Break The Stereotype (BTS)

I think I have pestered people close to me (thats a lot of people), to see/listen to BTS, a k-pop boy band. BTS has recently gained a lot of momentum, especially in India, thanks to quarantine (read joblessness/work from home), and its no surprise that people are mesmerised. By the songs. The dances. The visuals, O My GAWD the visuals! OK thats not the reason I got into it, at least initially.

Around February, I downloaded tiktok and started dancing to few Hindi songs just for fun. But social media is addictive, so I scrolled my ass off tiktok. What I discovered later was tiktockers dancing to BTS songs.
The songs were super catchy, but it was the choreography that attracted me first. And thus began the fandom.

I learnt their names. Saw their old songs. Dances. I couldn’t stop. More than their stage presence, what attracted me most was their interviews, which made them stand out- of all the idols that existed. They are goofballs, a group of dorks, lovable down to earth dorks who made us feel like we are a part of them. And the best of them all – their dressing sense. Their skin. Their accessories collection.

Imagine boys. Wearing pink clothes. Wearing make up and earrings and necklaces. and bracelets. they were looking so so beautiful like angels. Who wouldn’t love seeing colors on guys.

So this is what happened. I became a fan. I told people to see and listen to them. A lot of them politely declined, which is totally ok. Its this other group of people – who did not see them, or listen to them, or know them, but took liberty of telling me they look like a bunch of girls. This is the set of ppl I am judging seriously now. And I am very very very much sad and ashamed to say, they are Indians. There is this very stupid Indian You-tuber, who even made a viral video on how BTS dresses up like girls and wears earrings and endorses cosmetics. And there are asses who supported this ass. Again, I am not judging him. Let him not like BTS, but who is he to put out comments like “Guys are not supposed to wear earrings n stuff” and post it out to public?

Here’s the thing. The eldest member of BTS (also known as WorldWideHandsome Jin) , has said something iconic long back – “A man always chooses pink” . It sounds silly, he said it as a part of a game. But the fact is, and will remain that Jin’s fav colour is pink, and even now, after becoming BillBoard Top1 Band, he chooses and wears pink.

Here are people who are trying to change the stereotypes , and we Indians are going back to our basics with “Be a man”. BTS has partnered with UN and had given a speech on #LoveYourself campaign , and here we are still body shaming. Mind you, they are still in their 20’s, and have achieved a lot lot more, inspiring people all around, sending the message Love Yourself. Their leader Namjoon, has an IQ of 148, and is one of the most intelligent and beautiful person existing. I wish at least 1% of their influence reaches the indian men, who btw, are still too egoistic to listen to or see one of their songs 😦

The Person in the middle dressed up as a girl is their leader Namjoon (RM-Rap Monster)

At least give them a try. Or don’t. If you cannot spread love, thats totally okay. But do not spread hate. These guys struggled a lot to reach here, don’t pull them down.

“If you want to love others, I think you should love yourself first.” – RM

PS: Too big a post, but I wanted to write this one since long. Their songs are actually very amazing, and dances more so. The people – most most so. Give it a try!