Project 529 Volunteers

Research Team: Angel (TikTok: Lilangel2828), Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day), Merry (TikTok: merryj67), Sam T (TikTok: samt_26), Shelley (TikTok: shels167), Trudy (TikTok: theeducationmommy), Viv (TikTok: VivEliz); Video Team: Leslie Day (TikTok: Leslie Day); Editing Team: Kendra (Discord: Mudskipper); Website Team: Colette (TikTok: voicesinmyhead2)

 
 

Join us on TikTok every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's blog and current BTS events/releases. It’s hosted by the AP529 Admin Team on Stefne’s channel (@StefARMYProject529). If you can't watch live and want to watch later, Lives will be recorded and posted to our YouTube (@ARMY Project 529).

Quince
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