*tap tap* is this thing on...?

[xparrot]

So I've been thinking that I want to try to get back online more, somehow. And this is a nice small place to start.

--There's no real explanation for where I've been! Just that I'm an introvert who lives in a large and active household that I love, but it got a bit overwhelming during the pandemic lockdowns. Now that I have the house to myself again sometimes, I've reached the point of actually wanting more social interaction again.

Also am trying to not be too embarrassed about how my main fandom for going on two years now has been BTS. Midway through the pandemic my sister and I went fuck it, we need something to cheer us up. She had a friend who'd been trying to get her into them for years, so we got a list of vids to start with. And. Yeah. It was simultaneously exactly what I was expecting and completely contrary to what I thought. I didn't think I would fall so hard, and I love it. I've never really done RPF or music fandom before, so getting that new perspective on those ways to fan has been fascinating. The enjoyment of music + the intensity of fanning is a potent combo. And they're good kids -- good men. For the celebrities to set the tone for the new age, we could do a lot worse. Plus it took me a while to get into the fic and figure out what I wanted from it, but when I finally did it got me reading again after a long drought, and writing at last too. Really, of all the fandoms I've been in, this is one of the ones that's just made me the happiest. So no regrets.

(and the LA PtD concert was incredible!)

Comments

[naye]

I'm so glad you found such bright joy in dark times! 💖

[xparrot]

💖💖💖

[undeadrobins]

The LA concert was fantastic! I've only been a fan for a few months (since January,I think) but BTS are an absolute delight and make me so happy. And yes, I'm also being inspired to read and write more now!

[xparrot]

(aww Hobi~~! ^^)

We were at day 2 in LA and woooow what a show!

It is amazing to me how many new people are getting into them -- we're still pandemic ARMY so I think of us as new, compared to the people who have been into them most of their run. But like, we saw our first vids only a week before Dynamite dropped? and the fandom may have doubled since then (this comeback is going to be wiiiiild...!)

[anotherslashfan]

Welcome! I've been into BTS since maybe March 2020, and while I've been in music RPF fandoms before, they've hooked me in a different way, I feel...

[xparrot]

Heee thank you! We've been into them since right before Dynamite dropped and it has been a ride! I've never done music RPF before and I can definitely understand the appeal in a way I couldn't before, but I don't know if I could fall for another band quite like this? (partly just...there is so much stuff with them! and they're all adorable in all of it! And getting to see their logs from when they were literal children, and seeing how far they've come...)

[hils]

Welcome back! And I feel this hard! I fell down a massive k-pop hole during the pandemic for very similar reasons. Not just BTS, a whole bunch of groups. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it.

There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about!

[xparrot]

Heeee we have carefully been avoiding other kpop because yeah it's one helluva rabbit hole! (though my Google feed is really determined to get me into Stray Kids XD)! So what other groups are you into? :D

[hils]

Well, funnily enough, one of then is Stray Kids :D

Also ONEUS, ATEEZ, NCT (and all associated sub-units), Monsta X, Golden Child and Pentagon.

[xparrot]

Just in my personal experience Stray Kids seems #2 after BTS in fandom popularity right now! And they look cute and fun and...I have been holding out on actually listening to their music but we'll see XD

I have at least heard of most of the others, except Golden Child and Pentagon (there are so many!) NCT just makes me boggle, though...how do you keep track? It took me over a month just to learn 7! XD

[hils]

I really love Stray Kids' music. It's very much my jam. If you want a starting point the video for God's Menu is A+ Their lastest album (ODDinary) is also excellent.

Golden Child I found because they were on a survival show with ONEUS (who were why I watched it) and Pentagon (who I vaguely knew beforehand and loved a lot more afterwards). They've done some really high quality music videos. Watch the one for Burn It if you want a high budget zombie apocalypse drama condensed into 4 minutes :D

[xparrot]

So did you find BTS first and then that led you to the others, or did you start with a bunch?

And thanks (??? ^^;;;;) for the recs! They sound like a lot of fun (I've heard of "God's Menu" even though I haven't heard it yet...) I just have to figure out if I have the fannish brainspace to try... XD

[hils]

So did you find BTS first and then that led you to the others, or did you start with a bunch?
A bit of both actually. I have a RL friend who loves BTS and whenever I went to visit they would get me to watch videos and random episodes of Run BTS. For whatever reason their music never really clicked with me, but after I got into some other groups I went back to them and found I liked them a lot more than I used to. Maybe my tastes have changed over the years IDK.

Haha! No pressure with the recs. Just some suggestions if you ever decide you want to branch out into other groups :D

[umadoshi]

It's so good to see you! *^^*

I'm genuinely scared to ever try listening to BTS--from the outside, it seems like if they hit that fannish chord for me, I might be swallowed far too whole by it all. ^^; So I honestly don't know if I ever will try, but seeing the amount of joy they and their music are bringing to people I know is glorious.

[xparrot]

Good to see you too! ^^

BTS really is amazing but yeah there is a lot to swallow you (the sheer amount of content is boggling, putting aside the fanfic and everything else...even now we keep running across interviews and things we haven't seen...) But if you ever do want to just plunge in -- no regrets, they are seriously such a delight!

[yantantether]

It's lovely to hear from you and I'm glad you've been enjoying BTS!

[xparrot]

Good to see you too! Nice to know people are still around~ ^^

[sheron]

BTS has always sounded like the kind of rabbit hole that would be very very fun!

Glad to see you around, and SO understand the "I finally feel like I want to be around other people" introvert feel.

[xparrot]

It is SUCH a fun rabbit hole, and I legit did not think I would get this into it, but yeah...enjoying myself so much. Let me know if you ever want a peek down it yourself~~~

It's frankly weird, to want people again! XD

[alessandriana]

Yay, glad you're back!

[xparrot]

\o/ glad to see you~~!

[runpunkrun]

Good to see you back around these parts! A number of people in my fannish circles are deeply into BTS these days, so you're in good company.

[xparrot]

Good to be back! It does seem like BTS has swallowed a good chunk of fandom in the time I was away, I have no problems understanding why...

[catalenamara]

I'm glad you've found a good new fandom. There's nothing like a good fannish passion to lift the spirits.

[xparrot]

It was definitely what I needed! I honestly didn't think I would get as fannish as I have, but totally worth it...

[clevermanka]

Yay for finding a happy place in a fandom that gives you joy!

[xparrot]

It is very happy-making!

[sholio]

Hi! It's nice to see you here! ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm glad you've found something to be joyous about! That's really the thing that matters.

[xparrot]

Feels good to be back! If a little weird. ^^;;;

This has been such an interesting fandom to be in, as well as just fun, it's joy all around! (like, as well as being my first RPF, I'm a multi-shipper? that never happens! It's very entertaining fic-wise! XD)

[stuckonstones]

I'm glad you guys for a new fandom to be thrill about! As for music I've been unexpectedly swallowed by folk metal. The kiddo and I have been bonding over several bands. I'm also starting to people again.Actually seeing two friends in person this week. I miss you guys though.

[xparrot]

*hugs* yay for seeing people! Miss you too, we will let you know when we are back in town for sure <333

And hee to the folk metal! we should do a music/fanning exchange when together (I think BTS would be great for you, tbh~ ^^)

[stuckonstones]

Yes!! I'll have to actually look up BTS and give them a listen. I've been mainlining Bloodywood's new album for about a month now ^_^;;

[xparrot]

...OMG I have never really heard of folk metal before but "Bloodywood" sounds like the perfect band name for it, even not knowing what it is!

tbh I didn't get into BTS originally from their music but all their cute variety show etc stuff, in which they are a bunch of silly boys who get along very well and I think you would be very entertained by! That being said I absolutely love their music now, and they are crazy talented.

A few favorites to try (all with subs on Youtube if you want the lyric translations!):

"On" is their Jungian-themed (...no seriously) stadium anthem; this is the dance vid for it, with LA dance troop The Lab
"Mikrokosmos" is softer and sweeter (one of my first favorites, for a while I called it the Lion King song; it's a love song to their fans, and the galaxy the light sticks at their concerts make)
"Butter" you might've heard on the radio last summer; it was their 2nd English language hit. This vid is the "Hotter" remix showcasing their ridiculous side.

(this is only a sample, their full range is ridiculously diverse, in no small part because there are 7 of them, all with different musical tastes! so they range from hiphop to hard rock to latin pop, and then there's their solo songs...)

[stuckonstones]

Those are cute :D

Bloodywood is an Indian band and there songs have great messages.

Jee Veerey is about fighting depression, the video has a translation of the lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uJoN_I9ebQ&list=PLbvVFiqcpB93hSE9h2VqU4e6DQXEoY9Hn&index=7

Gaadar is a political statement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKjSCTxke8&list=PLbvVFiqcpB93hSE9h2VqU4e6DQXEoY9Hn&index=4

and Yaad is about loosing a pet, "I see your coming as a gift, not your leaving as a curse"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bldupcptbE&list=PLbvVFiqcpB93hSE9h2VqU4e6DQXEoY9Hn&index=3

<3

[bonibaru]

Lovely to see you! xox

[xparrot]

And you too! :D

[spacealien_vamp]

Good to see you posting again!

I have to admit, every time I see the letters BTS, my brain turns it into BtVS from my days in Buffy fandom.

[xparrot]

*hugs* glad to see you too~!

Ahahah that's fair! I have the problem now that "BTS" is also used for "behind the scenes" vids...which I also love for shows I know, but it's still disappointing when I'm expecting the band!