D-2 ALBUM REVIEW - THE 2ND CHAPTER

In the album review of his sophomore album D-2, SUGA confirms that he uses his music as an outlet for him to let out all his thoughts and emotions. He says that once the music is released, all the feelings attached to them are gone, and he feels at peace.

The title track Daechwita, which means "great blowing and hitting," is a type of Korean traditional military music. Daechwita’s lyrics, music, and video provide the perfect type of “in your face” song for a title track. The song announces the arrival of Agust D’s second album, D-2. Daechwita speaks to those who undermine SUGA, BTS, and their success. In the song, Agust D announces his presence as "a king and a boss," declaring his status in the industry to others who need "pills" to create talentless work.

"What do you think?"’s theme is similar to Daechwita in a way that the lyrics call out the people, entities, and corporations who do not have the best interest at heart for SUGA and BTS. It exposes those who create negative or controversial conversations about BTS for views, likes, or clicks.

In his album review on VLive, SUGA compared these two tracks as traps that he admits he also has laid out in previous songs. He mused how each time he creates a song as a trap, some people never seem to avoid the pitfalls and get caught over and over again.

Daechwita, and What do you think? both have a braggadocious feel to them; a tone that, at times, shows up in hip hop. However, Strange, which features RM, flows like a conversation on society between two friends.

Strange ("Isn't it strange?" in Korean) frames itself as a discussion between Agust D and RM, sharing their thoughts about society and its different structures. SUGA said his favorite lyric from the song is one of RM's lines, "A round nail that’s been hammered into a square hole.” It is hypothesized that this line is a reference to the Instagram logo. This line supports the lyric "My feed explains me," which highlights how others use social media to present themselves.

While these songs present as interpersonal, the other tracks of the album all seem intrapersonal. Moonlight, People, 28, Burn It, Honsool, Interlude : Set Me Free and Dear My Friend, all capture the emotions of Min Yoongi, the man behind all the personas.

Moonlight, or "The Moon," recalls a 90's retro feel, with Agust D starting the song talking in a freestyle manner before the first verse. As the song progresses, Agust D takes on a conversational tone within the track. He continuously goes back and forth about his past and present life, looking back at where he was and how far he has come but also wondering if he deserves all the success and accolades given to him.

As Agust D seesaws through his past and present, he sings that "Changes are fated to happen to everyone" and further ponders "Perhaps it's how we change that is our karma to bear." Understanding that change is inevitable, Agust D leans on the moon's unchanging nature for comfort during these changing times.

In People, Agust D delves deeper into the discussion of change. People asks us to question our rush to move past moments of change by nonchalantly asking two questions: "Why so serious?" and "What about it?" These questions are repeated throughout the song, forcing us to look inward at our aversion to the mundane or painful moments in life.

In the song Burn It, it feels like Agust D looks at change and how one must allow it to happen, much like in the two previous songs. A part of adjustment is letting go of the past. In Burn It, featuring American singer Max, Agust D tells himself to let go and burn his youth's history. He even wants the ashes of his past to be reburned because he understands that holding onto past pain and rage is futile.

As a listener, the next four songs feel intrusive, carrying listeners deeper into the heart, thoughts, and life of Min Yoongi.

In 28, Agust D expresses his emotions about growing up, and we all feel that we must let go of the youthful dreams and goals we once had. He explains how even if one wants to try to grasp those dreams again, they are unattainable. The sorrow of recognizing this change in oneself makes Agust D think that "Perhaps, I am becoming an adult" as the Korean title of the song suggests. The recognition of this truth slowly permeates throughout the song in a melancholic way, as Agust D mourns the dreams that didn’t come true and the goals that weren’t achieved.

The chopped and screwed music used in Honsool is a technique often found in rap. Distorting the song's recordings on purpose, this method is expertly used by Agust D to convey a mood of slurred thoughts, words, and movements. SUGA mentioned that he recorded Honsool when he was drunk in a hotel, having difficulty sleeping and experiencing jet lag. When he played Honsool for others, people mentioned how creepy the song was and how uncomfortable it made them feel. While reviewing his album, SUGA explained that he was proud to hear that reaction, as that was his intention when producing it.

"Interlude : Set me free" is a tranquil and musically contrasting song compared to Honsool. Agust D repeats the words "set me free," a plea to others or himself, as a release from the ups and downs of life. Despite his awareness that being set free is not ideal or even what he may want, he still yearns for release from life’s unexpected and unstable moments.

The final song of D-2, Dear My Friend, features the beautiful voice of South-Korean singer Kim Jong Wan from the legendary band NELL. Dear My Friend evokes empathy for SUGA, his friend, and their lost friendship, while also pulling the listener into their emotions over bonds that may no longer exist. At this point, all of us can relate to missing friends and friendships that will never be the same.

Overall, D-2 is a beautiful piece of art worth the three years and nine months that ARMY waited. Do you have a favorite song on the album? Reach out on our socials!

*All Korean English translation sourced by @doolset.

*All thoughts expressed are interpretations of the writer.

Written by: Lee

Edited by: Alice

Designed by: Achan

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