Sophia Michaels
On Dec. 31, BTS captivated the world at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration in New York City’s Times Square. As always, ARMY showed up to support the South Korean band, both in real-life and online, trending hashtags that lasted from BTS’ soundcheck to late-night hours deep into the night, long after the group’s live performance on ABC. Then following the broadcast, RM wrote a thought-provoking New Year’s letter to BTS fans, humbling thanking them for their loyalty within the past decade.
BTS performed at Times Square on New Year’s Eve
BTS rang in 2020 at the New Year’s Eve event with “Make It Right” and “Boy With Luv.” And needless to say, the septet — including members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook — received an audience almost fitting of their influence.
According to Deadline, the BTS performance contributed to the 10.73 million viewers ABC received during the second part of the New Year’s Eve special, along with the famous ball drop and Post Malone’s stage. Meanwhile, the first half of the show received 7.29 million viewers. And although the publication indicated the show was down in ratings from last year, ABC still reigned over other networks, including NBC’s A Toast to 2019!
After the BTS stage on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, host Ryan Seacrest asked the group how they felt about performing at the iconic New Year’s Eve event to the mass number of ARMY and locals alike. And it seems the “same boys from six years ago” are still in awe of their stardom.
“This is a thing we’ve been watching, like since six,” RM said. “It’s like in the movie, Home Alone. We’ve always been watching this, we still cannot believe we’re here.”
RM posts a heartfelt message on the BTS Weverse account
A few hours into the new year, RM wrote down his late-night musings within the form of a letter on Weverse. And BTS leader — once again — proved he has a way with words.
In the Weverse post, RM wished BTS fans a happy new year and said it was an honor to perform in New York City. The 25-year-old then seemed to echo his remarks when speaking with Seacrest.
According to a fan’s translation on Twitter, RM had a discussion with the staff, telling them “that it was scary, and it’s still a little scary, but it feels like it was quite OK.” RM also noted he was in a daze throughout the day due to the unfamiliar environment.
“I don’t know the number of times I rubbed my eyes wondering whether these scenes were indeed the ones that flashed by in Home Alone,” RM wrote. “There are still occasions where I feel very small. In those moments, if I raise my head and look to the side, if I look at the friends by my side, the ‘we’ feels so big. It’s incredibly fascinating. It’s as if I become Gulliver and then a dwarf and then back again.”
He continued: “Those staff said this: Would it be sincerity, in the end? I saw that, and I still see that. That’s the most important … It was something that I feel as I’ve heard regularly elsewhere, but the words felt utterly new today.”
RM then delved into the sincerity and authenticity behind his connection with fans.
“Having met as strangers, the relationship between myself and you all can feel like one between friends who know each other offline, or names within an immeasurably large radio network,” RM said, per the fan’s translation. “But it can cause us to feel doubtful of each other at times. Would that person be feeling sincere? Would that love be real? They say they love me, but would that be true? Those sort of things.”
Moving forward into the new year, RM shared his desire to “live with a more concentrated sincerity wherein our support and love can be delivered to even just one more person.” Then according to another fan’s translation on Twitter, RM continued:
I won’t be shaken, and I’ll take an “I love you” to simply mean “I love you.” I continue to hope that we can be meaningful gestures to each other. Rather than the happiness that hides itself beneath the fog, I hope we’ll only be filled with this intensely deep love and sincerity that we [share] with each other.
Passing on this decade of the 2010s, the decade written all over with Bangtan and ARMY!! We’ll try our utmost hardest to do so, and even more in 2020. I’m hopeful you’ll stick by our side and watch over us. I will do the same.
Looking back, acknowledging that everything [we have achieved and experienced] was given by you all, I thank you, and I love you.
BTS fans react to RM’s New Year’s post
After RM posted his New Year’s letter on Weverse, BTS fans expressed their thoughts on social media and ensured the music artist they were touched by his sincerity.
“Namjoon is a soul that hits very close home for me,” another fan wrote on Reddit. “I observe the things he tends to notice or the way he thinks about any situation and it’s so deep down rooted to being a sincere and caring human is just beautiful.”
Meanwhile, other fans displayed a bit of worry with RM’s letter. And one fan wondered whether the BTS leader is “constantly concerned with being authentic with us about his love for us, and he seems worried we may think BTS is getting too far away from us … as they get bigger and bigger.”
However, most fans reassured ARMY by suggesting the “distance” from BTS doesn’t necessarily lead to negative feelings. But rather, a sense of pride and amazement for the band’s growth and success.
“It’s only natural. They’re absolutely larger than life and become more unreachable as their fame grows,” one fan wrote. “I’m proud of them, and sooo happy for them. They deserve everything good in the world and to reach every goal they ever set. If that means they become a bit more distant then that’s acceptable.”
Written by: CheatSheet
