SPRING a LIKE on this video to- DAY bff :)

Some information about Spring Day:

1) RM & SUGA started writing the lyrics for this song after a long conversation they had that was sort of a bonding experience for them too. They were speaking about friends each one of them had lost contact with, for different circumstances, and about how much they missed them... How they missed when their lives were more simple, when friendships were more innocent, pure and uncomplicated. For example, they lost contact with childhood friends when they moved to Seoul to become artists; later on they felt betrayed by other friends who criticized their decision of becoming an idol group; they also hadn't been able to see certain current friends in a long time, due to their life-style of constant traveling, etc. (It is also speculated that Suga's rap verse is about the same ex-friend that he speaks about in the last track of his mixtape D-2, song called "Dear My Friend".)

2) Spring Day music production took a long time to finish. Something didn't seem to be working out, and it was finally finished when a couple of foreign producers (I am using this word losely, I believe Namjoon meant composers) got involved in the track. This song had many many edits. (Even more than usual.) V also showed us an snippet of the demo of his own version (for the chorus) that he submitted during Spring Day writing process. (I think RM's demo was the one that was selected though.)

3) When Spring Day was released, as one of the few additional tracks in the repackage album called "You Never Walk Alone" (the 2nd single was "Not Today"), the song became a huge hit in Korea. It has remained on the Korean charts for years. From it's debut on 2017 to the current date, it has never dropped from the top hot 100 there. (I'm sorry, I don't remember if Gaon or Melon charts.) Admittedly, ballads are a very popular music genre in Korea, but... The main reason for this local success was because many people found comfort on it, specially the familles of people who had passed away, due to illness or accidents or suicide. The song is about losing and missing loved ones... So the people related it to the feeling of longing for those who aren't here anymore.

4) I will explain some of the symbolism of the music video: they show scenes in which BTS are together, having fun, celebrating someone's birthday party... This shows how friendship is a source of happiness, happy memories. There are other scenes in a train. Trains are transportation vehicles that allow people to travel long distances... They are often used to symbolise the pass of time, any type of transition, and the travel to the afterlife too, going to hell or heaven, after you die. The shoes hanging on the trees are also a reference to people passing away and mourning them. And then there are scenes in which BTS are walking in the snow, walking together towards that tree, while you see the sunlight and the snow starting to melt. These tree scenarios show the three themes of the song: a) friendships or close relationships; b) losing loved ones or longing for them when you are separated; c) the transition from winter (pain/sadness/separation/grief) to spring (love/joy/reunion/meeting each other again, eventually.)

5) The music video has references to the film "Snowpierce" (science-fiction post-apocalyptic distopian film directed by Bong Joon-ho) and the short novel "The ones who walk away from the Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm not going to explain the entire  plot of this movie and book, but, they have common topics about criticizing the division of social classes and people living a life of privilege at the expense of minorities, children, the marginalized, or other people who are forced to stay underprivileged. (I recommend both by the way, they're good.) Lastly, I will add that there seems to be a scene that is reminiscing of the well-known fairytale called "The Little Match Girl," by Hans Christian Andersen. (You can find longer explanations and MV analysis in the replies to this comment.)

6) The mountain of clothes in which BTS members are sitting towards the end of the video, is a clear imitation or reference to the art installation called "Personnes" (People) or, alternatively, “No Man's Land,” a work by the French artist Christian Boltanski, that was installed at the Park Avenue Armory in 2010. That project was meant to make the public reflect about life and death, about the arbitrariness of death and survival. The mountain of clothes can be seen as a representation of the lives that were lost or that are struggling to survive. His work in general has recurrent topics in relation to preserving the memory of people.

7) A lot of Korean people were able to use Spring Day to mourn the Sewol Ferry Tragedy that happened a couple years before (in 2014). In fact, it is widely theorized and believed that BTS and Big Hit decided to incorporate imaginery relating to the Sewol Ferry incident in the music video and in the choreography for the track. (There's a lot of details that suggest so... For example, the choreography shows them forming the shape of a boat.)

In summary: There was a national tragedy in South Korea known as the "Sewol Ferry Tragedy". In this incident, many high school students (on a trip to Jeju Island), lost their lives by drowning. (304 of the 476 passengers were killed, 250 of them were 2nd-year high school students. 172 survivors, 5 of the bodies were never recovered.)

This incident was particularly cruel, traumatic and horrific because there was corruption from the government involved in why the ship was in bad conditions, plus the entire thing was being recorded live from the coast... It was hellish. Families and people saw the events happening on real time... People gathered in the coast to help with small boats, while the government did nothing but deny their mistakes and try to difficult the rescuing efforts. The attitude of the Captain of the boat was also cowardly and caused many more deaths, many of which could have been prevented if the authorities had been responsible and honorable. Plus, the Korean government tried to save face by silencing the news and trying to ban the people and artists from even speaking about what had happened. (The poor management of this was one of the arguments used on trial, during the impeachment of the former President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, years later.)

8) It was reported, many years later, that BTS and some crew from Big Hit, made anonymous donations to the families who lost their kids during the Sewol Ferry accident, and even visited some of their homes to give their condolences. This was earlier in their career, by the way.

9) ARMY's nickname for this song are "The Eternal Queen" and "Queen Spring Day". There are many running jokes about how this single is competitive and how it stubbornly comes running to rise higher again in the music charts, every single time BTS releases a new title track or single. BTS are well aware of how well received was Spring Day and have heard stories shared by fans who connected with the song in multiple ways... (They do fan surveys, they read fans letters, they watch fan reactions videos, they hear the crowd singing along in concerts, etc...)

10) In short, Spring Day is a song that was inspired by the experience of "losing friends due to different circumstances". This meaning can easily be extended, by interpretation, to the painful experience of "losing loved ones, due to different circumstances". It's a song about lost friendships, missing people, wishing to reunite with others... It's a song about longing, grief and hope for the spring to come, once again. Because no winter (no season) lasts forever. It is a single that means a lot to BTS & ARMY. A song that has comforted millions of people.


PS: If ARMYs remember some facts more accurately than me, feel free to correct me on the comments. You can add information too. :)  


Some direct sources (BTS own words and insight):

- RM's 2017 live+ stream: https://www.vlive.tv/video/22933/REPLAY-RMs-WINGS-
(it's the continuation of RM's WINGS album review: https://www.vlive.tv/video/15694/BTS-Live--WINGS-Behind-story-by-RM )
- V's 2017 live stream: https://www.vlive.tv/video/25339
- BTS Speech at 2017 Melon Music Awards, when they won Song of the Year for Spring Day:
+ The speech is towards the end of BTS 2017 MMA Episode, here is the video with English subs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YPccm7Wnkw
+ Compilation of 2017 speeches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbuHoQ8fGa8&t=415s
- BTS Episode, Spring Day MV Shooting Sketch (Eng subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OgicoELhUA
- BTS Memories of 2017 (DVDs) have other pertinent behind the scenes... (Mostly from the MV shooting and interviews).
- Maybe there's other commentary in BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour in Seoul DVD (I am not sure).

- There's some logs and behind the scenes stuff that I can't find right now, but I just saw that The Rise of Bangtan's new 13 chapter is about YNWA Era and has a lot of clips of BTS members speaking about Spring Day (it can provide context too):
+ The Rise of Bangtan; Chapter 13: You Never Walk Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP7VY252VdU
+ Deleted Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie5A-iCu1y4
+ Bonus Content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdzE3eRDSss


Popular Fanmade Videos Analysis/Theories (interpretations by BTS fans):

~ Fan Analysis of the Music Video:
- What you STILL DON'T KNOW about BTS SPRING DAY MV, by Italian ARMY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrT4a_Fw6pE
- BTS Spring Day MV EXPLAINED | Sewol Ferry, Snowpiercer & Survivors by Bulletproof Vibes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tye1ONFeKis&t=26s

PS 2: Thanks to everyone in the comments, I added some of the topics people seem to want me to address. The comment is largely the same, but it was already very long and I didn't want to be confusing. I added links too, although THAT may be too much lol

‘Spring Day’ is the Queen. The song that never fall down from k-music chart.

No matter which era it is this song has a very special place in our hearts.

Yoongi on the pile of clothing is us sitting on THAT one chair we all have in our room

The theories of this MV is beyond my thinking power-

This song is basically the biggest hit of bts in sk its still charting after like 4 years 😎

Theres a theory that says that the music video is based off “Ferry Tragedy” Which is when a ship in 2014 sank with workers and students 299 died on that day.During Namjoons part when he was on the trains you can see abandoned suit cases which represent the people who went on that ship and never came back( which means they died… ) Also, at the start Taehyung is supposed to represent a guilty survivor who is guilty cause his friends and everyone died but he didn’t. The rusty,old merry go round behind Jungkook represents loss of childhood, also is says “You never walk alone” keep this in mind. Omelas is a society who ignores suffering to be happy. Jhope and Suga are supposed to represent the people from Omelas.
In the lyrics of Spring Day, Rap Mon mentions 'Snowpiercer'. Snowpiercer is a movie by Korean director Joon-ho Bong. The movie takes place entirely on a train. The movie symbolizes human society, where the people in the"front" of the train (upper class, government) treat the "tail" of the train (regular people) in an inhumane way. In Snow piercer the main guy wants to confront the government for doing this and when he walks in the middle of the train but then gets attacked by the rebels, Which is what happens when Namjoon walks into Omelas he gets attacked by the members which represent the rebels. The scene after that there are stairs and Jin is at the bottom while other members are walking up, Jin, is supposed to represent the ones that passed watching the other ones walk up the stairs which represents growing up. 'Fighting back tears, an 18-year-old boy who spoke for the survivors said: "Grown-ups are constantly telling us to forget and cheer up. But we will remember and recollect our friends. Because not forgetting them is what we can do at best. Just as we will remember them, please don't forget them."On the washing machine you see a piece of paper that says “ Don’t forget “.
Christain Boltanski made a art installations with a pile of many clothes that represents souls and bodies which is what the pile of clothes Suga was sitting on represents( The victims ). At one point Jungkook wakes up and seeks justice like Namjoon so he runs through the train, to omelas, through the laundromat, then outside and he thinks he’s alone but then the other members come which is way it said
“you never walk alone“ behind Jungkook ( You never walk alone is also a album they made ) the next scene( when the train is passing by ) symbolizes that even if justice is achieved or not achieved, what's done is done. The dead will not come back to life.
In the Snowpiercer movie, the humans are stuck living inside the train because the world outside has completely frozen. It represents how many of us are stuck inside a society or government that is opressive, with no way out. However, one of the characters suspects that there is the possibility of life outside the train. There is a way out of the opressive system. He saw a snowflake enter the train, for the first time in many many years. Snowflakes would not be able to form if the temperature is subzero / frozen. So he realized that somewhere, outside, the earth is slowly warming up again. There is hope for survival outside. In a scene Jimin steps out of the train - out of the opressive system that is the society and government that had tried to downplay the tragedy. He invites us with him. The tree represents hope, a new life, a spring day. In many cultures, shoes are hung on trees to commemorate the dead. "Just as we cannot forget them, we ask that the citizens of this country also never forget them." - Shin Young Jin, survivor. I got this theory from Bullet proof vibes you can go watch the full video with more details.

Spring day is like jin. It never gets old 💜

Spring day is still on gaon charts and also in TOP 50 even after more than 4 years.
This song is just a warm hug and also makes me cry sometimes.
The pile of clothes on which suga was sitting kind of representing the people who died only their clothes are left behind. The way clothes were rotating in washing machine represents the kids who died like this when ship was sinking. The clock also in this scene stop at the exact time when people couldn't communication with the people inside the ship. DON'T FORGET was written on top of the washing machine because a surviour said we should never forget our friend it's the best we can do for them because grownups were telling them to forget everything.The yellow  ribbons behind jungkook on the rusted is related to the tragedy YOU NEVER WALK ALONE was the campaign related to this tragedy and also BTS album name. In the starting V was sucidial because of the guilt that he survived but his friend didn't and probably JIN died that's why he was just watching his friends growing up but he couldn't grow with them cause he is dead. I tried to explain certain things but still explaination video is must.

This song is very powerful, you will need to check out the meaning of this video. This MV is actually about a ferry accident (SEWOL TRAGEDY) that killed students and how the government covered it up. It also tells of survivors' guilt. The pile of clothes Suga is on represents the clothes from those who passed

Actually, the part where Jin is at the bottom of the maze, basically symbolizes him as the people who have passed away. Everyone else is able to get up except for him. It’s just a beautiful art :)

RIP Sewol Ferry . A ship carrying 476 students working at danwon school rip to 304 students who died

Don't forget to watch explanation it adds so much depth to this beautiful MV. Love you jordan.
STAN BTS and JORDON if you are depressed and want a free therapy
Today is bang si hyuk pd nim birthday if anyone don't know.

Spring day is about Sewol ferry tragedy when almost 400 people included 90% was children, drown down without any help

The iconic masterpiece that is Spring Day 🌸 No matter what song hits billboard #1, Spring Day will always reign above all. ♡

This MV is super deep, every scenes hold such meaning even tiniest snow. It never gets old bro.

When I showed this MV to my brother he wanted to see the cake hit RM’s face and he got annoyed how they cut it right before it hit his face. He told me “ does it hit his face later on?? “ and I was like “ uh no I don’t think so lol “

The clothes scene is actually an actual art of the ferry incident
They have a same exact mountain of clothes of the victims in ferry incidents

There are far more references to the Sewol Ferry tragedy in this MV than the shows. There’s a really good breakdown by an Italian member of ARMY here on YouTube in her video “What you still don’t know about BTS Spring Day MV.” One of the biggest references is the shot where the camera is inside the washing machine and Jin in framed in a circle that looks like a porthole, while the lyrics say, “Please just stay there a little longer,” which is something that the students in their compartments were told over the ferry’s intercom.

This MV is beautiful in that it can have a myriad of meanings—it can touch someone personally and make them think of a past relationship or deceased loved one, or a friend they haven’t been able to see in a long time. But this MV is subtly and yet inextricably tied to the Sewol Ferry tragedy in more ways than the shoes.