Come Back To Me: Namjoon’s Journey of Self-Awareness and Acceptance
Today, RM pre-release a track titled “Come Back To Me” from his most awaited second solo album “Right Place, Wrong Person”.
RM first teased this song during Suga’s D-day concert in Seoul where he guested. The track has an indie pop vibe that grows with you through time. And the roster of actors is noteworthy.
But one question lingers with me, where is Kim Minha?
Kim Minha, was announced alongside Namjoon for the track’s promotional posters which led me to think her screen time might have been longer. Little did I know, Minha’s role was to give meaning to Namjoon’s existence.
Minha and Namjoon are one.
The music video journeys around the places Namjoon felt weren’t for him — which are all under a maze-like structure. Beginning from a crowded place where he is seen as uneasy, to a room where he seems lost and with a family he seems confused. Namjoon's expressions are those of those when we feel we don’t belong to a certain place — confusion, uneasiness, and lost.
Running through the maze, he cannot seem to open one door, a door that might symbolize his self-awareness and acceptance. Until he chance upon Minha, his other self. As you may notice in a few parts of the music video, Minha was running through the maze looking for Namjoon. Until it transitions that Namjoon becomes her.
Their meeting eventually lightens up Namjoon (note that they are wearing the same fabric of clothes), and their little catch-up can be seen as self-awareness. Minha allowing Namjoon to open the door can signify self-acceptance with a nod of assurance. Minha’s appearance is short because she might be portraying the other side of Namjoon.
After meeting himself through Minha, every place he was in, his expression changed. If we are to put the album title in the picture, Right Place, Wrong Person — you will be the wrong person in every place there is without knowing yourself first. By trying to fit in, we lose sight of who we are because we become preoccupied with maintaining the standards set by others.
I remember a quote from Matthew Hussey “The right person should be right & ready”. Namjoon wasn’t ready for the things around him because he probably wasn’t self-aware and hadn’t accepted who he was which ultimately affected the people around making him the wrong person. But when he did, he became the right person in every place there is. His expression of confusion, being lost and uneasy faded away with the knowledge of himself — a literal application of seeing himself through Minha’s character.
Come Back To Me seemed to be very fitting to set the mood for his upcoming album which is a basket of emotions in regards to one’s journey to self-discovery. This also is a great introduction to Namjoon’s exploration of the alternative genre and indie pop songs.
Right Place, Wrong Person out on May 24, 2024
Pre-save: https://rm.lnk.to/rightplacewrongperson
