BTS — "NORMAL" MV Behind the Scenes

Jimin: "I've never partied like this before. I usually just drink soju at home..."

Jimin, pretending to be on the phone: "Jungkook-ah, two orders of jajangmyeon?" *pretend laughs* [points at Jin] "Jjamppong for us?"

Jimin, while monitoring scene cuts: "Jungkook is in the middle of singing but then I'm asking, 'Jungkook-ah, two orders of jajangmyeon?" *laughs maniacally* "You're singing again and I'm going, 'Jjamppong?'" *laughs maniacally*

Namjoon: "We'll push each other around a little and bump into each other as you move. Meaning Yoongi and Jin, you can just be yourselves."

Jin: "Why, what's wrong with us?"

🎶 Yeah, we call this shit normal. 🎶

BTS — "NORMAL" Live Clip

When the live sounds exactly like the recording.

FIFA World Cup Final 2026 Halftime Show feat. Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, and the Muppets

I know there was a lot of criticism over FIFA having a half-time show — the World Cup Final is the most watched sports game of all time, the players will lose energy and momentum with such a long break in the middle of the game, etc. — but I thought it was put together really well with great global representation. Obviously, I paid attention because BTS was performing (I wish they got to perform the full version of "Dynamite" instead of an edited one, but I guess they had to squeeze in 7 artists — yes, the Muppets count! — in under 12 minutes so it is what it is) but I thought everyone performed really well. I mean, even after all these years, Shakira's hips still don't lie.

BTS — "NORMAL" Official MV

I could go on and on about how much I love this song, and how it's one of my favourite tracks off of ARIRANG, but at the core, it's a brilliant contemplation on the pursuit of sincerity in a world where they don't know if what's real anymore because they're too famous, they have everything they could possibly want so they don't know what to want anymore but they know having nothing is worse, their homes are both palaces and prisons, and they want people to stop talking about them but also to never stop talking about them. Basically, success can be a real fucking bitch. 

Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced

Fantasy and fame, yeah, the things we choose

Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof

Yeah, we call this shit normal 

Run away, out of sight, don't know what I want

Wish I had a minute just to turn me off

Kerosene, dopamine, what I gotta do?

Yeah, we call this shit normal

Heavy is the head when you chasin' true

Will you colour me red? Will you colour me blue?

Two sides of a coin, and they both ain't true

Is it different for mе? Is it different for you?

Got me feelin' things unusual

And I livе 'em all

Got me and my feelings up on this wall

And my knees

Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced

Fantasy and fame, yeah, the things we choose

Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof

Yeah, we call this shit normal 

Run away, out of sight, don't know what I want

Wish I had a minute just to turn me off

Kerosene, dopamine, what I gotta do?

Yeah, we call this shit normal 

How I'm 'posed to feel?

Used to think that I was built with a heart made of steel

Now I understand the truth, some pain don't heal

If everything's just happy, that ain't real 

I breathe everything out like a thousand times

Normal and special, they are just some lines

One deep sigh, then it slips away, fades away

What I try to keep never want to stay

Runaway, pushin' me, pullin' me, said you wanted all of me

But what is even all of me?

Suddenly, part of me is hauntin' me, heard the things they callin' me

What the hell you want from me? 

Got me feelin' things unusual

And I live 'em all

Got me and my feelings up on this wall

And my knees

Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced

Fantasy and fame, yeah, the things we choose

Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof

Yeah, we call this shit normal 

Run away, out of sight, don't know what I want

Wish I had a minute just to turn me off

Kerosene, dopamine, what I gotta do?

Yeah, we call this shit normal 

No, we, no, we, no, we call this shit normal

No, we, no, we, no, we call this shit normal, yeah

No, we, no, we, no, we call this shit normal

This MV features a lot of parallels to "Spring Day," not to mention symbolism from "Black Swan" and "SWIM." There are dozens of analyzations of this MV already, so I'm not going to get into it because other ARMYs are hypothesizing way better than I ever could, but if "Merry Go Round" is the saddest song from ARIRANG, I think "NORMAL" is the darkest.

BTS — "NORMAL" Official Teaser

Okay, I never thought I'd see any member of BTS taking a piss at a urinal let alone all seven of them at the same time, but you know, I'm here for it. (Honestly, I just assume all dudes go to the bathroom together like this.) Although, I'm wondering why RM chose the urinal between Jin and Jungkook. It's like one of those memes that show random celebrities in specific airplane seats and you have to pick which empty seat to sit in…

Anyway, "NORMAL" is one of my Top 3 favourite songs on ARIRANG (which is genuinely a no-skip album for me — well, except for "No. 29" — but "NORMAL" is always in my Top 3 even though the other two tracks might change) so I cannot fucking wait for this to be released as the next single. I'm actually a little surprised that they've released so many tracks as singles so far from one album because they've never done it before but, hey, the BTS global dominance is non-stop.

McDonald's x BT21 Happy Meal

(Image source: McDonald's Official X)
Okay, I'm ready to eat as many Happy Meals as it takes to collect them all. (Until I give up after Happy Meal #28, and end up ordering the toys I'm missing on eBay like last time. Sadly, my arteries can only take so many McNuggets.)

BTS VLOG: Suga's Vlog in San Francisco

"Is that an uphill?"

"WHY WON'T THIS UPHILL END?"

"THAT UPHILL WAS CRAZY."

"THAT UPHILL ALMOST TOOK ME OUT."

"Should we have a banana?"

Ah, all's well that ends well!

(Yes, his stamina and resilience is truly remarkable, but also his skin is flawless? Like, it's so smooth and glassy, it almost sparkles? Like a Twilight vampire?)

Unboxing: BTS — ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl

I still don't know how I managed to get this on Weverse Shop because it sold out within literal minutes, but my copy of the ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl that was released for BTS FESTA this year finally arrived!

BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — With Clear Outer Sleeve
BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — Front
BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — Back
BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — Preview Reel Front
BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — Preview Reel Back
BTS' ARIRANG 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl — Polaroid Photo Card Set
I really should look into getting a record player at some point... Then again, I don't have a CD player anymore, so...

BTS EPISODE: American Music Awards 2026 Sketch

"When we enlisted, what scared me the most was that people might turn away from us. But you've given our album so much love and we're even able to go on tour again, so this feels like an incredibly moving and honourable moment."

BTS' comeback this year was honestly unprecedented for any musical artist. To be away from the limelight for so long and then breaking all those records they previously set is unheard of. ARMY is hundreds of millions strong. We're not going anywhere. If BTS is here, we are here. ARMY Forever, Bangtan Forever. 

BTS — "Merry Go Round" MV Behind the Scenes

"Merry Go Round" is by far the saddest song off of ARIRANG, and one of the saddest songs from BTS in general. It's similar to "Spring Day" in talking about the profound sadness in missing someone and, of course, using the merry go round as imagery, but whereas "Spring Day" ultimately offers hope, "Merry Go Round" is about pure desolation and melancholy, and both the song and the MV are beautiful but dark and haunting. They released the MV exclusively on Spotify, but I'm hoping they release it on YouTube later on. It's too beautiful to keep behind a pay wall.

BTS EPISODE: "Hooligan" and "2.0" Dance Practice Sketch

HOW DID I MISS THE SPARKLE HANDS?????

BTS FESTA 2026: 20130613 Congratulations BTS 🎉

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY, BTS!!! You're officially a teenager!

This is my 9th FESTA, and to celebrate, my friend Iris and I went to the theatre to watch the ARIRANG World Tour in Busan Live Viewing, which was AMAZING (they played "Dimple," "Ddaeng," AND "Magic Shop" for BTS Karaoke tonight!!!) except for girl sitting behind us who quite literally SCREECHED LIKE A BANSHEE every time Jungkook came on the screen. (I get that you're excited and I agree that Jungkook is a delicious specimen of a man, but please save your voice for an actual live concert, not a live viewing of a concert at a theatre because YOUR VOICE DOES NOT GET DROWNED OUT IN A THEATRE.) Oh, and Iris also got me a pack of the BTS x Oreo cookies, which taste exactly like brown sugar boba with a hint of maple and are delicious AF (and I have to limit myself to one per day because WOW THAT IS A LOT OF SUGAR). They're supposed to taste like hotteok, which is slightly nuttier and more cinnamon-based, but hey, close enough. 

HAPPY FESTA, EVERYONE!

BTS FESTA 2026: BTS Dinner Party 2.0

I can't believe it's already been 4 years. Their last FESTA dinner together was bittersweet and emotional and marked the end of an era. That having been said, I think they've been able to explore who they are outside the comfort of their group, and really grown up as independent people, artists, and musicians. And now that they're back together, BTS 2.0 is stronger than ever and taking over the world once again as if they'd never left. I am so glad I stayed on this roller coaster with them.

BTS FESTA 2026: Jungkook's NORMAL LOG

THE ORIGINAL MUSCLE PIG!

You know how people say, "Just watching you eat makes me full," and it's not true at all? Well, just watching them work out makes me fit.

BTS FESTA 2026: V's NORMAL LOG

This is why I could never be a celebrity. Or, at least, someone that has to look good. Or be fit. Or need stamina. 

BTS FESTA 2026: Jimin's NORMAL LOG

Further proof that packing is a universally hated task. I hate packing even for a weekend trip, so I can't even imagine having to pack for a world tour. Apparently it doesn't matter how rich and famous you are or how many assistants or managers you have. They won't help you pack, either. 

BTS FESTA 2026: Jin's NORMAL LOG

"People are supposed to get healthier when they rest, so why do we have to work out to get healthier?"

Ah, Jin always asking the important questions.

BTS FESTA 2026: SUGA's NORMAL LOG

I love how Yoongi has become such a pure guitar nerd. Like, you can tell he would just love to start a YouTube channel showcasing guitar gear. That's all to say that I can't wait for a BTS rock side project… (Oh, and hey, Red Hot Chili Peppers.) 

BTS FESTA 2026: J-Hope's NORMAL LOG

Okay, the headband he puts on before washing his face is such a throwback to my teenage years. Even the way he looks at himself and scoffs at how ridiculous his hair looks with it on is accurate… 

Also, I'm pretty sure his "casual" outfit costs, like, half my annual income.

BTS FESTA 2026: RM's NORMAL LOG

Yes, I really did just watch Kim Namjoon read a book for six minutes. On that note, I wonder why he hasn't gotten laser eye surgery. I also have really high eye prescriptions and if I had the money, I would absolutely be getting it. Not to mention, it's a third of the price in Korea than it is here. Maybe his cornea is a weird shape...