BTS RM and V's Military Discharge Live Footage

"Now, we return as BTS' RM and V."

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING. RM AND V ARE BACK TODAY, JIMIN AND JUNGKOOK ARE DISCHARGED TOMORROW, AND SUGA WILL BE OUT IN TWO WEEKS. ALL MY BABIES ARE COMING BACK TOGETHER!!! 

BTS Members RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook's Military Discharge

IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING. WE ARE SO CLOSE, I CAN TASTE IT.

HAPPY (BELATED) V DAY 2024! 🐯

(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
To Bangtan's social butterfly, ARMY's Winter Bear, and father of Tata, happy 29th birthday! Thank you for your childlike innocence, deep soulful voice, incredible vocal range, big boxy smile, charming naiveté, beautiful imagination, and eccentric sense of humour. Thank you for being unapologetically you, and for always showing us the purity of love and friendship, the importance of humility, and the beauty of slow dancing by yourself. Please stay safe and healthy in the military, and come back stronger than ever. 💜

(Note: V's birthday is on December 30, but out of respect for the victims and victims' families of the Jeju Air plane crash, BigHit Music halted all activity until today.)

Bing Crosby x V of BTS — "White Christmas" Official MV

I'm not into Christmas songs, but when Bing Crosby's estate decides to collaborate with V on "White Christmas" (his most famous song and the world's best-selling single), it's a pretty goddamn big deal. 

V (with Park Hyo Shin) — "Winter Ahead" MV Shoot Sketch

I can't believe this was filmed two years ago. (Although, all that footage of him in Paris and the dating rumours are adding up now. As it turns out, he was there for work.) Man, BTS and their teams really know how to play the long game. We have yet to go more than one week without new content during their military enlistments and it is utterly impressive.

V (with Park Hyo Shin) — "Winter Ahead" Official MV

Oooooof, the combination of these two vocals is just GORGEOUS. Smooth, velvety, warm, and soothing — a perfect song to make you feel cozy on a cold winter night. (Or to play in the background of a really fancy, super expensive restaurant.)

Lie with me

By the fire

We can be

Safe from the storms up high

There's a winter ahead

If it's cold and wet

We're always warm here side by side

Come what may

Change of heart

Who can say

If you look in my eyes

For the moon and the stars

Hearing strumming guitars

Well, I admit that it'd be nice

I'll be with you

Until the spring runs by

And the summer starts to burn

I'll be with you

When the autumn wind returns

Don't you want to say you'll stay?

Lie with me

By the fire

We can be

Safe from the storms up high

There's a winter ahead

Whether it's cold and wet

We're always warm in paradise

Paradise

I'll be with you

Until the spring runs by

And the summer starts to burn

And I'll be with you

Whena utumn returns

Yes, when all the seasons turn

Come what may

Change of heart

Who can say

If you look in my eyes

For the truth in my heart

From a world far apart

You'll realize where you can find

Paradise

Paradise

Paradise

Anyway, I wasn't wrong; this music video is about love gone wrong, just with a little more delusion and a sprinkle of schizophrenia… I'm actually getting "Blood Sweat & Tears" MV vibes from this but, like, after the main character gets fully lead into temptation. You know, with the creepy clay sculptures and the ink (blood?) dripping down his face and the cracked mirror? I'm sure there will be many ARMYs coming out with hundreds of theories about this video in the upcoming days...

V (feat. Park Hyo Shin) — "Winter Ahead" Poster + Official Teaser

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

Okay, the poster makes it seem like it's gonna be a sweet love song and the teaser looks like it's gonna be a horror story, so it's obviously going to be about LOVE GONE WRONG.

BANGTAN BOMB: V's 20-Second Live in Gangneung

Okay, just imagine being approached by a dude wearing a massive bear head asking you to follow him to watch a "free performance" and immediately saying no because it's pretty fucking creepy but then finding out months later that it was not just a free music show, but one performed by BTS V. THE UTTER REGRET.

(The hotteok stall granny stays winning.)

V — TYPE 1 Poster

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

Wow, the onslaught of BTS content right now is actually kind of overwhelming. I do think it's a little bit surprising that this would be released in the upcoming month given Jimin's MUSE promotions, but I'm guessing from the "Scenery" lyrics on the poster that this is going to be an official album release of V's solo songs prior to Layover. WE ARE GETTING A 224-PAGE THIRST TRAP, ARMY. (Also, I know V said on Suchwita that BTS' Chapter 2 isn't about them being shirtless, but like, this poster is not backing up his statement. Just saying.)

V — "FRI(END)S" MV Reaction #3

[Couple making out furiously on screen]

IU, bursts out laughing: "Oh, wow!"

TWS: "Whoa! Kyungmin, close your eyes!"

Hyein, looking over at other NewJeans members: "Am I allowed to see this?"

Love the dichotomy between Koreans and Westerners when it comes to reacting to displays of affection. 🙃

V — "FRI(END)S" MV Making Film

LMAO, I CAN'T WITH HIS EXPRESSION AFTER TOSSING THAT DUDE'S ENGAGEMENT RING ASIDE. 😂😭

V for W Korea: "FRI(END)S"

Okay, first of all, he sounds amazing. Secondly, he looks ridiculously handsome. Thirdly, his earring looks cool as fuck. (Cartier, you chose your ambassador well.) Fourth, I am always impressed at how much the BTS members were able to fit into their schedules before heading off to the military. 

V — "FRI(END)S" MV Reaction #2

Love that they were just casually hanging out in V's apartment to react to his MV while he's in the military. Wooga Squad is friendship goals, for real. 

V — "FRI(END)S" MV Reaction #1

"Can't believe I put a guy like this to work at a restaurant."

LOL, I love Na Young-seok PD so much.

V — "FRI(END)S" Official MV

Ah, he fell for his friend with benefits. A rookie mistake. We've all been there. But it's okay; as the MV shows, the love that really matters is for yourself. (I mean, didn't BTS spend an entire era promoting just that?) 

You're in my head

I had plans for the weekend 

But wound up with you instead 

Back here again

Got me deep in my feelings

When I should be in your bed 

You and I go back to like '09, it's like forever

And you were there my lonely nights, yeah

Keeping me together

So wouldn't it make sense if I was yours?

And you could call me your baby

But we say we're just, say we're just

Friends, just for now

Yeah, but friends don't say words that

Make friends feel like more than just

Friends, just for now 

Now, I'm over pretending

So let's put the "end" in friends

Friends are not supposed to get too close

And feel emotions that

We're feeling now, now, now

We ain't slowing down, down, down 

But once we cross the line

There's no denying you and

I can never turn around, 'round, 'round

Know we'll never be the same 

You and I go back to like '09, it's like forever

And you were there my lonely nights, yeah

Keeping me together

So wouldn't it make sense if I was yours?

And you could call me your baby

But we say we're just, say we're just

Friends, just for now

Yeah, but friends don't say words that

Make friends feel like more than just

Friends, just for now

Now, I'm over pretending

So let's put the "end" in friends 

Friends, just for now 

Yeah, but friends don't say words that

Make friends feel like more than just 

Friends, just for now

Now, I'm over pretending

So let's put the "end" in friends

And on that note, this song is actually way more playful and poppy than I expected, and I'm OBSESSED WITH IT. It's already on three of my playlists because it fits so many moods and genres. Plus, the storytelling and cinematography in this MV is just... chef's kiss, incredible. ENTIRELY WORTH THE WAIT.

V — "FRI(END)S" Official Teaser #2

Wait, WHAT? You can't just show us him casually eating noodles and then BAM, he's dead on the floor and BLEEDING FROM THE HEAD? WTF???? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?????

V — "FRI(END)S" Concept Photos #2

(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
Okay, I'm getting strong early '90s vibes from these photos because I totally had those headphones for my Walkman when I was a kid. So maybe the concept is nostalgia... but for millennials... born in the '80s... 

V — "FRI(END)S" Official Teaser #1

Based on these 35 seconds, I think we're safe from ugly crying. But we are not safe from craving takeout stir-fried noodles.

V — "FRI(END)S" Concept Photos #1

(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
(Photo source: BTS Weverse)
I don't know what the overarching concept is, but I do love a good smoking moment. 😁

V — "FRI(END)S" Promotion Schedule

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

When the BTS members said they had prepared a lot for us while they were gone, they weren't kidding. Along with J-Hope's Hope on the Street docu series and EP, we now have V's upcoming single, "FRI(END)S" and with it, a slew of promotional content. We know it's going to be a "love song in the pop soul R&B genre," so it seems like it would fit right in with Layover, but after showing us his acting chops again in IU's "Love Wins All" (yes, I still tear up every single time I watch it), I can't wait to see what this MV has in store for us.