The day has finally come when we get a new solo EP from BTS’ very own V! After releasing a series of OSTs and solo singles throughout his career, 2023 is the year he makes his own mark in the industry with a collection that best represents his own colors. Following previous album releases from J-Hope, Suga (Agust D), RM, Jimin, and successful singles from Jungkook and Jin, V crafted his own musical poetry that makes him stand out as his own artist. Also deviating from BTS’ well-known discography of pop and choreo-heavy tracks, V dabbled in the likes of jazz, classics, and R&B to try something new.
Among his collection of songs is “Blue,” the shortest song on Layover. “Blue” is one of the best tracks to showcase V’s vocals thanks to its mellow tempo and threadbare vocals – it’s calm, yet blue, and pays homage to old-school R&B. Both the genre and V’s vocals prove to be a good match, as they hold hands to wade us through a gloomy, cloudy heart. Although the lyrics are quite concise, they paint a poetic picture of loneliness, loss, hopelessness, and a dying flame of hope.
To visually match the melancholy pervading through the track, the MV is entirely in greyscale and pulls back on any frills in order to have us engage in the emotions being shown. The plot is simple, though vague enough to have the viewers wonder who or what he’s really looking for. Calling, knocking, driving, waiting – none of it seems to work, and later on V even has to evade a security officer, which probably implies he’s done this long enough to warrant outside suspicion. V appears clearly desperate, but seems to give up without raising his voice…or even speaking up. Perhaps for creative purposes, we as viewers don’t ever “hear” V apart from the song, nor do we get a glimpse into his thoughts other than through his facial expressions.
In this way, the idea of communicating desires, emotions, and thoughts is re-examined in a newer angle. Overall, there is very little to go off of, with major elements held back to leave it to our own interpretation and imagination. Sometimes this could be a challenge to pull off, as the lack of visual elements will have to fall back on a strong emotive pull from the song itself. Luckily, V’s visual and audial portrayals perfectly evoke an open story of melancholy and waiting.
Surprisingly, the MV closes in on V’s pet dog Tannie running past him with a loose leash, surprising him out of his stupor. We don’t ever get to really see the woman who let Tannie loose to run toward V, nor do we know if her role plays any significance in the plot. There’s also the question as to whether V was theoretically waiting to be reunited with his dog, or simply noticed him in passing. How is the woman related to him and his dog, or is there any connection at all between these three roles?
Some may say it’s not the resolution they hoped for, as it brings forth more questions than answers. Others may be able to draw the conclusion that V was potentially waiting for them both, but evidently, it was only Tannie who made it back to him. Or, as the song is aptly coined “Blue,” perhaps his dog was all he needed to feel less down. The conclusions are endless, adding an air of mystery to a song already open to interpretation and personal application.
Just like a silent cinema would, it stirs up a myriad of emotions in black and white, leaving us to ponder with our own musings as the ending credits roll.
There are no answers, but it seems that the real point is in choosing what to do when someone – or oneself – is blue, and difficult to reach. Through the use of V’s dog, the MV further stresses the importance of companionship, touch, and an exchange of emotions – as V’s expressions only really change once Tannie runs by his vision. Even if he may never see that one door unlocked to let him in, perhaps his dog will provide a glimmer of hope and a way out of his own gloominess. And maybe healing isn’t so out of reach, if only we know where to look.
(YouTube; images via HYBE LABELS)
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