J-Hope — "Killin' It Girl" Music Show Promotions Sketch

You know, the effort behind creating all these sets at Korean music shows never fails to amaze me. I still wonder why these types of music shows do so well in Asia, but there's nothing like this in North America. I guess the closest we have are those talent competition shows like The Voice, but there's nothing for already-established artists to perform live stages every week and have fans vote on which group wins best new release. I wonder if it's because North America is too physically big? I mean, to be fair, you could fit like, 12 Koreas inside Ontario alone, so logistics would be a nightmare…

Anyway, big congrats to J-Hope for all his music show wins. Truly well-deserved!

Jin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview and "Don't Say You Love Me" Live Performance

"It was great to be alone, but when [the BTS members] come back [from military service], since they worked so hard, I'm going to honour them and give them great respect. They are my lifesavers, so I need to show my appreciation and take care of them."

Okay, not gonna lie, I didn't expect Jin to ask, "Do you think we have one butt or two?" in this interview, but it is indeed an important, philosophical question.

And on that thought-provoking note, I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE JIN LIVE IN JULY!!!

J-Hope on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview and "Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)" Live Performance

God, this song sounds so fucking amazing live. Miguel's vocals are incredible and I'm so glad he was able to perform live with J-Hope, especially for the television debut of this song! (Also, love to see bunny slippers and robes as parts of official stage outfits. This is the very definition of "pajama chic.") 

TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL I SEE HIM IN PERSON!

Jin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "Running Wild" Live Performance

Not that I expected anything less, but as the kids say, he's been eating CDs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Jin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview

Jimmy: "You're back! Over the summer, you completed your military service and you came back and your bandmates were waiting for you. *shows photo* Is RM playing the saxophone here? What is he playing? Is he playing 'Careless Whisper'? *starts singing*"

[Jin joins Jimmy in singing "Careless Whisper"]

Jimmy: "No, what is he playing?"

Jin: "Not this music. So at that time, it was very hectic because it was immediately after my discharge. I wasn't exactly sure what RM was doing, but he was playing something for me."

Jimmy: "You don't know what he was doing?"

Jin: "Honestly, I didn't even know that he was there."

Jimmy, laughing: "You were also, this summer, the torchbearer during the Olympics representing- *shows photo* What did that mean to you?"

Jin, looking at photo: "Oh, very handsome guy."

Jimmy, staring at Jin: "Yeah. Very handsome guy. Oh, wait, you're talking about the picture or me?"

Jin: "Picture."

Jimmy, laughing: "Yeah, yeah."

Jin: "Sorry."

Jimmy: "Yeah. 'Worldwide Handsome' is a nickname that is around for you. And who came up with that name?"

Jin: "Well, because I'm so handsome, I gave it to myself. I think it expresses me the best."

Jimmy, laughing: "So you came up with that nickname?"

Jin, nodding: "Yeah."

Jimmy: "Unbelievable."

Full confidence and shamelessness at all times. THIS IS WHY WE LOVE JIN.

Jimin on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "Who" Live Performance

My god, he wasn't kidding when he said he was working on a new way of singing. He's always sounded beautiful, but his tone and control have noticeably improved — he's always been able to hit those notes, but he sounds more effortless, especially while dancing. The performance here is just impeccable.

Also, he is SUPER FUCKING SASSY and it's HOT AS FUCK.

Jungkook on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "Standing Next to You" Live Performance

Jungkook: "When I first heard 'Standing Next to You,' I thought… this was the song that could [best] show my vocals and performance as an artist."

OOOOOOOF. Hitting those notes while dancing like that? Putting the mic down so purposefully like, "SOME SHIT IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN," before launching into one of the most epic dance breaks in history? Having the most perfectly timed, intensely sexy facial expressions I've ever seen on a live stage? Commanding the stage like Michael Jackson himself took over his body? Frankly, Jeon Jungkook is the most impressive pop star in the world right now.

Jungkook on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview

Jungkook: "Frankly, I was confident, but this is beyond my imagination."

This man, who has broken multiple records as a solo artist after only FOUR MONTHS (and broken his OWN records within that time frame), is as adorable and humble as ever. As someone who has watched him grow up from a shy talented teenager into this incredible global pop star, I am so fucking proud of Jungkook.

Jimin at KBS Music Bank: Interview, "Set Me Free Pt. 2," and "Like Crazy"

What, you think I'd miss seeing Jimin on just because I was on a 14-hour flight to Seoul?

Jungkook at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opening Ceremony: "Dreamers"

Frankly, I don't care about sporting events, but our Jungkookie is all grown up and I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. 🥹

(Addendum, 11/21/22: Re-posted with the full official version from BANGTANTV.)

BTS EPISODE: American Music Awards 2021

Jungkook: "ARMY are gonna make fun of me again! What do I do?"

Namjoon: "Just accept it and go home."

Jungkook: "Ah, I wanted to look cool... Getting dragged off at the end..."

I don't often like music award shows, but this one was the best and most memorable one I've seen in recent years, with BTS' first live performance of "My Universe" with Coldplay and making history again by being the first Asian artists ever to get the Artist of the Year award at the AMAs. God, I miss them so much. I really hope Jimin is recovering well and that the Year of the Tiger brings them joy and happiness and health (and finally gives us a fucking world tour).

BTS at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2021: "Butter" and "Dynamite (Holiday Remix)"

Man, I'm so glad that BigHit gets the rights to release all of BTS' live performances on their YouTube channel now. The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball is possibly the most annoying broadcast to try to watch because you have to have access to The CW, for which you have to be in the US (or at least use an American IP address, or a VPN service). And on that note, I hope Suga, RM, and Jin all have speedy recoveries from COVID. A world tour is looking more distant than ever now.

BTS on The Late Late Show with James Corden: BTS Crosswalk Concert

Okay, but if BTS decided to perform at the crosswalk in front of me while I was in my car at a stop light, I'd think I'd just park there? Like, what would even be the point in going anywhere? 

Not only are BTS spectacular performers, but they're also natural-born comedians. Easily the best Crosswalk Concert that James Corden has done. (Yes, I am biased, but it doesn't mean that it isn't true.)

BTS on The Late Late Show with James Corden: "Butter"

I don't know if the stage crew fixed their in-ears or sound system or whatever, but BTS sound incredible here, especially compared to their "Permission to Dance" performance, which seemed a little flat or off-pitch. And I know I've said this before, but their energy when they're performing in front of a real, live audience, is just so much more joyous and upbeat and confident. This performance, which has the simplest and most stripped down stage out of any of their "Butter" performances, was just so much fun to watch — even more than their really intricate, extravagant stages. I cannot wait for their Crosswalk Concert next week.

BTS on The Late Late Show with James Corden: Interview and "Permission to Dance"

RM really helped James Corden out with some serious damage control after the whole "ARMY are 15-year-old girls" debacle. While the joke wasn't tasteful and James should've known better, I do think a lot of ARMY took it way too seriously and took the insults way too far. I'm glad that RM just brought it up so straightforwardly at the beginning of the interview to put out the fire and set everything straight again. I never once thought James bore any ill will to BTS or ARMY, and he's proven that time and time again, but I'm also glad that RM handled the situation so calmly and gracefully and put the hate between James and ARMY to rest. 

More importantly, I'm also living for Jimin's thighs, so Papa Mochi isn't always wrong. 

BTS at Global Citizen Live: "Permission to Dance" and "Butter"

Of course they closed down a major intersection and performed at the Sungnyemun. Honestly, Seoul could not have better ambassadors.

(Addendum, 09/28/21: Updated to include the official versions of the "Permission to Dance" and "Butter" performances from BANGTANTV. Because BTS deserves HD. Always.)

BTS on ABC Nightline: Interview with BTS and President Moon Jae-in

President Moon Jae-in: "It was much more effective than the UN Secretary General or myself delivering hundreds of speeches."

I sincerely hope that Western media, interviewers, and the general public take BTS more seriously now instead of pigeonholing them as popular K-pop idols or a boy band with millions of rabid teenage fans. They are quite literally the appointed mouthpiece for future generations. Their entire schedule in NYC this past week has proven their immense power and influence among global youth and the impact they have to create change for the better. Kudos to Juju Chang for asking insightful, intelligent, and relevant questions.

BTS on Good Morning America: Interview with BTS and President Moon Jae-in

There are truly no better spokespeople for today's youth right now.

BTS on SBS 8 News: "Butter," "Permission to Dance," The Icon of the 21st Century — BTS Full Interview

Well, SBS uploaded part of the interview (apparently, the full interview is 44 minutes, so we're missing 28 minutes) and it now has subtitles, but they're pretty terrible so you kinda have to read between the lines. Still, what other music artist is so relevant to their country that they're being invited to appear on the national evening news? Addendum, 07/28/21: Okay, SBS uploaded the full 44-minute interview! And they got a WAY BETTER translator, so the English subtitles actually make sense and have a natural flow! (It's fully subbed in 14 languages, so I can only say this for English.) I didn't realize how much more in-depth this interview actually was. The news anchor asked some great questions, too.

Anchor: "Suga, there are lyrics like this in 'Permission to Dance,' 'When we fall, we know how to land.' In English, it means even if you fall, you know how to land, so it's okay. What kind of meaning and comfort does the lyrics contain?"

Yoongi: "I've said several times before that I'm afraid of falling, but not of landing. And the difference between falling and landing is that landing means that you can take off again. So no matter how desperate the situation is, if we choose to land instead of fall, choose not to give up and just land, we'll be ready to fly again."

BTS on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Will It Fit?

BTS showing us yet again that anything is possible, because I legitimately guessed "no" for every single one (except for RM's, which was way too easy).