The music video shoot is over. Everyone gathers around to take a commemorative photo. The staff begin to tidy up the equipment.

Then, someone dances. The song starts again. Everyone moves their bodies. They are no longer in formation. Each dance in different directions. Whatever it is, it’s okay.

It does not matter that the wind is blowing, or there is no lighting. Everyone enjoys the moment. Shouts and smiles burst out from all over the place.

A flash mob spreads out where they were going to take a commemorative photo. The moment shows exactly what BTS wanted to covey through “Permission to Dance.”

Anyone can listen, anyone can sing along, anyone can dance, and anyone can enjoy it. They stressed that "you don't need permission" to enjoy these things.

◆ Permission to “Sing”

Anyone can sing along. “Permission to Dance” is a dance-pop song. The sound is light and cheerful. Voices are soft.

"It's a gift from Ed Sheeran," BTS said. "It makes our hearts beat and our bodies dance."

Overall, the song maintains an eight-beat rhythm. A rhythm easy for anyone to groove to. It is easier than the hip-hop songs BTS showed before. Anyone and everyone can move their shoulders to it.

The melody is not complicated either. Especially, the chorus part "Da na na na na na na" is easy for anyone to catch on to.

The sing-along comes to you automatically as well. 2 minutes and 32 seconds into the song, a break starts with V's "Say!" The instruments cut out and rhythmic clapping remains.

All the members sing in unison. A crowd appears, and they sing all together. Jimin and Jungkook built ad-libs on top of the melody line.

◆ Permission to “Listen”

Anyone can listen to it. BTS incorporated sign language into the performance. Big Hit Music told “Dispatch” that "(BTS) planned it to deliver their message of hope to more people."

BTS first chose some key words. They found sign language for “joy”, “dance”, and “peace”. They had several consultations with professionals. They checked if the message was delivered well.

RM said, “we realized that (until now) we hadn’t thought about that part (sign language). I had fun working on it. I was also very happy to hear that there were people who found it touching.”

There are about 390,000 deaf people in Korea. Around the world, there are 1.5 billion. BTS chose a “visible language” for everyone: They chose international sign language, not Korean.

Of course, this is not a one-off; RM has been donating to music education for deaf students. V gave a silent round of applause to graduates all over the world.

There were also sign language interpreters for the “Love Yourself” world tour. They signed "butter" on a famous American talk show as well.

Their interest did not appear overnight. BTS has always been at the forefront of becoming “barrier free”: they made music that could be heard without hearing.

◆ Permission to “Enjoy”

Anyone can enjoy it. BTS continued to dance even after the end of shooting the music video. The song was over, but the fun was not.

Take a look at the behind-the-scenes video, which shows exactly this. According to Big Hit Music, “they were going to take a group photo after the shooting, but it naturally turned into a flash mob."

It was not scripted. "We did it with the feeling that “anyone” can gather around to move happily and freely together without needing permission," they added.

"BTS has always sent a variety of messages around the world through music. Again, we took the times into consideration. We put a lot of thought into it.” (BTS’s associates)

BTS is consolation and hope for people living in the pandemic era. Their music may have become lighter than before, but their message is never light.

It is what BTS has emphasized countless times. That race does not matter, physical conditions do not matter, and that anyone can have fun.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, (We don't need) Permission to Dance!

<Photo Credits=Bighit Music>