On the 22nd of April 2022, ‘mono.’ by BTS’ RM breaks another record. The album that was released in 2018 extends its record as the album with the most #1 in iTunes history after reaching another number 1 in Venezuela. This is the 123rd #1 for the album that was released without any promotion back then in 2018.
‘mono.’ is a mixtape consisting of 7 songs with a total of 24 minutes and 52 seconds. This is the second mixtape that is produced by BTS’ RM as his solo project. The title ‘mono.’ was selected by RM because that was the best word to describe the mixtape perfectly, the word that can bring all the tracks together.
What makes this mixtape so special is the order of the song. From track 1 to track 7, RM curated it carefully so that it will result in a very natural flow that makes the listener want to listen to the mixtape again and again and it shows.
Let’s take a glimpse of each song from mono. (All lyrics translation credit to doolset bangtan via https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/)
Tokyo
Life is a wave that sometimes you cannot see
And ash is a thing that someday we all should be
When tomorrow comes, how different it’s gonna be
Why do love and hate sound just the same to me
I can’t sleep, homesick
Babe, I just wanna stay right next to you
If I could choose my dream, I just wanna stay right next to you
Seoul (prod. HONNE)
The lyrics are visualizing Seoul perfectly. As a person who spends almost his entire life in Seoul, RM expressed his love-hate relationship with the city of Seoul.
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I love you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I love you, Seoul
사랑과 미움이 같은 말이면 I hate you, Seoul
If love and hate are the same words, I hate you, Seoul
Moonchild
It’s okay to shed the tears
But don’t you tear yourself
떠나도 절대 한 번도 떠나지지가 않아
Though you leave, you cannot actually get to leave even once
죽고 싶다며 그만큼 넌 또 열심히 살아
Though you say you want to die, you actually live that much harder
다 내려놓고 싶다며 또 다른 추를 달아
Though you say you want to put everything down, you actually carry another weight
생각하지 말잔 생각조차 생각이잖아, you know
Even the thought of not having a thought is a thought, you know
사실은 우린 이런 운명이란 걸, you know
That this is, in fact, our destiny, you know
끝없는 고통 속에 웃는 거란 걸, you know
That we smile in endless pain, you know
자유를 말하는 순간 자윤 없어, you know
That there is no freedom the moment you say freedom out loud, you know
Do you know?
Moonchild, you shine
When you rise, it’s your time
Badbye
Uhgood
내 이상과 현실
My ideal and reality–
너무 멀고 먼
They are too far apart
그래도 다리 건너
But, I still want to cross the bridge
내게 닿고 싶어
and reach me
진짜 내게 (yeah, yeah)
the real me (yeah, yeah)
Everythingoes
지나가 언젠가
It shall pass, someday
분명히 확실히
Surely, without doubt
꿈 속에서는 영원할 수가 없잖아
Nothing can last forever in the dream
힘내란 뿌연 말 대신
Instead of those vague words to cheer me up,
다 그렇다는 거짓말 대신
instead of those lies that this is how it is supposed to be,
그저 이 모든 바람 바람처럼 지나가길 I pray
I pray that it shall pass just like all these winds
Forever rain
하루 종일 비가 왔음 좋겠어
I wish it rains all day
누가 나 대신에 좀 울어줬으면 해서 Yeah
because I’d like someone to cry for me Yeah
종일 비가 왔음 좋겠어
I wish it rains all day
그럼 사람들이 날 쳐다보질 않아서 Yeah
because then people would not stare at me Yeah
우산이 슬픈 얼굴 가려주니까
because the umbrella would cover the sad face
빗 속에선 사람들도 저마다 바쁘니까
because, in the rain, everyone is busy on their own
