An IP that I’ve been super into for nearly 3 years now is BTS, a South Korean k-pop group made up of 7 members, under the a company BigHit Entertainment. They are known mainly for their music, but of course also have an abundance of on-brand merchandise. I think what makes them so compelling is their interaction with their audience, as well as the positive messages that they spread to the world. When they first started off they had a very hip-hop style, with music that focused a lot on the rise of the underdog, and chasing their dreams. Despite still being a rookie group, their songs were quite powerful and refreshing, as they differed from the classic love songs that were, and generally still are, the most popular. Right from the start they would keep logs of their progress and make videos just talking to their fanbase. I think their focus on connecting to their fans is largely what created the kind of unbelievable bond that they have with their ARMYs (the title of their fanbase, which I am proudly a part of). As they continued to grow in popularity, they maintained and even expanded their outreach.
BTS was the first band/musical artist I ever experienced genuine emotional attachment to, likely because of how consistently they updated their status, and how genuine their interactions with each other and their audience were. I think putting your real self out there is incredibly significant nowadays, as people tend to look up to celebrities for comfort and encouragement. If they have something or someone successful to relate to, I think that can really help people. And with that I come to more present day BTS, who have now released a 4 part album focused entirely on the idea of loving yourself and embracing your individuality. I think their message has really touched many lives, and through their music, people can hear the things that they may have needed to hear the most.
I find this all incredibly fascinating, how in our new age of social media, we take so much comfort from people who we don’t know at all. It feels like we do know them, though, through the constant interaction taking place where we get to keep up with the lives of these 7 men and their inspirational story. I think another aspect that makes them so captivating (at least it definitely captivates me) is their rags to riches storyline. They show people that you can come from nothing, but if you have a true passion and put in the hard work, you can make any dream come true. Millions of people have watched them grow and improve over the years, not only in their performance, but in their character. Seeing them put everything they’ve got into bettering themselves and achieving their dreams has undoubtedly motivated me to want to do great things with my life.
The final thing that’s incredibly compelling about BTS, and perhaps the most obvious, is their performances themselves. Whether it be a music video or a live stage, they know how to put on quite a show. Not only are their songs catchy and their vocals powerful, but what sets them apart the most is most likely their dancing. The group dances create an incredibly captivating aesthetic that also really showcases their skills. I think this combination of talents being shown off at once are also a big reason for their success, and a way that they catch people’s interest. Altogether through their passion, hard work, communication, and unrelenting dedication, they are an undeniably compelling group of artists.
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