Whaddup! I'm back for #ArmySongSunday! This week's @BTS_twt song is their 2021 Japanese single Film Out.

Hope you enjoy!

Film out is a term used to describe the process of transferring images/animation from videotape/digital files to traditional film print. Putting this into the context of BTS's song, the premise of Film Out is transferring memories of a loved one onto metaphorical photos.

The song starts off with these lines, where BTS talk about someone being so vivid in their imagination but disappearing when they reach their hand out. I've mentioned this before in other tweets, but these lyrics remind me a lot of the concept of phantom pain.

Phantom pain is a type of pain felt by those who have had a part of their body amputated, despite that body part no longer being there. These sensations are no myth and originate from the spinal chord and the brain.

So when I speak about phantom pain in Film Out, I'm referring to the pain BTS feel over being separated from the one they love, despite them no longer being there. And very much like real phantom pain, the painful sensations BTS are feeling ALSO originate from the brain.

Phantom pain has been mentioned in BTS's music before. In Singularity, Taehyung sang these lines. However, the phantom pain was due to the loss of his identity, not the loss of someone else. But it's interesting to see the concept of phantom pain used so differently in Film Out.

These lyrics here are the first reference to the term film out. If the memories of their loved one is the 'film', then BTS's heart is the 'camera', capturing all the moments they hold dear and storing them in their memory banks.

The action of BTS linking the memories together and projecting them across the room is actually how photographers hang up their photos to develop. This is further emphasized in the MV where the color of the room Jin is in (left) is eerily similar to that of a dark room (right).

In Namjoon's verse, he compares this collapsing relationship to a decaying tree. Like a decaying tree, he is past the point of no return. He gains nothing of value from reminiscing on the past, but he is rooted in place and forced to relive his pain over and over again.

He also mentions two glasses whose roles were never fulfilled. They have not been moved since they were last touched by his loved one, showing the passage of time and just how much Namjoon wants to cling onto the past, rather than move on and put the glasses away.

In their respective lines, Yoongi and Hoseok paint a clearer picture of their loved one. Even after all this time away, they never stopped caring for them and want nothing more than to be by their side, continuously chasing memories of that person until they find them.

The chorus is repeated once more, but this time, the last line changes from "I feel you with every burst of pain" to "I fall asleep with you vivid in my arms". Finally able to find their loved one, or at least a memory of them, they are at peace.

BTS continously wander around their metaphorical dark room and try and remember as much of their loved one as they can. From their scent to their warmth, they are desperate to make it last. As long as they are separated, they want these memories to last an eternity.

To summarize, Film Out is such a heartbreaking song telling the story of separation and loneliness. I really loved the symbolism of the lyrics and the instrumentals of this song really build upon the intensity of these emotions.

If you reached the end of this thread, thank you so much for reading! The lyrics were from Genius, but since the MV also has closed captions, feel free to turn those on to have the full experience.

What about you? What did you enjoy about Film Out? Use the #ArmySongSunday hashtag and let me know!

I'll be back with another song next week. See you soon! https://open.spotify.com/track/3UHPGOkUcE4hE7sqBF4Snt?si=5XxM0jYTS-OChUruI0rEiQ&utm_source=copy-link