B-sides: Fan Songs

Behind every distinguished artist is an equally supportive fanbase. Without loyal fans to stream new releases, buy concert tickets, and share their love on social media, singers and songwriters would struggle to achieve their dreams. Fans give music meaning. In return, they receive more thoughtful songs and outstanding performances from their favorite soloists and groups. For this week’s B-sides, let’s take a look at one of the most amazing gifts an artist can bestow: fan songs.

“Blue Spring” - TXT (Tomorrow x Together)

The members of TXT (Tomorrow x Together) performed “Blue Spring” for the first time at their sold-out concert in Seoul on March 25. Thus far, it has remained part of the fourth-gen group’s encore performance for the ACT: SWEET MIRAGE tour. The new fan song has yet to be released on all official streaming platforms, but it has quickly settled into MOAs’ hearts.

All five members participated in songwriting, and Beomgyu composed the sweet melody. After the first live performance, Taehyun explained the meaning behind the track’s title and lyrics, stating, “Before we met MOAs, our lives weren’t exactly warm springs, it was just lonely and blue. We didn’t have a shining youth, but when we met MOAs, you bloomed and came to us like spring in the midst of our blues. You are our blue spring.”

The deep emotion is palpable in the members’ voices as they serenade fans with the utmost sincerity. Check out TXT’s heartfelt performance of “Blue Spring” in Seoul from the group’s official YouTube channel, linked below.

“안녕 (GOODBYE)” - 2NE1

Following the announcement of 2NE1’s disbandment in November 2016, the second-generation girl group released “안녕 (GOODBYE)” as a final farewell. During an episode of Livin, the Double Life, CL revealed that she originally wrote the song for Minzy, who officially left the group seven months prior. The lyrics were later altered so the remaining members could say goodbye to each other and their official fandom, Blackjacks.

The acoustic song is emotionally charged, but the members’ voices are filled with strength and passion as they sing, “Until the day we meet again, goodbye, goodbye.” 2NE1 released an official music video to accompany the track. The video is shot fully in black and white, adding to the deep sense of nostalgia. Each scene features the three members watching back old videos from times when they were together as four. It’s both beautiful and bittersweet, but as CL sings in the opening verse, “When the winter passes, spring follows, you know that.” It’s hard to let go of the past and say goodbye, but sometimes goodbyes are necessary for your path to finally bloom.

“Letter” - Park Jimin

Park Jimin made his official solo debut on March 17 with his pre-release single, “Set Me Free Pt.2” His first album, FACE, followed a week later and has been breaking records left and right—one of the latest making Jimin the first Korean soloist to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The album consists of six tracks for anyone streaming on Spotify or Apple Music. However, if you bought the official album (or are chronically online), you might have discovered the album’s hidden seventh track.

“Letter” begins at exactly 6:13 of “Like Crazy (English Version),” following roughly two minutes of silence. The song is appropriately titled as it serves as an open love letter to ARMY. It features acoustic guitar and calming sounds of the ocean, with Jungkook stepping in to provide sweet backing vocals. Jimin imparts his earnest wishes and gratitude for fans, as well as his deepest fears and insecurities. There are also sentimental easter eggs sprinkled throughout, like in the lines “If we were together, even the desert could turn to a sea” and “You that felt like a warm spring day to me in the cold winter,” which give a nod to BTS’s songs “Sea” and “Spring Day,” respectively. It’s not over-produced or saturated with autotune, effectively giving the impression that he’s singing directly to you. From all of these stylistic choices to the lyrics themselves, “Letter” is made that much more meaningful in a time when ARMY needs it most.

Edited by Asia Moore