Frankly, I don't care about iHeartRadio unless BTS is on, and fuck, they killed the stage here. I especially love the badass, hip hop-driven setlist, because as fun and radio-friendly as "Dynamite" and "Butter" are (and sadly, what they're most known for in the West), this is what BTS really is to me. I'm really glad that, after nine years, they still choose to perform "MIC Drop" — and the Korean version, to boot. (In the US especially, they usually perform the full English version, and it's just a subtle flex that they know they're so globally relevant that they can sing the original version.) Also, I don't know if it's because they're in the middle of their world tour right now, but they just fucking dominated this stage like it's their own concert and not performing as part of a music festival.
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Your point about choosing the Korean version of "MIC Drop" for a US festival made me pause. Do you think the language choice changes how the crowd connects with it, or is the song's energy enough to carry that connection?
ReplyDeleteHi there, thank you for your comment!
DeleteFor a US music festival wherein BTS is one of many performers, yes, I think language choice changes how the general public connects with it. Although, I will say, now that BTS is a global juggernaut, people might be more willing to listen or connect with their songs without paying attention to the language. Unfortunately, I think we're still in an era where language choice matters to a lot of people, especially in the US. A great example is the reception of Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl - and Spanish is spoken much more widely than Korean in the US.
Thank you, Denise. That distinction between a mixed festival crowd and an audience already invested in BTS is useful. A song’s energy can draw people in before they understand its words, but that first connection is different from following the lyrics. Choosing Korean for “MIC Drop” can open that door while keeping the song’s own voice intact.
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