MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 'Interlude: Shadow' review.
- Kaitlyn
- Jan 11, 2020
- 3 min read
I want to begin by saying that if this sets the tone for the rest of MOTS: 7 I am very happy. I know I will love whatever BTS release, I always do, however I think I would really enjoy a slightly darker themed album.
Onto the review...
My initial thoughts were:
- A lot of english
- The backing sounds familiar (See: Intro: O!RUL8,2?)
- Lots of O!RUL8,2?’s popping up
- The video is so cool
- The song sounds so serious and moody
- If this is the tone for the whole album I’m so excited
- Talking about fame = yes
- Referencing the answer photo shoots with the cameras and hands
Since watching the MV for the first time I have watched it again many times and seen what others were saying about it on social media.
I have a love hate relationship when it comes to people's reactions to songs and MV's online, (sometimes people take the theories too far) however this time it has mostly been good. I love it when people point out things that I have missed. It really showcases the level of detail K-Pop music videos can go into in terms of connecting with previous themes and storylines within their songs, albums and music videos. The ability to create a story world with music and music videos is always very impressive to me and as a lover of world building and storytelling I love to be immersed in these worlds.
Some examples:
I also saw a YouTube comment that said have you noticed how he doesn't say 'Suga' before his verse, that's because he's rapping as min yoongi.
My thoughts now:
- I love the mood of the song
- I love themes
- I love the lyrics, I love songs that talk about fame because it is usually always so glamorised,I love hearing truthful perspectives
- Like a response to No More Dream
- Talking to his past self, reflecting on what he used to want and how he feels now he has it
My favourite thing about Interlude: Shadow is the lyrics.
Yoongi reflects on his past self's hopes and dreams of fame, status, riches, influence and achievements and how his perspective of all of these things has changed now that he has them.
"I wanna be a rap star I wanna be the top I wanna be a rockstar I want it all mine I wanna be rich I wanna be the king I wanna go win I wanna be …"
He speaks on the effect fame has had on his view of himself and the challenges it brings such as fears of how long it will last and the ability to separate his 'true self' from his stage persona.
"Woo, I wondered everyday how far I’d go I came to my senses and I find myself here Yeah, hmm, shadow at my feet Look down, it’s gotten even bigger I run but the shadow follows, as dark as the light's intense I’m afraid, flying high is terrifying No one told me how lonely it is up here I can leap in the air but also plunge, now I know"
"We are one body and we are gonna clash We are you, we are me, this do you know"
(translated from Korean)
As well as this, as per the song's title there is a repeating theme of the idea of a 'shadow', connected with the idea of the ego and the persona - a person's shadow is said to be an unconscious side of personality that the ego does not recognise as itself.
Yoongi states that his shadow has grown with the fame - swallowing him.
I think the shadow could be representative of the persona of 'suga / agust d.' In a way the more well known Min Yoongi becomes for being 'Suga' the less known he becomes for being 'himself' but just like a shadow his stage persona will always be attached to him. In many ways the persona and his 'true self' are the same, just with some parts left out and others exaggerated.
In summary, I am in love with the themes in this song, the dark moody vibe it gives off and the immaculate video. I am highly anticipating the rest of MAP OF THE SOUL: 7.
Kaitlyn
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