Welcome, my friends, to part two of my BTS comeback performance review. Today, we’re talking “Go Go.” This performance has already been nicknamed “the meme dance.” Let us discuss...
BTS first performed “Go Go” for their comeback special on September 21st. The only tropical house song on Love Yourself: Her, “Go Go” addresses those that live the ‘YOLO’ (You Only Love Once) lifestyle. In other terms, those who choose to waste their money on all the hot new trends, rather than saving. In the song, BTS criticizes materialistic obsession with paradoxical lyrics like, “Don’t have money but want to leave, far away. I don’t have money but I want to get rid of the stress.”
BTS’s leader, Kim Namjoon, aka Rap Monster, describes the song in a Billboard interview, saying “We wanted to say something about it and emphasize to the world that it's not their choice, but brutal reality that forces people to live and spend as if there's no future.”
The song also includes lyrics such as, “Woo, there’s no tomorrow, my future’s already (locked down by) a mortgage loan.” BTS draws a direct correlation between society’s material obsession and a distinct lack of faith in a secure future. Why bother saving when it will be impossible to earn money anyways?
Unfortunately, “Go Go” has only been performed three times on music shows. The first was during their comeback special , second on Music Bank, and most recently on M Countdown. It would be great to see it more often because BTS performs this song with effortless hilarity. Any other group coming up in the K-pop world would benefit from watching this stage.
Although the lyrics of “Go Go” are actually quite depressing when analyzed, the dance is an irreverent farce. The dissonance between the lyrics and the stage is only emphasized by a choreography that includes popular internet trend dances. If you’re going to sing about people spending money on meaningless fads, it only makes sense to put meme dance moves in there.
During the chorus, we hear the ever-popular phrase of ‘yolo yolo yolo yo.’ During this part, the group breaks it down with “The Russell.” This move was popularized by Instagram user @thebackpackkid, aka Russell, after he posted it on his feed. It blew up to epic proportions when Katy Perry invited him to dance with her on SNL.
@thebackpackkid doing 'the russell' on SNL
The dance is ridiculous looking, but BTS somehow makes it work. They perform this move with a sincerity that only enhances the foolish nature of the dance. V, who is front and center, doesn’t even crack a smile during this part. It’s almost like a wink at the audience. They committed fully to this move, and it fits perfectly with the lyrics of the song.
BTS Comeback Show, "Go Go"
Lots of other “meme dances” make an appearance…
The extremely popular ‘hit dem folks’ dance. (A favorite of J-Hope.)
The mannequin challenge making an appearance.
Rap Monster’s adorable version of the Soulja Boi “Crank Dat” dance.
And of course, the classic dab.
Did I miss any? (Let me know if you notice more!)
On a more serious note, one could also argue that “Go Go” takes a subtle jab at K-pop itself. The nature of k-pop is to promote a fantasy. Music companies train artists to connect with fans and build a world that is based upon selling the idea of a person or people. It’s enjoyable and innovative, but K-pop, for the most part, is not based in any reality. “Go Go” critiques a culture of escapism and I think K-pop can easily fall right into that category.
BTS plays right to their K-pop audience through the production of the song. There is a huge tropical house trend going on in K-pop right now. Rather than creating a song with a tropical beat and meaningless lyrics, they chose to use this popular style for a song that examines what materialistic culture is all about. Its use is almost like a lure. First, the song attracts you with its catchy beat, and then hits you with some social commentary.
Even BTS is a part of this fad. Their 2016 hit, “Blood, Sweat and Tears,” is a tropical trap song, complete with very sexy choreography.
Their stage for “Go Go” acknowledges the sometimes ridiculous nature of sexy choreography numbers. There is a part in “Go Go” where the boys literally wind up to a crotch grab, turning a seductive move into satire.
Another moment is when the boys swipe their thumbs across their lips repeatedly. As you know, this is an iconic move in K-pop. BTS, among others, has included it multiple times in previous choreography.
It’s supposed to be sexy and alluring, but when performed in “Go Go,” the lip swipe just looks goofy. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it’s paired with the lyrics, ‘yolo, yolo, yolo, yo.’
Overall, the “Go Go” stage is BTS at its most sarcastic. They perform the choreo with a fun energy that disguises the deeper meaning to the song. It’s only when you take a look at the entire stage, including lyrics, production and choreography, that you start to understand the bigger picture of “Go Go.”
BTS once again shows that they aren’t afraid to step outside the boundaries of what is expected and engage their audience in conversations about social issues. As Suga said in an interview, “It isn’t a BTS album if there isn’t a track criticizing society.”
Stay posted for part 3 of my comeback review tomorrow!