I obviously couldn't be there in person, but I'm so glad I got to watch this on livestream. This will forever mark the day BTS was officially reunited in public after their three-year hiatus — so fitting that it was also on the day of their 12th anniversary. God, I can't wait to see the great things they will do together again.
Jungkook, looking around at all the snacks: "There's a lot of stuff we can take home after the shoot!"
Jin: "Jungkook's definitely going to take some stuff home."
RM: "Hey, Jungkook!"
Jungkook: "Yeah?"
RM: "You haven't changed one bit from 2013."
Jungkook: "What? In 2013…"
RM: "It's good to be consistent."
Jungkook: "They say consistency is the key to success!"
This might be the only store where you don't need a Costco membership to buy Kirkland products. TAKE EVERYTHING HOME, BOYS!
On that note, I still can't believe they were gatekeeping this from us for THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS!!! (I guess it was worth it, though; the Permission to Dance: On Stage — Live album sounds so good and makes me feel nostalgic for the Las Vegas show I went to in 2022. The BigHit/HYBE planning department is really something else.)
Okay, I don't know like, half of these 4th gen groups but I love how excited and eager and starstruck they are when working with Hobi. So freaking cute! (Also, ENHYPEN killed this challenge.)
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!
So glad BigHit got the rights to livestream this because everything about this performance was IN-FUCKING-CREDIBLE. The set list, his (very naked) fit, his live vocals, his dancing, the live band... Pardon the pun, but Hobi KILLED IT.
Jin: "I heard the [Vanity Fair] lie detector test is pretty popular in the U.S. right now, so I'm going to get a test done. It'll probably go like, 'Are you BTS?' 'Yes!' [pauses] What if it says it's a lie?! Then I'll say, 'I'm Bangtan Sonyeondan.' 'Are you a man?' 'Yes!' [pauses] What if it says that's a lie, too?! I don't know what kind of questions I'll get, but I'll try my best to lie in a way that works in my favour. It'll be a lie but I'll convince myself it's not. Yes, I'll lie, but I'll trick even myself so that even the lie detector won't detect my lies…"
The amount of hard work, planning, practice, dedication, endurance, creativity, and stamina — not just from J-Hope, but also the dancers and staff — that went into this tour is just remarkable. I am so glad that I got to witness a part of it in person.
I've been following BTS for nine years and I never take the members' energy, commitment, and consistency for granted. I know practice makes perfect, but the sheer amount of elements involved in being a K-pop idol — live and recorded vocals, live and filmed choreography, singing in tune while dancing, dynamic facial expressions, stage placement and positions, charisma and stage presence, media training, face and body aesthetics — is, frankly, beyond exhausting. I will never not be impressed and in awe of the amount of effort going into these performances, but the outcome is so, so worth it.
Man, getting a spot at one of these events is truly like winning the lottery, and that's only if you live in Korea. Us international fans don't even get a chance. On that note, at least I'm going to see Jin next month. 37 DAYS TO GO!
Okay, I know filming this MV was pretty brutal for them, but there's something about dancing in the rain that makes this choreography even sexier…?
(Also, I want to point out that it is actually hotter in Toronto than it is in Bangkok today — it is 37℃ and with a humidex of 43℃, with a heat warning across the entire metropolitan area — lest non-Canadians think we all live in snow year round. So I can attest to the brutality of being outside in this kind of stifling humidity. And I'm not even doing physical exercise.)
WHOA THERE, MISSY, THAT IS A LOT OF BARE SKIN TOUCHING. (You know, I can't help but think that if this was any of BTS' maknae line — Jimin, V, and Jungkook — a huge amount of ARMYs would be revolting at this amount of sexy touching by a female, even if it is a part of the choreography. Like, to the point where I'd be worried that the dancer would get serious death threats. An unfortunate double-standard in BTS, but it's true.)
I love that J-Hope is still using the original dance crew from the MV for all his Korean music show appearances. I recognize some of the dancers from his tour and the "Mona Lisa" MV, too. Imagine being so integral to these performances that J-Hope won't use any other crew, even if it means paying for them to travel the world with him. Man, they're living the ultimate back-up dancer's dream.
"I've got to become the bad boy. I've never been the bad boy before…"
"I'm not sure if I pulled off the bad boy role… I just wasn't born to be the villain…"
"This photoshoot might be quite different from all the other photoshoots I've done in the past. It's a bit more adventurous, in a way. I'd like to think I showed off a sexy vibe…"
"Well, I wouldn't call my abs amazing… they're more functional… But I got a lot of praise from the director and now I'm feeling rather bashful…"
Okay, I know these three singles — "Sweet Dreams," "Mona Lisa," and "Killin' It Girl" — are supposed to show J-Hope's idea of love but, like, he's just become a thirst trap in the process...
It's sassy, sexy, and full of attitude, but it also looks technically complex and suits the song perfectly. This might be my favourite J-Hope solo choreography yet.
A better view of the "Killin' It Girl" choreography from Hope on the Stage: Final (which was INSANE, by the way — and I can't believe Jungkook is already performing with full vocals and full choreography literally 3 days after military discharge) and I swear, it gets hotter every time I watch it.
Okay, J-Hope, I see we are not just in your thirst trap era, but also your thirsty era… (The basically naked photoshoot of Hobi now makes sense. Although if I worked that hard to get a six-pack, I'd be showing it off everywhere, too.) I'm not huge on the excessive use of Autotune and it is very repetitive (to say the least), but the song really is a bop and the chorus is already stuck in my head after just one listen (honestly, it would be hard not to be). Compared to "Sweet Dreams" and "MONA LISA," I actually think it's this one that will have the most radio play. Or at least get remixed into oblivion for club play. What's really killin' it (sorry, I had to) for me, though? The choreography. My god.
You killin' it, girl
You killin' it, girl
Ten out of ten
Oh, you killin' it, girl
Baddest out your friends
Oh, you killin' it, girl
You killin' it, girl
You killin' it, girl
Came here in a Lambo
Oh, you killin' it, girl
All without a man
Oh, you killin' it, girl
Runway ready, gotta get some confetti
'Cause we gotta celebrate like it's your birthday
Looking like a twenty, from Korea to Miami
Oh, I wanna get with you in the worst way
It should be a crime just to look that fine
Girl, if you single, let me make you mine
Call a nurse before it gets worse
I'ma really, rеally need first aid
You killin' it, girl
You killin' it, girl
Ten out of ten
Oh, you killin' it, girl
Baddest out your friеnds
Oh, you killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) Came here in a Lambo
Oh, you killin' it, girl
All without a man
Oh, you killin' it, girl
[GloRilla]
Murder for hire, Mike Glo Myers
I keep my foot up on their necks and my heels high
Might take your man and tell you go take it to trial
I'm dead serious, the baddest chick alive
Baddies get inspired, bottles getting poured up
He must be a tire, the way he trying to roll up
Lawyers getting hired, they know I'd be killin' it
Blood on the scene
Period
He said I be killin' it, I said I do this everyday
Money talk lil' baby, I can't hear you, what'd you say?
There go the yellow tape
Now sit back and pay attention
And let me show you how to slay
[/GloRilla]
You killin' it, girl
You killin' it, girl
Ten out of ten
Oh, you killin' it, girl
Baddest out your friends
Oh, you killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) Came here in a Lambo
Oh, you killin' it, girl
All without a man
Oh, you killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
You killin' it girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
(Oh) You killin' it, girl
You killin' it girl
Now, I really hope they explain the black cat at some point…
Q. As an ARMY, which title song would you recommend when introducing BTS to someone for the first time?
A. It's between "FAKE LOVE" or "ON" for me. They both have darker themes and sound a bit edgier, but they have strong, self-reflective lyrics that resonate with a lot of people. Plus, they're catchy in a way that you don't get sick of over time.
Q. Which BTS song is the hidden gem you'd want to gatekeep for yourself?
A. Ooof, this one is hard... I have dozens, actually, but I think I've gotta go with "Paradise" with "Sea" being a really close second. (Although it's kind of cheating with "Sea" because it's actually listed as a hidden track on Love Yourself: Her and it's not even available digitally — I had to extract it from my CD to listen to it on my devices.) Oh, but then there's also "Louder Than Bombs"... and "Rain"... and "Love Maze"... and "House of Cards"...
Q. What is ARMY's favourite BTS choreography?
A. Okay, these questions are way harder than I expected, maybe because their discography is so huge now. If I had to pick only one, I think I'd still go with "Blood Sweat & Tears" even after all these years. Not only does it look beautiful and complex, but it was this song's MV that got me into BTS. I remember thinking, "Damn, these guys can fucking dance." I also think it's one of the most unique and iconic choreographies in all of K-pop. But I'd follow this one with "Run BTS" and "ON."
Q. If ARMY could turn back time, which BTS concert would they go to?
A. Any concert on The Wings Tour in 2017. I had just gotten into BTS and missed this tour. I've watched the DVD set many times but it's just not the same as seeing the epicness live.
Q. Which original BTS content would ARMY like to see more of?
A. If we're talking long-form series, then it's definitely Bon Voyage. I actually think that series is some of my favourite BTS content of all time. I've re-watched each season multiple times. There's something about traveling with them — seeing a new destination through their eyes, seeing them experience local activities and explore landmarks, seeing their interactions with each other and the locals — that's genuinely fun, interesting, and exciting. It also temporarily satisfies my wanderlust. Of course, for a short-form series, it's obviously Run BTS!. This is the one show that I've watched almost from the beginning and is also how I got to know the members' personalities and their dynamics within the group.
Q. What's ARMY's favourite BTS lingo?
A. I'm going to have to say "lajibolala." It's a classic.
Q. What is ARMY's favourite music show performance?
A. I'm going to agree with Hobi here and say the "Boy with Luv" performance at SNL. It was such a small stage with no frills, just raw talent and great choreography, but they made such an impact. If we're talking about an awards show, though, I'm gonna say the 2019 MMA, which was just the most complex, extravagant, over-the-top performance I've ever seen at any awards show.
Q. If you could express your feelings toward BTS with one of their lyrics, which one would you choose?
A. From "Magic Shop": "You were the one who made your way to me / I do believe your galaxy, I want to listen to your melody / The stars of your Milky Way, how will they light your sky? / Don't forget that in the end, I found you at the edge of my despair / You are the last reason I was standing on the edge of the cliff, live."
Q. How did you become an ARMY? (What made you fall for BTS?)
A. I was an avid watcher of Lilly Singh's channel back in the day and watched her "Parents React" video to BTS' "Blood Sweat & Tears" and I was just mesmerized by this MV. The visuals, the production, the choreography, the unbelievably pretty men. It was the first time I ever watched anything relating to K-pop in general, but I had never seen anything quite like this, and it was specifically this MV that made me fall down the BTS rabbit hole. I just kept clicking on all the BTS videos that YouTube recommended on the sidebar. I remember no one around me knew who BTS was, no one around me listened to K-pop, so I had to navigate all the BTS content on my own — the timeline of their MVs and the BTS Universe, where to watch specific content (RIP V Live), which accounts to follow, which translators were the most reliable. And here we are, nine years later, and they're the biggest band in the world.
Q. What's something interesting that happened to you that was related to BTS?
A. I've known my friend Iris for 12 or 13 years now (I actually met her through her boyfriend — now husband — who was friends with some of my guy friends, and she hired me to do the makeup for her bridal party at their wedding) but we weren't really good friends until a couple years ago when she became an ARMY and she reached out to me on IG about BTS.
Q. What are the moments of joy that being an ARMY brought you?
A. Honestly, there are too many to count. From listening to their music to watching their content to collecting merch to seeing them in concert, BTS is apart of my daily life.
Denise, '86 liner. Chinese-Canadian, born, raised, and still based in the Greater Toronto Area. Professional make-up artist turned office manager. Introvert with brilliant extrovert skills. BTS ARMY since 2016, OT7, Jungkook and Jimin biased. BTS and BT21 merch collector, amateur foodie, skincare fiend, mascara connoisseur, shopaholic, teetotaler, Scorpio, avid The Sims 4 player, K-drama addict, and Potterhead since 1997. Penchant for live concerts, collecting figures, dining out, building LEGO, and food photography.
About the Site
Circuits of Fever is a personal blog and a hobby only. It mainly features my interests in BTS, food, beauty, music, photography, travel, lifestyle, and culture. The name "Circuits of Fever" is a song by Thursday from their 2009 album, Common Existence. The title of this blog has no relevance to the actual purpose of or topics discussed within the blog.
All photos since November 2023 have been taken with an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. All photos are taken by me, unless otherwise noted. Please do not use my photos or blog content without permission. Photos are edited by me using Adobe Photoshop CC 2019. This blog is written and edited by me using Blogger through Google Chrome, on an Apple MacBook Pro.
Note: None of these posts are sponsored. All products reviewed or shown on this blog are purchased by me for personal use only.
Playlist (July 2024)
Bishop Briggs - The Way I Do
Etiquette - Attention Seeker
Foxes - Feet Don't Fail Me Now
J-Hope - Killin' It Girl (Solo Version)
Jin - Don't Say You Love Me
Jin (feat. Yena) - Loser
Jin - Nothing Without Your Love
Jin - With the Clouds
Kero Kero Bonito - The Princess and the Clock
Lexi Jayde - Newbury Park
Lucy Dacus - Hot & Heavy
May-a - Apricots
Naomi August - Next to You
Nothing, Nowhere - Dead2me
Nothing, Nowhere - Electric Heartbreak
Nothing, Nowhere - The Heart Mechanic
Nothing, Nowhere - You
NewDad - Change My Mind
Nine One One - Who
Osei the Seventh - Cafe Deluxe
Paramore - Sanity (Demo)
Samia - Fit N Full
Santigold (feat. Trouble Andrew) - I'm a Lady
Sara Kays - Remember That Night?
Sara Kays (feat. Cavetown) - Struck by Lightning
Small Black - Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)
Stalking Gia (feat. Blackbear) - Miracles
Tablo x RM - Stop the Rain
The Beaches - Takes One to Know One
The Girls - Schools for Fools
Tomorrow x Together - Surfing in the Moonlight
Troye Sivan - Lucky Strike
Voka Gentle - Peculiar Form of Sleep
Yumi Zouma - Astral Projection
