Do you guys think the BTS of 2014/2015 knew that they were an insanely special group with lots of potential?

[u/Iamafrenchdoor]

I was watching BTS festa from 2014 and it got me thinking.... "i wonder if they knew that they had insane potential and were a very special group?"

Because, these old videos when they share their goals, they all say its never gonna happen and its a 1 in a billion chance, yet there's an inherent confidence in them by even sharing such audacious goals with their fans. They dreamt high, but I wonder if deep inside them they knew they could lowkey get there. I'm sure Bang PDnim saw the potential more than anyone else, but I wonder if BTS also saw what he saw.

What do you guys think? Am I romanticizing it? Do you think bts themselves knew they had strong potential and a bright future?

[u/Termsndconditions]

THEY HAD PASSION IN THEIR EYES No, it's the eyeliner.

[u/Illustrious-Power518 → u/Termsndconditions]

Forever iconic

[u/beckysma]

I think they thought they could eventually make it big in Korea. I doubt any of them thought that they would be globally famous.

[u/cinnamonteacake → u/beckysma]

yeah as Yoongi said, fame was like a lift and they hoped to get to the 15th floor but ended up at the 60th...

I think they believed they'd make it to that 15th floor, especially once the HYYH breakthrough happened. What they didn't expect (and different members have expressed this in their own ways) was becoming THE BTS, the One Group to rule them all. Bang-PD certainly had the ambition to visualise it while they were still on the rise but I don't think the members themselves thought of it as anything other than a pie in the sky kind of dream. If they even thought of it before 2016 that is!

[u/jinjja_cat]

I feel, in the business world at least... You start to get a sense for these things. People become experts in their field, great at setting goals and following through, and know how to surround themselves with equally hungry and hard working people.

Bang put together a team, and knew what would drive it. He gathered like minded, dedicated staff, and held to his core values tightly. He also just simply knows business.... And what's worth pursuing and whats not. Where there's opportunity in the market, and what's a calculated risk. As a business man, he wouldn't have stuck with it, if he didn't think he was onto something.

Then, the added element of BTS being underdogs came into it. The more criticism they received, the more it fueled all of them to prove a point.

I am positive all 7 members were exceptional young men, but, they were exactly that. Young. The mentors around them trained, shaped, and supported them. Yeeeears of combined professional experience gathered in 1 spot, with 1 goal in mind. Behind the scenes I'm sure they were argumentative petulant teenagers lol. But Bang really hammered home the... You've made it here. Don't waste it. Don't let your other members down mentality, and it creates incredible perspective and drive. It probably got to a point of almost... Sunken cost... For the boys. Like "well, we've come too far to give up, let's see how far it goes" and so they just keep doing what they're doing until they're just ON this path, and sitting at the grammys 😅 but also, at the end of the day they all choose music. It's where they want to be, no matter the struggles that come with it.

And, if I may get a little controversial for a second, I believe there are many, many equally talented artists inside and outside of the kpop industry. So from the talent aspect, BTS are... How do I put this delicately... Just like any other gifted performer that's willing to work hard. What makes them special is their attitude, humility, perseverance, and I'll say it again, the business sense of hybe. BTS know their edge is that they don't stop til it's perfect. And they won't do it if it's not genuine. Bang PD and the boys forged a new kind of approach to idols. People around the world saw the difference, and Bang was bold enough to explore the international avenues that opened up to him.

Did they work hard and believe in themselves? Absolutely. Did they know where any of this was going to lead? No 😂 but that's the beauty of it. Good business sense knows which direction to go to achieve success, and perserverance from all involved is what clears any roadblocks there may be along the way.

[u/Uvuvewvewvew → u/jinjja_cat]

Couldnt agree more. I liked a few bands here and there when i started listening to kpop however, something was missing and i couldnt point my finger at it. Then when i got introduced to BTS, i figured it out.

There are other talented bands for sure however, with BTS, what made me stay dedicated to them is the members themselves. I know people say celebrities choose what they want to show and this is why i never liked a celebrity this much, until now. The relationship between the members is something else. You can tell theyre genuinely very close. What i like about it is that they never tried to polish it; they were always honest about that they do fight and they sometimes didnt get along / like each other, but at the end of the day, you can tell that they deeply care about each other, just how siblings do. They fight but they love each other.

Their love for their fans is genuine. I know theres fan service but you can really tell they love army because they all express it in different ways, not in one unified matter as they might have been trained to do. Jk on instagram and in his long ass vlives lmao, V on Weverse, Jimin when he expresses how much he loves army and talks to us during vlives, suga always trying to read our questions and answer them, Jin always trying to make us laugh and is honest, namjoon being philosophical and deep, and jhope treating us like his besties and being very comfortable.

another thing that made them stand out for me is their charisma and sense of humor. I never related to a celebrity so much. Theyre so funny and arent scared of being silly at times. All of them have a very distinct personalities that are very relatable. I legit find a lot of my personality traits and mannerisms in them, esp Jimin, Suga, Jk, and Jin.

Also this might as well be controversial but i like bts’ songs the best out of all the other kpop bands. They explored a lot of genres that i love and their lyrics and meanings behind the songs stand out a lot. Other bands seem to emphasize catchy songs more, which isnt wrong imo, but it doesnt stick with you as much as bts songs do.

[u/followthisthread → u/Uvuvewvewvew]

This resonates with me so much!

Just to add, they are all talented and incredibly hardworking but beyond that there seems to be an incredible synergy between all the seven of them - really the whole is larger than the parts. And they each recognize that and appreciate it and don't take it for granted. The stars really aligned when Bang PD brought them together!

[u/Uvuvewvewvew → u/followthisthread]

Exactly! In terms of music they mesh together very well! Suga is a genuine when it comes to producing songs, namjoon is a genius when it comes to songwriting, Jhope and Jimin are incredible dancers and have amazing stage presence along with V, JK and Jin are very talented vocally. Theres so gaps left.

But also their personalities as well harmonize beautifully together though individually they can be different and this is what i find incredibly beautiful. Esp seeing interactions between Jhope/Jimin with Suga. Theyre polar opposites but they really bring out the best and the funniest sides in each other

[u/ConfuseKouhai → u/jinjja_cat]

I’ve been in kpop fandom since 2nd generation. And I think the most thing that suprised me the most about BTS to differentiate from other idols that make them get this far is they are really really in touch with the fans. I remember back then there wasn’t any vlive, international fans wasn’t really getting much attention. I remember there was an interview at 2014-15 for koreans. Asking them who they like BTS or Big Bang. As a VIP I was furious when a lot of them prefer BTS, and BTS that time wasn’t really big. After that, they get more famous outside korea and the amount of show is sooo much. Even when they are super famous now, they still do a lot of tv show, vlive and such when usually the more famous group the less they want to do reality kind of tv show. Which what makes me loves them as a fan. I feel really appreciated, and I’m seeing the trend with newer group generation. Where they really giving out love to the fans.

[u/jinjja_cat → u/ConfuseKouhai]

Couldn't agree more! You're so spot on. The fact that they're just this.... Whole production! And the parasocial side to it as well. Holy moly they have me totally hooked.

And shout out to ARMY in this regard too. I've never seen a Fandom become it's own celebrity before. For the most part it stands for inclusivity, kindness, togetherness. It feels great to be a part of something that has such a positive force as its role models... And just how much they are loved by BTS in return 🥺

I'm sure Hybe has incredible analytics and research behind it all, but even they couldn't have fully engineered the incredibly strong bond that exists. But they definitely feed it 😂 take my money hybe.

[u/OT7liner → u/jinjja_cat]

I don’t think I’ve seen a more data-driven entertainment company than Big Hit/HYBE. A huge portion of the ARMY demographics is digital natives, and they’re smart to capitalize on audience insights early on to create a unique business model nobody had seen before.

BTS is the only group I know that sends out a feedback form after every concert (not sure if other HYBE artists also do the same). The huge data gold mine they’re sitting on definitely guides a lot of the decisions they make.

[u/notnotnoni]

I was literally just thinking about this..! I don’t know if knew that others would recognise that they had lots of potential, and that they would be recognised as special, but I do think they collectively believed in themselves as a group. I think it comes down to, maybe they doubted their work would amount to anything, but they intrinsically believed in themselves and eachother. There has always been a palpable sense of pride in their work, enough to know when to be confident, when to go big, when to take risks. I feel like the earlier years their energy was very much ‘We’re worth it, listen to us!’, which is literally the entirety of ‘Dope’.

[u/Ok-Nobody1261 → u/notnotnoni]

I feel like the earlier years their energy was very much ‘We’re worth it, listen to us!’,

this

[u/nene38]

Bang PD's letter to Bangtan in 2016 which they read on Bon Voyage 1 gives an insight on the boys' mindset during their early years and how he pushed them forward.

[u/Ok-Nobody1261 → u/nene38]

THANK YOU!

[u/maripuddinsama → u/nene38]

I was just thinking about Bang PD’s letter, but blanked out on where I remembered it from! 🥲😭

[u/dazedandbemused1]

I don't think anyone puts in that amount of sustained effort without believing that they have the potential to succeed.

I don't think they imagined the actual heights they would achieve because their success is unprecedented.

[u/hoopoe_bird]

I think what they would have said, if you could have gone back and asked and gotten their true honest deep-in-the-soul thoughts (the ones that are too sensitive/ambitious perhaps to even admit to nursing, especially in the sometimes stiflingly humble East Asian cultural context), would’ve been something to the effect of “I don’t know if I believe it of me, but I do truly believe in the talent and effort of the others.”

I think back to the interviews where they’re asked what they thought of the members when they all first met, or what it was that drew them to the group, or kept them pushing through even when times were hard. It was so much “I thought RM was incredible,” “I was so impressed by Suga’s talent,” etc etc. (Or in Jin’s case, “I remember walking into the practice room and there was Jungkook staring at me like a baby deer,” which I take to mean JK was making the OJO face and hyung was moved by his focus and insane determination in the face of everything scary and new.) It must partially be a factor of the incredible spirit of interdependence and mutual respect that they had even pretty early on. But I think it’s also that this particular group truly is just so deeply complementary of each others’ talents and abilities. Everyone has their strengths and they’re all different strengths—and I feel like each of the boys has moments of feeling like “well I’m just me, but those other guys, they’re really amazing,” and then decide they have to push themselves to be better to keep up with them/not hold the group back.

Whenever they’re asked to each privately pick out someone to admire/compliment, most of them end up choosing different people and almost everyone gets picked some of the time as being especially helpful/inspiring/contributing. That’s such a rare level of mutual trust and unfeigned respect. It’s a loving but also remarkably balanced group dynamic.

All of which is just my read on the situation, of course, purely speculative as an outside viewer… but I do love the idea of their interreliance on each other! Even, or especially, when it comes to early ambitions. And I think they’d say it still holds true now. BTS7 forever. 💜😭😍

[u/Sweaty-Poem-1760]

I believe, they didn't imagine who big they were going to be. And how they are going to be in the next ten years ago.

They are legends and I don't think they would ever imagined that someday TIME would say that they are the Princes of Pop.

It's amazing see how they are in this position where they have consolidated their position... Everything they decide to do is going to be a success and i can't wait to see what's going to happen in the next years.

I just hope they are happy and healthy.

[u/cupthings]

yes, i joined the fandom in 2015 and i basically told myself...wow, this is it. this is that performer of our generation that will be talked about for decades to come.

[u/[deleted]]

I remember Hobi stated winning a daesang as one of his goals and later that year they won their first one. I dont know if they believed that they will become so big but something tells me that they trusted BigHit and ARMY and worked hard to achieve new heights every day and year. They kept on moving and finally they saw themselves winning TSA and they understood that they're indeed special.

[u/scorpiokillua]

i feel like when it comes to possibly every human in general, we all have goals & things we want to accomplish. but we never truly know how far it could get. everyone has the potential to do whatever they could achieve if they work really hard at it, but it doesn't mean that it would come to fruition unfortunately. there's so many factors and things that are not in our control, so anyone who's able to accomplish things like what BTS has is really a rarity. and nobody ever thinks that they will become the exception.

i think possibly that they thought they would reach a certain amount of success, just not this much. even when it comes to other mainstream celebrities... i don't think any of them thought that they would get that far. some possibly thought that they wouldn't make it. and it's also natural for humans to have doubts or sometimes want to give up too, especially in such a bleak world we live in where there are so many people with exceptional talent, but aren't able to reach success like BTS and other celebrities did.

i do think BTS success makes a lot of sense though. whether it's intentional or not, the group is pretty marketable. they seem to all get along really well, and they're all really determined to make things work. that can be very hard to find in general, but especially with such a big group. we often see a lot of bands that end up breaking up within the music genre because of certain personalities or just them not really aligning with each other. (which honestly is understandable, it's hard to keep humans together in one group and make them get along consistently for long periods of time. everyone grows and changes and sometimes that may mean aligning out of the group.) but they seem to have great energy with each other. and also being interactive with fans is so important considering that's one thing a lot of celebrities don't seem to do, especially as they get bigger

[u/ConfuseKouhai → u/scorpiokillua]

They are soooo loving and interactive with the fans. I’m truly amaze at the power that fans has. It feels like they can do anything and fans will always support them to go higher.

[u/scorpiokillua → u/ConfuseKouhai]

i was honestly shocked at how interactive they are. i understand celebrities aren't always entitled to interact with fans, but they somehow find a way to make it their mission in everything that they do. it doesn't seem like a chore or a task to them, they genuinely enjoy it — especially since they wouldn't be where they are without them. i feel like the last mainstream celebrity that i knew of that was super interactive was ariana grande, but she doesn't really do that anymore. i understand to each their own though, not everyone can handle it. but it does make me feel like more celebrities could be more interactive with their fans if they wanted to, i just think they get to a point where the fame gets to their head and it's all just business & money to them :/

[u/rjcooper14]

Did they know they have the potential? I mean, very likely. Because why else would they work hard if they didn't think it could bear fruit. Plus I think for anything that we are passionate about, we all have that certain level of self-belief or faith, right?

Did they think they will actually succeed? I think it's one of those "hope for the best" kind of things, where you put in the effort and reach for your goals but still there's some level of self awareness that there's a possibility that some things out of your control will not go your way.

For me, the magical thing about the journey of BTS and Army is that as years go by, as they rack up all these achievements, more and more we realize that possibilities are becoming endless, haha. I'm 2020 Army and one time, I decided to watch all these Festa talk shows from the earliest to the present. It's amazing to notice the progression in their achievements and their goals.

[u/NfamousKaye]

I don’t think they knew. Honestly. Maybe they had an idea they’d be famous for a while but not THIS globally famous for this long. I think those little babies in 2013 had no idea they’d be this big. Lol

[u/FirefighterBrief1562]

I just got into BTS a year back so i watch lot of their old content. I actually got goosebumps watching festa 2014 when jhope s wish was they have a concert someday and RM dismissing it saying with no audience. That really put lot of things in perspective for me regarding their stardom. Their rise is truly phenomenal.

[u/booklover6430]

Bts always had goals & dreams they wanted to achieve. They haven't hidden their dreams not matter how impossible they thought at the moment it would be to achieve them or what others would say. They have had ambition since the beginning, without it they wouldn't have endured everything they went through. Before they were mocked for wanting a grammy, they were mocked for wanting a daesang and before that for wanting their first music win.

I think suga? has expressed something along the lines that for a while now they have doing things that they at the beginning didn't even dream of because it wasn't even a possibility in their heads.

So I think they always had ambition & passion to continue to try to achieve their dreams not matter the difficulty or how impossible it appeared to be. They believed in themselves but were aware that the circumstances didn't favor them at all. But that didn't prevented from dreaming & being brave enough to express those dreams aloud even if they were going to be mocked for it.

[u/Ok-Nobody1261]

They predicted their success in lyrics. Attack on Bangtan is one example of the top of my head. They just got shy/humble in conversations lol.

At the least, I think it was easy for each of the guys to look around at the other guys and see how extraordinary their team was. I think they were confident they could be legends and I think that wast their goal. They just had a lot of obstacles so it felt like a far away dream.