By Kayla Gayle
Following last year’s Bang Bang Con, which was a two-day event presenting eight different concerts, the Korean Pop boy group BTS held Bang Bang Con 21 on April 17.
This year the virtual event showcased three BTS concerts: Live Trilogy EP. 1 (2015), 5th Muster: Magic Shop in Busan (2019) and Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour in São Paulo (2019).
The event was live-streamed for free on BTS’ YouTube channel “BANGTANTV” and garnered over 2 million simultaneous viewers. The show commenced at 2 a.m. EST (3 p.m. KST) and ended at 9:50 a.m. EST (10:50 p.m. KST).
In between concerts, a 20 to 25-minute intermission took place in which viewers were encouraged to get refreshed and retrieve more snacks and drinks. Throughout the intermissions, music videos, dance practice videos and special performance videos of the group were played.
ARMYs, the name of BTS fans, were also encouraged to have their “ARMY Bomb” (a lightstick specifically for BTS fans) out and wave them throughout the concerts as if the fans were there in person.
ARMYs that were watching and live-tweeting the event were able to have at least 18 trending topics throughout the concerts in the United States, some including “#BANGBANGCON” at number one and “Bangtan” at number three.
The event allowed fans to see the growth of BTS not only as artists but also as individuals.
“Watching them perform the same songs in BTS begin and 5th muster, that’s like 5 years later, you can see how much more powerful their performances are its surreal,” Twitter user hopespiration said.
BTS holds annual “Musters” where they combine a conventional concert with a fan meeting to celebrate the group’s anniversary. At Muster, ARMYs are able to see the boyband perform as well as do silly and fun activities and challenges, like performing “Spine Breaker” in jackets that are generally reserved for church-going grandmas, to create a unique and memorable experience for fans.
Musters also allow for BTS to perform some of their older songs such as “Jump” and “Attack on Bangtan”, that they aren’t able to do during their normal touring setlist.
The Speak Yourself Tour in São Paulo was the only concert shown in the event that showcases the members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — individual performances. Each member was able to perform their solo songs from the album “Love Yourself: Answer”.
At the same concert, the group performed “Anpanman” with a bounce house set on stage. The members were all wearing smiles and seemed to be so ecstatic to be performing for ARMY.
“Never forget when BTS turned the concert into a playful performance,” Twitter user tanniekosmossss said, including photos of Suga, Jimin and Jin going down the inflatable slide.
“I’M SO IN LOVE WITH THESE 7 BOUNCY ANGELS,” Twitter user BTStranslation_ said, including a video of the members at the end of their “Anpanman” performance.
The virtual event effectively entertained fans in the safety of their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this has kept ARMY occupied for the weekend by the beginning of next they’ll be back to their tweets about missing BTS and being excited about the rumored upcoming album.
Promotional poster for BTS’ Bang Bang Con 21. Photo Courtesy of BigHit Entertainment. 
BTS’s setlist for their Live Trilogy Ep. 1: BTS Begins on March 29, 2015. Graphic Courtesy of @btsdaisyy on Twitter. 
BTS’s setlist for their 5th Muster: Magic Shop in Busan on June 16, 2019. Graphic Courtesy of @btsdaisyy on Twitter. 
BTS’s setlist for their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour in Sao Paulo on May 26, 2019. Graphic Courtesy of @btsdaisyy on Twitter.
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