BTS, a Korean boy group band from South Korea started blowing up in the Western music charts in the last couple of years. A band of seven members, the boys and their music are turning heads and topping the charts. Their fandom, better known as ARMY, is a huge and engaged fanbase. BTS was able to break cultural barriers and become the very first Korean group to debut an album at No.1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. They were also able to have a single land at No.10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Therefore, it was no surprise when their world tour was sold out immediately. In late April of 2018, BigHit Entertainment, the label BTS is under, uploaded a video of BTS announcing a world tour on their official YouTube channel.

“An ARMY bomb is essential for maximum concert experience!” said Yusen Lin ’19.

The “Love Yourself World Tour” began on August 28th, 2018, in South Korea and extended to eleven other countries: Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada, United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. To the surprise of many, the tour was extended at the beginning of February 2019. Named ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself,’ the tour began in Pasadena, California. On May 18th and May 19th, 2019, BTS performed at the MetLife Stadium, ending their U.S tour.

On Sunday night, approximately 55,000 ARMY’s from all across the country arrived in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Hours before the venue opened its gates, ARMY’s were lined up outside the stadium. Many purchased tour merchandise, which is sold right outside the stadium before the concert. One item that an ARMY cannot miss out on is the “ARMY bomb.” The “ARMY bomb” is BTS’s official lightstick and their latest version, version three, would allow ARMY bombs to connect to the concert venue via Bluetooth. An “ARMY wave,” which is when fans stand up and down with their lit up lightstick to create a “wave” for BTS. “An ARMY bomb is essential for maximum concert experience!” said Yusen Lin ’19.

The concert started promptly at 7:30 p.m., starting with the song “Dionysus,” from their latest album “Map of the Soul: Persona into the Love Yourself.” Fans were roaring and amazed by BTS’s singing, dancing, and rapping skills. With no doubt, this boy group has got it all! The props and costumes were extravagant and fancy, with inflatable silver jaguars, seven men in suits, and dozens of backup dancers. The concert ended with the song “Mikrokosmos,” showing appreciation for each and every ARMY with the lyrics of the song. They show that BTS and ARMY’s got each other’s back with lyrics like “I got you/ you got me…”

The concert ended around 9:30 p.m., two hours later. Shortly after the concert, the weather turned sour, and it started to pour in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, the good weather throughout the entire concert made it an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.