The Yoongi Supremacy - by Joanne C. Gerstner
SHIIIIIIIIIIII-BAALLLLL!
Ah yes. The profane music to my ears, when screamed mid-concert by Min Yoongi. Or in recent cases of D-Day: the Final, D-1 and D-2, screaming “FUCK” in Korean with extra oomph. Even in front of his allegedly bemused parents in the crowd. (D-1) (And of course they are not shocked, c’mon, Agust D is their youngest baby boy.)
Many words have been spilled about the Yoongi/Agust D/Suga multi-content concert tour, focusing on his artistry, set list, intensity and sophisticated staging. It looks good live, looks good at home, and even holds up over illegal microwave streaming.
What I have noticed, from the start of the tour in New Jersey in May, through two of three end shows in Seoul, is how Yoongi has settled in. He is more emotional, playful, shibal-laden, and overall, just reveling being on stage. The concert is intense, thanks to some wonderful tweaks and adds, and Yoongi wearing his emotions on his sleeve.
Here is what I have noticed:
• Brilliant additions to the already-smoking hot band, from Adora (the OG female member of Bangtan) to Yoongi’s partner in crime DJ/producer king El Capitxn. Mix is deeper, richer, thanks to El Capitxn’s live scratching and audio science going on in the background. Yes, I AM HEARING voices, like more RM, V, and others in the background/gang vocals on the rap line middle concert set riff. The secret joy of the Shibal EDM rave mix, Yoongi-yah, you gotta release that shit and have your boy longform it out. It is fire.
• Seamless placing of Bangtan for solo sets. Day 1 in Seoul had JK trot out to do Max’s side of Burn It, with a good segway into Seven, while Day 2 brought the LONG anticipated Tony Montana with Jimin. Chim slid into Like Crazy, after a cute monologue commenting on how Yoongi just walks off stage to let his dongsaengs handle their own intros. When Yoongi is out, he is peaced-out. JK did another epic Weverse live after his stage, lamenting at length about screwing up his English lyrics for Burn It. He wants to come back for a re-do, which means…either it is happening tomorrow, or Kookie’s gonna have to wait like 2 years.
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Controversial take…Tony Montana is not all that for me. It’s an OK song, but compared to the rest of the Agust D/Suga canon, it’s weak. I think it is beloved because of the shock value, circa 7 years ago, of delicate Jimin hanging with savage Agust D to rap. Like two lightsabers crossing. However, Jimin can rap, and I think his turns in Chicken Noodle Soup and Daechwita (better known in the streets as Taechwita) show off his talents much better. But yes, having the two on stage together, like this morning (for me anyways, in the U.S. Eastern time zone), was magical.)
• Trust. Yoongi shows total trust right now. He trusts himself, he trusts the band, dancers, crew, and he trusts his BTS brothers to take over the stage and kill it without him. Yoongi is an introvert, but on stage, he is struck by lightning and brilliance. I hope this tour has made him fully believe - and want - to be a performer on his own, alongside with his role in BTS and being a brilliant composer/producer. I don’t want him ever fading into the background. Not once. Also props to his working theory of being the experiment for Bangtan, going out first on tour and developing the guidebook for the rest. This tour - from staging to setlist - was quite the statement in full from a top artist. I have no doubt the rest will match, if not exceed, this standard. We know Hobi did it, we know RM did it. The rest of the clan just needs to develop a longer catalog to dip into.
• The feels. The addition of Dear Friend - with Yoongi on electric guitar - for the Seoul finals, re-arrangement on AMYGDALA (it sounds a little lower in key for me), and new black-and-white BTS OT7 video before SNOOZE are oomph. Yoongi is wrecked on Dear Friend, a song that has always been so sad and haunting. The lowering of the key of the equally emotional AMYGDALA makes it easier for Yoongi to sing in concert. And the BTS video is perfect, as it comes after Life Goes On, where the fanchant hits in the intro…and before he does SNOOZE - and his chant of “everything is going to be alright” in Korean. Yoongi has been more emotional the last two concerts, really open to taking in the moments and putting them in his heart.
• The love, love, love. I have a much deeper appreciation for the live music experience after the silence of COVID. Being in a crowd of people, going crazy, united by music and fun, is precious. Truly soul flame stuff. Seeing the crowds at every stop lose it for Yoongi, go bar for bar on every song…hell yes. These Seoul crowds, the beloved K-ARMY, have truly been losing their shit at these shows - even while clearly steam bathing themselves to death. Even Yoongi is getting steam bunned out there (haha). I am happy they get their guys doing their thing for them. I appreciate the sentimentality of the moment. My parallel is seeing Eminem, in Detroit. You are home.
The last day, tomorrow morning, will be a gut punch. We’re likely going to get RM doing his thing, and maybe, JK’s redo…and a small vote to let Tae in the building do to something. (Maybe let him in on the Cyphers-UGH-HUH run.) Joon’s hair is hella short now, so we know what is coming. Jimin and Yoongi are probably going in soon too. Tae and JK by the end of the year, after their music drops.
We’re getting closer to the Bangtan cold winter, with our Spring Day coming when super warrior Jin gets out in June 2024.
Yoongi’s concerts have been delights that have never disappointed.
Raise one last highball and scream Shibal.
What are your thoughts on the D-Day legacy?
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