BTS' new music video 'ON' pulls references from world disasters, Noah's Ark and delivers a message of unity
Following the first dance-themed video for the song, the second music video for BTS' 'ON' off their latest album 'Map of the Soul: 7' is finally here - and boy, was this one worth the wait!
The stunning visuals, including a battle scene and Noah's Ark, are definitely not out of place in a BTS video - they have gotten us accustomed to their use of art and imagery to tell a story. But the deeper meanings behind what we see in their music videos is what really matters because, at the core of all the glitz and glamour, there is usually a very powerful message being conveyed.
In their appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' RM explained that 'ON' was meant to be a reversal on their second lead single 'N.O' (an acronym for 'no offense') and that it represented BTS accepting their fate, including the pain, as well as their accomplishments and what they have come to represent.
Fans have noticed a wide range of references to major franchises throughout the video including Game of Thrones, Lion King, Maze Runner, Hunger Games, and many more. We also got a bit of Attack on Titan, which is reminiscent of another BTS song from their second EP - 'Attack on Bangtan'. Many fans have also noticed references to world-ending events, including Noah's Ark and forest fires.
'ON' starts out with Jin looking distressed in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by the aftermath of a war. A white dove with an arrow through its heart is seen in front of him - a dagger to the heart of peace. Jungkook, painfully bound with thorns, appears to be running away from a community imprisoned behind an insurmountable wall, à la Attack on Titan.
As Jin walks around holding the injured bird, we also see RM in front of Noah's Ark, the biblical boat that was built to ensure humanity's survival after God hits a reset button on the world. J-hope and Suga deliver their rap in fields of green, as Jimin and Taehyung are seen protecting and guiding two young children.
As Jungkook regains consciousness and continues to run, he encounters a lake and allows the water to wash away his shackles and his bruises. He then pulls out a conch shell from its depths, giving mimicking popular imagery from the Indian epic 'Mahabharata' as he uses it to call his troops - or in this case, his team to battle. Conches also symbolize courage and power, and at the sound of its clarion call, BTS can be seen walking out of their prison hand-in-hand with their fellow prisoners, finally free and fully in control of their fate.
The video ends with the band running to the top of Lion King's Pride Rock as a title card flashes with 'No More Dream' - their debut title track - transforms into 'Dream', signifying BTS' rise from rookies making their dream come true to massive international superstars who are shattering ceilings and building a new world that most could not even dream of.
Watch the new video for 'ON' below! What's your take on the video? Let us know.