BTS grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic taking away live concerts, especially their own Map of the Soul world tour, in the “Life Goes On” music video, released Friday (Nov. 20) along with the group’s latest album BE.
Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS at age 23, directed the nearly four-minute sentimental visual, which brings the ARMY along their favorites’ reflective journey about how the world around them has evolved. V peers out the window while driving in their native South Korea and longingly stares at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, which would’ve been the first stop for their Map of the Soul world tour in April.
Like most people coming up with indoor quarantine activities, V and his bandmates throw themselves a pajama party replete with pizza, video games and movies while the cozy alt-pop jam surrounds them. But it doesn’t compare to the thrill of being onstage again, where they ultimately envision themselves sitting in a semi-circle with stage lights shining down on them for the black-and-white closing scene.
“The emotion I wanted to express is the sadness and the longing that was felt because the tour was canceled due to COVID-19 and because we couldn’t see ARMY much,” Jungkook said at a global press conference for their new album BE. “It’s amazing that the video I took and worked hard on is released as a music video.”
He’s directed and edited plenty of short clips as part of their Golden Closet Film (G.C.F.) travel vlog series that show BTS all over the world.
BTS rescheduled the rest of their Map of the Soul world tour due to COVID back in April. The international jaunt was originally scheduled to begin on April 11 in Seoul before it was canceled in late February. Then in March, the K-pop boy band announced its North American tour dates, which were scheduled to kick off April 25 in Santa Clara, Calif., would be postponed.
Watch the “Life Goes On” music video below.
