Wait, Did BTS Tease the ‘Shadow’ Comeback at ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ [The Final]?
ARMY plunged headfirst into fan theories about the next BTS comeback when the “Persona” music video seemingly teased Shadow and Ego as the potential titles for the new album. Since then, the K-pop group has remained quiet about what’s on the horizon. However, ARMY believes BTS dropped major hints for the Shadow comeback at the Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ [The Final] concert.
The final three shows, which started on Oct. 26, are meant to bid adieu to the current era. BTS then released a new line of VCR content — transition videos played between concert sets. They also unveiled fresh outfits reminiscent of previous eras. And not going to lie, all the fan theories about BTS’ potential Shadow comeback are beginning to look more and more convincing.
BTS fans spot symbolism and Easter eggs in ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ [The Final]
Overall, it seems like most BTS fans believe the VCRs from the Love Yourself: Speak Yourself [The Final] concert were strung together by three common themes — light, shadow, and time.
“The use of shadows within [the VCRs] was very prominent and the idea of time stopping and being controlled as well,” one Twitter fan explained, noting the use of clocks in many sequences.
The imagery involved in the VCRs were also filled with Easter eggs from previous eras. For example, Jungkook and J-Hope created butterfly shadows with their hands, possibly hinting at The Most Beautiful Moment in Life — aka HYYH — and Wings albums. The VCR also included a paper airplane similar to “Spring Day.”
Then Jimin and RM’s VCR involved imagery reminiscent of the “Serendipity” music video. It also included a symbol for butterfly wings through the use of hand shadows and Jimin’s dance.
Meanwhile, V’s VCR was consumed by darkness and shadows. His “Singularity” outfit at the final concert included a black feathered coat, which reminded fans of the black angel wings prominent during the Wings era.
Suga and Jin’s VCR heavily featured clocks, which many BTS fans viewed as a hint at time travel. And for those of you who may not remember, Jin is a time traveler in the Save Me webtoon. Jin’s standalone VCR midway through “Epiphany” also included a scene mirroring the rippled effect in “Awake.”
BTS fans theorize the ‘Shadow’ comeback concept
Clearly, there were plenty of throwbacks to the Wings and HYYH eras in the new VCRs from BTS’ Love Yourself: Speak Yourself [The Final] show. That said, a few fans pointed out the Love Yourself era was influenced by HYYH. Thus, they believe the new comeback album — presumably called Map of the Soul: Shadow — will pay tribute to Wings.
On Reddit, one fan explained how the use of water during Jin’s “Epiphany” performance and VCR could have been used to say goodbye to HYYH and Love Yourself.
“In literature water is often associated with time powers and time travel,” the Redditor shared. “And Jin has already time traveled before in hyyh so that could also connect Jin time traveling for the final time in VCR epiphany for the perfect conclusion and end of hyyh.”
Regardless, it certainly seems the consistent use of shadows throughout the final Love Yourself concert hint at a Wings throwback within BTS’ future comeback. Remember that BTS played around with hand shadows in the shape of wings on multiple occasions within the VCRs. Even so, most fans are hoping the teasers mean the new era will tie in with darker themes similar to Wings.
“The new VCRs have so much about the passing of time, turning time back, the same image of Seokjin touching the mirror/water portal, multi-universes, hints of Shadow,” a fan tweeted. “I can’t analyze it all right now, but it seems clear we’re heading into darker territory soon.”
ARMY predict the BTS comeback release date
Now, it’s also possible BTS gave ARMY a few hints in regards to the comeback release date. A popular theory involves the dates given in the individual movie posters in the ARMY.ZIP Official Fanclub on Weverse. In each poster, the members all received a premiere date of January 2020.
Then during Suga’s solo performance of “Seesaw,” fans pointed out the number 24 prominently featured in yellow. Thus, fans suspect the BTS comeback release date will be Jan. 24, 2020.
Meanwhile, the clocks heavily featured in all the VCRs seemed to be set at 4:32, specifically. Many members of ARMY seem to believe the number relates to 432 Hz tuning, which is theorized to relieve anxiety.
“It’s told 432 Hz Frequency of music is Nature’s Music,” one fan explained on Twitter. “The frequency with which our body naturally resonates. The music tuned to 432Hz automatically becomes more calm and soothing.”
However, it’s possible the number has a simpler meaning. Some fans pointed out that if you multiply 4, 3, and 2 together, you get a product of 24. Again, hinting at the number shown during Suga’s solo. Thus feeding into the comeback’s Jan. 24 release date theory.
Quite frankly, we barely touched the surface in regards to the fan theories derived from the BTS Love Yourself: Speak Yourself [The Final] concert. There is plenty of material provided in BTS’ final show to fuel a rocket to Jupiter. But, hey, isn’t that half the fun?
Regardless, it appears BTS is currently working on new music. During an interview with iHeartRadio following the release of the Lauv collaboration of “Make It Right,” the group shared they preparing ARMY for what’s coming.
“We’re actually now in our studio,” RM said. “So we’re working on our next album.”
Now, is BTS’ next comeback album actually Shadow? Only time will tell at this point. So stay tuned.
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