Brittany Kelley
This past weekend I went to see the Korean musicians, BTS. I’ve been waiting a long time for the opportunity and I couldn’t be more grateful. It was even better because I was able to go with my dad, who is also a big fan. But amongst the screaming and crying and laughing and singing, there was one particular point of the concert that made me stop: the entire stadium singing “Arirang.”
“Arirang,” according to Britannica, is a traditional Korean folk song that has become a symbol of shared cultural identity. Earlier this year, after four years of being apart, BTS released an album with the same name. Member Kim Namjoon discussed the title representing wanting to return to their roots after the required mandatory military service. Although he didn’t explicitly state this, I assume it falls in line with the admission in 2022 that the group felt as though they lost their way when it came to their musical identity. In a way, this album, after such a long hiatus, was their chance to find themselves again.
The theme of “Arirang” continues in the song, titled “Body to Body,” where the folk song is mixed with new beats and instrumentals to create an interesting take on the classic piece. There’s one entire portion, where it plays alone, without member vocals.
Some of the members were hesitant on this inclusion, as shown in a recent documentary depicting the album creation process. They feared that it felt too patriotic, that it was essentially shoving Korean culture down the throats of fans. Others felt that it provided a blend of their identity with their love of music. Specifically, Jung Hoseok noted that he “believe[s] people from other cultures will be wowed by it.”
Hoseok was exactly right because when I heard 85,000 fans singing Arirang right back to BTS Sunday night, I was transfixed. Not only did it sound beautiful, especially when member Jung Jungkook joined along, but I felt as though they were sharing something sacred.
Before the fame, BTS was a small group from South Korea, who certainly experienced their share of racism in their come up — which can be explored in songs like “Idol” and “Aliens” — even most recently with the Grammy Awards attempting to create an Asian-only category.
Ultimately, the group decided to not submit, stating that music is universal and shouldn’t be categorized based on the region it originates. So, BTS having the chance to share an impactful folk song from their culture with millions of global fans singing it back to them is something I’m sure they’re proud of, even if there was initial hesitancy.
There’s so much hurt and negativity going on in the world and over the past year, I’ve found solace in moments of community. One example is when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were temporarily cut and people throughout the nation, and even in Hays County, banded together to provide food to those who needed it.
It’s beautiful to be part of something bigger and, when we as a nation and across the globe are experiencing hate rise at an alarming rate, I felt hope singing along with others and celebrating a culture that many of us are unfamiliar with. I felt like the future might be brighter knowing that these people in the stadium with me are the people that we need, the kind that likely continues to educate themselves and encourage others to do so, too.
It’s imperative to be open-minded and learn to appreciate and accept other cultures; I’m grateful for BTS for allowing the opportunity to feel connected to a bigger picture for a few moments during the concert. I hope we all experience more community, connectivity and hope in the coming years. It’s the only way we’ll survive.
Kelley is news editor of the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch. She can reached via email at [email protected].
