"We immediately stop collaborating with right-wing, misogynistic lyricists and demand the disposal of all relevant material."
The group BTS (RM, Sugar, Jean, Jay Hop, Bue, Ji Min, Jung Kook) fans "ARMY (Ami)" shouted at BTS agency Big Hit Entertainment (Big Hit) and Big Hit head Bang Si-Hyuk Producers for four days from September 13. Fans demanded a voice to withdraw the collaboration after it was announced that the song "Bird (Bird)" from BTS' new single album, which was scheduled to be released on Japan on November 7, was Japan Producers Akimoto Yasushi.
▲ Collaboration with Yasushi Akimoto, how did it start?
Japan Media Nikkan Sports, Billboards Japan announced the release of BTS' new Japan single album on the morning of the 13th. According to the media reports, the new single is not only the new song "Bird (Bird)" but also the title song "Tear" (Love Yourself's "Tear") by BTS released in May, "FAKE LOVE (Fake Love)" Japanese version of the album, and the song "Airplane pt." It was to consist of three Tracks in total, up to the 2 (Airplane Part Two)' Japanese version.
The collaboration was concluded with the suggestion of Bang Si-Hyuk Producers, according to reports by the media. Bang Si-Hyuk, who met Yasushi Akimoto a year ago, was interested in the new fable he had told and asked him to write the fable as a new song lyrics for BTS. Bang Si-Hyuk Producers have been liked by Yasushi Akimoto's musical World since before, and have been reported to have continued musical exchanges.
▲ Japan big hit and global trend group meeting, what was the problem?
Yasushi Akimoto did not just act as a lyricist and composer, but also launched popular groups in Japan and became a big Producers. In addition to AKB48, which is considered to be Japan's most popular group, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48 and other famous Singers made their debut. Beyond the music industry, it has a huge influence on the entertainment industry as a whole. He is also a broadcasting writer, producer, and film director. In recognition of this credit, he won the "Inspired Achievement" trophy at the "2017 MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards)" held at the Asia World Expo Arena in Hong Kong on December 1 last year. Ahn Joon-young PD's Mnet audition program 'ProDeuce48', which recently created Project Girl Group IZWON, was also a project that combined Korea's 'ProDeuce 101' and Japan AKB48 systems.
The problem was various controversies surrounding Yasushi Akimoto. The song "Dear my teacher (Deer My Teacher)", written by Yasushi Akimoto, consists of lyrics such as "If you are easy to break, you can hug me carefully and teach me as you read in the textbook" and "If you are more sexy than Father, you have always been taught sexy enough, but I will teach you about love." 'Do not take off the clothes' lyrics are 'Do not take off the clothes now, do not take it now', 'It is not fun if you are a virgin after being invited to a date. I do not know my mother or Father.
The fact that he is a politically right-wing person has also been the basis for criticism. Singers produced by Yasushi Akimoto have recently launched as Mamoru, a self-defense magazine supported by the Japanese government. In particular, AKB48 was on stage in 2016 wearing costumes reminiscent of Nazis. In the end, Yasushi Akimoto bowed his head, saying that he was neglected as a general producer of the stage costume.
BTS fans said, "Yasushi Akimoto has a wrong mindset about a specific gender through his past works. "It is a lyricist who writes lyrics that depict femininity in a low way," he said. "Korea's position on the right is extremely firm. Many people think that they will show similar attitudes to BTS who collaborated with right-wing lyricists. "We are in a Worldly position not only in Korea but also in the war crimes against World War II. This issue will break the growth of BTS."
Choices of Bang Si-Hyuk, which is scratched and crumb, now fans are not in a hurry
Choices from Bang Si-Hyuk Producers are consequently a deadly self-inflicted species. In fact, the public's reaction was cold after reports of collaboration between BTS and Yasushi Akimoto were made. Controversy that would not have happened if it had not been planned in the first place continued, and criticism against BTS as well as Bang Si-Hyuk was intensified. Above all, at this point, when BTS is winning the top of the domestic and overseas music charts, it is highly controversial to question Bang Si-Hyuk's Choices, which promoted collaboration with Yasushi Akimoto.
Some people also expressed concern that if the collaboration is withdrawn, the "anti-Japanese" image caused by misunderstandings may be overwritten by BTS. Some speculated that the withdrawal of collaboration with Yasushi Akimoto, who is in the midst of the Japanese cultural World, may lead to a red light on the Japanese activities of BTS. The Japanese music market is running on a huge scale, which is the second largest in the World after the United States, and BTS is the number one chart on major charts such as Japan Oricon charts for each album, and the first Japan dome tour 'LOVE YOURSELF' ~ Japan EDITION ~ ('Love Yourself' Japan') Edition) has been enjoying explosive popularity locally, with a total of 380,000 audiences. Even for BTS, Japan activity is a part that can not be easily abandoned.
But it was not possible to push this collaboration as scheduled. Since its debut in 2013, BTS has been presenting music with a message to comfort them by telling listeners and honest feelings that they feel as people living in the same age. They have not only been on stage, singing and dancing, but have also actively participated in album work with fellow musicians such as Bang Si-Hyuk Producers and Big Hit Senior Producers Pdogg and have established their own musicality. The same thing was that the school and youth series led to the sympathy of students and youths living in the same age, and the "LOVE YOURSELF (Love Yourself)" series, which contains the message "Let's Love Yourself", also coincided with the musical direction pursued by BTS. Fans feared that this unique value would be undermined and insisted that "this collaboration should be stopped immediately to leave a big mark on BTS musical career."
▲ Big hit that finally responded to fans' request
Big Hit, who had been silent for two days after the controversy, opened his mouth through the official BTS fan cafe on the afternoon of the 15th. Big Hit said, "The head office is fully aware of fans' concerns about the Japan single album, which is scheduled to be released in November. Based on this, we are in the process of discussing the issue, so please wait a little. " The day after that, he told the fan cafe on the afternoon of the 16th that "Bird" written by Yasushi Akimoto was excluded from the song.
However, he said, "It is a reason for the production," he said. "I am sorry for the inconvenience." The lack of specific comments or apology about the controversy is interpreted as a decision based on sensitive interests. As a result, it has been criticized for being a scratched-up bust, but it is not as bad as the way it recognized and dealt with the problem late.
As a result, BTS' new single album, released in November, will be 'Airplane pt' from 'FAKE LOVE' Japan version. A total of four Tracks will be available, including the 2' Japan version, the "IDOL (Idol)" remix version, and the FAKE LOVE' Japan remix version.
hwang hye-jin