Day 30 - 풍경 (Scenery) - V

Song: 풍경 (Scenery)
Artist: V

Jan 30

I have been positively floating all day with the surprise release of Taehyung's highly anticipated solo track. Even better, it fit my mood perfectly today. It is hard to find the words to express how much this artistic and uniquely special human inspires me. One thing is for sure, I feel incredibly privileged to see and hear his art. This actually goes for all seven of the BTS boys but today we are celebrating the work of my bias so I'll save it for another day. On an entirely different note Happy 30 days to "Song in the Life"!

The sounds of a train station on a windy winter day accompanied by the soft crunch of footsteps in the snow is strangely warm and familiar. A whimsical and romantic piano takes us on a nostalgic journey. We are joined by the soulful, breathy vocal of Taehyung. Gentle, soothing, and filled with the energy of the softest love story ever told, my soul feels like it is wrapped in a sweet hug. "Scenery" is cinematic with its floating, sweeping affection. I can genuinely picture "Scenery" appearing in any romance drama but more specifically a romance that is old fashioned and entirely in black and white . One word that comes to mind as I listen is: Pure. There are very few things that I feel come across well in modern music and purity is one of them. It takes a truly special kind of performer/composer to communicate this feeling. Often times the piano melody reminds me of a music box with a tiny dancer spinning slowly. It also reminds me of the old merry go rounds, spinning gleefully, full of ups and downs; the best metaphor for love if I do say so myself. With the addition of strings "Scenery" begins to build beautifully filling this, already dreamlike, world with even more magic.  "Scenery" feels entirely like Taehyung's entire being was captured and wrapped neatly with a bow. Old Hollywood, artsy, pure, whimsical, unique to name a few. I think one of my favorite aspects, however, is the addition of the old film camera in the background throughout the track. Capturing the moments but also paying homage to Tae's love for photography, in which he uses an old film camera. I know that I have been all over the place with this music break down but "Scenery" just sounds like happiness, pure happiness and fills me with such warmth on this bitterly cold day.

Now, this song is literally only about 12 hours old at the time I am writing this post so I know that the lyric translation that I have is not going to be perfect, however even for fresh translations the lyrics Tae has written are incredibly poetic. Just like the music itself the lyrics are romantic and symbolic in nature. I have a strong opinion on just what I think these lyrics mean and are about but honestly I am not going to go into full detail here. Mostly because it would take a year to explain every aspect of it but also because I could very well be reading too much into certain things to a degree that is too far into delusion country (without concrete fact) for my liking. Thus, I will keep this lyric analysis more vague than specific.

"On this path filled with flowers
I see you again
Will you be contained inside me?
In the park where the midnight moon pass over
Right now I collect my feelings
This song is for you
Listen to the sounds of the film
shined on the moon in the night sky"

I mean.. it doesn't get much more romantic does it? The lyric "Will you be contained inside me" and "Right now I collect my feelings" screams to me that the love he has for this person is just overflowing but the action of collecting his feelings could either be due to keeping them a secret, not from the other party but perhaps the world (which given the "idol" culture is a sad truth), or as dorky as this sounds, I mean this is Tae we are talking about, who is an ultra dork, he is collecting every new moment in which he feels more love for this person like pokemon. I personally love the latter but I fear it is the former.

"I still wonder, wonder
Beautiful story 

Still wonder, still wonder best part
I still wander, wander next story 

I want to make you mine"

"In that momentary time
The figure, which my heart let go
Is weary
I regret it
Hoping for that moment again"

"Gathering pieces of the moonlight one by one
I'll make a light for you
With the same appearance as yesterday
Come in front of me"

Now aspects of this sound as if the person he is speaking to never took their chance with each other but I don't believe that to be the case. Again, trying to be vague with it, but I think that the wonder and wandering through stories is more meant as different phases in their relationship, more as chapters as opposed to what could be different people. Especially with the closing line " I want to make you mine". Most people would think this means that the two are not together, however I find myself thinking of it again more in terms of publically. For some reason the couple cannot official stake their claim, for lack of a better term, over one another. I get the feeling that he wants to announce their love to the world but there is something, and I believe that to be a societal thing, holding them back. The second verse I am unsure about the correct translation because I have read several at this point and they all say something different. The only thing in common is the regret he has over a specific moment in time. Maybe it is the optimist in me, and again the suspicion of who this song is written for, that makes me believe that the regret is geared more towards a moment where he was unsure of his feelings or even unwilling to accept them, in the beginning. Eventually, the realization hits and the two enter into a relationship but he regrets the hurt he caused in the beginning and also the fact that they could have been happy much sooner. The next verse is so specific and in your face to me, especially knowing that every single one of the BTS boys leave nothing to coincidence and drop hints through everything they do. All I will say is the obsession with the moon, sun, and moonlight as far and Taehyung and the suspected other person involved go make the last verse highly interesting. As if to passively confirm a hidden truth. The line that stands out the most, however, is "I'll make a light with the same appearance as yesterday". As if to say that no matter what darkness happens tomorrow we will still be the same as yesterday and I will be your light. 

Lyric that attacked me:
"If you walk away
leaving behind footprints
I'll protect that road you took
I'll leave it in black and white"

Song Color: Iridescent Purple

Mood: Blissful Peace