BTS finds us when we need them most
For some reason or another, last week I started thinking about the fandom saying that BTS finds you when you need them most. Oh yes, it was because I was celebrating the second anniversary of the release of I Am ARMY: It’s time to begin on September 13, where I discussed the saying in the introduction. I’ve seen a lot of stories that talk about BTS “finding” ARMY, appearing in their lives at opportune moments. Or perhaps they play a smaller role in the beginning, only to take center stage when a crisis or event happens later on. Or perhaps even spurring a chain reaction of events to lead to a big change–most often a breakup or leaving a toxic situation behind. This is what I’ve observed during my time as a fan, while researching, and while working directly with ARMY to tell their stories. So here I was, thinking thoughts as you do, and I was struck by the desire to delve deeper into this saying. I give to you… my Instagram essay with bonus notes and musings.
It's commonly said amongst ARMY that BTS finds you when you need them most. This is referring to how people often stumble across or get "found" by BTS during moments of great sadness, upheaval, change, or crisis. From here, BTS provides healing and brings joy to their newfound fans, ultimately changing their lives in positive ways small, big, and everywhere in between.
What is interesting to me is that there seems to be a majority of ARMY who report that they were struggling at the exact time BTS came into their lives. And that through BTS’ appearance and the subsequent fall into the rabbit hole of the group and their fandom, these people receive healing, companionship, find purpose, quit their jobs or [insert something positive and/or life-changing here].
I would like to note that I suspect there are also a large number of people–myself included–who did not experience BTS this way and simply became a fan without any element of being saved or having their life changed. However, it still interests me that there is this quality of BTS finding people at opportune times. That’s far more exciting to look into than my own experience of finding them and then later having my life change because of them. You know? Though that definitely is part of the overarching phenomenon–being that BTS instigate positive changes in the lives of, presumably, millions of their fans in a multitude of ways.
The most moving and profound stories that I have been told about BTS finding ARMY have had a hugely important commonality: they save lives. During moments on the brink of life and death, ARMY have reported hearing BTS. Either a song coming to mind or a memory of a specific member. This has been enough to give them hope and to pull them back from the edge. Interestingly, Jin's Epiphany is one of the most frequently heard songs during moments of despair.
The reason why I use this example of a life or death situation is that it demonstrates the true power of BTS. Despite not knowing these ARMY personally, they are still able to reach them in moments of crisis. Interestingly, ARMY have talked of BTS’ music playing in their minds at the exact moment they have taken actions towards ending their lives. BTS show up in ARMY’s lives during moments of crisis, and they don’t need screens or speakers in order to do so. Just a thought of them, just a melody or a memory… that’s all it takes to save a life in these reported instances. (Of special note here is that the ARMY are not intentionally thinking of BTS. When they report these moments it is more that BTS have appeared out of the control of the ARMY. The music has played so vividly it’s like someone put it on in another room.) So how is it that BTS has such a huge impact?
BTS' music is transformative and healing. From how it's composed, to how it's sung, from its lyrics to how it's performed, it resonates deeply with the listener in a way that transcends language and cultural barriers. Their music is the perfect vehicle to carry messages of hope, love, and understanding to a global community. BTS is experienced on many different levels of consciousness, which only amplifies their positive, transformational power.
Even though the relationship is parasocial, BTS provides companionship—friendship— in the form of lives, content, RUN episodes and so much more. Parasocial companionship is incredibly important, especially for those who are lonely or hurting. BTS don't judge, they don't leave, they're always there for ARMY.
BTS are one of two—ARMY also factor into this 'saving' and/or transformative quality of the group. Being a part of fandom, being a part of community, provides fans with vital connections and meaningful interactions. Not only does BTS find people when they need them most, but so does ARMY. In fact, ARMY are quite often the reason why others find BTS in the first place.
BTS' true power is love. Their language, their meaning, their purpose, it's all love. Love heals, love saves. And just like BTS, love finds you when you need it most. None of this, however, explains how or why BTS happens to find ARMY during moments of need. That is the beauty of BTS, though, not all of the phenomena surrounding them can be explained in simple ways. If BTS finds you when you need them most, it was just meant to be.
This is one of my favourite parts about writing about BTS. Also, interestingly, this is the part where my work diverges from being strictly sociological and dives right into the metaphysical… though I’ll leave most of that for Idol Limerence, as I’m pretty sure I said it all way better there. You see, I can talk about what ARMY have said, I can give reasons for the power of BTS’ music and message… I can show in tangible and–somewhat–objective ways how they have an impact on ARMY. What is less tangible, however, is exactly how BTS appear at these moments right as people need them. How they come into people’s lives and turn them into ARMY during moments of crisis, upheaval, change, and loneliness.
ARMY have written to me saying they believe it to be an act of God. Others have said it’s divine intervention. This is what makes the saying that BTS finds you when you need them most so powerful. Because I believe that when ARMY say this they are acknowledging that there are greater powers at play. ARMY did not seek out BTS, and BTS did not seek out ARMY… yet BTS found ARMY. They appeared in their lives at the exact moment they needed them. And, interestingly of all, this happens without BTS physically being present. It happens parasocially, for the most part. It takes place between the persona of BTS–the group and the members individually–and the fan.
In reality, it comes down to a many number of events aligning. In my case, it was that I started watching Kdramas on Netflix and many months later was on YouTube watching videos of my favourite actor. I then saw that he was also a singer so I started watching a video of his. The next video to autoplay was IDOL. I wouldn’t have found BTS if I hadn’t been suggested the Kdrama by Netflix. I wouldn’t have watched the video if I hadn’t sold my business and got a job where I was suddenly home at 9am on a weekday procrastinating looking at my emails. So many small events led me to that moment where I saw that music video. That coupled with the algorithm and a plethora of other reasons, had my eyes on BTS for the first time in my life. As BTS grows in popularity, these instances of–perhaps, dare I say perceived–happenstance, grow too. This is the power of marketing, algorithms, ARMY, Hybe, and BTS after all, is it not? Plus if we look at the number of people who are struggling in the world today, it makes sense that they would likely be struggling when they stumble across content of BTS’. If we boiled it down, it could easily be written off as a numbers game… which is entirely true. For that is the tangible element.
Yet what cannot be easily explained is the feeling and the deep knowing that BTS has found us exactly when we needed them most. Sure, that could very well be the long arm of capitalism turning a few too many cogs in our brains. That could be the romance narrative at work (did it ever truly stop?). But what if everything is true? What if it’s not an either (capitalism) or (there is a higher power at play)? What if life is nuanced and complex and easily explained and wildly intangible and unknowable all at once? Suddenly as I write this I am reminded of the album title by my favourite band Enter Shikari. I feel it sums up my feelings on this topic rather nicely, so I’ll end it like this:
Nothing is true and everything is possible.
