As we continue our look at You Never Walk Alone, BTS was undergoing some tough times in 2017. Allegations of chart manipulation (ultimately proven false) momentarily threatened their credibility. The song “Not Today”, all about not giving up in the face of adversity, seemed perfectly timed. BTS was determined to work harder and to leave their mark on the world, and it wasn’t just ARMY who was noticing.

As ARMY Project 529 progressed week by week, we realized that Baby ARMY might hear more seasoned ARMY use phrases or acronyms referring to a very specific time/place/look for BTS, and perhaps be confused. We covered seven quintessential looks for Part 1, and now we’re back for more. This is Part 2 of a guided tour of Bangtan's most iconic looks!

With the release of the special repackage of WINGS, entitled You Never Walk Alone, BTS reminded us that while we may have just undertaken a journey of self-reflection, we didn’t do it alone. Songs like “Spring Day” and “A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone” give us a glimpse of the softer, more supportive side of BTS. The journey to find our “wings” may have felt lonely at times, but they were with us the whole time.

We continue exploring the connections between the novel Demian and BTS's WINGS album. In Part II, we delve into recurring themes like regret, dreams, duality, and self-discovery. We also discuss the symbolism in both the Demian and the WINGS album, including references to chocolate, absinthe, and Dante’s Beatrice.

When we began our exploration of WINGS, we found ourselves in a very dark place of self-examination—surrounded by temptation, and feeling very lost. This has been a journey of discovery, allowing us to acknowledge the duality within ourselves that is necessary for growth and change. And now here we are—our last week with this amazing album.

I’m writing this blog post while feeling deprived of quality time with the one and only Jeon Jung Kook. I got so used to spending time with him on his live streams, but now that he is away, a happy part of my life seems to be missing. Luckily, we can go back and watch his recordings anytime we want until Jung Kook returns to us in June of 2025.

As we continue exploring the landmark album WINGS, this week features more incredible music that focuses on exploring the duality of self, and looking inward to find what’s important for learning and growth. We’ll also touch on some absolutely legendary moments in BTS history, such as moments from backstage and VLives that are responsible for countless memes and inside jokes.

Kim Taehyung, the man behind the stage name "V," is a force to be reckoned with. Born on December 30, 1995 (the same year as his fellow 95 liner, Jimin), in Daegu, South Korea (the same hometown as Suga), V's journey to stardom began with a deep-seated passion for music and performance, and although he attended the try-out to support a friend, it was Tae who was pulled from the crowd and asked to audition. And whoever spotted him - the world would like to thank you.

In BTS's album WINGS, there are many references to the book Demian: The Story of Boyhood. This blog post explores the connection between the two. The book is about a boy named Sinclair who loses his childhood innocence and goes on a journey of self-discovery. The album WINGS is full of symbolism that reflects these themes, such as good vs. evil, temptation, and sin.