Welcome to The ARMY Theorist Corner, where ARMY - fans of Korean supergroup BTS - can come to learn, explore, and have fun with the amazing discography and wonderful work of the best band in the world!
What you can expect: Videos analyzing BTS's lyrics, music videos, inspiration, themes, and stories.
About me: I'm Rachel, I've been a BTS fan since early 2020, and I absolutely love theorizing and analyzing everything BTS's music videos & songs have to offer. Every song, album, and MV has a story to tell, and I want to dive deep into these amazing creative works by shedding new light on some of the band's biggest hits and most impactful stories.
I sincerely hope that ARMYs of all kinds can use these videos as great jumping off points for their own analysis and thought-provoking discussions. Whether you've been a fan of BTS from the beginning or are brand new, there is so much to learn and love about their songs, so let's explore it all together!
I now understand how talented and caring J hope personality truly is. Army loves him so much more for his spiritual, emotional, and mindful encouragement. ❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing this video with us, J-hope is coming back today and soon we’ll have ALL 7 of them back together! I’m so excited and happy. I still can’t believe it that J-hope is coming back, time really flies by so quickly!😂 This was a great video, in Welcoming J-hope back home today.💜I hope you have a wonderful day or night.
Thank you so much! As always, I'm delighted that you enjoyed the video. 😊💜 Its so great to celebrate both J-Hope and the concept of hope today - it feels very fitting. Thanks again!
I'm far from the first person to cover this topic - see the video's description for a great video that covered many of these literary references back when Hope World was first released! Also, a correction: throughout the video, I refer to Jules Verne's adventure novel as "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea". That is actually the name of the film adaptation; the novel is called "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas" - plural rather than singular. I apologize for the slip up!
This was excellent. I’m baby Army (August 2022) and that accepted main interpretation of the song being a call out to k-pop fandom culture has always confused me because that’s not at all how I heard the song. I have always seen it through a lens of a consensual playful seduction in which both parties, ARMY and BTS, are engaged. The dimensions of what is at the end of that seduction really fits with your ideas that BTS leads ARMY to a better, happier place and also with the idea that only ARMY is able to hear the music that leads them to follow BTS. It’s such a layered song. To me the music is also fascinating: a song composed to pull you in with that steady bass and the siren-like voices of the vocal line. Thank you for this great video, I just subscribed to your channel!
bts defends and protects army more than themselves. they always risk the hate that haters are very ready anytime to dish out, but their music is made for army and themselves, not for those who refuse to listen to their message. which is why army will defend and protect bts even more.
I completely agree! We protect and love them because they are so worthy of that love and protection. Thank you for watching and for your great comment. 💜
Hi, like you, I became an ARMY early 2020 & just discovered your channel through a post in our Texas ARMY group; thank you so much for delving into aspects of BTS..whether songs analyses or any other areas of interest concerning the much beloved 7. Now, I'm hooked; your in depth take on their songs serve to give a clearer understanding of what messages their lyrics mean to deliver to not only the youth in particular, but to the whole world. May you never tire in your endeavor...💜🌸💜
Aww, thank you so much - and a big thank you to whoever shared my channel in your group as well, that's very flattering! 😊 I'm so glad you're enjoying my analysis so far and hope that you continue to do so. 💜
In fairness, I do think that's a part of it. 😂 But like I said, I do love analyzing and overanalyzing, so you know I had to dig even deeper, LOL. Thanks for watching!
Tamar Herman is the writer who in 2018 said BlackPink was a breath of fresh air Kpop needs and that BTS are on their way out. She also denigrated them and ARMY when she guested on a RU-vid channel. She's notorious in ARMY circles and we have canceled her. She wrote a book on BTS around the pandemic time that no one bought. I haven't heard her name in awhile. I hope she's moved on from Kpop, or grown up at least.
Aha, that's very interesting. I'd actually never heard of Tamar Herman or her articles before I started researching for this video, and I admit I was a little worried I might be misrepresenting her with my comments. But since that clearly is/was her usual style, I don't feel off base in how I describe her writing, LOL. Thank you for adding that context for me!
@@TheARMYTheoristCorner oh interesting! I thought you probably knew but were being diplomatic, which would have been fair. Your instincts were right on, and that’s very impressive!
Like you I tend to deeply analyze the lyrics. I well remember the first time I heard this song. It hit me like a lightening bolt. I thought WHOA what IS this? Why this almost physical reaction? So at the time I looked at the lyrics deeply and it didn't quite satisfy me as it was not the feeling I was getting from the song. So I accepted the imagery and feelings as equal to the lyrics. I take what RM said as the guide. IT IS A GIFT TO US... a GIFT would not be something to address toxic fandom culture. A GIFT IS PERSONAL. LIFE is hard sometimes. And they are glad they can give us some joy. And it's OK to give into that as long as we use it to motivate us. The music can make us happy.... It can make us feel a little naughty. That's ok too. It's OUR gift from BTS... to take out whenever we need it and give ourselves over to it. Sometimes we are happy and jump around. Sometimes it is overwhelming love. Sometimes it helps us to cry and tells us that it's ok. Dangerous isn't always bad. People are attracted to it. It's only how you respond. So take their gift and use it as you see fit. We make them happy.... they make us happy... but it's not the entire story now is it? That's the part that we have trouble with making others understand who can't hear the flute. We are in each others hearts.... for good times and bad times. It speaks deeper than the lyrics.
13:58 is very much on point. WHY do some of us hear the flute/BTS... and others mock us for it as they do not hear it at all. I'm a US BTS ARMY since 2014. They found me... spoke to me... at a time of great loss when my husband died much too young. It was long before most in America had any idea of who BTS was. I stumbled upon them on RU-vid. The music gave me a spark of joy back that grew. But those around me treated me as if I had kind of lost it. That hurt. It's just that they couldn't hear the same thing. I couldn't understand WHY they couldn't hear it. So eventually I just didn't share my interest in BTS with those around me anymore. I only shared with other ARMYs online. This continued until the guys began to enter the military and I was a bit anxious. I knew they were coming back but I worried how I, myself was going to cope without my "BTS happy pill". So I started sharing again. I have to say.... it's not much better. They still don't get it but at least my children who are adults now are understanding and sweet about it and even gift me with BTS items at times. Now more than 10 years later I think I understand it a bit better. MOST ARMYs will tell you that BTS came to them when it was needed. That is when we could hear them. Others may like the music or enjoy the beat... but if you are real ARMY it's because they came into your heart when needed.... and when they needed us.
Wow, this is an incredible comment! Both this and the other comment you left on the video are so insightful and I loved reading your words, as well as hearing your own personal experience with BTS. It's always heartbreaking to me to hear how other ARMYs are mocked for liking BTS, even though I think many of us can relate to that - as you say, I'm still mocked by people for it to this very day. But you're right, they came to me when I needed them and helped me see myself as someone with value, despite what the world often tries to tell me. Thank you so much for your thought-provoking analysis! Sending you very good thoughts.💜💜
This is a really good analysis, and I agree with your opinion. Thank you for creating this video and making me think deeply about the song, the Pied Piper legend (and the various interpretations), and, of course, the fandom.
Yeah. No one can tell me Butter isn’t dirty lol. Who puts props like butter on a chair next to a stove and a bush 😁💜💜💜 Jk saying it’s “no one’s business how we left and right” in the tunnel in mv standing next to you. Well in butter “side step left right to my beat” how you going to left right if not at the same time?? It’s not left THEN right. For Pied piper….it’s sexy and so is the beat. Stop trying to purify them lol. They are adults, I don’t want kittens and rainbows all the time.
I appreciate your analysis and am glad you took the time to watch my video, but unfortunately we are definitely in disagreement and my videos are probably not going to be your cup of tea. But thanks for giving me a chance!
Thank you for this great analysis. I have always loved this song but been somewhat troubled and confused about why they would express Army life in such a derogatory way. I had tears in my eyes hearing your explanation. I do believe that BTS is more dangerous than anyone imagined because they are actually freeing fans from the many false imprisonments of this world. Nothing can be more revolutionary and important than that.
My thoughts exactly. I honestly found that Billboard article really surprising for that exact reason. The writer may not have had time to really go into the story of the Pied Piper, but I think ignoring that is missing such a huge part of the song in a way that makes reviewing it almost impossible. But at least we get the chance to talk about it here. 😁 Thanks for watching!
Exactly! It always baffles me when people ask how ARMY knows what BTS is saying as if translations don't exist 😂 Of course we can feel it, but there are also ways of understanding, and that's why we follow the sound of the flute 😁 Thanks for watching and commenting!
The way I took the song was then acknowledging all the little and big things we do because of them and for them. They know we study their songs and have a lot of passion for their work. They know we appreciate their work, and they want us to keep doing what we are doing because they don't have intentions to stop.
Once again, another brilliant analysis. Thank you! I’m going to watch this a few more times to really absorb your theories, but you are inspiring me to think deeper than the common interpretations I’ve seen so far. This channel is a treasure.
I'm 45 years old (Silver Army?) and one of the things that fascinates me the most about BTS is that all their songs have a deeper meaning than it seems. They give clues about the theme of the song but nothing more, each person can make their own analysis and feel related to it. They make you feel special, that the song was written for you, that they understand exactly what you think or feel at that precise moment.
I completely agree! I love how their songs can be so specific and yet so universal at the same time, conveying their feelings and ours as fans. Truly genius. Thanks for watching and commenting! 💜
Great interpretation. I'm 65 I find the song mesmerizing and I would joke with my 16 year old granddaughter how BTS is luring all of us away . They do hold a magical power and it's beautiful and wonderful. I've always heard that 7 is a spiritual number. They are heavenly in my eyes and I enjoy them very much. Their music gets my old, creaky body up and moving, singing and making my days happier. BTS forever! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
I love how you described it here! They really do have their own unique type of magic, don't they? It makes them the perfect pipers. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 💜
Well said! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 I remember reading somewhere that each member represented an emotion, like RM said his was gratitude, but I could never refind anything about it when i tried and can't remember
Ooh, that's very interesting, I could definitely see that being a thing. I'll have to do some searching. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 💜
I totally agree with your interpretation of the song being more tongue and cheek and deeper than condemning toxic fandom. To add to your point about only the select few being able to hear the flute of the piper, it reminded me of BTS’ Whalien 52 where BTS and ARMY can hear each other cuz we communicate at 52 hertz like the whale’s song. So definitely a theme in their works …
Anything coming out of that woman's mouth is garbage, as far as I'm concerned. I myself always thought the song was a gently teasing of ARMY but also a mocking of what "outsiders" think the bond between BTS and their fans is about, if that makes any sense. Thank you for your analysis. It was very interesting and opened new ideas in my mind.
Thank you for watching and commenting! I think your comment makes perfect sense and I totally agree with you. I'm very glad you enjoyed my analysis, there's so much depth to this song!
Loving BTS has only led me to a better place in my life. It’s made me a happier person, they are something to look forward to. When my husband passed away, I lost my purpose. I was in dispair. BTS made me feel good again. Pure and simple, I love their music, their dancing, and their laughter. Even though I’ll never get to meet them, I feel like I know them, all seven of them. They live here in my house with me….💜
Thank you so much - not only for watching the video, but for sharing your story. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, but your story about loving BTS is heartwarming. They really do bring so much joy, and I hope they keep doing that for you. I'm so glad we're all following the music of our seven pipers together. 💜💜
Thank you for sharing your analysis on “Pied Piper”, your analysis is AMAZING and spot on. This song and the whole “Love Yourself” Albums has helped me throughout my life with depression and my life with Self-Love and anxiety, and this is 1 of my favorite songs because I have so many favorites, from the album. So thank you for sharing your thoughts and analysis, I can’t wait for you to continue with your analysis of their songs and albums, I’ll always be here to support.💜🫰🏽☺️🥳
Thank you so much, I always appreciate your sweet comments! 😊 And thank you for sharing your own experiences with the Love Yourself era, these stories are so valuable. Wishing you good mental health and self-love always! 💜💜
