something longer than a moment
First impressions are everything. No musical instance is more indicative of this than The Beatles' US debut on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. The band (which had just scored their first Billboard #1 single) was already hot enough that CBS received 50,000 requests for tickets to Studio 50, which only seats 728 people. After performing for the American public for the first time in their slim cut suits, skinny ties, and matching mop top haircuts, the four young men from Liverpool became instant stars. The following fervor for the Fab Four piqued the interest of producer Bob Rafelson
. He would go on to try to replicate the success of The Beatles with The Monkees. The Monkees would be dubbed The Prefab Four and are considered the first official boy band. And for pop culture, that image—the young men in suits with cool haircuts, filmed in black and white—has become a shorthand for a breakout moment.It seems fitting, then, that fifty-five years later Studio 50 (now named after Mr. Sullivan), would once again host another international act with a devoted fanbase. Moreover, current Late Show host Stephen Colbert and his guests, Korean pop group BTS donned similar fits as the host and the band from all those years earlier, paying homage in their own way to one of the most groundbreaking moments in pop music history.
In 2019, BTS, like The Beatles, weren't completely unknown to Americans. Much of their fanbase were exposed to the group through the internet, which killed the monoculture that only had three TV channels to watch, bringing Beatlemania to the masses. Gen Z observed BTS's emergence through TikTok, Tumblr, and Twitter, with fans in the know spreading the good word like an old fashioned game of telephone. This word of mouth (which once required you to physically pick up the receiver) was now a matter of sharing Spotify playlists, texting a primer on the seven members to your group chat, or in my case, sitting in on the Intro to BTS panel at my local sci-fi/fantasy con. Even then, it was more for clarification since I'd first heard about BTS from then middle school aged daughter of one of my friends. After seeing the panel listed in the itinerary, I thought, Sure, let's give this a shot.
I wouldn't see BTS in action for the first time until a few weeks later. And, cute as their Beatles homage on Colbert was, their April 11th appearance on Saturday Night Live is, in my opinion, far more indicative of their magic. SNL's stage has hosted some truly noteworthy performances, but the stage is notoriously small. For a group like BTS, renowned for their dancing, this poses problems for choreography. The sound mixing can sometimes trip up even the best of the best vocalists, and it has. Pairing this with the fact that the guys would be singing and rapping almost entirely in Korean in America—a country that rather famously demands language assimilation from anyone who isn't some variation of white-presenting European (and even they can be subject to some form of scorn)—you would be absolutely correct in being slightly concerned about how this band would be received by the general public. Yet with two songs, "Mic Drop" and then current chart topper "Boy With Luv", BTS utterly charmed. For a few weeks after their appearance, I would watch those clips at least once a day. The confidence and ease that those seven young men possessed was electric. The way that they navigated the small stage and had their audience (plus that week's host, Emma Stone) enthralled was awe-inspiring.
YouTube's comment section is, far more often than not, one of the cesspools of the modern internet. But a funny thing happens when you read the comments under the SNL "Boy With Luv" video. You'll encounter remarks like this:
I'm a 64-year-old Man who grew up with The Beatles and I can honestly say that I haven't seen this kind of pure, unmitigated joy and love from a Musical Act since them/then. I happened to be watching SNL this night and was so incredibly impressed with these guys that I told everyone I knew about them.
And this:
This was literally the moment that changed my life! I knew of BTS for years but never paid attention because while I am Korean, I don’t speak the language and knew nothing of the culture. I’m in my late 30’s with kids. My husband and I have watched SNL for years together. I was going to fast forward through the musical guest as we often do.. but decided to watch. I went from googling “BTS guy with blue hair” to full blown ARMY, cooking mostly Korean food and starting to learn Korean too. BTS helped me embrace my culture and show my kids positive influences in pop culture.
Or:
I’m a 69 year old grandmother my husband 70… we only came to know about BTS months back through our grandaughter and daughter , so we went searching to have a listen …this is the very first song we heard ….. now we have grown to love every one of these fantastically talented guys…
Plus:
feels so nostalgic watching because this performance is what made me an army in 2019 as a senior in HS. I remember being so fascinated and showing all of my friends and family this performance bc the synchronization and energy truly captured me. I had no idea bts existed prior to watching and the foreignness of a performance with this much hard work put into it made it so much more impressive for me. I just happened to watch this snl episode and didn’t know how much it would truly change my life. I was at a low point and not only did this band help me through that, but they truly became people I looked up to to better my own life. I found myself exploring interests I never would have and truly just wanting to become a more well rounded individual. will always have a soft spot for bts and this song <3
These comments aren't just one offs. Between the dedicated ARMYs hyping up their group, you have a smattering of average folks dropping in to say how much they enjoyed the performance, and appreciate BTS's talent and verve. Props are given to J-Hope's dancing, with another older commenter saying that his energy reminded him of Michael Jackson in his heyday. Mentions of how BTS aren't flashes in the pan, but genuine articles. Even sorting by newest comments, you get nothing but good vibes. I go back to this video every now and again when I want to be reminded that you can still be open to new experiences when you're older, and that young people want to share the things that bring them joy with anyone who is willing and happy to receive it. The world is, far too often, a volatile and imperfect place. Sometimes, pop music is the balm that we all need to soothe that wild ache.
A few quick things:
What is it with boy bands and laundry? First there was the Gain ad with All 4 One’s "I Swear", and then the Backstreet Boys and Downy.
Lance Bass has a podcast called Frosted Tips, and each week, he talks to another boy band member. The first episode was with bandmate JC Chasez, the second with Jonathan Knight from New Kids on the Block, and the third is a two-parter with AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys! I'm saving the AJ episodes for this weekend, once I'm done with the audiobook I checked out from the library.
Speaking of books, one of my favorites from last year was Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman. Her next book, Once More with Feeling, is out on May 30th and from the description, it sounds like a second chance romance between a former pop star and a boy band member.
I'm upset that Turning Red didn't get a Best Original Song nomination at the Oscars. Justice for 4-Town!
Rafelson passed away in 2022 at the age of 89.
I, and others, argue that The Beatles are a boy band without the tropes that became common after The Monkees, The Jackson 5, and New Kids on the Block established them, but that's another conversation for another time.