How can BTS win a Grammy to top their record-breaking year? Better singing for a start
- The K-pop superstars have just finished their gruelling world tour, playing to two million fans
- They have won fans worldwide, made history and won many awards, but so far the Grammy has eluded them
Tuesday was a bittersweet day for K-pop titans BTS. The seven-piece boy band staged the last leg of their “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” world tour at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, ending a year-long, globe-trotting journey. The tour that kicked off in August 2018 was seen by more than two million people in 26 cities.
“As I sang my solo number Epiphany, I was full of sorrow, since this was the last time I’d be singing this song,” member Jin said at the final show. “But at the same time, I was delighted to mark the end. I promise BTS will return with a rocking concert.”
Rapper Suga said: “Everything that has a beginning has an end. It is our final gig, but also a new start.”
BTS – comprising RM, Suga, Jin, J-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – made K-pop history with the tour: they became the first K-pop act to perform at Wembley Stadium in London and Citi Field in New York.
Now, all eyes are on what’s next. The members vaguely hinted at fresh music during the three-hour performance, saying they would “come back soon”. The septet are reportedly poised to return early next year, after fan meetings in Japan.
Probably one of the biggest missions is to reveal further their musical prowess. This could help the band get closer to their dream of winning a Grammy, one of the world’s most prestigious music awards, according to Billboard’s K-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin. At this year’s awards, BTS presented one award and received one nomination, but came away empty-handed.
The Billboard Music Awards are based solely on numbers, statistics and charts, but the Grammys is about artistic integrity, critical responses and the way the academy votes.”
Some observers say the band could reach another level if members further polish their vocal skills.
BTS have demonstrated their talent through multiple self-written tracks and jaw-dropping performances, but the members’ vocal abilities have sometimes stirred debate online. The band’s live performance of its maudlin ballad The Untold Truth is one example.
Another challenge for BTS and its Big Hit Entertainment agency face is the management of international fans. A legion of them, who often encounter a language barrier, are speaking of their difficulties. Jennifer Teo, 49, a Malaysian lawyer who has been in the BTS Army (the band’s global fan base) since 2017, is one of them.
Teo said foreign fans could buy tickets for BTS’ gigs on the Global Interpark website, which is in English, but this comes with its own problems.
“The website cannot handle the huge volume of fans,” Teo said. “Even when I reached the page and there were some tickets available for purchase, the page froze and I had to try all over again. I tried so many hours but was not successful in the end.”
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“To be honest, at times like these, I’d rather save time and stress by buying tickets on the secondary market. However, out of respect for BTS’ and Big Hit’s attempts to discourage this, I won’t do that.”
The lawyer said she hoped every foreign fan could get a chance to watch BTS live. She wished the ticketing process was easier and smoother. “Perhaps Big Hit could consider reserving a portion of the tickets for foreign fans and appoint a separate agent to handle foreign purchases,” she said.
Nevertheless, the future of BTS seems bright, with all members exhibiting a willingness to improve themselves.
“I am not fully content with my performance today,” lead vocalist Jungkook said during the Seoul concert. “But I am happy to see you relishing it. I will work enthusiastically to upgrade myself for our next release and concert, so that I can give new energy to you. Thank you and I love you.”
