Comfort in the New Normal
Consolation in BTS’ newest MV, Life Goes On
Honesty has always been a significant part of BTS’ character throughout their career. Through the many and varied ways in which the members communicate with their fanbase, their honesty regarding their personal struggles have become one of the most endearing traits that have connected them with their fans around the world. Notably in Young Forever (2016), the members directly express the synergy they feel onstage with ARMY around them, and Mikrokosmos (2019) reveals what being together with ARMY feels like, creating a dynamic universe lit with the glow of ARMY Bombs. If Young Forever describes their fear of empty stadiums and Mikrokosmos the deepening relationship that the band has developed with ARMY, their new MV, Life Goes On, is a testament to how BTS have come to terms with the new normal brought about by the onset of the global pandemic.
BTS have never taken for granted the adulations and love they received from the lives of the people that they have changed. They have always been vocal about their fear of the heights that they’ve climbed, acknowledging that the fall itself could be potentially devastating. But with the global pandemic, they have been forced to cancel their world tours, and their passion for the stage has been kept on hold.
In spite of this, Life Goes On provides us with glimpses into their ability to adapt to situations. With their Map of the Soul: 7 world tour being cancelled, the members have had two incredibly successful online concerts. Suga released another highly acclaimed mixtape, D-2, under his solo persona, Agust D. The members took part in the refreshing and candid In The Soop TV series. BTS successfully launched the record breaking single Dynamite, and also released their first album where they took part in every step of the production process.
More than anything, the band has succeeded in getting their point across: that despite everything, life goes on. The message shared by the members offering consolation and encouragement to everyone affected by worldwide changes following the pandemic, reaches out through the lyrics and story-telling in their new MV.
The depictions of once-bustling streets replaced with empty driveways and next-to-no traffic; feelings of lethargy as we lounge around in pyjamas, surrounded by the same four walls and staring out of the window longingly into the open air — these are all experiences that are currently being shared worldwide. However, instead of being overwhelmed by this massive change in life, the release of the new MV is in itself a message to make the most out of every situation.
If one compares the members’ fear of empty stadiums in Young Forever, the ending scene that takes place in an empty stadium with the members staring back at us is all the more symbolic, showing exactly how far they have come to terms with their past fears and self-doubts. ARMY who had bought tickets and had prepared to attend their concerts know that those empty seats in the background are theirs; that those lights are meant to shine on them as well. The microcosmic world has changed: it is no longer BTS and ARMY together, sharing one space in the universe for a brief moment in time, but instead a world that has transcended across screens, accessible by all.
This is the new normal.
The solidarity that the MV displays through story-telling offers consolation to countless fans around the world who have been battling with many unforeseen obstacles brought about by the pandemic. True to what the band had talked about during their YouTube broadcast, Life Goes On reads like a cherishable love letter that offers comfort in times of sorrow; that gently nudges the recipient towards healing; to go on with life and look forward to a future where we will eventually find a semblance of new normalcy once again.
