from “boy in luv” to “boy with luv:” how BTS’ ideas of love evolve between two songs

read the thread on twitter here: https://twitter.com/tybutdisagree/status/1175064380779749376

themes of self-love and maturity have been eminent in BTS’ works since they debuted at a young age in 2013. since then, they’ve grown in front of the public’s eyes at a closer angle than most any artist prior to them, a result of social media’s capacity for constant content.

ARMY has seen the boys grow from wide-eyed youths with a somewhat naive outlook on their beloved hip-hop genre to a multi-faceted, unique musical dynamo with an outreach rivaled by few (if any) in modern pop culture. this growth is seen in vlives, bangtan bombs, and, ofc, music.

BTS are devotedly self-referential in regards to their themes and their songs, as evidenced by their latest and most popular record, this year’s “map of the soul: persona.” for instance, the record starts with “intro: persona,” which samples 2014’s “intro: skool luv affair.”

at “intro: persona’s” beginning, RM asks “who am i?” a question posed at the ending of the “love yourself” album trilogy, hand-in-hand with the group’s self-love concepts. it’s notably “the question he’s had his whole life,” as can be seen in his lyrics from previous tracks.