JK + JT and JK + Usher = 3D + SNTY...

...'reloaded'.

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by PAM

The whole world already knows by now: whatever the ultra-talented golden maknae of BTS, Jung Kook (or simply "JK"), touches, it turns to gold, as in solid gold!  Therefore, his first solo album, "Golden", is aptly titled as such.  And, just before embarking on his Military Service in the early days of December 2023, when we thought his "Golden" campaign was coming to a close, he did it again! He had two huge surprises in a row: "3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)" and "Standing Next To You (Usher Remix)".  For the two pillars of the music industry today taking interest in remixing JK's work, puts the golden maknae on a different level as a solo artist.  No amount of hating from 'antis' can deny that.  In fact, the hating confirms it... haters hate good things and successful people.

***

3D with JT iteration

"3D (feat. Jack Harlow)" is the second single to come out of "Golden", which was released prior to the launching of the album itself.  It has this lively rhythm that entices one to sing along, get up and dance... and party!  The song reminds fans what pop music is about - meant to be enjoyed, first and foremost.  Jack Harlow's verses ruffled the feathers of many... but, like I said in another post, the verses were merely misunderstood.  JH was showing how a pathetic, inconsiderate and selfish rake of a dude can be completely turned around by true love... and the hope of being loved as well. Some people listened to the rake part, and stopped!  Naturally, that turned them off, and never saw the budding of a sweet love... in 3D!  JK showed what he can do with his deep arsenal of voice power with fun beat and delicious mix of mild hiphop, dance and R&B genres.  Because of that, it is a personal favorite of mine.  

As if that wasn't enough, the great Justin Timberlake (JT) made the already engaging song to an ultra-loveable one with an added hip verse where JK tried his golden voice in rapping.  Aww-inducing lines such as, "now let me fly you out to Seoul, South Korea.  I just wanna get into your soul like Aretha," pasted instant smiles on listeners' lips... and sent avid listeners to cloud 9! Whew! 

Awesome job, JK and JT!  Congrats!

Wouldn't it be nice to see these two 'boy band alums' go on singing and dancing spree to the tune of 3D (Justin Timberlake Remix)?  Ah, that's like bringing icons of two generations on a sweet talent per talent 'bout' - winner takes all! Can't wait until JK returns to 'pick a fight' - the beautiful collab kind - with JT!  

 

***

SNTY, soulful with Usher

"Standing Next to You", or simply "SNTY", is the main track of "Golden".  It is a great song - a personal pick for a great song of 2023. As sung by JK, it is a feast to the ears... but it's hard to sing it. One has to have a wide range of vocal prowess to pull it off: from a soft feathery caressing vocals to rhythmic R&B style that invites one to get up, take to the floor for some moves... to soft rocking growl that pleasantly surprises... to that smooth Swan Song-ish falsetto that astounds. JK sang 'em all... and nailed 'em all!  What is even  more amazing is that he can pull off singing it live while dancing with a challenging choreography. 

He performed SNTY live a few times during his "Golden" campaign. He did great in all of them but my favorite was the very first one at iHeart Radio. Why? It was an awesome surprise! A few months before the release of "Seven (feat. Latto)", the first single from "Golden", I remember commenting on one of RM's IG stories where he shared a song by Bon Jovi. At that time, we were still waiting and wondering about JK's solo project, and RM was one of those nudging him to work on his album already. As JK was so well-known for "Euphoria", "My Time" and "Still with You", naturally, people were expecting him to work on songs similar to these old hits.  I think I was one of the few who were imagining something different.  So, I commented on RM's post, "imagine if JK does a Bon Jovi-like song in his solo album, huh. That would be the day!" 

Fast forward to the "Golden Age": In his performance at iHeart Radio... he came in dragging a microphone stand, clad in ripped jeans and a leather jacket like a rockstar! And then he started drawling SNTY like a rockstar, too. By the time he got to the now-famous "t-t-t-take off" part (2:18 - 2:28 min), he sounded like he was so ready to give the likes of Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Vedder and Myles Kennedy a run for their money! Man, is there anything that JK cannot do?  The outcomes of his 'BTS Chapter 2' stint proved his versatility as a singer and performer! He can even act well!  Chapter 2 brought out the best of JK - in every aspect, including having the confidence to go abroad on his own to perform and promote his songs.  The most important strength that he demonstrated is his maturity.  He now can muster the courage to ignore all the negativities and leverage the flood of positive things that came his way... winning many hearts and amassing new fans. 

Last Dec. 15, he once again showed us how much he has grown as an artist as he performed SNTY alongside a legendary R&B artist: the one and only, Usher, in a music video!  'Proud' is an understatement... we, real ARMYs are utterly in awe of our golden maknae, and we thank Usher for recognizing his talent and helping to elevate JK to where he is after BTS Chapter 2. Those of us who followed the growth of this young man together with his BTS brothers, and on his own, too, were left in a flood of tears-of-joy as we watched the SNTY Usher Remix music video!  

"Stop, can you feel that?

It's like heaven and earth move whenever we touch..."

Usher sang his part so beautifully... well, per Usher's usual high standard, of course.  He made the R&B and mild rock-ish sound of SNTY so soulful!  JK pitched SNTY masterfully with his mix of vocal ranges, Usher elevated it to an ultra-smooth cloud nine-ish sound with his beautiful voice and vibe-worthy adlibs.  In the MV, JK performed as if he is equal in talent and superstardom as Usher, because he is getting there... in only a few months into his solo stint. Usher did not  hold back, he did push JK to be at his best. The R&B virtouso that Usher is showed up, turning the choreography to feel like a freestyle dancing. The budding R&B specialist that our JK is played it safe in the beginning, sticking to the choreography, but stood his ground when left alone with Usher by demonstrating his own freestyle as well. It was a beautiful collaboration:  two legends from two generations, side by side in an epic of a song!  It was so enjoyable to watch! 

Congratulations, JK and Usher!

We did get that distinct feeling that the "SNTY Usher Remix" will not be the last collaboration between these two legends.  To show our excitement, we streamed SNTY MV to 60M on the eve of the "SNTY Usher Remix" MV release. And, roughly 48 hours later, we streamed the new Remix MV to 5M. 

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Image credit: The music video above is from Bangtan TV posted on YouTube while the photo is a screenshot from the SNTY official mv on YouTube - thanks, Bangtan TV, Hybe and YouTube.

"Run bulletproof, you gotta run..."

 ...and the fandom went berserk!

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by PAM

Nope, this post does not need any introduction.  Let's get right down to it... or I'd collapse from excitement!  Besides, I'm in a hurry... I have work to do!

Yes, yes, and YES!  The song, "Run BTS", that ARMY jokingly describe as a BTS song with its own fandom just got a choreography... and it debuted live at the "Yet to Come in Busan" concert!  The said concert is the campaign for S. Korea's bid to host the World Expo in 2030.  Needless to say, it gloriously lived up to everyone's expectations!  By "it", I mean the choreography... but I gotta say, a choreography can be awesome but if the performers are less than awesome, it will not work.  But we are talking about Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) here - the most phenomenal music group since the Beatles!  Except that, well, Beatles didn't dance the way these guys do.  Then again, no one, and I mean N.O. O.N.E., dances in spectacular grace, swag, energy, and synchronization with a capital "S" quite the way these seven young men do - while singing LIVE, that is!

Alright, as that old adage goes, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating".  So, here, help yourself...

"Not losing our spirit, make it move left and right
No matter who you are, make it move, left and right
Two bare feet are our gasoline, yeah, yeah..."

I was one of the millions of ARMY who missed many parts of the live concert in Busan because of less than outstanding service of the platform (whose name will not be mentioned here) that carried the live streaming worldwide.  To be fair, perhaps, any platform can collapse from the sheer force of BTS ARMY - all 45 million of us tuned in all around the globe -

Always creating a pandemonium in purple...
...that's BTS for ya!

including a platform from the Most Innovative country in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceana, and #6 in the world, according to the Global Innovation Index of WIPO... well, S. Korea, of course!     

While I was quite disappointed, at least, I can say that I saw the choreography of "Run BTS" on its inaugural performance - live.  The minute that screeching intro of the song sounded, and SUGA, saying "okay, let's go" in his hyper-attitude tone... I literally, hyperventilated!  Hahaha...  Also, I got to see them open the Busan concert with one of my biggest FAVORITE BTS songs, "Mic Drop".  So, that is more than enough for me.  Besides, I saw them perform live in their "Permission to Dance on Stage - Las Vegas" last April 2022.  It was not a 'privilege' nor an 'entitlement' because I saved up from my meager scholarship as a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow to pay a considerable amount of money to see them perform live.  And, I travelled from State College, Pennsylvania to Las Vegas by foot, by automobile, and on red eye flight.  So, I'm good.  One of these days, I will post my AWESOME experience of seeing them perform live... with lots of photos and videos that I took in the concert.  Hehe...

But yes, the "Run BTS" choreography was beautiful, and the guys' performance was outstanding per usual.  Forgive me, but I have to say that JK did extra-awesome though -

JK - a TOTAL performer through and through!
And utterly gorgeous, too. 

both in his dancing and singing, and everything in between.  Excellent!  He has really grown to be such an incredible performer, my goodness me!  At mark 0:51 to 0:57 min, he just prowled through that performance like a human dynamo - relentless, fearless, flawless!  He just slayed left and right, up and down, and inside out!  And he never lost a single ounce of gorgeousness while doing so.  Who does that?? Man, this JK!  There simply is no suitable word to describe the talents of this young man.  He was impressive at mark 0:10 - 0:24 min - pitching, and setting the tone for the group - so very talented, seriously.  In all the synchronized dancing, he was absolutely captivating, especially at 2:02 - 2:08 min, and then... again, at 2:56 - 3:02 min.  He seemed to have expended enough energy to send a space ship to orbit!  His blending with Jimin at mark 0:34 min - 0:48 min was beautiful.  Aww, these 'Busan brothers' are just the most loveable performance duo that you'll ever find on the face of this planet - so overflowing with talents, those two.

Speaking of Jimin, aah... he left me open-mouthed and ready to drop - face first - at mark 0:57 - 1:03 min!  Dang, very smooth - too good!  He just oozed pure awesomeness.  At mark 1:57 min in their group synchronization down to his feature move where he simulated driving a motor bike at 2:23 - 2:28 min mark, he was on fire!  His concentration and energy was reflected on his face, and it swept me off my feet!  Right there and then, my heart just gave way... and I felt like crying. I just realized how I missed Jimin's live performances on stage.  That sweet young man that he is... simply gets transformed to attitude and swag, swag, swaaag on stage - nothing like it, no one like him!  Saranghae, Jiminaah!   

Worth focusing on is how our beloved J-Hope's dancing got to an even higher level of awesomeness - if that is at all possible, considering how out-of-this-world great he is already.  All the solo and collab performances

The formidable BTS Rap Line 'Trinity'
(L-R:  J-Hope, SUGA and RM)

that he's been having over the past months have obviously raised his confidence level - unleashing the 'growling' artist in him.. and he keeps 'growling' these days, indeed!  And, like JK, he does work soooo hard to perfect his craft - wonderful role models for young (and not-so-young) people, truly.  At mark 1:03 - 1:15 min, he gave the choreography an unforgettable character.  When I think of this choreography, that J-Hope move will be my mental reference  And his rapping at mark 2:28 - 2:53 min was pure 'muscle rapping' that only he can ever do.  Tough, tough, very tough - loved it!  Way to go, Hobi!

Oh, and speaking of 'muscle-rapping'... man, that SUGA! @a*k8%r485*&... aah, nooo... I can't type - I'm shaking. That 'little guy' with muscled throat and 'muscular rapping voice' just owned that stage everytime the spotlight was on him.. and even when it was not.  At mark 1:15 - 1:28 min, he just sprayed the stage and the universe that's watching the live stream with deadly rap bullets - almost as fast as a flying bullet, dang!  And his hair was sinfully gorgeous, too... and he moved like a 'criminal cat'.  He just slayed, slayed, slayed!  No mercy whatsoever!  So, naturally, ARMY just completely dropped dead in love!  I will admit... I was one of the fatalities.  "Marry me, Yoongi!"  Hahaha... (kidding... he's like a nephew to me.  Hahaha...)

At first glance, I almost did not recognize RM.  He cut his hair just before the Busan concert.  It worked... he looked like a young man having fun while pouring his heart out on stage rather than a distinguished CEO of a multinational bank as he looked at the TMAs.  He was dancing with energy,  agility and a touch of athleticism - yes, agility... and we are talking about RM!  He was matching the "3Js" energy, and successfully, too, I must say.  But the moment he caught the rap ball passed by SUGA at 1:29 min mark... all hell broke loose!  The patent RM baritone sliced through the digital signals from the livestream feed worldwide, and it was beautiful!  It was awesome that, perched up the pedestal, he closed the performance of the song, too.  Awesome, leader!

Speaking of 'closing'... as usual, I wish to close this post with a tribute to V but I think that the 'man of the hour' is Jin, so, I'll reserve the closing for him.  So, it's Tae, it is at this point.  Let me

Tae and his antics - always fun!

begin by saying, Tae did fantastic - I mean, f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c.!  After getting a bit concerned with him at the TMAs with less than perfectly timed breathing that sent some notes flat, he completely obliterated this performance in Busan!  He had all cylinders firing!  From dancing with gusto, to drawling his parts of the song with a roar of an engine... and keeping the charm at full blast, too - very, very effective, affective and affecting.  I loved his voice blending with JK, and those moments with Jin, especially with that vandana moves at 1:41 - 1:56 min mark... reminiscent of his 'card tossing' with JK at the Grammys.  Tae is so awesome in stuff like this... he gets the job done in ways that are jaw-dropping, memorable, and unforgettable - so artistic and creative!  And, I completely love that he performed looking like he was enjoying himself.  Watch him, and without you knowing, you are smiling!  That's our Tae - borahae! 

And now, Jin... ahh, Jin, Jin, Seok-Jin!  I had to replay the video and focus on Jin... because when will be the next time that we shall see him doing something like this with the other six members?  2025?  Man... but he did well in this performance.  He totally hit those high notes with his usual artistry. But... there was something in his dancing in this particular performance... which I can't put my fingers on quite accurately. Hmmm... at 0:51 - 1:15 min mark, his concentration seemed tremendous; at 1:41 - 1:53 min, he seemed to be having fun

Indeed, the best is yet to come...
we'll be waiting.

but you can tell he is being diligent in nailing the performance; 1:57 - 2:10 min, he was obviously watching everyone and moving with everyone in such painstaking accuracy; at 2:45 - 3:00 min mark, his concentration was almost tangible; and, in his solo vocals at 3:02 - 3:08 min, he just ripped through the air waves like a bullet train!  Towards the end of the performance, at 3:15 - 3:20 min mark, Jin was obviously giving his all in the choreography, stealing the scene altogether!  Damn, Jin, what did you just do?!  Tryin' a kill us all?  But we survived that... 

...what we're not sure we'd survive is the announcement later, after Busan, that Jin is enlisting for military service this coming December 2022... where he will remain in active service for the next 18 months.  The rest will be enlisting one by one, but with the maknaes all together in 2024.  They will return as a group in December 2025.  Three years and two months... it feels like three decades.   Oh, well... as we are ARMY, we trust BTS.  Therefore, we are certain that, indeed, the best is yet to come!

Alright, that's enough Vitamin B(TS)... for now.

***

Video credit:  The video featured in this post belongs to BangtanTV - thanks for the loan.

Photo credit:  All photos belong to Big Hit music except the second to the last, which belongs to an BTS OT7 fan site - thanks for the loan.

***

Saturday Photo (dump) + Namjooning...

...because we don't throw away memories.

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by PAM

There are many important occasions today, and it's good that it's Saturday, too.  Although it is a thoroughly busy day for me... as I am traveling from the US to the Philippines as I write this blog post.  In fact, I am currently standing on a loooong queue that is snaking around the Tom Bradley International Terminal of LAX... that is not moving!  There's a huge variety of anxiety-triggers along the queue: "late again?", "when do they start checking us in?", "can we make it to boarding at this rate?", "man, I have a connection in Manila! Will I make it at this rate?"... and what have you!  

After missing a flight the day before... and after walking (thrice! Long story... not worth discussing.) from Terminal 7 of LAX to Tom Bradley with three pieces of huge check-in luggage balanced on a squeaking cart (well, can you blame it, given the weight of my luggage?), a carry-on, and a backpack, and with that heat outside, and the LA smog that made my eyes water, plus I am really hungry... I cannot listen anymore to all the complaints around me.  So, after conversing and commiserating with my fellow frustrated passengers, I decided, I have to do something productive... and happy.  

So, I switched on Spotify, opened my ever-reliable favorite Playlist... put on my wireless earbuds... and voila, here I am... in this safe virtual haven of mine.  Let's go!

***

Everything happens for a reason

Yep, I missed my flight the day before because of that Health Pass online Form that one person insisted I needed to fill out before I can be checked-in and be given a boarding pass.  Apparently, she was misinformed... but, by the time someone made a clarification, my luggage did not have enough time to reach the plane even if I can still sprint to my gate!  So, I returned to my sister's home, and spent most part of the morning getting re-booked for my flights today.  Thankfully, the Department of State's Travel Agency that was assigned to handle the travel plans of Humphrey Fellows like myself was very efficient that everything was taken care of in only a couple of hours.  I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon taking delicious catnaps... and listening to music in between.  

The truth is, I wasn't feeling too well yesterday as I had my COVID-19 second booster shot last Wednesday evening.  I wasn't feeling well the following day, Thursday, but I couldn't take a

rest because I had to pack and re-pack my luggage.  Ten months of being in the US had me 'amassing' stuff - mostly books... and shoes - lots of them!  Nope, I do not plan to make excuses... 'cause I have none! Anyway, the extra day of stay gave me time to recuperate... and be ready for the long journey home today - a blessing in disguise.

It was a beautiful day, too!  It was a bit warm, but it was sunny, and the sky was clear and very blue - pretty, and perfect for some Namjooning!  And so, in the late afternoon, as my brother-in-law went to play golf, my sister and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood so I can admire the place one last time.  I love the old huge trees that lined the streets, almost forming a natural canopy above our heads as we walked.  The shade they provided made the warm air a bit cooler, keeping the heat radiated by the asphalt road in check.  So, it was quite a comfortable walk. 

These last month that I was in my sister's place in Boise City, ID, I walked almost everyday.  First of all, I walked to the Boise State University campus... walked leisurely around the

campus and beyond after work, and then walked home.  I typically complete more than 10,000 steps daily, which is usually equivalent to, at least, 7 km.  The place is nice and safe, so I enjoyed every minute of my walk!  Also, I loved looking at the houses around.  They are most definitely not as HUGE as the houses in, say, Texas!  However, they are dainty and lovely... making the village where my sister lives very pretty, indeed.  People are so friendly, too.  Many of them let me take a photo of their home, and even chatted a bit about the neighborhood, especially when they learned that I am a visiting scholar at Boise State.  Perhaps, that is another thing that I love about this place - people's sense of community, and sense of pride of what their community has to offer.   

My sister and I decided to eat dinner at one of our favorite Asian restaurants in the village.  We took a different route on our way there just to explore the village.  We saw interesting things

around the neighborhood.  My favorite was a mini free library at the front yard of one house. There were a couple of comfortable seats provided, and there were a few more spares in the barn just directly at the back of the free mini library.  Anyone in the neighborhood can come and read, and anyone can donate books as well.  It is a very good idea, really.  In fact, I've seen one like this at the Anne Frank Memorial at downtown Boise.... which I'll write about in the (near) future. 

My sister and I did not have our 'usual' at the Asian resto... we ventured to something different.  We usually ordered ramen or pho but, this time, I ordered their special noodles... which was truly special - lots of veggies, shrimp and beef.  It was delicious... and I finished it all! The long walk gave me appetite, and I loved it!  My sister opted for something with rice, and se loved it, too.

On our way back to my sister's house, we decided to walk some more at a park nearby.  It was, actually, a dog park.  So, there were many people walking and playing with their dogs... and there were some more playing tennis and basketball.  It was quite busy... but not crowded - there was enough space for everyone.  My sister and I decided to take camp at the

picnic area... I was so full and happy that I decided to lie down... and just enjoy the fresh air, and the peace and quiet while I bonded with my sister.  We talked about our immediate and long-term plans... and things that we are not planning just yet.  It was a very good talk, which I did enjoy.  This is another thing that I love about this place... there are many amenities that are found in big cities, like New York City (NYC), for instance... MINUS the huge crowd, the noise, the stench, the security and safety threats, and the lack of privacy.  Ah... perhaps, it's my age.  I used to enjoy the sight and sound of NYC... but, these days, I go there primarily for business.  Then again, times have changed tremendously... and so did NYC!  Given the choice, I'd rather go to Boise or in Upstate New York... and even in rural Pennsylvania - hmmm... uhm, perhaps, I won't go that far!  I do love Pittsburgh though!  It's cosmopolitan and lovely with a fair amount of intellectual vibes about it... but not as chaotic as NYC, or Philadelphia! 

***

Oh, and about special occasions...

July is a special month for me because, uhm, its my birth month! CANCER month!  Yes, indeed, I'm a crab!  Proud of it, too!  I can identify with many crabs in this life... such as the late Princess Diana

and his son, Prince William, as well as the brilliant, Tom Hanks, and the eternally youthful and innovative, Tom Cruise.  Let's not talk about Elon Musk though... because we want to talk happy and good, right?  He's a great engineer though... I give him that.

Anyway, speaking of Tom Cruise... I found out on Instagram (IG) a few days ago that he is an ARMY.  Well, in the IG post, he sang the first two lines of "Butter" - and with gusto, too.  Hahaha... and speaking of ARMY, the fandom make July even more special for me because the 9th of July is ARMY's birthday!  Having officially joined the fandom lately, I feel happy that I can celebrate my own birthday with ARMY's birthday.  Yaay!

So, when my sister and I reached home, at the suggestion of my brother-in-law, we went to harvest ripe raspberries at the backyard.  And because, I didn't have cake to commemorate the special ARMY day, and it was too late to bake one, I opted for ice cream - Ben & Jerry's.  Fortunately, I still had one of my favorite flavors, the Americone Dream, which was "vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl" (credit: description is from B&J's website).  So, I had a proper ARMY birthday celebration commemorated with ice cream topped with fresh raspberries - straight from the backyard garden!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMY! 💜🎊

And to celebrate this occasion, let's dance to one of my favorite 'old' BTS songs, "Anpanman"... because, heaven knows, I need a hero right now!

 

I chose this because this is one of the first BTS songs that caught my attention four years ago... the rest is history.  Also, the graphics in their background has the most semblance to Hobi's Jack-in-the-box album cover, which we are also celebrating these days!  Hobi is awesome in this video... and in this one, too, which is another live performance of Anpanman.

Alright... the queue is moving - FINALLY!  Outta here... for now.

***

IMAGE CREDIT:  All photos in this post are mine - I took them, and processed them, solely for this post.

VIDEO CREDIT:  The owner of the video is indicated in the video credit, BangtanTV.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

Footnote:  "Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon.  This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference:  Click here.).  Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.