One of the standout features of this book is the inclusion of QR codes, allowing readers to access additional content online. This interactive element enhances the reading experience and makes it easier to dive deeper into BTS’s music and visual creations. The comprehensive timeline and album information serve as a valuable reference for fans who want to revisit key milestones in the group’s career. Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS is a 2023 biography about South Korean pop group BTS. The book is written by Kang Myeong-seok and BTS, and translated into English by Anton Hur in collaboration with Clare Richards and Slin Jung. It was released on July 9, 2023. [1] If I wanted to improve somehow, I had to practice my singing, but I didn’t know how to practice,” he said. “So I just kept singing blindly. Every time I made a mistake, I went to the bathroom to cry.”

In this respect, BTS and Big Hit, without even realising it themselves, were in the process of tearing down boundaries.” Suga himself was challenged on this notion when he had to work with in-house producer El Capitxn to complete “ Ddaeng” (2018) in the necessary time frame. Though he’d been afraid of “slight imperfections,” he realized that the level of work didn’t suffer because of it. This change of philosophy freed him to pair with El Capitxn to produce for other artists like Epik High, Heize, IU, and Psy.As ARMY, I loved how this book strove to portray everything fans love about BTS and to describe not just how unfairly they were treated but how unprecedented their path and subsequent success was. This is very much a book for ARMY, in that it is a loving portrait of BTS, but in that same vein, I found I learned almost nothing new about the band in spite of the detailed history. It felt like a nostalgic recap.

a b c Cain, Sian (May 12, 2023). "Sorry, Swifties: BTS revealed as authors of mystery book that intrigued the internet". The Guardian . Retrieved May 12, 2023. So whilst mono. continues to be beloved by listeners, this serves as a reminder to be gracious in a person’s changing personal tastes and musical styles. Indeed, RM’s verse in “ Life Goes On” describes his desire to “race faster than those dark [rain]clouds,” recognizing the era of “ Forever Rain” has passed. Because the K-pop competition was so fierce, the odds of success as a group were incredibly slim. BTS members struggled at first with impostor syndrome, performance flubs and bullying from the public. Even before they made their debut on a televised showcase, naysayers were already dragging the group in the comments sections of online forums. Their first gig brought in only about a dozen fans. The World of BTS’ and ‘We Are’, which are chapter six and seven respectively, show BTS in their superstar era with snippets of video from hits including ‘Boy With Luv’ and ‘Dynamite’.With BTS currently on hiatus due to military conscription, its members are pursuing solo projects. For Suga, that means a bold new rap album and sold-out arena shows. In telling the story of BTS, Beyond The Story also tells the story of K-pop and how its dynamics have changed over the years. Fans who cottoned onto BTS in their international breakthrough era of songs such as Boy With Luv (2019) or Dynamite (2020) may assume that they always traded in upbeat pop. But their early years were actually deeply rooted in American Hip-hop, a genre K-pop has borrowed from since the early 1990s. If history books are the answer sheet to the present, then our sunbaes (seniors) who did music before us are our answer sheet, right? However, with us, we had to deal with an additional something else.” Most of the issues in this book boil down to the fact that it reads like an article, which is not surprising, given that the author is mostly a journalist. Though the comic-y and adjective-wrought writing style isn't something I'd enjoy even in an article, it becomes overbearing and too noticeable in a longer form, which it is clearly not meant for. Way too dramatic from the start in its vocabulary, it's constantly drainingly high-energy and doesn't leave space for the actual high points to shine. The article-ness is exacerbated by the previously mentioned number dropping and song descriptions. The book would have benefited from heavy editing and as it is, could have gotten the message across in half the length or less. Chapter three, four and five are called ‘Love, Hate, ARMY’, ‘Inside Out’ and ‘A Flight That Never Lands’, featuring clips from their 2015 breakout 2015 hit ‘I Need U’ and more.

Beyond The Story gives fans something tangible to remember the lads by, news of which arrives during a burst of activity. Opinion Opinion: H.G. Wells’ alien-invasion novel is night-before-Halloween scary. But it’s a lot more too a b c Tumin, Remy (May 12, 2023). "A Taylor Swift Memoir? Not So Fast". The New York Times . Retrieved May 13, 2023.

Some prior understanding of the K-pop industry may be required to get the most out of the book (knowing how groups are typically assembled, for example, or how competitive Korean TV shows work). But as a contribution to modern music journalism, Beyond The Story is valuable. As they learn of the band’s insatiable work ethic, discipline and brotherly commitment, readers will feel as if they know each of the seven members much better, with a deeper understanding of how their music has developed since their debut. I have been an ARMY since 2014. I have spent almost an entire decade with BTS, starting from my mid teens up until my early 20s. BTS had conflicting emotions when it came to awards shows. They struggled with industry peers in their early days, and felt they weren’t welcomed or respected as artists. But in 2021 they wound up on American soil just as a lull in the pandemic opened a window for a public appearance at the American Music Awards. They also happened to be up up for several major awards, including the most coveted: artist of the year. I really appreciated how the focus was put on music and how the author retraced every step they took in the industry by constantly mentioning albums, songs, concepts and eras, while also including their personal struggles, aspirations and dreams in the process. Moreover, the idea of providing links to basically everything they were discussing was so useful and really made the whole book interactive and much more cohesive. I highly suggest you open these links to fully appreciate Bangtan's career and also how much work was put into this book in general. Apart from those who loved and supported us, everyone else felt like an enemy. We were really worried about how much criticism we’d get if we put even a foot out of line.”

In the trailer it appears that the book will be split into seven chapters to document the K-pop juggernauts’ story so far. Read nextBeyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” is the first biography of the group, published in time for their 10-year anniversary. Written over three years, the book weaves in an oral history with group interviews by the biography’s author, Myeongseok Kang. Fans might be surprised at the shaggy underdog tale contained therein. Here are some major takeaways. BTS was born in a K-pop dormitory I was worrying my head off as to whether I could continue my life as a trainee. It was really hard for me, the act of living itself.” I had such a great time reading this! It was wonderful to hear the members’ perspectives on the different ups and downs they’ve had as a group. There’s also a big emphasis on explaining their thought process behind different songs and their lyrics, which I really appreciated. The book isn’t all celebratory, it definitely does touch on moments of other people in the industry being disrespectful towards them, targeted hate campaigns, and also moments where BTS made mistakes, but that doesn’t overwhelm the story. They also go in depth with explaining how overwhelming their international success became and why they almost decided to disband at the beginning of 2018. On June 9, 2023, BTS released a song called “Take Two”— an ode to their fans, known as ARMY. According to the press release, it also marks the group moving onto their second chapter after their decade-long journey as artists. When does BTS’ book come out? Image: John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS is a must-have for any fan of the group. It provides a comprehensive account of BTS’s incredible journey over the past decade. The personal interviews conducted without the usual trappings of celebrity life offer a refreshing and intimate glimpse into the lives of these global superstars. The book is beautifully designed, with high-quality photos that capture the essence of each member as individuals and artists.