At this point, I’m sure everyone has heard of BTS — the seven-member Korean boy group that has dominated the world with their musical talent and charm. BTS (also known as Beyond the Scene) has been breaking barriers all year.
In May, they attended the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and the won Top Social Artist. They were the first K-pop group to appear on an American music awards ceremony while also being nominated for an award. This award was not easily attained since they were up against Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, two of the most well known artists in America.
BTS made history again by debuting at the 2017 American Music Awards, performing their lead single “DNA” from their hit album Love Yourself:承 Her. Being the first K-pop group to perform at the AMAs, they became worldwide influences. Not only that, but they landed major interviews where they were able to perform and talk about their music. They stared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with James Cordon and ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
With all this exposure, BTS was able to give a voice to an underrepresented community here in the states but also talk about important issues faced by young people around the world. Though many interviews do not mention this, BTS recently started a campaign with UNICEF on an anti-violence campaign. The “Love Myself” campaign is aimed at helping children and teenagers lead a safe and happy life without violence. They even pledged a portion of the album sales income toward the campaign.
“I think what makes this album really special is that it’s a turning point for us. It has a new concept: to love yourself, and I think fans are really reacting to it. They really think about how they could love themselves.” – RM (leader of BTS)
But this isn’t BTS’s first time shedding light on harsh topics. Since their debut in 2013, they’ve made evident the hardships that young people go through, but no ones talks about — ranging from the pressures of staying in school and chronic depression to suicidal thoughts and social anxiety.
All seven members have faced obstacles to get to where they are today and use the platform they have to promote issues that need need to be discussed. Each member has a distinct voice and identity that resonates with fans on a deeper level. No matter what language you speak, you can understand the raw emotion behind every song they produce.
It’s nice to see celebrities use their platforms for issues bigger than themselves, and BTS has done just that.
