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Jin of BTS gives a master class in fan connection at Honda Center

BBG News

Experiencing a solo performance by a BTS member could provide an insightful perspective on the group’s strength, surpassing typical Western notions of boy bands and the boundaries set by the Korean pop idol industry.

Jin, who is the oldest in their group, recently embarked on a solo world tour as the third band member, titled “#RUNSEOKJIN_EP”. This tour stopped at Anaheim’s Honda Center on both Thursday and Friday evening.

At the beginning of the septet’s 2022 hiatus, Jin found himself under pressure due to circumstances. The age for compulsory military service in South Korea had been increased from 28 to 30 years old (with legislation affectionately known as the BTS law), and it was his turn to serve.

Before departing without the chance for a larger undertaking, he released his first single “The Astronaut,” a collaboration with his beloved band Coldplay, which came accompanied by a retro-flavored science fiction music video that evoked nostalgia.

Following his military discharge in June of the previous year, he promptly launched into work and produced the upbeat pop-rock EP “Happy.” Six months later, he unveiled his next project, “Echo,” which adopted a more indie sound. Many tracks from the tour’s 18-song playlist are drawn from both these releases, along with a few of his earlier standalone singles.

During Thursday’s performance, it seemed that almost all tickets at the large arena with a capacity over 18,000 had been sold, demonstrating that the group’s devoted fanbase would attend regardless of which member was performing.

At both performances, Jin’s unique blend of oddball charm, humor, and sophistication shone brightly, revealing a special ingredient in the group’s magic formula that contributes to their widespread popularity and dedicated fanbase, and also underscoring the fact that the group exists in a realm of its own.

It appears that among all BTS members, Jin might prioritize satisfying their current fanbase over expanding it. The tour’s structure seems to be tailored as a heartfelt, personal message to their fans, with virtually every aspect of its design reflecting this sentiment.

As a cinephile, I take immense pride in seamlessly blending aspects of my identity and passions to create an immersive, multi-dimensional universe that transcends screenplay, merchandise, and medium, all while maintaining a unique blend of humor and authenticity.

The tour’s title is connected to his individual variety show named “Run Seokjin,” a spin-off from their group show, “Run BTS.” This layout mirrors the structure of the concert, with traditional Korean variety elements incorporated throughout the almost two-hour performance. (Seok-jin being his real name.)

Before the concert, fans were spotted wearing either authentic or homemade merchandise that showcased an extensive variety of connections to the artist’s music and personal traits.

1. In the sci-fi series “The Astronaut,” an adorable alien character adorns headbands. The design also includes tuna hats and various fishing-related attire, referencing the viral hit “Super Tuna” – a blend of EDM and trot music celebrating a tuna fish’s affection for fishing. Additionally, there are some outfits featuring ramen motifs, as this character is now endorsing a well-known Korean ramen brand that happens to have the same name.

2. For “The Astronaut,” a cute alien mascot dons headbands and tuna hats, while fishing-related clothing pays homage to the viral sensation “Super Tuna.” This tune, a fusion of EDM and trot music, expresses a tuna fish’s love for angling. Moreover, the character promotes a renowned Korean ramen brand that bears his name.

3. The charming alien in “The Astronaut” series sports headbands and tuna hats, with fishing-themed clothing referencing the hit viral tune “Super Tuna.” This catchy EDM-trot fusion track extols a tuna fish’s fondness for fishing. Furthermore, this character has become the brand ambassador for a popular Korean ramen company that happens to share his name.

4. In the space-themed show “The Astronaut,” an endearing alien character is seen wearing headbands and tuna hats, with attire inspired by fishing and other marine motifs – a nod to the internet sensation “Super Tuna.” This EDM-trot love ballad about a tuna fish’s passion for angling has gone viral. Additionally, this character serves as the face of a popular Korean ramen brand that coincidentally bears his name.

5. The lovable alien in the space series “The Astronaut” sports headbands and tuna hats, while clothing with fishing themes pays homage to the internet sensation “Super Tuna.” This EDM-trot love anthem celebrates a tuna fish’s affection for fishing. Furthermore, this character is now endorsing a famous Korean ramen brand that happens to share his name.

6. In “The Astronaut,” a cute alien figure sports headbands and tuna hats, with attire inspired by fishing and marine life – a wink at the viral hit “Super Tuna.” This catchy EDM-trot tune is all about a tuna fish’s love for angling. Moreover, this character has become the face of a popular Korean ramen brand that bears his name.

7. In the space-themed show “The Astronaut,” the adorable alien character wears headbands and tuna hats, with outfits featuring fishing themes in reference to the viral hit “Super Tuna.” This EDM-trot love song celebrates a tuna fish’s passion for angling. Furthermore, this character is now the brand ambassador for a well-known Korean ramen company that shares his name.

8. In “The Astronaut,” a cute alien mascot wears headbands and tuna hats, with clothing inspired by fishing and marine life – a nod to the viral sensation “Super Tuna.” This EDM-trot love ballad is all about a tuna fish’s affection for angling. Additionally, this character has become the face of a popular Korean ramen brand that happens to share his name.

9. In the space series “The Astronaut,” an endearing alien character dons headbands and tuna hats, with attire inspired by fishing and marine life – a nod to the internet sensation “Super Tuna.” This catchy EDM-trot tune celebrates a tuna fish’s love for angling. Furthermore, this character serves as the brand ambassador for a well-known Korean ramen company that coincidentally bears his name.

10. In “The Astronaut,” a cute alien mascot sports headbands and tuna hats, with attire inspired by fishing and marine life – a wink at the viral hit “Super Tuna.” This EDM-trot love song celebrates a tuna fish’s passion for angling. Moreover, this character is now endorsing a famous Korean ramen brand that happens to share his name.

A well-recognized video game enthusiast, who was sometimes spotted among “Super Mario” attire, nonchalantly walked onto the stage in quietude. However, upon reaching his spot, he aggressively hit a game show buzzer, which simultaneously released a shower of confetti and the opening notes of “Running Wild,” the popular English-language pop-rock song from “Happy.

In the vocal quartet of BTS, Jin’s talent for hitting crisp, pristine high notes significantly contributes to the group’s well-deserved fame for their repertoire of songs that span a higher range. Meanwhile, the lower tenor parts are handled capably by bandmates V and Jungkook.

In contrast to “Running Wild,” the song starts off with a deep, rich tone that Jin has had the opportunity to delve into further in his individual projects.

During the performance, Park Shin-won played the guitar, Yoo Hyun-wook handled the bass, Kim Dong-hyun was on drums, and Kim Chang-hyun played keytar and keyboard. These four musicians are well-established in the Korean music scene. For the initial part of the show, however, the band members remained hidden behind screens, allowing Jin to take center stage. With his charm reminiscent of a young Elvis Presley, Jin was the main focus.

In a subsequent rock performance during the show, the band became more noticeable yet continued to serve as backing musicians. Dressed in a sparkling Gucci denim suit, being a brand representative for the label, Jin energetically performed “I’ll Be There for You,” a fast-paced pop song with rockabilly influences and a catchy chorus. This seems to be his preferred style when it comes to rock ‘n’ roll.

The organized chaotic layout becomes prominent with the support of a continuous instrumental background. Towards the beginning of the performance, he declared a brief intermission was necessary. A large clock materialized onstage, ticking down the 1.5 minutes as he drank water, interacted with his band, and exchanged playful barks with the audience.

He moved to the wistfully melancholic “With the Clouds,” from the album “Echo” – an engaging track that showcases a subtler part of his vocal range with a clever reverse transition. However, before the audience could fully immerse themselves in the emotions, at its end, he delivered his signature Zoolander pose and blew kisses, which were met with thunderous applause.

He stated in English, “Every episode presents a test,” highlighting the competitive nature of the game show, and emphasized, “We’ll need to face these challenges together,” indicating that our participation is required moving forward.

He wasn’t kidding when he… He explained the rules for what amounted to a grand-scale game of charades between him and the audience, where the number of wins decided which costume he wore for the next act. “I only have nine seconds to change my clothes,” he said jokingly, “so be nice and chat with the person beside you.” Leaving the stage, he came back on time as promised, wearing a large fishing hat and boots.

Following the excessively theatrical “Super Tuna,” he then turned a wheel reminiscent of “The Price Is Right” to decide which song the crowd would sing karaoke to, while he transformed once more. The audience selected “Anpanman,” a lively BTS hit, and as he sang, amusing Y2K low-fi graphics of him appeared on the screen alongside the lyrics.

Upon coming back, dressed in black, he played the poignant ballad “I Will Return to You” followed by “Abyss,” and transitioned into it in 2020. As a songwriter for most of his solo works, “Abyss” explores deeply personal feelings of self-doubt that starkly contrast with his later assertive persona. These songs were performed without subtitles, encouraging listeners to immerse themselves in the unique charm and solace he conveys through Korean lyrics, emphasizing the bond between him and his fanbase.

Following the fervor of “Kim Seokjin” cheers subsiding, he transitioned into rock persona with the captivating track “The Background.” While it’s unclear if he has personally encountered heartbreak in reality — BTS members prefer to keep their personal lives discreet — his lyrics make one feel as though he has: “If I call out to you / It only reverberates and pains me once more / Even while waiting, I try to persuade myself it’s love.

The cheesiness persisted somewhat as he entertained fans once more with “Rope It”, a fun, pop-country tune that had him enthusiastically swaying his hips and tipping his hat, embodying his inner Clint Black. A blend of BTS anthems like “Dynamite” and “Butter” came next, where he showcased a little dance moves. He was a charismatic performer, talk-show host, rock star, comedian, catering to every fan’s taste.

The show maintained a surprising level of simplicity despite its eccentric allure and generous use of confetti, eschewing elaborate choreography and stage props. It’s during unscripted moments that Jin shines brightest, engaging the audience warmly in Korean, his words translated flawlessly for all to hear.

In the future, it’ll be captivating to observe how he might utilize his exceptional singing abilities in a solo career. It’s intriguing to consider if we might hear a more intense sound, perhaps even a full-blown country album.

As the performance drew to a close and he spoke with the audience for one final time, sandwiched between three encore songs, there may be no more powerful portrayal of him. The song “Epiphany,” from the 2018 BTS album “Love Yourself: Answer,” provides both an auditory and emotional self-discovery that reflects his transition from his twenties into his thirties: “The true me behind the smiling mask / I lay it all bare / I am the one I should love in this world / shimmering me, precious soul of mine.

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2025-07-22 04:31

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