No, I get it. I know that that title alone will get me in the hot seat.

But hear me out first before you burn me at the stake.

Disclaimer: The cover image used for this blog post is from Pinterest. While we’re on the subject, all images, videos, and media used in this post do NOT belong to me and are from linked sources. I am only using them for entertainment and discussion purposes.

Recently, a great song was released by two well-known bands–one that has been in the industry for so long and has repeatedly proven their talent and presence in the music world; and another that has deservedly risen to even greater heights with each passing year. This song is “My Universe,” a collaboration from none other than Coldplay (who I love and adore since their “Viva La Vida” days) and BTS (who are now my ultimate bias (hello Army!)).

And the reason why I am recognizing them and dedicating an entire post to them today is because of the branding, content/message, and language behind this beautiful, heartwarming ballad.

If you have not seen or heard the song, take a look at it here:

Video from YouTube

Let’s discuss branding first.

Branding

According to the documentary uploaded onto YouTube to complement the release of the song, telling fans how this project was created, it was BTS who reached out to Coldplay first to do a collaboration.

Video from YouTube

Although Chris Martin sings a majority of the lyrics, I am proud and happy that he and his band titled the video “Coldplay X BTS” and not “Coldplay ft. BTS.”

Oh, big difference, Donuts.

No, it IS a huge difference. The way the title is written acknowledges that there was (and is) an equal collaboration between both boy bands and that Coldplay respects BTS as artists themselves. They composed the song together and (should) get equal share of the recognition.

Coldplay is not trying to pull a Jason Derulo and claim that this song reached #1 on Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. by himself/themselves without BTS’s influence or that he/they alone had the influence to make such a bop reach #1. Although BTS’s Army may have helped rocket this single to the top, I am sure Coldplay’s talent and their fans contributed a lot as well. Both bands and fandoms are equally incredible and again, as seen in the documentary, both bands support spreading love and kindness. That’s what makes the world a better place (and them such great artists).

Heck, Chris Martin even sang the Korean lyrics in his live performance of the song on The Graham Norton Show. Just witness it yourself down below!

Video from YouTube

And boy did it make my heart melt and bring tears to my eyes. Not only was BTS there in the back (obviously pre-recorded), but to sing, normalize, and celebrate the beautiful Korean language really makes me love Coldplay even more.

Now, on to the content/messaging.

Content/Messaging

I am all about spreading (well-balanced) positivity, kindness, and love. And this song is just that. BTS has always been about spreading and promoting a message of self-love throughout their career. So does Coldplay.

And one of the methods that we can spread those incredible things in a way that’s understood all across the world is through art; in this case, music.

In the video, it appears to be about a universe where music is not allowed or is even outright banned, disconnecting people who are far away from each other. However, people–the two bands–play music and sing to feel connected, be happy, and get some sort of sense that they’re together, even if it’s not physically possible.

At the climax of the video, it seems as if silence will threaten their connection, but they continue playing music and serenading, overcoming that barrier, that space, that disconnection between themselves.

The spirit of the song is captured most powerfully and holistically through the lyric “because we come from different sides” (sung by the amazing Jimin) (and which hits me hard). Not only are they saying–in the context of the story portrayed in the video–that it is hard to stay connected without music (because the bands are most likely on different sides of the universe and cannot be together physically), but that even in our world, the west and east cultures/worlds are separated by language barriers and geography. However, we can overcome that with our love and celebration of music. How beautiful is that message?

Here’s a link to the song lyrics meaning: https://www.capitalfm.com/news/coldplay-bts-my-universe-song-lyrics-meaning/

Finally, let’s go to the language used in the song.

Language

This will be the meat and potatoes of my post; language.

I was incredibly surprised that BTS sang in Korean for this particular song and collaboration. Before, during their debut and initial rise in popularity across America, they were seen as foreign (maybe even exotic) for being an overseas act that serenaded in Korean in a predominantly English-speaking music powerhouse of a country. Since 2020, with the release of “Dynamite” and “Butter“, they’ve been incorporating more English lyrics into their songs (or just outright singing in only English) to broaden their outreach and appeal more to the American audience, consumer, and listeners.

And when I read that in the news, it felt like such a shame. Such a waste. I’m going to go on a little tangent; I’ve always felt that Asian people should appreciate what makes us unique and different from Western culture and influence. That comes in the forms of our clothing, food, physical appearances, and most especially, in our language.

I know for sure that the Korean entertainment industry favors paler actors and actresses, singers, and entertainers over their darker-skin counterparts and competitors. And it’s not just in the show business world. It’s in everyday Asian life, too.

Returning to my main point:

That’s why I want BTS to continue singing in Korean. That’s what makes them different; so why try to cater to the Western world and try to be accepted by them in their way when you can be your own thing, do things your own way, and rule the world your way and the way YOU want?

I know fans love them already no matter what, but especially because they are unique and Korean. So why give that up to obtain more widespread and commercial success? Should profit triumph over authenticity, originality, and culture? I know corporate business will say yes, but as a fan, I say no.

Representation

Languages—all of them, are equally beautiful. All of them are. Languages are a unique way for groups of people to express themselves and communicate with others. But in a country like America where the dominant culture and language is Western and English (respectively), as an Asian American girl who is still craving for more representation of someone who looks, speaks, and is like me, I want more Korean lyrics.

I want to hear more Korean songs–and I’m not even Korean! However, it doesn’t matter, because this, to me, is better than anything–another English-speaking (or rather, -singing) song. I think the Korean language is beautiful and I believe BTS should continue singing in Korean like they did in this song, “My Universe.” Not only will it help Korean American youth–and Asian American youth everywhere–feel seen and heard, but that their presence is acknowledged, recognized, and validated. Hey, there’s something cool about someone who looks or sounds like us!

We’re not just that nerd, bad driver, side character, whatever-Asian-stereotype-you-know-and-heard-about-us. We can be singers, dancers, talented artists, you name it! And our culture isn’t some stupid two words like “ching” or “chong.” It can be an entire song or even a collaboration with one of the most recognized artists/bands in the world.

You want to know just how touched I am hearing something else besides English in songs? Let’s consider first, “Despacito” and how that song turned the world upside down for the Latino community.

“Despacito”

Think about how Hispanics and Latinos probably felt hearing “Despacito” dominate the soundwaves and charts in 2017. Remember those good old days? As of this writing, that video/song has been played and heard 7.5 billion times. Hispanics and Latinos have slowly become a demographic that lawmakers know must be tapped into to win elections, but in entertainment, they’re making headlines.

Video from YouTube

Heck, didn’t Jennifer Lopez and Shakira just recently headline the Super Bowl in 2020?

Video from YouTube

Latin culture is beautiful. So is their food. And so is their language. I am sure they felt empowered and inspired when their language was blasting everywhere during 2017’s time.

Disney: “Let It Go” and “How Far I’ll Go”

Take a look at Disney as well. “Let It Go” is a song every one knows (unless you’ve lived under a rock since 2013). But, did you know there’s a multi-language version? Check it out below!

Video from YouTube

Video from YouTube

In 2016, when Moana came out with its song “How Far I’ll Go,” they also had their multi-language video.

Video from YouTube

As a Vietnamese American who has never been to Vietnam, or knows much about her motherland and its history, despite me speaking Vietnamese at home, it still hit me hard hearing one of the lines of the song being sung in Vietnamese. I teared up hearing it. I couldn’t figure out why at that moment; however, only after realizing that in 2016 Asian American representation in the media and Hollywood was still limited (pre-Crazy Rich Asians release) did I finally know why.

That’s why I was so moved by BTS singing Korean in a collaboration with Coldplay–after having tried to transition to completely English singing in their songs now. Seeing the Korean lyrics written out/displayed in Hangul/Hangeul was breathtaking and touching. I felt seen and equal and validated besides the English lyrics to this song. BTS and Coldplay are equal and there was Korean representation–acknowledgement of its beauty and presence and contribution to the song.

Lyric Video

Here are screenshots from the lyric video of “My Universe“:

Final Thoughts

All languages are beautiful and making English the official language of America (or even the globe’s official language) would be doing a great disservice to the world and rob us of diversity–the very thing America stands for. The reason why America is so great is because we celebrate our differences and diverse backgrounds (or supposedly should be). However, that also means that we should normalize them too. We should help all people from different backgrounds, culture, and languages feel uplifted, heard, validated, acknowledged, and most importantly, seen.

If we learned anything from Parasite‘s incredible and historic Oscar win (and the recent virally popular Netflix show Squid Game), it is that just trying any media–movie or even song–outside of English will not only open our minds, but ourselves to more great works of art, knowledge, and awareness. We’ll start to realize that not everything revolves around America in this world. Diversity is beautiful and other languages are beautiful, too. And we should not erase their existence or expression either. That is what makes art beautiful and truly inspiring–that we can use it to not only communicate, but to unite with each other despite our different experiences–regardless of manmade barriers like language differences

Thank you for reading and making it to the end of this post. If you enjoyed this topic, you’ll most likely enjoy my other articles for Asian American topics. Just click on the link and check out whatever interests you!