album REVIEW

Jeon Jungkook taught us that living without passion is like being dead.

LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER

Performed by: BTS

Release Date: 24th August 2018

Label: Big Hit Entertainment

Genre: K-pop

The third and final part of the Love Yourself Trilogy, Love Yourself: Answer is finally released by the popular Korean boy band BTS. From the group that brought DNA and FAKE LOVE and has paved the way for Kpop into the American music scene with its extremely fresh and energetic sound especially created for the summer vibes which incorporates both traditional Korean elements and western ones to appeal to their growing audience.

Love Yourself: Answer is a repackaged album including seven new songs and other tracks from the previous Love Yourself albums. It finalises the Love Yourself series with the title song, IDOL on track 15 disc 1. BTS, who is known for their intricate

Kpop sensation, BTS

storylines in their music, explores the idea of truly loving one’s entire self despite the loss and emotional rejection explored in the other Love Yourself albums. This series has been going on for almost a year and has been teaching their wide audience to truly love every part of themselves. In the lead single, IDOL, the lyrics says: “I know what I am, I know what I want, I never gon’ change… You can’t stop me lovin’ myself.” BTS reveals the truth about being an idol and how haters continue to tear them down. In the IDOL music video, the audience can view the members’ true identities and quirky personalities through the hand drawn pictures and energetic movements. This album showcases the members’ individual talents through solo songs exploring different issues like losing sight of one’s self in Singularity by V (track 8, disc 1).

The Love yourself Album series talks about issues such as lack of self-love, enabling listeners to be touched by the lyrics and apply the message it gives into their lives. One of my favourite songs from the album is ANSWER: LOVE MYSELF as it explores how it may be difficult to truly appreciate yourself but you CAN still love yourself in spite of your shortcomings. In the chorus, it says: “You’ve shown me, I have reasons I should love myself.” The lyrics are repeated throughout the song, and it has given me an inspiration to appreciate myself no matter what.

The album also features famous western artists like DJ and Steve Aoki in MIC DROP, and rapper Nicki Minaj in another version of IDOL. With Psy’s influence and BTS’ worldwide phenomenon, Kpop music is entering the American music industry with such force, paving the way for other Kpop groups to break out and succeed.

The Love Yourself: Answer album is a perfect source of entertainment with its refreshing and energetic songs. It is a symbol of inspiration to young audiences experiencing the lack of self-confidence and self-love through its heartfelt and relatable tracks.

-H Soriano, Year 10

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