In this post, I want to send a big shout-out to doolsetbangtan and bangtansubs as my go-to ARMY-translators whom I mostly rely on for lyrics and content in English translation. Without Korean language sufficiency, I never take translation for granted. Also, ARMY-translators are usually generous in giving us linguistic context, including the pun, inside jokes, and sociocultural context. I cannot access BTS’s old contents at the fullest without them. Now, the company has hired in-house translators (or perhaps sub-contracting, idk), and I hope they get enough pay. So, ARMY-translators, thank you so much!
Back then I thought this was really a huge house. But my ambition has grown too big. A new house that used to look so big now feels so small. […] It feels like yesterday, but yes, we have grown up […] Fight right here we would hit each other a few times. Maybe that made us develop love and hate toward this place […] I’m about to dream something that is a level higher than just being an idol. […] Let’s move. Now to a higher place.
BTS - Moving On (tr. doolsetbangtan)
DJ Suga opened the 2nd anniversary BTS Kkul FM 06.13 with a narrative of entering a new level. The track “Second Grade” was played on the background. Reading the script, Yoongi’s voice blended with the string ambiance of the song’s intro: “Little kids, who used to sing about social oppression and prejudices, get hurt from love and learn how to love. We grew up a lot, don’t you think?” They grew up; they changed. On April 29, 2015, BTS released The Most Beautiful Moment in Life (HYYH), Pt. 1, stepping outside from their School Trilogy but also continuing the narration. “What hasn’t changed is that we are still telling our stories.” The video’s intro captures BTS second arc after their debut in 2013.
At a glance, the setting of 2015 FESTA was not so different from the previous year: still with the same small table and narrow space of sitting in reversed U with Yoongi in the middle. But, as DJ Suga said, ARMY had grown bigger—three times bigger. What changed too, BTS members also dreamed bigger and laughed harder. Jin and Jungkook became more chatty. (I know during his debut, Jin had to be in a concept of cool handsome or something). It’s getting more like an extended skit we usually listen on their EPs and full albums. Their conversation had become more fluid and natural. The changing vocal switch for “I Need You” track is beyond hilarious: JK is truly a golden maknae and rapline is damn funny and loud. They’re indeed boys with fun.
As I re-watched their conversation about their new house and living with roommates, I was wondering: how does it feel to know someone so well that you can recognize their presence and the sound of their breathing? It feels so ordinary, living as it is with some annoyance and compromise, being honest about what they prefers and what they don’t like. Namjoon’s snoring, Hobi’s self-pet during sleep, Jungkook’s difficulty to wake up, Taehyung being a picky eater.
The ways they shared about (and spilled) each other’s daily life and habit reminds me of my life with my partner now. We’d lived together for more than four years now, and I can recognize his footstep in the hall. Living together with other people, especially with more than one person, could be very difficult. We have to be aware of others’ presence and movement. We have to be considerate with them but at the some time knowing the boundaries, that we also need to be comfortable. After all, it’s our house together. This 2015 FESTA talk show to me how BTS talk about and to each other in a very open and honest attitude. They don’t hide problems among themselves; they talk about it because they know that living together requires communication and honesty.
Their slice-of-life stories of living together and moving to a bigger house also appear on their track “Moving On.” I like to listen to this song while recalling their conversation in 2015 FESTA radio. Romantic sentiments of packing boxes and moving out from the old house to the new are entangled with the joy and annoyance of living in the new house. I love this juxtaposition because it’s relatable and realistic, and at the same time, meaningful. At that time, they started to get their awards. They gradually moved to a higher place where they could dream bigger but also made grounded promise to make happy memories with each other and ARMY.
Jin wished for more happy memories with BTS, and ARMY. Namjoon acknowledged their work hard and they will still run together, but now they can also take a deep breath. Hobi felt the growing of ARMY, as they grew up together with BTS. Taehyung mentioned about their busy schedule and how it’s good for them, as they want to make ARMY happy. Jungkook said how ARMY has given him so much energy and he wanted to grow up more and go further. Jimin praised ARMY, that we did better than them, that ARMY’s support has made and will make BTS. Yoongi wished for 20 years … 200 years, to stay together.
And so they moved higher.
