K-pop dance challenges are a thing of the present, but no artist has gone off the chain like SEVENTEEN’s BSS did for their recent Fighting promotions. While it’s only been two weeks since the music video and the official debut album of the special trio dropped on various music platforms, it feels as if this comeback has been a part of our lives since forever, and for all the right reasons.
Putting out the digital single, Just Do It, in 2018, BSS aka Booseoksoon – Seungkwan, DK and Hoshi – may never have anticipated how their funky, bombastic and lively combination would impact the audiences. What may have started out as a fun-filled ride along the way, was ultimately nominated at the subsequent Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) for the ‘Best Unit’ category. Later, in 2023, this further translated into a full blown out single album titled Second Wind, consisting of three tracks – Fighting ft. Lee Young-ji (title), LUNCH, and 7 PM ft. Peder Elias.
Eventually, athletic-themed teasers and previews started rolling out with the image of the running track as its focus. It correlated with a phenomenon often encountered by marathon runners as per which athletes who may have originally been out of breath, suddenly experience a surge of energy which helps push them to exhibit their top performance without exerting much. Even before the leading track of the album hadn’t been heard, its mere title revelation inspired fans of the group to push through their hurdles in life.
SEVENTEEN members are well known for their amicable, energetic, chaotic, effervescent, cheerful and exuberant countenance, but the 13 member group’s special trio unit members are even more so close to that chirpy and upbeat personality. This makes all of their comeback promotions seem like reunions for childhood best friends, who, once together, become the life of the party.
The trio specifically finalised a a hook step for the chorus of the song that was catchy and easy to follow. Providing them with an extra edge, the Fighting dance challenge has become the talk of the town, which has in turn brought unlikely forces of the K-pop industry together. Fans of the Hallyu Wave have often complained how the fourth generation of artists barely looks interested in the happenings around them, especially at award shows. This critique results from a pointed contrast with the image of third generation K-pop groups or artists who would always be seen having a gala at such ceremonies.
However, while coming up with such criticisms, we often forget how the fourth generation is still on the younger side, and no matter what these artists do, they’re always more prone to receiving threads of hate comments, especially since the boom in switching over to the digital side. It takes only seconds to scrutinise someone’s behaviour and make a mountain of a molehill, but with BSS’ Fighting promotions, things have changed for the better.
We see so many cross-group interactions, and some of them can be credited to their entertainment agency – PLEDIS – being a subsidiary of HYBE brand now. Co-existing under the same roof, Booseoksoon have come together with various other groups and artists operating under HYBE like BTS’ Suga, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, New Jeans, NUEST, Le Sserafim, and Fromis 9 to carry out their dance challenge.
The Changing Trajectory Recorded at the 12th Circle Chart Music Awards
While here the music label fraternity may be at work, such interactions have never found ground to grow before. Even outside of HYBE, the recent ceremony held at the 12th Circle Chart Music Awards, allowed for many others to reciprocate the trio’s energy at the show during their performance. Turning the entire arena, into their own concert venue instead of it being an award show, Hoshi, DK and Seungkwan’s tireless ad-libs rose the crowd to their feet, drawing out chants from them just as much as from their fans. The entire gathering came together as a unit, which further made room for an event unlike any other.
Even when they weren’t performing on stage, they held their positions as guests and cheered on each and every winner of the night. NCT’s Doyoung arrive alone without the rest of his huge stage-crowding squad of fellow members, and BSS supported him through the night by either posing with him for a group picture or rooting for him as he approached the stage to collect an award. One of the most unmissable and unforgettable iconic moments of the night is when the trio interacted with another SM Entertainment group – aespa. Mid-performance, DK broke out into his impromptu ad-lib for the Next Level move, which again brought tears of joy to our eyes.
They brought back the Just Do It act, both on and off stage, as they took rounds among their fellow artists, and had every one of them dancing along with them. It was a one of a kind celebration, party, extravaganza, or whatever you may call it. The Great Gatsby’s parties have got nothing on BSS.
Interestingly enough, SEVENTEEN is actually one of the third generation groups itself since the members debuted in 2015. But, BSS made their first comeback with Fighting, also their official debut, in 2023, and due to that they’ve been lightheartedly joking about how they’re also fourth generation idols, calling the other members of SEVENTEEN their ‘sunbaenims’ (seniors).
Whether you’re officially a fan of the group or not, there’s no denying that Bookseoksoon have brought K-pop alive with vigour and dedication to their art. This is the K-pop that most of the older fans grew up with, a place which has no space for fan-wars, or divided propagandas, just pure love for art and the happiness drawn from it as a result. Let’s face it, regardless of which company it may be, they’re all conglomerates at the end of the day, that prioritise profits and money. If it were not for the artists creating such masterpieces for us to enjoy, they would’ve been rendered mere hollow buildings with no foundation to hold on to.
Watch the Fighting MV That Started This Revolution
Tune into BSS’s music on Spotify.
What are your thoughts on how K-pop idols are treated insensitively nowadays? Which eras of K-pop music do you like the most? Let us know everything in the comments section below.
Also read: Agust D Tour: BTS Reveals New Poster of Artist Suga as He Gears Up For His First Solo Tour