LISTEN: Here's what makes Agust D (BTS' Suga)’s solo album 'D-Day’ a relatable journey
No matter how glamorous the lives of K-pop idols look like, most of them came from a humble background. In some instances, the emotional and financial struggles they had in the past became their motivation to give their best and hold on to that opportunity to have a good future in the industry.
It is the cast for Min Yoongi, who is known as SUGA of BTS. As one of the producers and lyricists of BTS, he was able to create relatable songs about working hard in pursuing one's dreams, sacrificing a lot to achieve one's goals, and even about mental health issues, with tracks he ends with a hopeful message.
In 2016, Suga introduced his alter ego Agust D to the world when he dropped his self-titled mixtape. He was more vocal in expressing his thoughts which he couldn’t explicitly convey in BTS tracks. In 2020, he dropped his second mixtape D-2. Though the theme is a bit lighter compared to the almost anger-driven first mixtape, he was still able to talk about certain topics related to the society we live in—one thing that his contemporaries rarely touch on.
D-Day is now considered his first official album with a physical release, promotional activities, and a world tour that sold out right away. Known as the member of BTS who surprises his fans with secret projects, D-Day still managed to shock with how honest and raw he was in exposing his vulnerability, making it an intimate journey.
The album kicks off with D-Day, where he assures himself and the listeners that “the future is gonna be okay.” He raps about not wanting to be stuck in the past and encourages everyone not to regret what has been done and to not be afraid of the future. He also advises listeners that it's okay not to be okay.
The title track Haegeum is a hardcore hip-hop song featuring the Korean traditional string instrument haegeum, which is also a wordplay on “liberation.” It is reminiscent of his D-2 title track Daechwita. The music video for the song is a cinematic masterpiece where Agust D plays a detective and a gangster. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets more acting offers once he finishes his world tour.
Just like the BTS song Ugh! and his collaboration with RM Strange, he questions, and in some instances, disses the online culture where the freedom of expression can sometimes get destructive if not used properly. He also asks about the things that are holding us back from doing what's right. Are we all just driven by money? Controlled by capitalism and views?
Agust D’s signature anger is once felt with HUH?, which also features fellow BTS rapper J-Hope. As he mentioned in his documentary SUGA: Road to D-Day, K-pop idols don’t need to get involved in any scandal or crime in order to appear on the front page of traditional and online media. There is rage, but the duo is standing up against misinformation and fake news that often spread like wildfire and can cause destruction to those who are involved.
Amygdala is probably the most heartbreaking track in the album. Though he was vocal in the early part of his documentary that he didn’t really have a specific topic he wanted to talk about at the early stages of D-Day, he decided to go back and recall his past traumas and thus, Amygdala was born.
From his mother’s surgery in the year he was born, his shoulder injury while working part-time as a delivery guy during his trainee days, to finding out about his father’s liver cancer diagnosis while at work, he questions: “Is all this suffering for my own good?”
This moving track starts with his hurtful past, but it only made him stronger. He acknowledges his challenging past, but he is like a lotus flower now. Add the fact that his vocals in the chorus make this standout track unforgettable and in a way, triggering. The newly-released music video is a visual interpretation of this talented artist’s past that will make us understand why Agust D was born in the first place.
The tone mellows down on the 5th track SDL, featuring the backing vocals of Adora, who also took part in his BTS solo track Seesaw. Listeners will get a glimpse of Agust D’s thoughts about loving someone. Does he really love that person, or does he only miss the memories they’ve built together? Though he acknowledges that relationships can be difficult, he can’t help but think about this person. Love this side of Agust D, I must say!
Next is People Pt. 2. Suga once admitted that he tends to ignore an album once he is done with the production, and it's totally understandable since he’d play these tracks a thousand times while making it. Among his D-2 tracks, People gives him a sense of comfort. He finally understood why his fans loved it when it was released in 2020. This time, he reunites with K-pop superstar IU, with whom he worked in the 2020 hit single Eight. Once again, he questions the idea of love and admits that he "wasn’t loved much as a kid," which made him the ‘cautious type when it comes to love. It seems like he's into the idea of love, but at the same time, he's afraid of getting hurt.
“Between so many truths and so many lies, are we seeing this world right?” Agust D asks in the track Polar Night. It reminds me of how people from political sides or different opinions become enemies if they don’t have the same beliefs. At times, being quiet can be bothersome and uncomfortable. Once again, he makes you think about how we are as members of the society and how he is also affected by these factors, too.
Interlude: Dawn sets the tone towards my favorite track Snooze, featuring the late legendary Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and The Rose’s Woosung. In September 2022, he was able to meet Sakamoto in Tokyo, Japan. He revealed how the legend’s musical scoring in the film The Last Emperor inspired him. The two had a fruitful conversation with the two sealing it with Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence on the piano.
In his 2016 track So Far Away ft. Suran from the Agust D mixtape, he unveils his frustrations with his life and how reaching his dreams might be an impossible feat. With Snooze, he encourages new artists to keep going and to do their best in their chosen careers. He also comforts them that it is okay to take a break when things get tough. He also gives practical tips like not laughing at other people’s controversies as it might also happen to you someday and not forgetting why they’re doing all the sacrifices in the first place. Woosung’s strong yet emotional vocals intensify the track.
“Everything will be okay,” he assures his listeners sixteen times in the track. The fact that he also added the bridge of So Far Away but from the perception of someone who achieved and even surpassed his dream was touching and encouraging.
The final track of the album is titled Life Goes On. Sounds familiar? This is because it's a reinterpretation of the 2020 BTS track. In a way, it's like a farewell to a chapter of his turbulent yet inspiring journey. He reflects back on the past decade and reassures his fans that the future is bright. Life goes on, let’s live on!
