BTS' RM turns 32: 10 songs that reveal riddles, rage, and the man behind the leader, from Tokyo to Ddaeng
BTS' RM has never made music that just asks to be heard. He makes music that asks to be understood, or at least wrestled with. Across a decade of mixtapes, solo albums, and features, his catalog reads like a diary written in riddles: fragments of fame, doubt, hunger, exhaustion, and the slow, halting work of growing up in front of the entire world. To mark his birthday, we're revisiting ten songs…
BTS member RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, has never made music simply meant to be heard; instead, he crafts songs that demand to be understood, often grappling with complex emotions. For his 32nd birthday, a collection of ten songs is being revisited to explore this journey.
"Tokyo" showcases a somber tone, with RM feeling alone with his thoughts. He questions the point of existence and wonders about the similarities between love and hate, ending with a haunting whistle. The title "Tokyo" also means longing in Korean, setting the emotional tone for the mixtape.
In "Seoul," RM uses wordplay to blur the line between soul and city, expressing both hate and love for the place. Musically, it's brighter and more forward-moving, inviting the listener into his city and his own life, accepting his imperfections and contradictions.
The hazy "Moonchild" represents a sense of freedom after midnight, suggesting that the moon rising is its own kind of beginning. RM encourages the listener to recognize more about themselves than they think, simply by being who they are.
"Wild Flower" follows the unraveling process after the initial feeling of loneliness. It delves into the pressure of fame, the changing self, and the struggle to determine one's life path, differentiating between persona and person.
The song "Groin" reveals the reasons behind RM's restlessness and cynicism. He acknowledges the burden of expectations from both his nation and fans, as well as the constant scrutiny. The track uses Suga's line "hit the gas" to highlight the need to take action when everything seems to crash around him.
"LOST!" serves as a warning to listeners before the release of RM's album, opening with conflicted self-doubt and progressing to brighter, more upbeat songs. The dense lyrics are paired with a music video that has led to numerous fan theories. Despite admitting to being lost, RM seems closer to peace than he has been in a long time.
"Come Back To Me" is a quiet, croon expressing RM's attempts to find peace with his journey. It addresses the disorganized thoughts and inner turmoil still present in his mind, settling into a fragmented version of Kim Nam-joon.
In "Stop The Rain," RM collaborates with Tablo to create a candid portrayal of depression, drawing connections to the "27 Club." This song offers a raw and unfiltered look into his state of mind, revealing the person behind the rapper who wields his pen like a blade.
Finally, "Joke" showcases some of RM's most provocative work, filled with pure, unbridled fury. Throughout his career, his anger, grief, and rage have coexisted, providing an outlet for his feelings. In this track, he spits venom at those who try to pull him down, expressing both relief at not conforming to expectations and exhaustion from the constant pressure.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
