This ARMY Story was written by Andrea. Please enjoy her story below!

I started to like BTS last year (2018), after watching the "Dope" MV. I knew about them some years before, but I didn't like them because I didn't think they were real artists. For me, they were like any other boyband. I was SO wrong.  

After watching the "Dope" MV, I searched for the lyrics of the song and I became interested in them. The song says that they worked hard while others were "playing." 

I also watched dance practice videos, and I was like: "wow, that's so difficult, they are amazing, talented dancers" and videos of them singing live, rapping, and guides to learn their names— and I searched about their individual lives on Wikipedia. 

So I was really surprised to learn that they are also composers and producers, that Namjoon has an IQ of 148, Yoongi's experience with depression and anxiety that he expressed in his mixtape, and that he just wanted to be a BigHit producer, and also that they were underground rappers before becoming part of the group. I learned about Seokjin's unique vocals, and dancing, and composing. About Jimin learning contemporary dance when he was younger. About Hoseok being a street dancer, before joining the group. About Taehyung's beautiful, deep voice and his interest in art. About Jungkook's story of how he left his family in Busan and traveled to Seoul when he was younger, and choosing a bankrupt agency because of Namjoon instead of a big agency.  

I also listened to other songs like “Tomorrow,” “Butterfly,” “Spine Breaker,” “Outro: Tear,” “Begin,” “Reflection,” “Awake,” “MAMA,” “Outro: Wings,” “134340,” “Magic Shop,” “Paradise,” “So What,” “Epiphany,” and many more.

And also reading the lyrics made me realize their incredibly amazing and versatile discography.  

I love them, a lot.  

So, I love their whole discography, that has never happened to me with any artist, not even Spanish or English speaking artists or groups.  

And I started to know every day more about them, so I was like: "They are the biggest group in the world! Legends! And they started from nothing, a bankrupt agency. And I'm also going to support them, forever." That's amazing.  

I searched for more Korean groups, thinking they are also amazing and, they are talented, they have good vocalists, but I can't have the same connection I had, and still have, just for BTS.  

They don't feel authentic, they don't have personality to me, and their music most of the time doesn't make sense or it doesn't have connection with the group itself because they do not write the songs, but BTS is different. They write their songs so you can feel what they want to express. So I am a casual listener of some groups and I support some of them.  

My parents, brothers, classmates; everyone knows that I like BTS. And they talk really badly about them. They make xenophobic jokes related to them. The only person in my family who likes BTS is my mom. I taught her about them and she loves them. Her bias is Namjoon. ❤️  

When I entered the BTS fandom, I learned a lot and I keep learning A LOT about music, the music industry, their country and its culture, Korean words and expressions. I am also more mature and more open-minded about learning about things people usually hate. They have changed my life a lot, and I keep trying to love and accept myself.

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Disclaimer: All ARMY Stories are the opinions and views of their authors only and do not necessarily reflect any views held by TheBTSEffect or others.