MV Review: BTS - I Need U

HELLO FELLOW READERS!

It's Lou here and today, I'll be doing a music video review on Bangtan Boy's (or BTS or 방탄소년단 or whatever you wish to call them. They have too many names . Ahem) most recent comeback song, 'I Need U'.

Before we begin, I'd like to clarify that I'll be judging based on the following criterias:
1. Song
2. Lyrics
3. Story
4. Overall feels + other thoughts

 Check out the music video first! And remember to turn on the CC for English subtitles

BTS's I Need U is the title song for their third mini album called In The Mood For Love Pt.1, or 화양연화 in Korean. After almost a year since their last full length album, Dark and Wild, they have finally returned! Whoop whoop *fist pumps in air*

Flower boys. Literally.

This time, they're bringing with them a fresh new look and style as what the internet calls, "the flower boy concept". (I mean yeah,true since they were literally posing with flowers for their teaser pictures.) And of course the fandom was hyped up and expecting something that would blow them away. Well, was I impressed? 200 PERCENT YES!

First off, I Need U gave me a pleasant surprise with it's more soothing, soft instrumentals and vocals. Compared to most of their previous songs like Danger, We Are Bulletproof Pt. 1 and even War of Hormones, this song's "hardcore-ness" was evidently much more toned down and generally easier for non hip-hop fans to listen to. It's less heavy for the ears, if I could say, while still maintaing the signature raps from the rap line(Suga, Rap Monster and J-hope), added with the heart felt vocals of the rest of the members.

So shall we begin?

"하늘이 파래서 햇살이 빛나서
내 눈물이 더 잘 보이나 봐"
-BTS Jin, I Need U

1. SONG

Before we dive right in, I have a small confession to make: it's been about 2 and a half months since this song was released and I'm still endlessly having it on repeat. The obsession is real with this one. And I'll go ahead and say that this is probably my favourite (and best) song that they have released as of yet.

So will my opinions be biased? Yes, slightly. Maybe.(Most probably huehuehue sorry not sorry) BUT I shall try to remain unfazed and fair in all decisions and remarks that I'll make. Aherm.
Right. Let us continue:

                                                                                                       

Upon first listening to their 58 second teaser, it earned an immediate "wow" from me. Instead of the usual heavy, hard beats they often have to their songs, I Need U greets you with the soft, soothing melody of the piano and the short vocal parts added into it made it an even better experience. Both Jimin and Jungkook's voices blending effortlessly together.

  The teaser, below:

Now for the song itself.
The song starts off quite slow, with a rap that sounded almost lazy and uncaring from Suga. But right after that, it starts building up and creating hype, beginning from J-hope's part onto V's. (That's around when you know some awesome stuff is going down)

The chorus is simply stunning. It's almost as if it jumps at you, sucks you in, grabs you by the collar and yells,"SWEG" at your face. Well at least I was completely awe struck by the time the chorus was sung. With both Jimin and Jungkook's chill inducing high notes that display the raw emotions one would feel when singing about this topic, I don't know how you would not at least feel slightly touched. 

Suga so swaggy he got the swag stuffed into his swaggy swagsters

For the post chorus, I feel like they took quite a risky route by only choosing an instrumental with no vocals. But it worked out wonderfully. It gives you time to appreciate the music and take a break from the hectic singing and rapping before that. Also, perfect for a dance break down for live performances, which they indeed have!

The bridges before the chorus were sung by V and Jin and I think they executed them superbly. Especially the bridge sung by Jin before the second chorus. In fact that may be my favourite part of the song.

In conclusion, this song is near perfect in my opinion. I can't really find anything that I don't like about it. Oh but there's one thing that Tri pointed out when I made her listed to it. That of which is that she feels the phrase, "I need you, girl" is used too much. But I'm all fine with that but yes, it was repeated like 24 times. (Yep I counted) And occasionally "girl" sounds like "gurr" but I won't complain about that since I probably sound really bad trying to speak Korean so I don't expect them to be speaking excellent English either.

Song score: 9.5/10

2. LYRICS

From what I get from the lyrics,  it's that they have been left completely heart broken and ruined by the girl they loved. They regret and look back to the past when they were still together and it's almost like they're telling themselves to let go of a relationship that can't be mended anymore, yet they are still hesitant amd confused, still wanting to be together with the girl deep inside. 

It also appears to me that they are puzzled and perplexed about what they want/feel. Sometimes they are saying that they want nothing to do with the girl, scolding themselves for wanting to get back with her, but other times they say that they are sorry and are pleading for her to come back.

"But you’re my everything You’re my
Everything You’re my
Everything You’re my
Please go away huh

I’m sorry I hate u
I love you I hate u
Forgive me"

The same thing can be seen in the chorus when they first say that they need the girl and she's so beautiful but then proceed to say the opposite by stating that she's so cold, in other words, heartless.

"I need you girl, you’re beautiful
I need you girl, you’re so cold
I need you girl I need you girl
I need you girl I need you girl"

By the end of the song, they still don't have an answer and would rather just the girl break up with them so they don't have to make a choice. Basically, choosing the easy, yet painful way out.

To read the English translated lyrics, go here:  BTS- I Need U Lyrics

Lyrics score: 8/10

3. STORY

This song actually has two separate music videos, the official one (rated 15) and the original, uncut version (rated 19). Don't let the 19 rating scare you. Yes, there might be a stabbing scene and such but honestly, it's nothing worse than what you would expect from a PG13 rated movie. (But this version also includes them playing with french fries so...)

 Watch the original version here:

By watching the original version, the story line becomes so much clearer compared to just watching the official one. The story line is really quite depressing and somehow or rather they all end up dead (with the exception of Jin, buuuut we'll get to that later) Anyway, basically:

Suga burns down a motel and himself along with it.

Rap Monster kills himself in a fire at the gas station.

Jimin drowns himself in a bathtub.

J-Hope, depressed, overdoses and collapses on the highway.

V, blinded by rage, ends up killing a man and is probably given a death sentence. 

Jungkook is beaten up then gets hit by a car.

Jin, who probably suffers from depression, is the only one left among his friends. (But there are some theories that say he died too but yeah. It's all quite confusing)

Quite pitiful, isn't it?
Other than all the dying, the mv tells a story of how all of them are dealing with their problems (or the inability to). It shows how when together, they are happy and without a care in the world, while alone, they are miserable and vulnerable. Is shows how the company of others can act as a temporary shield to sadness and grief, which unfortunately, eventually wins over.

I feel like the acting skills that they displayed further enhanced it and made it such an enjoyable watch, allowing it to be easy for you to relate and understand their feelings as they seemed so real.

By the end of the mv, there's a shot of them sleeping and then a shot of the calming sky and sea. I'd like to think of it as they are finally in a peaceful place. Be it either they overcame their problems with the help of their friends or that they all ended their own lives.

Of course there's a lot of other symbolism in the mv. But I'll leave that to the fandom detectives to explain. (ie how the 6 flower petals Jin is holding represent each member that has died etc etc)

Story score: 8.5/10

4. OVERALL FEELS + OTHER THOUGHTS

Having a slower comeback song (okay it's not actually slow, but it's slower than most of their other title songs), I thought that they would tone down their usual intense choreography. But nope, how I was wrong. Their choreo is as fast-paced as ever and you gotta admit, the choreographer did a great job! (Both in pleasing the fans and making a visually aesthetic experience BECAUSE THEM BODY ROLLS THO *wink wink nudge nudge*)

(I'm sorry but Rap mon looks so awkwarrrddddd doing this [it's da dude to the utmost right])

To say the least, this music video was wonderfully shot and the director managed to create a somber feel by using toned down/ washed out colours for some shots, and bright, contrasting colours that stand out in dark backgrounds in others.

And so, as you may already have noticed, I absolutely LURVED this song and mv. What else can I say? Therefore, until their next comeback, sit back, relax and let this song serenade you.

They got their first music show win with I Need U YAAAAAASSSSS

Overall score: 9/10

 

Thank you for taking your time to read this mv review and feel free to stare your thoughts about this song/mv in the comment section below! (*cough* So we can spazz together *cough*)

GOOD DAY, GOOD NIGHT AND BYE BYE!