Thread by @esquire, There is something about complete world domination that can really cement a [...]

There is something about complete world domination that can really cement a friendship. @BTS_twt are, to put it mildly, huge. @DaveHolmes finds out what’s next. http://esqr.co/fPbZzb4

The Boundless Optimism of BTS

The biggest band in the world has ascended to the peak of pop, redefined fame, and challenged traditional masculinity. These are the twenty-somethings behind it all. And this is what they want now.

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Since the start of their careers, BTS have shown a certain confidence in their aesthetic, their performances, and their music videos. BTS stands for “Bangtan Sonyeondan,” which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts.” @BTS_twt

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J-Hope: Jimin has a particular passion for the stage and really thinks about performance, and in that sense, there are many things to learn from him. @BTS_twt

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BTS have sold more than twenty million physical units across fourteen albums. Their multi-album concept cycles, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Love Yourself, and Map of the Soul, have unfolded over multiple records and EPs. @BTS_twt

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RM: We and our ARMY are always charging each other’s batteries.

“Our love life—twenty-four hours, seven days a week—is with all the ARMYs all over the world.” @BTS_twt

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“Dynamite,” their first English-language single and their first American number one, is pure, ecstatic pop. Shiny and joyful. Their lyrics seek to challenge the conventions of society—to question and even denounce them. @BTS_twt

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Suga: There is this culture where masculinity is defined by certain emotions, characteristics. I’m not fond of these expressions. What does being masculine mean? @BTS_twt

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They are adored by screaming teenagers and we live in a society patriarchal enough to forget that screaming teenagers are nearly always right. @BTS_twt

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Jin: I think it’s enough to get respect from people who support us. It’s similar everywhere else in the world. You can’t like everyone, and I think it’s enough to be respected by people who really love you. @BTS_twt

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But BTS have already conquered the world, clowned tyrants, inspired individual fans to perform the small and achievable acts of activism that have collectively begun to save the planet.

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Sometimes there is a whole universe alongside your own, bursting with color you’re too stubborn to see, bouncing with joy you think is for someone else, with a beat you thought you were finished dancing to. @BTS_twt

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RM: I think the Grammy’s are the final part of the whole American journey. @BTS_twt

Read @BTS_twt's full conversation with @DaveHolmes http://esqr.co/fPbZzb4

RM: Humans are imperfect, and we have these flaws and defects. And one way to deal with all this pressure and weight is to admit the shadows.

@BTS_twt

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