barbara

They are good friends and run in the same circles, so it wouldn't be a surprise, though this pretty much benefits Peakboy only.....

If Hobi is only now headed back to his base, he had a lot longer leave than I thought they got after their first 100 days. He may have taken the selfies a week ago, for all we know - and, actually, his hair looks shorter than it did at the concert. And - a Hobi video from 2015! that just showed up on Twitter. He is clearly made out of rubber. Gumby boy.

Agree - the lizard is a lizard. The stylist FAILED.

I think the lizard shoot is unfortunate.

JK may be hanging back a few days to let Tae take the spotlight. He'll be back soon. And I asked the question on the other thread about - when was the CK campaign shot? I can say it's before Seven. Before they shot the choreo or the MV - it's all pre-second lip ring.

I only have the one modem. I returned a defective one yesterday and traded it for this one. I can use my phone's "hotspot" on my computer to connect with the internet and that's not a problem (and will have that option going when I watch the final Agust D concert later). Different "provider" - so, oddly, I can access internet through the air but not through a cable, so it's the internet company. I don;'t know if their signal is weak or if there's an issue with the cable that brings the signal into the house. I need to, again, investigate, what other options I might have for internet (I guess the phone company and I know they have an internet option for the house - it just never looked like it had the same Mbs speeds for streaming but I'm going to check it again. I really watch very little actual "TV" - PBS and I can get that online. And, basically, one news station. I can wean myself off of watching the news station that I tend to record and watch later. And it's Take Two that had little or no change on streaming numbers for days...

Rainy Days is at 12M views right now - but I feel certain they have not been accurate with view counts for a lot of BTS stuff. Like Crazy didn't move for days. And, I foger which one it was, but recently - one song didn't move from 12M for a week and that was impossible - as if there aren't one million ARMY streaming that (it was new) MV multiple times a day. My internet/cable company is AWFUL. This is the third modem I've had in as many years. It's brand new - and worked fine yesterday after I brought it home. The one actual real person I spoke to (after hours of beating my head against the wall) says the signal showed as weak but my computer is literally 8 feet away from the modem. It should not be weak. I don't know what it is. Even though I'm in and out of connectivity today (and -weirdly - five of my Amazon devices accepted the actual network name and password, but two devices say the password is invalid - what?), I'll take the tech visit, and demand money off my monthly bill for the loss of service. 8-10 am on a Sunday. Not the A team and not when I want to be having stranger workers in the house before I've even had my second cup of coffee. Part of me feels I'm in a cursed house and the other part of me remembers just how lucky I really am. Need to practice gratitude.

For both Spotify an YouTube - there are lots of songs with the the same names. Just be sure that it's V on Spotify an that it's Hybe on YouTube, Weir though - I have been having a personal meltdown as my internet is wonky, an has been. I went an picked up a new modem yesterday at the store location of my provider. F\Different network name, of course, and password. Set up - and then had to reconnect all my Amazon devices (and phone) to it by changing the network, etc. Tedious. Chris suggested I just change the network name back to what it was - did so. And - poof - no internet. I kept getting an error message that my password was invalid. Lots of time "chatting" and that person said he'd have a tech person come out Sunday (so two days later -) Unacceptable. I called to speak to an actual person (as the Agust D concert time fast approaching). Went through a series of tries - and eventually (after HOURS) getting a connection again - but it's still wonky and I was beyond frustrated. Unable to record any of the concert except Jimin (hand held). Fingers crossed for tonight - My third modem in as many years. I wish I had options but we dont;t here. Monopolies. In the overall scheme of things, the internet debacle, still an issue; having to replace two tires - also yesterday - is so minor compared to what is happening elsewhere right now - Maui, for one. One of Chris' friends in on Maui and was supposed to get married there today., Worse, a guy he has worked with for ten years (Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) had his boat explode in Long Beach harbor Sunday, Two dead. Three burned - though it seems not as seriously as we first worried. Still - very very bad stuff. My little concerns seem, well, little. I am grateful. Missed the RM live - RIP Monie. I didn't know that the expression "rainbow bridge" was used in other cultures.

I'd have gone to Busan in a heartbeat. Also, any of the shows in Seoul - but they are all by lottery and Amy is the only one of us blessed with the kind of luck necessary to snag those tickets. Weverse never calls me a loser - they say I "missed". Ha! Loser, me. And I was already going to be in Korea when Yoongi performed at the end of June. Alas - "missed". And I totally support going out of your comfort zone at some point and do go to Korea. I am older than you and went for the first time in June 2022. Most of my time there, and the subsequent three trips, was spent on Jeju Island where I dog sit for an American couple (he teaches at an International school on Jeju -). Each visit included Seoul (I was there for the insanity of Festa, too )- and I just decided '"hey, life is short. Why not?" I don't speak or read Korean , knew not one Korean person, and knew very little about the history of the country. The bulk of my cultural knowledge had been courtesy of BTS. But (aside from, yes, it's a LONG flight) I have had zero regrets. And now I know SO much more about the history and culture (and one more word of Korean).. Seoul is very easy to get around in with a super subway system. I found the people friendly and helpful and have never felt so safe in a city - ever. Being older may have helped there because they do defer to older people (even if you're a month older...). Jeju is magical. Anyway, lots of great things to say about visiting there though way out of my comfort zone.

The hair is either long because he was out of sight for such a long time or it could be extensions. Whoever does their hair is a wizard with extensions. I have my alarm set for the two songs being released tonight - and then have to set my alarm for the middle of the night for the first Agust D concert (still miffed that they didn't have the replay at an hour when I am awake -) I can still have one other person watch the replays. No one has expressed interest thus far but @Rileydeuce, if you weren't able to catch the live streaming of the Yoongi's last three concerts last weekend, the replays are at 3am PDT tomorrow and then at 7pm PDT, also tomorrow. And 7pm Saturday. I don;t know if you;ve ever watched any of the livestreamed concerts, but as ARMY, when one (such as myself) purchases the 3-day pass, I get replays (thank god) and the ability to have the shows watched on another device, such as someone else's computer. We are known to be sharers. Sometimes split the costs. Unless @amylance1215 wants to watch one or more, my spares would be available. She was at the concerts (JEALOUS) but may have recovered sufficiently to want to watch them again. An English translation of Hobi's interview for Esquire - this has actually been posted before so I'm not sure why BTS Merch twitter reposted it...

You are SO ARMY! And welcome here. Two of us were at SoFi and three in Vegas.... I think that once the pandemic hit and Worlds was cancelled - and our last chance to see Yuzu, we really needed these guys. They were exactly what we needed then, and now. And they are no longer a boy band. They really are their own genre. (And we are all beyond devastated that the military is taking them away, one at a time...) Less than two hours to more Tae? (and I agree with all on the smooth music but "off" outfits -he should wear red jackets all the time.) It seems that the featured song on his CD is the last one we'll hear. Two are downloadable tonight... And on another front - And the weather is getting very serious. I hope people stay out of underpasses with this one:

Yes - I saw your likes on Insta (it shows me people I follow liking posts that have a million likes). Tae has been a very busy fellow. First MV the 10th, but I think that's actually tomorrow here. I wonder why he's leaving his feature song for last? Jimin's first released MV from Face (Set me Free Pt 2) has over 100M views while Like Crazy has 82M. I guess the streaming on Spotify flips that around. Interesting that within a week, Tae will definitely challenging JK for #1. Cannot wait to hear what he's been working on. I expect he will release additional promotional info - like shows - later.

I do remember when it was announced by the Military Manpower Administration that, for certain, BTS would all have to serve in the regular military, they had a caveat on that - they did say that the members would still be able to perform, even overseas. We all knew that would be impossible because they don't just drop their rifles and go on stage the next day. The whole idea that they could still perform presumed they would all be in at the same time and in the same place, or at least near each other, and would be given the kind of time they require to prepare for any performance. Also - isn't written somewhere that if the members or any one of the members produced anything new while enlisted, that all monies would go to the government. They would have balked at that, of course. So damn presumptuous of the government and the military. (And, again, all could have been avoided if they had just listened to me!) Some countries have already had their scouts go home ahead of the typhoon. The US has their boys at the big American military base south of Seoul. If there really is a concert, I would imagine the boys (the scouts) would want to be able to go. The typhoon is currently tracking to just SW of Seoul on the 10th-11th (reminder: the "dirty" part of a cyclone/typhoon/hurricane in the norther hemisphere is the NE quadrant of the storm, so that would have Seoul being blasted, though it will be significantly downgraded by then.) Korea does so many things so amazingly well, but their government has been less than stellar for some time. And zero foresight. Infuriating. This is fun-

What? It suddenly occurs to them that BTS, alone, can recover the "national prestige"? Don't the members have a say in this? [also - i really thought that everything was cancelled...]

And I totally agree. It was beyond stupid for the government and and the ministry of defense to NOT have made some cultural ambassadors for 18 months. And no one will be at the K-pop jamboree. The scouts are being sent home ahead of the typhoon. New thing:

OK - I'm not often right on these things but I'm patting myself on the back for predicting a September release for Tae. Sometimes I get it right. There are suggestions on how to buy and pre-order in order for our purchases to count on BB (those nasties). Pre-order the single CD and the digital full album from the BTS US shop (done!) But not I-tunes - and this is why: So I'll hold off on ITunes. And trying to figure out where to get the best deal considering shipping on the physical CD. Target seems to be random and I want the purple one so will likely be forced to get it from the BTS USA/Weverse shop. There are instructions on how to get buys to count via the global shop -I'll look into it tomorrow. Tae;s lead single sounds like it's going to be a slow song but who knows. And I wish I knew that any messages to #to_suga #to_yoongi actually get delivered to them, I send Jin and Hobi a message every week on their special #to_ addresses. Yoongi at least said "see you in 2025'. I still remember dearly Jin''s last Live when he just basically walked out the camera view and was gone. No good bye,]. THey all have their own ways. Having Yeonton so prominent in Tae's promotion makes me all warm and fuzzy,,,,

The only reason I knew you were alive and well was your "likes" on Instagram posts. Glad you made it out alive!

I was under the impression that Tae's album is ready to go. I suspected that they would wait to release it until at least a few weeks after JitB comes out (the 18th?0. It's not like there will be a promotional tour with that. But Hybe would be wise to have at least several weeks before asking ARMY to spend some more money. JK is a mystery. I think there is a 50/50 chance he puts out anything new but if he does, it'll be after Tae. The Yoongi announcement was expected, though seemed a bit abrupt, I actually thought RM would announce at the same time. And Jimin has no professional reason (musically) to not be the next one - both he and RM. Anyone gone is someone we will miss terribly, but if two or three went at the same time, it would be like pulling a bandaid off. Hurts but only for a bit. There is a piece of me that thinks maybe RM is still in a leader role and feels responsible for the younger ones, though it's clear JK is out of anyone's control. Jimin may want to wait for him but the dates are so nebulous. It's still possible RM and Jimin will announce within weeks. I wonder what the chances are that any of them end up at the same base... And a Jimin promo for Tiffany -

Since I was sound asleep for the final show (which technically is happening right now, being Sunday evening for me) so don't know if he said this or not - but I hope he did. And then a review of TXT. If you weren't able to watch live, it's on Hulu in the states, but anywhere else, you can watch the full performance on YouTube (i took my computer, via VPN, to Canada). The replay doesn't seem to be available on Weverse -who denied me access anyway. (And we didn't think they'd introduced the band members but it turns out they did - read the article.) https://www.nme.com/reviews/tomorrow-x-together-lollapalooza-2023-live-review-3478932

OK - all I have are twitter post that I don;'t think are on this long thread. I'll watch the replays but will cry anyway. And - even though RM says his hair is short because of the heat and not the military, he also says this is th elast time he'll be singing live for some time. FYI: he said the same thing at Festa. And the full RM performance was on Twitter -

There are no tickets available for TXT so sold out (though I read that re-sale tickets are available). I won't be awake for Agust D tonight (starts at 1am my time....) but already getting emotional about it. I think we're all sure that RM will appear - and maybe one of the Cyphers - but what could Tae sing with Yoongi? He actually can rap and has done so, though not on a recording. He could do a Cypher, too - but I don't know how the logistics of having both Namjoon and Tae appear (at the same time?). I just know there will be tears. Yoongi's lower lip will quiver. I wonder if he'll do a Live after. I doubt it as I imagine there will be some private deal he does, maybe with some members, maybe on his own. He's not the wild bunny JK is... It's going to be an emotional concert.

Ah, one new thing I can add here.....

It is such a drag living in yesterday when today has already happened in Seoul - I watched Jimin's stuff on Twitter (what a way to start the morning) and can't wait to watch the whole show. I need to know, from someone who has watched both shows or has the info from on line, if the playlist is the same both nights....I may not be able to record full concerts but don't want to miss anything (and still have to get up for the 3am replay of the first show.....damn Weverse.....). Namjoon back from Japan. Cypher Pt something. But will Tae be there? He has to at least be there. He could give us something brand new. Or not. (And still have the teeny tiny hope that the army duo will be able to attend...) I expect the last concert to be longer than the others and have more surprises. And more tears. Wait, that might be me with the "more tears". Amy must be in a nearly complete state of exhausted bliss.

JK said he had to go to the hospital. Maybe that's the equivalent of an urgent care center. Yet, I, too, think he'll at least be at Yoongi's concert and maybe perform. Who knows what might be shown during these shows. Since we never really had confirmation that Hobi took his leave immediately after his 100 days was up, maybe he will appear (and they can duet "Huh"). I feel chastised. My comments about the future and OT7 and what I thought and what I want will, henceforth, be extremely limited. I will keep my desires and my understandings and my hopes to myself.

I don't know why it is that he is not their performance director anymore (okay, they aren't performing at present, but some of them are...). He is right, though. The last ten years was his youth, too, and I think he deserves an amazing amount of credit for the success. He corralled in their energy and perfectionism and gave them every they needed to excel. And - I know the members really didn't know what was coming and how they'd really feel - but the feelings and plans stated at Festa 2022 were genuine. Yes - JK trusts his guts and, in reality, has never really had to make any sort of real adult decision on his own. But I know they still all have group chats and keep in touch and JK does respect and admire his older hyungs. I just wonder if any one has pointed out how his "gut" feelings and decisions impact the others and the overall future of OT7. I'm going to have to believe they will eventually come around and be okay -but it's sad that they haven't stuck to the original plan. Sad for Jin and Hobi. Sad for ARMY. Solo stans for some of the members can be happy, but everyone misses OT7, even the members. JK may be trying be taken seriously as an adult, but he is immature (not his fault...) in his decision making. Chapter Two. Anxious for when that will be.