BTS: Beyond The Scene, Beyond the Music

Their success debut in USA

BTS has just finished his debut in American TV through their performance "DNA" in American Music Awards. It made them became the 1st Kpop group that performed there and the 2nd Korean Artist after Psy, who is famous because of the single Gangnam Style  in 2012. Their debut in US was never been planned before. It came out because so many invitation came from US.

AMAs was their 2nd appearance in the biggest music event in America after their 1st in Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs). They even brought home an award in BBMAs as Top Social Artist with 300 million votes. That was an award that Justin Bieber got for 5 years in a row. But this year it was given to BTS.

The appearance BTS in America attracted many media in America. It was like everyday in 10 days while they were in US, they had so many interviews in radios in LA. They even were invited to have exclusive interviews in the 3 big tv shows in America such as Late Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel, and Ellen Show.

That was such an amazing achievement they had. When they return to Korea, many media comes to the airport to report their coming back home with the glory. They truly make their country proud of them.  

Start from the bottom with a lot of talents

Who doesn’t proud of them when they can gain this huge popularity when they started the music from the bottom? They come from the small agency with the worry whether they would ever make debut or not. Even when they finally made debut, they almost want to disband. However because of their hard work without stop, finally they rich the top.

I became a fan of them started last year when they release Young Forever with the title track Fire. It was my friend who introduced me to them. She always shared anything about BTS to me, then finally when they made comeback with Fire, they really fired me and I start to get to know them through their previous music and videos.

Their music is not only about love between man and woman like many others group always sing. But they also bring about the story of our life as teenagers, a young people, and even about social issue that might people face in daily life. Their performance on stage is also no joke. They are well known for hard choreography. And yeah, their choreography is so energetic and powerful that will make you sweat when you try to follow.

As a one year fan, I already follow them with 3 comebacks. The music they brought in every comeback, I can say that it's getting better for the quality and even the genres. The themes in every comeback are also interested. They were inspired by classic literature that they put mysteriously in every teaser images or videos. It always makes their fans happily and curiously guessing the meaning behind their teaser and also the MV if it comes out. It seems like they educate their fans to read books, tho. I really like this concept.

Steve Aoki, a DJ who collaborates with BTS in Mic Drop Remix, stated in an interview with Billboard, “they're so creative on every level. On their dance, on their sound, on their style, their flow, creatively musically, creatively on the fashion tip.” I think what Steve Aoki said is true. They are so amazing not only about the music but also in every aspect. Each member has their own capacity that complete the group.

In KPop usually boy groups and girl groups don't compose or write their music by themselves. The agency of the group prepare composer and song writer separatedly, so the main job for the Idol is only to sing and dance. However BTS write their music by themselves with the help of their producers as well. Since then many other group in KPop start to write the music by themselves. 

Learn from them 

When I get to know more about them, there so many things I can learn. They teach us to have big dreams, work hard, to think about social issues, to maximize their potency, and to have amazing team work. It makes me amazed and proud to know there is such a boy band like that in this world.

However at the same time I also feel so small. Whenever I see them work hard to make their music. I feel like I also want to do something like that. Not in music of course. But I want to create something amazing with the skill I have. I want to be busy like them. I want to say, “ I already worked hard.”

I want to break my limit but I don’t even know what is my limit and how to challenge myself. I want to do something that can change my life better and also be advantage for my social life, for my mom, my relatives, and also for my religion. But I don’t know what should I do. I already in the age of my 20’s and I really wanna do something but how I can’t think about what should I do. However I still have my dream and I'm working my best to pursue it. At least if there is a competition, I always try to join if that something I can do.

BTS with their music, with something they have done in 7 years already make them now. Become the most famous boy band in the world with the a lot of achievements. They also have such amazing attitude toward everyone esp their fans. They treat their fans so well like their family. Even when many interviewers ask about what the rudest thing their fans made, they always answer that no such things happened, they love all everything about their fans because what make them today is their fans. They really appreciate their fans.

BTS is such boy band you can learn from. They teach us not only about music and social issue. So many people in their surroundings always say that they have really good manner towards senior, even just for staffs for every people they cooperate, they always help and greeting them one by one. That kind of the manner and behavior only big people have. Once again I learn so much from them.

Moreover, their friendship in the group is the most envious for me. As the only kid in family, I really want to have such sibling like them. It will never happen though, but I hope someday I'll have co-worker and also a husband like them. lol.

Continue reading BTS: Beyond The Scene, Beyond the Music

Resensi Buku Selimut Debu karya Agustinus Wibowo

Menyelami kehidupan di Afghanistan

Ketika travelling ke luar negeri kita pasti cenderung memilih tempat wisata menarik seperti ke negara-negara di Eropa, Amerika, atau Asia lainnya. Berbeda dengan kebanyakan orang, Agustinus Wibowo justru memilih untuk travelling ke negara-negara konflik seperti Afghanistan. Berbekal niat untuk melakukan perjalanan ke Afrika melalui jalur darat, Agustinus melalui buku Selimut Debu mengajak kita mengikuti petualangannya menjadi backpacker sebagai fotografer jurnalis di Afghanistan.

Agustinus melakukan perjalanan di tahun 2006 ketika Taliban sudah tidak lagi menguasai Afghanistan. Tetapi bukan berarti tanpa ancaman, sering kali Agustinus berada di kota yang setiap malamnya selalu ada bom meledak seperti di kota Kabul. Saking sering terjadinya ledakan bom, ini bukan menjadi hal yang mengkhawatir lagi bagi warga Afgahnistan.

Berada di Afghanistan bagaikan menembus lorong waktu ke peradaban lama. Agustinus menyebutnya dengan dunia paralel. Di malam hari, kota di Afghanistan menjadi gelap total.Tidak ada penerangan. Untuk berkendaraan pun butuh waktu yang lama untuk mencapai ke kota lain. Alat angkutan di sana sangat terbatas. Sekalinya ditemui satu angkutan, angkutan itu sudah terisi penuh oleh penumpang lainnya. Angkutannya pun bukanlah Toyota Carry atau Toyota Kijang seperti mikrolet di Jakarta, tetapi berupa Fallang Coach. Kendaraan yang sudah tua dan berjalan dengan kecepatan lambat.

Di balik keterbelakangan dan kengerian di Afghanistan, tersimpan keindahan dan keunikan negeri ini. Orang-orang Afghanistan adalah orang-orang yang sangat menghargai tamu. Setiap kali Agustinus menginap di rumah salah satu warganya, ia selalu dijamu dengan baik oleh sang tuan rumah. Meskipun para wanita di sana tidak boleh terlihat oleh tamu laki-laki, sang istri tetap menjamu dengan baik. 

Keunikan di negeri ini ialah kita dapat membeli bedil yang modelnya seperti bedil buatan Amerika dengan harga yang murah. Mereka akan membuatkan bedil sesuai dengan keinginan kita dari berbagai model dan membuatnya hanya dalam hitungan hari. Tetapi jangan ditanya soal kualitasnya karena ini hanya bedil tiruan, tentu saja tidak bedil ini akan cepat rusak.

Adanya keterbelakangan Afgahnistan bukan berarti tidak ada kemewahan. Afghanistan memiliki pusat perbelanjaan dan tempat-tempat mewah. Sayangnya kemewahan ini kebanyakan dinikmati oleh orang-orang asing yang bekerja di Afghanistan. Seperti para developer dan juga orang-orang yang mengatasnamakan organisasi sosial untuk perubahan di Afghanistan yang sebenarnya tidak membawa perubahan.

Dalam buku ini Agustinus menulis catatan perjalanannya dengan begitu apik layaknya sebuah novel. Ia mampu menceritakan sejarah Afghanistan yang ia akan sambungkan dengan cerita perjalanannya tanpa terkesan dipaksakan atau menggurui. Tulisannya penuh dengan cerita humanis orang-orang yang ia temui di sepanjang perjalanannya dan pandangan-pandangan hidup yang ia peroleh selama perjalanan.

Seperti keprihatinan yang ia rasakan kepada perempuan Afghanistan yang aktivitasnya dibatasi sehingga tidak bisa hidup mandiri. Perempuan di sana hidup menjadi tanggungan ayahnya. Ayahnya lah yang menafkahi mereka. Jika ayahnya meninggal, maka menjadi tanggungan pamannya. Jika perempuan Afghanistan menikah, hidup mereka akan ditanggung oleh suami. Namun jika suaminya meninggal, ia akan menjadi tanggungan keluarganya kembali atau akan berakhir menjadi pengemis karena mereka tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk dapat hidup sendiri.

Melalui Selimut Debu, Agustinus memberikan gambaran kehidupan di Afghanistan secara transparan, yang baik dan juga yang buruk. Menyibak hal-hal tak terduga dan hal-hal yang menakjubkan dari negeri ini.  Mengajak kita merasakan bagaimana kehidupan masyarakat di sana. Merasakan apa yang mereka dambakan mengenai pendidikan yang merata dan juga kehidupan yang dapat memberikan penghasilan lebih baik untuk keluarga mereka. Serta memberikan pandangan baru mengenai kehidupan di negeri lain yang terkenal dengan negara perang ini. 

Continue reading Resensi Buku Selimut Debu karya Agustinus Wibowo