Purple Lights and Unforgettable Nights: The BTS Concert Experience
This is not my first blog focusing on BTS concerts, both in-person and online, but it all felt significant to consider again. After Yet to Come in Busan, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences with these events, as well as what they mean in the bigger picture for fans and the concert industry. It’s a long and emotional one, with some thoughts I’ve shared similarly before, but it’s an encompassing collection of what I feel when I think about BTS on a concert stage. Thank you for reading, ARMY, and enjoy!
I consider myself very lucky to be able to say that I first saw a BTS concert in 2018. It was 11 months since I first saw them perform DNA on the American Music Awards and I was over the moon to have snagged tickets for a friend and I to see them twice at the United Center here in Chicago. It was their initial Love Yourself tour and after the countless YouTube videos I had seen prior to the show, I thought I knew what to expect. They were about to be the 120th artist on my list of concert experiences so I had a lot to compare the evening to. But unsurprisingly, I was blown away. The performances of BTS as a group were explosive and the solo stages were stunning, a display of live pop music that I had never seen before. Every element was so perfectly planned out and crafted to give the audience a full-scale visual, musical, and artistic experience. At the time, I thought this was it — this is the top of the top, the best of the best. But once again, I was proven wrong. Because fast forward to 4 years later and I continue to find myself absolutely in awe. So much has changed over these many months, for better and for worse, but the unparalleled performance quality of BTS, and all that comes with their events, has only gotten bigger and better.
When my friend and I arrived to the United Center for these shows, we saw crowds of ARMY gathering to meet, perform choreography, and just be together. I instantly recognized this sense of community that formed throughout the concert goers that felt really unique. In our seats, we mingled and chatted with fellow fans and as I looked around the crowd, it really stood out to me how diverse the audience was. In every section there were fans of all races, genders, ages, and ethnicities buzzing with excitement. So many of us didn’t speak the language but that didn’t matter. We all had something in common that meant something to us, and it created this space that felt so safe and comforting, and just so ridiculously fun.
Less than a year following the nights at the United Center, BTS was back on tour but this time, they were filling stadiums. I again consider myself very fortunate to say that I was able to attend the two shows in Chicago, and once again, I was amazed at what I saw. Despite the horrendous weather we experienced that weekend, BTS put on high-energy, powerful performances that made me laugh, cry, scream, and everything in between. So much of the show stands out in my mind as memories I will hold onto forever, but it’s some moments following the weekend that I’ll truly never forget.
Before the Speak Yourself pop-up shop closed down on State Street, I went by after work to browse and treat myself to a sweatshirt that would eventually become a comfort piece — something I would throw on when I needed that reminder of the joy that a BTS concert created. As I was looking around, in my own world and minding my own business, a fellow ARMY came up to me, said hello, and offered me a small BTS photo. It’s such a common gesture among this fandom, but at that moment, it meant so much. I was likely older than this girl, I was alone, but she knew in that setting that we had a common interest and that this small token would make me smile. And it really did. Despite my “post-concert depression,” I walked to the train home feeling so good. I carried my bag with my new hoodie, passing by other ARMY on the street making their way to the store, with my little photo in hand, with a new sense of peace. I kept that photo in my wallet for years, not just as a reminder of the band I love, but a reminder that fandom is incredible and kindness is real.
No one could have predicted that less than a year later, the world would shut down. The tickets I purchased to the next tour would eventually be refunded and uncertainty would reign supreme. But as I’ve written about before, BTS got creative and found ways to continue to bring incredible concert experiences into our lives — just in new ways. And ARMY adapted as well. The in-person community of concerts moved fully online, with Twitter users sharing streams, gifs, videos, general excitement, etc. While the cheers were virtual (or sometimes on screens within the venue), BTS still put on incredible performances. “ON” proved itself to be a new stadium anthem, joining “Idol” in that category, while “Black Swan” quickly became one of the most gorgeous, one-of-a-kind live art stages the music world had ever seen. New solo songs were performed in ways unique to each member and new hits released during the pandemic, along with the songs we’ve known and loved, allowed us to feel that excitement that typically comes with a live concert. They lived up to their reputation through BangBangCon The Live, MOTS ON:E, and Muster Sowoozoo, all done without a live audience in sight. They connected with us through the cameras, something they have always done so beautifully, and provided us with a real concert experience from the safety of our homes. We saw BTS breaking new records, this time for online views, that would eventually basically break the internet itself.
Changes in the pandemic resulted in new opportunities and eventually, BTS could perform on stage again — this time selling out multiple dates for stadium shows in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas. ARMY were once again going through the madness of ticket purchasing, with many also buying flights, hotels, and transportation to attend the concerts themselves. And while this wasn’t the first time that the band sold out stadiums and ARMY made their way to the host city, things felt different. The cities themselves took notice. Lights were turned purple — the official color of BTS and ARMY — restaurants made special menus and deals, hotels advertised specifically to concert-goers. As a Chicagoan, I’d seen somewhat similar things occur during Lollapalooza but never really like this. Never just because of one artist. Not to this extent. (And boy does that not ring true anymore in terms of Chicago after Hobipalooza!) Because these businesses and city officials knew this was something special. This is a band that has boosted their country’s economy by numbers bigger than I can even begin to understand. It’s a band with fans so dedicated and so excited that they’ll use their PTO and hop on a plane to see them perform. And it’s more than that. It’s fans who want to see one another. Meet their online friends, make new connections, and experience that sense of community that ARMY creates. ARMY going to in-person concerts know they have the opportunity to be part of something so much bigger. It’s like taking a BTS themed vacation to a city that may or may not even have much to do with BTS, but will later go down in the history books as a location that provided that festival experience — just for BTS and ARMY.
Less than 12 hours ago (as I write this), BTS performed a free concert to thousands upon thousands of people in Busan, with millions more watching online. The lead-up to the event, one meant to put the city in the spotlight as they bid to host the 2030 World Expo, was not without concern. Questions relating to the venue, the politics, the funding, etc. were all over the internet and fans were reassured that the concert would go forth as planned, with BTS again putting on a concert of the safest and highest quality. And of course, they did just that. The show was superb, an amazing showcase of some of the band’s biggest hits and b-sides, while also giving us another new massive stage with the introduction of live “Run BTS.” We had the hard-hitting, high-energy performances that leave us all breathless, as well as the heartfelt, tear-jerkers that are always present in the latter half of the show. And yet again, a city was transformed for BTS and ARMY. Our Twitter feeds were flooded with photos of ARMY crowds throughout the city, as well as landmarks and businesses turning purple and helping to build that sense of community for the fans. Those of us online felt the typical “fomo” that comes from missing out on the in-person experience, but we also were so excited for our friends and fellow fans, and especially for BTS — who could finally hear the cheers from the audience in their home country once again. I would be remiss to not mention that this concert, as others recently, also included a “live play” option where fans within the host city could watch the concert on a big screen, with fellow ARMY, just not within the venue itself. And of course, these have all sold out to capacity, adding to the incredible numbers of viewers of these shows.
I rolled out of bed at 3:40 AM to livestream the concert today. You’d never catch me waking up that early to workout or get chores done before the day begins, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to miss a BTS concert. I was ready…but the servers were not. I knew I’d be one of millions joining the streams provided by the official hosts, and yet somehow perhaps they did not understand the sheer volume of users visiting their pages? I’m not a tech person, I barely know how these things work, but I know that when it comes to BTS and ARMY, you have to expect big. And when you think it’s going to be at the highest level it can, be sure to multiply that by at least 7 just to be prepared. Because when BTS show up, when they put on a concert especially, ARMY shows up too.
So many of us experienced the concert with a level of frustration, but we also saw that sense of community. New links were shared across the timeline, as well as translations of what the members were expressing as they spoke to the crowd. Eventually, we’d start to see video clips and photos and have opportunities to relive moments we may have missed — whether that be due to poor streaming or simply blacking out at times due to sheer excitement, exhaustion, and elation. Trust me, I myself experienced all of those things throughout the two hours in front of my TV, it’s all very real. And regardless, we all were so excited that BTS were back on stage, showing the world who they are and what they can do, and they yet again put it all out there. Dripping in sweat, reaching for breath, sometimes showing signs of emotion, these 7 artists once again put on a truly spectacular show. I had to remind myself that this was meant to showcase Busan (which looked gorgeous and allowed for this to be a hometown show for Jimin and Jungkook), because this was really a showcase for how talented and strong this band is. Almost 10 years into their career, with dozens and dozens of shows under their belt, in everything from small theatres to massive stadiums, and they still give it every ounce of energy they have.
BTS is in their new chapter. They’re grown men working to explore their individual identities as artists and humans, while ensuring they’re living their lives in a way that will only allow them to continue on as the people and performers they want to be. We are all yet again faced with uncertainty. Some of which is in their control, some that is not. And while we currently do not know everything that’s to come or when we’ll see them all together on stage next, we know there’s more. More music, more performances, more shows. And as Hobi said, which was echoed by the others, we just have to trust. Trust them. Trust ourselves to trust them. As we have so many times before, always with beautiful results.
A BTS concert, whether experienced live or online, is an extraordinary event. It’s a live show of epic proportions with massive dance numbers, fun-loving moments, beautiful ballads, and sincere messages. It’s an opportunity to build community and connect with others, while perhaps exploring a new city if you’re lucky. It’s fun and lively and emotional. And it’s really just so special. So all of this is to say — BTS, thank you for these amazing memories. The shows I’ve seen both in-person and online have given me some of my happiest days. The music, the artists, the fans, all of it, is just so special. And until we meet again, wherever and however that may be, I will hold onto these memories as I continue to cheer you on in all that’s ahead. There’s going to be new music and moments that will continue to craft this next chapter and I, along with ARMY, will be there. Because I trust, and I know, that there’s so much yet to come.
