I’ve gained some new followers so this is worth repeating 👇
(p.s. I’m not an army, and I’m not ot7. I’m a Namjoon solo. I’m mostly indifferent to the other members, but I won’t deliberately disrespect them either. I just focus on joon, and only joon)
Gentle PSA for new followers: this is a Namjoon focused account. If I think he is mistreated (whether by bighit, hybe, armys, or anyone else), I will criticise it. If you don’t like it, please don’t follow. I refuse to censor myself on an account I’ve had for nearly a decade 💙
They taught him how handle guns, how to aim and shoot with deadly precision, but the one of the first things Namjoon does on his first vacation since enlistment is smell cherry blossoms. He will never ever stop being the peacefully blooming wildflower he was born to be.
An interpretation of Closer that I’ve not seen discussed that much (despite being brought up by Namjoon himself) is that it could be an exploration of the tension between a fan and their idol, and therefore a commentary on idol culture and fan expectations (1/3)
Why do armys keep saying Indigo is ‘difficult’ and ‘not easy listening’ when it’s arguably the closest to an old school BTS album out of all the solo releases? It has hiphop, it has R&B, it has pure pop, it has chill lowfi. It has what most BTS albums have but it’s difficult?
About Namjoon’s speech: the intended audience was never us, sitting at home spouting opinions about a country most of us will never live in. It was for young trainees who must be terrified of their uncertain future. The emphasis was on camaraderie, and finding meaning (1/3)
Is it just me or has solo era namjoon been consistently styled better? Like there’s an understated classy elegance to everything he’s worn so far. Maybe he’s getting more of choice in his style, maybe it’s those Bottega outfits working their magic but something is different
Namjoon saw one movie 8 times, befriended its director, called out bighit, bought & read the script book, randomly started quoting it, went on a pilgrimage to one of the movie’s locations, made a music video for it, and got interviewed as a fan of it. He’s so relatable I love him
Just noticed that ch 2 solo era namjoon isn’t covering his face anymore? Like at all? Before ch 2 he’d almost always intentionally position his hands in a way that would cover a part of his face, especially for covers and interviews. But he hasn’t done that at all recently
Just blonde hair, denim jacket, white shirt, and a million watt smile. Namjoon’s charisma was off the charts that day. This was such a jaw-dropping and spectacular look on him
All the Grammys need to do is give Right Place Wrong Person one chance. One chance to listen to with an open mind, without prejudice. One chance, and the album will do the rest. It’s the one chance the Academy gave Parasite. One chance for it to be a universal modern classic.
At this point hundreds of celebrities, socialites, influencers and famous-for-being-famous people have attended the Met Gala but only a handful have actually given speeches at The Met in celebration of their culture and heritage yes I’m talking about The Kim Namjoon who else.
For me, there are two ways of interpreting this. One, he’s well aware that some don’t pay attention to his music and only have him on in the background, and two - he’s become something so familiar and comforting to some that he’s their soundtrack to little mundane moments in life
I just really love how critics are no longer forcibly shoving Namjoon into the kpop category and are actually placing him in the same playing field as all other major (mostly American and British) artists like that’s so cool. Not even bts got this kind of reception from critics
A hundred people would answer this question in a hundred ways but Namjoon chose grace, humility and modesty, massively downplaying his own extremely significant role in BTS’ success. That’s why he’s the leader, why he’s irreplaceable, why only he’ll ever be the BTS leader
Wild Flower is so loved. Namjoon poured his whole heart into it for 7 years. Docskim nearly quit producing but the song inspired him to hold on, to keep going. youjeen almost never collaborates but made the exception for this beautiful song. Wild Flower is so deeply loved.
Remember that one time Namjoon sat down and talked about Indigo so lovingly and for so long that you could see the Seoul sky behind him changing from the grey-blue of daytime to the midnight blue of nighttime?
Since we’re talking about the trivia songs, I really wish we had also gotten Namjoon’s version of Seesaw
Only joon and his beautiful mind could look at ‘seesaw’ and think ‘what if I write a song about what you saw during a relationship and what you see in the aftermath of it’
This vlive gets mentioned frequently but what’s often forgotten is how endlessly patient and sweet Namjoon is towards Taehyung around the 18 minute mark to about the 25 min mark. You see Taehyung take over rkive for a bit and Namjoon goes along with it and gently encourages him
Frieze Seoul is happening in a few weeks which means there’s a very good chance Namjoon will attend and meet Axel Vervoordt & his team again which means we’re one step closer to seeing joon’s dream of opening a gallery come true. He was the first to visit their booth last year 👀
People forget how strong & varied his artistic streak is across multiple disciplines. In the Run pottery episode his works were great. In the flower arrangement ep I thought his flower crown was the best one out of all with perfect colour balance. His paintings are beautiful
NJ has done such a good job of downplaying his intelligence so as not to be intimidating that his own fans have forgotten he’s a genius. He makes music in his head! he composed Spring Day in his head! He’s a gifted musician! him being able to play the sax is not a stretch
What’s been happening to John Eun (+ others in Namjoon’s close friendship circle) is absolutely inappropriate & unacceptable. These wonderful people are his main support system, the people who he goes for comfort, advice and love. It’s simply not ok to treat his friends like this
This makes Change Pt 2’s commentary on the nature of change, in particular the line “Things change, people change, Everything change” much more powerful because it could be from the idol’s perspective. The idol wants to change & grow, the fan wants him to stay where he is (3/3)
I know this is the common area in Hybe but it really looks like it could be Namjoon’s second home. The Yun, the Murakamis, the little sculpture from Otani Workshop on the table, the Rondinones, the other artworks, the Pierre Jeanneret dinning table and chairs, the list goes on
I’m so glad Namjoon refused to apologise for listening to a frank ocean song. He adamantly and consistently refused to give into army demands and I’m so happy he didn’t cave under that pressure. He disregarded the vile comments made against him with such grace and firmness.
In particular, I think the last verse of staying where you are could easily be from a fan’s perspective - a fan who wouldn’t want their idol to change or grow but to remain the same. To not have a take two (or a chapter two) (2/3)
I find it adorable how john eun has liked all of namjoon’s ig posts like that’s true best behaviour at its finest. Also how after archiving so many posts, namjoon chose to keep this one. His rkive is just professional stuff, art, slice-of-life, family and john eun.
Namjoon has never looked so carefree and honestly? It’s the best he’s ever looked or sounded. The swagger is incredibly cool, the rap is so sleek and smooth and his vocals?? Absolutely heavenly. Whatever Right Place, Wrong Person unlocked in him, I hope it stays
We don’t talk enough about how gorgeous and elusive the line ‘you are my pain divine’ is in Come Back To Me. It’s the kind of line an 18th century Romantic poet would come up with and Namjoon did that in his non-native language.
The way Namjoon’s words always resonate so profoundly and irrevocably not just with us but also with all the members, to the point where his metaphors and similes are etched into their hearts deeply enough to be quoted near verbatim…yeah joon’s a true poet.
Awards are lovely and all, but this kind of thing is real recognition - it’s aimed at reaching people beyond kpop or even music in general. It’s about acknowledging Namjoon’s place in South Korean history, about intertwining his words with the country’s cultural tapestry
📰 With the approval of
#RM
and Docksim, the lyrics of ‘Wild Flower’ will be specially displayed as calligraphy works in an exhibition at the outdoor grass field of National Hangeul Museum, to celebrate the origin of Hangeul as part of Hangeul Week.
🔗
Namjoon had a concert of his own, precisely the way he wanted it. Just because it was intentionally small doesn’t mean it was less important than what others had. It’s a different way of sharing music, but those obsessed with numbers won’t understand the beautiful intimacy of it.
Hybe should be so incredibly grateful for Namjoon’s existence because they are out here being messy while Namjoon is single-handedly lending it some much need grace, gravitas and genuine artistry. If I were in charge of Hybe I’d hand joon a blank cheque to do whatever he pleased
📰 K-media calls RM an 'art-tainer' instead of 'entertainer' and says that the biggest representatives of Korean audiovisual industry have come together for 'Come Back To Me' music video because of him.
🔗
#RightPlaceWrongPerson
#RM
#Comebacktome
Namjoon had such a calm and serene aura during the Blue Room interview. I finally understand what Jackson meant when he said “RM is pretty calm, and he is very smart. He doesn’t talk too much, but whatever he says, it just feels right. He’s like the conclusion to me”
Namjoon is quietly but surely paving his own way. He is taking the road less traveled, but that makes all the difference. That’s what happens when you prefer timelessness to trends. ‘First and only’ is a good look on him.
No pre-release track. No American tv promotion. No ticktock challenges. No celebrity listening parties. No single releases. No more than 10 photocards. Collabs with artists who r friends. Small concert with no phones. Gallery booked with his own money.
Only Indigo. Only Namjoon.
I see BTS as a tree. Maknaes as the leaves, jin as the branches, jhope & suga as the trunk. And Namjoon? Namjoon is the deep, expansive, intricate root system. Without his roots, the tree that is bangtan cannot survive. He is what sustains bts, the reason it weathers any storm
“Let’s meet again at the Han River…no one would see us when we are deeply embraced”
Trust Namjoon to fund a poem about love, loss, connection, yearning, the Han River, and anti-capitalism all rolled into one
The fact that Namjoon thanked Bottega Veneta for supporting Korean culture makes it all the more clear that this is more than a brand ambassadorship for both BV and Joon. This partnership is about nurturing and spreading art, about an exchange of culture, history and heritage
A thread of Martin Groch’s characters found in Right Place, Wrong Person
“Most of the characters are falling short, being outdated. Those who feel the pulse of today are putting everything on fire. They all have a hard time finding where to go” - Martin Groch 🧵
in a difficult situation the majority of them had no say in. And he still managed to sneak in some pacifism. Call it what you want, but the intent was most likely to provide comfort to all the young men who are likely facing their first real challenges, far away from home (2/3)
Crazy to think how one crazy cool feature on Sexy Nukim resulted in an amazing friendship between Namjoon and San Yawn which led to the absolute masterpiece that is Right Place, Wrong Person
The idea that Big Hit/Hybe employees joke about Namjoon being the managing director is both wild and entirely unsurprising. And really goes to show how invaluable and irreplaceable he is. Big Hit and Hybe are extremely lucky to have him
In this scenario, Namjoon’s the senior, the hyung by many years. A lot of the younger trainees must have looked up to him for advice and guidance. For meaning. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was an instance where he felt the need to say something reassuring to them (3/3)
While the fandom might not hype it up as much, there’s been quite a good amount of coverage from respected media outlets regarding Namjoon’s influence, especially in the art world
Not to be all “I don’t care about fashion brands, I’m an intellectual 🤓” but we should really hype up BTS members’ impact in areas like art, Korean literature, etc. as much as the luxury brand deals
Namjoon admitting he had to force himself to internalise trends early on in his career because that was the direction bang pd wanted to go in but defiantly proclaiming ‘fuck the trendsetter’ years later for his first official solo album is what is called growth.
The praise for Namjoon is so genuine. Whether it’s a translator saying he saved Korean literature, or curators describing how exhibitions are divided into ones he visited and didn’t visit, or art historians marvelling at his knowledge, or idols praising his leadership and talent
The artwork Namjoon shared is by Lee Jinju whose work is a meditation on memory, dreams and the conscience. She’s described as a ‘melancholic adventurer’ under whose delicate care the everyday ‘is reborn into things of the extraordinary’. No wonder her work resonated with Namjoon
Sometimes I forget that Namjoon was most likely inspired by art catalogues when choosing the design for Indigo but then I see an art book and it hits me all over again just how beautifully designed the album truly is
Let the others have their awards. Indigo and Namjoon will have the actual long-lasting legacy. Remember: the lyrics of Wildflower are considered culturally significant enough to be celebrated on Hangul day. No other MAMA nominated artist can say that. That’s real recognition.
Namjoon acknowledging the fluctuations of his moods is a really important part of self-acceptance I think. Happiness is not linear and constant happiness is not realistic. You take bad days along with the good and push through autumn and winter to get to the spring days ahead.
Genuinely surprised how most armys don’t remember this happening to Namjoon in relation to the Decision to Leave preview even though he said himself not too long ago. It’s definitely a time that bighit/hybe overreached and made a decision that was against the artist’s interests
RM is a ‘rapper, composer and record producer from South Korea. He is the main rapper and composer for South Korean boy band BTS…’
Nothing but facts. Glad he’s getting the ‘main composer’ credit now.
In Ch2, Namjoon has positioned himself so interestingly: he’s the ‘musician’, the ‘poet’, the ‘frontman’, the ‘art patron’, ‘the first and only’ celebrity ambassador for a luxury fashion house; the ‘humanitarian’ shedding light on an important cause related war veterans
Thinking about Namjoon and how, despite never studying art in university, his diligent and passionate personal studies and research has made him one of the most respected figures in the art world, someone whose opinions are widely respected and praised by Korean art historians
What I find truly fascinating about this is how it sheds light on Namjoon’s stellar reputation within the international music industry. Here Ezra says he specifically knows Namjoon for his creativity and is aware of him being ‘a major creative force in the organisation’
I keep thinking about that time Jimin started praising Namjoon for writing Zero O’clock and then others joined in the praise only for Namjoon to immediately downplay & deflect it and try to avoid all the attention by loudly saying NEXT QUESTION LETS GO
deep down they know namjoon has it all: good looks, charisma, charm, intelligence, integrity, dedication and true artistry. They know he easily commands the respect of others, they know his leadership skills r inspiring, they know if they actually support him he’d be unstoppable
I’ve always thought Namjoon is one of those people who absolutely adores dancing and is really good at it as long it’s on their own terms and they’re comfortable doing it. His ever present big smiles during these practice sessions are proof of how much he loves and enjoys dancing
I used joke when I said Balming Tiger have made Namjoon an honorary member of the group but…I don’t think it’s a joke anymore. They’ve all but adopted him
We don’t talk nearly enough about Namjoon’s Rolling Stone Musicians on Musicians interview. Like it’s a very big deal and gives him and bts their deserved respect in the global music industry. If it was any other member, I’d be inundated with posts about it every 2nd business day
Namjoon doesn’t want to be a trendsetter, actively tries to go against anything trendy but he’s so cool he inadvertently sets the trend anyway. First PSICK, now Tiny Desk. Next idols will start performing at art galleries and having 200-people-no-phones concerts at small venues.
I hope someone in Team RM seriously suggests that Namjoon do a video where he reads thirst comments because what is even the point of all of this if that doesn’t happen
The most frustrating thing of all is that Namjoon is not the kind of person who just does his job and leaves. He’s the person who stays up all night songwriting & coming up with concepts. Sometimes he’s the only one in the credits. He has helped every single one with their solos+
Thinking about that time Namjoon gave a 50 minute in-depth interview about Indigo in English, his second language. The way he is able to so clearly and eloquently articulate his thoughts during this interview is so cool to watch
Everything about this was amazing, but my favourite thing was how Namjoon used ‘with’ instead of ‘featuring/feat./ft’
Like it’s something so simple, but it’s a quiet and subtle acknowledgment of the tremendous amount of respect Joon has for the artists he collaborated with
The way Namjoon wasn’t just featured in the typical vogue and gq interviews so common in kpop but has instead also featured in NYT, El Pais, Rolling Stones Musicians on Musicians, ARTNews, Intersections by Art Basel, 032c etc no one is doing it like him
Some people genuinely mad that Namjoon is working on his 2nd album (and 4th overall body of solo work) less than a year after Indigo’s release?
That’s the immense weight of massive talent tho, he can’t help being the highly productive and brilliantly creative musician he is 😔
I love that Namjoon is seeing the great reviews for RPWP. I think for this album in particular, those reviews truly matter. RPWP is bold and something completely outside the box for him. To receive such critical praise must feel like an affirmation that he’s on the right path
Just goes to show people don’t pay enough attention to Namjoon’s ig stories because this was the day he wore a takashi murakami tshirt after meeting murakami himself a few days prior and climbed up the mountain featured in decision to leave while quoting lines from the movie 😭
Namjoon’s NYT article was an absolutely genius move. Its target audience wasn’t the average fan but the taste-makers, the pioneers of the arts. And it paid off. He’s carving a niche for himself as an expert in Korean art and he’s getting amazing attention.