Okay-pop stars BTS dip into world diplomacy at UN gathering

By Associated Press

NEW YORK: It was a United Nations speech that received consideration like few others — a plug for vaccines, younger individuals and the earth’s properly being from celebrity Okay-pop band BTS.Addressing the stage for a sustainability occasion, the seven-member musical juggernaut appeared earlier than the famend green-marbled backdrop within the General Assembly corridor on Monday, September 20, 2021, to assist promote U.N. objectives for 2030 together with ending excessive poverty, preserving the planet and reaching gender equality.”Every choice we make is the beginning of change, not the end,” stated RM, the band’s chief.South Korean President Moon Jae-in launched the pop stars as particular presidential envoys and an “exceptionally outstanding group of young men who are connecting with the youth across the world.”The gravity of the second wasn’t misplaced on the musicians standing earlier than world leaders and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Nerves had been evident when band member Jimin stumbled over his phrases whereas speaking about younger individuals attempting to navigate the pandemic. Jimin apologized earlier than taking a breath to remember himself. It was a second that prompted the “BTS ARMY” of followers to rally behind him in a present of assist on social media. The artists took activates stage throughout their seven-minute speech. But it wasn’t all about U.N. objectives. The group additionally unveiled a brand new music video for its present hit single “Permission to Dance,” which was filmed at U.N. Headquarters in New York. The singers crooned, “Don’t need to talk the talk, just walk the walk,” whereas dancing their method from the General Assembly corridor to the backyard overlooking the East River.Since its debut in 2013, BTS has garnered world recognition for its self-produced music and activism, which additionally contains publicly calling out anti-Asian racism. The band topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart thrice in 2020, and was nominated for distinguished music awards like Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.Monday’s speech marked the group’s second look on the U.N. The band took half in an occasion in 2018, when RM spoke about its work with UNICEF.