BTS’ SUGA closes Agust D chapter with thought-provoking self-reflection, social commentary and liberation with D-DAY – Album Review

If one has been looking for an album that expresses the plethora of emotions, then look no further. BTS’ SUGA’s musical alter-ego Agust D is back with another symphonic treat for those who try to find meaning in the mundane and give an outlet to their innermost feelings. It was just a couple of years ago that we were graced by Agust D's comeback EP D-2. Back then, SUGA stunned his audience by presenting the powerful ‘Daechwita’ which was a commentary on the ever-raging battle between one's morals and right vs wrong. It was also a commentary on the tyrannical nature of rulers in history, comparing it with one's struggle with the inner self. With this comeback, Agust D took it a notch further with ‘Haegeum’ and dropped a complete album with 10 tracks, each besting the idea it represents. Aptly titled D-Day, this album goes closer to ideas and philosophies that Agust D holds close to his heart. The album acts as the finale of the Agust D trilogy after his two previous mixtapes, Agust D (2016) and D-2 (2020).

 

BTS’ SUGA closes Agust D chapter with thought-provoking self-reflection, social commentary and liberation with D-DAY – Album Review

 

D-DAY

 

The album opens with ‘D-Day’ which is sung half in English and Korean, respectively. It is a reflection of classic SUGA musicality with hard-hitting rap verses and hip-hop music which highlights Suga's starting of a new day, a new start. In the track, there is a raw and bold proclamation to not be afraid of the new start, and there is also a supportive push to the listeners to take that first step as mentioned in the lyrics (translation by DoolSetBangtan), “What defines you? Break the limit, you idiot / Don’t regret the past or fear the future, you idiot / If you can’t avoid it, just fully suffer through it, yeah / Don’t rip up old wounds for nothing only to make your scars bigger, yeah.”

 

HAEGEUM

 

Next comes the title track ‘Haegeum’, which draws several parallels to ‘Daechwita’. Traditionally, haegeum is a string instrument, but it also means doing the act of lifting a ban over something - setting something free. In classic Agust D style, ‘Haegeum’ is no less a war cry than ‘Daechwita’ was. There is an artful mix of traditional Korean music instruments, namely a haegeum and modern instruments with a hip-hop heavy base. In the music video of ‘Daechwita’ which featured SUGA as a tyrannical king and a rebel commoner, in ‘Haegeum’ we see a similar parallel, but in a modern setting. Suga plays the role of a mafia boss and a criminal. He engages in a short dance of madness, which shows him at the peak of his greed, arrogance and adultery. The song, ‘Haegeum’ is yet another war cry of setting one's desires free and letting them run amok.

 

SUGA’s words have had a long-standing history of commenting on the liberation, government, capitalism, and all things that are unjust in society as the lyrics goes, “Do you believe that your freedom is on the same level as others’ / If so, don’t hesitate and just get on board / Liberation from the forbidden / For those living in this unfortunate era who don’t even understand their own tastes / this song is simply freeing the forbidden / But I truly hope you differentiate freedom from self-indulgence.”

 

HUH!

 

The next on the list is ‘HUH!’ featuring his fellow BTS member j-hope. The song is out and out calling out the people who make assumptions about others. When writing about success or their struggles, BTS members have no filter whatsoever. They are unapologetic in their approach and do not shy away from boasting about their success – “It doеsn't apply to me, it's for nothing / It’s so tacky, you guys who only made music / I'm busy taking medicinе / The karma of success accumulated from Daegu.”

 

AMYGDALA

 

When writing about one's emotions or making a plea to someone, one often looks up to a higher power or a fellow human. But trust Agust D to venture into something raw and tasteful to hit close home. Addressing the brain's ‘Amygdala’ which is stimulated by threatening stimuli, Agust D speaks about things that threaten him. He is scared about his lost memories, the uncertainties and the changes in his life. He ponders over these memories as he croons, “A lot of things happened/ What's so eventful / I can't even remember / Let's take them all out one by one.”

 

PEOPLE PT. 2 FEAT. IU

 

‘People’ from D-2 was an eye-opening track on its right, but its successor ‘People Pt. 2’ takes the emotion ahead. This is a boom bap rhythm-based pop R&B track featuring IU with her crystalline voice creating a beautiful balance overall. The track illustrates the constant repetition of states and emotions in relationships between people. While the former track was about how people are, how they change, and all things temporal, the latter track taps into more spiritual matters as IU and SUGA alternate to speaking about how the change in people can affect themselves and those around them. The juxtaposition of vocals and rap is drawn beautifully as the two artists match the mood in the track.

 

SDL

 

The next track is SDL, which is short for “Somebody Does Love”. This R&B track features soft female vocals in the background add to the bittersweet lyrical narration as Agust D croons, “Thanks to the grandeur of the word love / What is easily forgotten and lived is called love / Is it you that you miss / Or is it that time on the other side of the glorified mеmory?” and ponder over what love is, and how to see it through with one's partner.

 

POLAR NIGHT

 

SUGA ventures onto a path of morality and ethics once again with ‘Polar Night’. The night is often spoken in the same breath as nostalgia, questioning life, and all things philosophical. He taps into that idea and presents a rap heavy cinematic verses like, “Between so many truths and so many lies / Are we seeing this world right? / It is all dirty (Am I also clean?) / It is all dirty (Are you clean?)” which questions himself and also the listeners.

 

INTERLUDE: DAWN

 

The only instrumental track in this album is ‘Interlude: Dawn’. This short musical piece symbolizes the beginning of something new, perhaps unknown and challenging, but thrilling at the same time. The dramatic progression which starts with static and a few guitar strums comes to a stunning conclusion that ushers in new hope.

 

SNOOZE FEAT. WOOSUNG OF THE ROSE

 

After signaling a new dawn, Agust D hits a snooze on the worries and trepidations that come with a new start with ‘Snooze’ featuring The Rose’s Woosung and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. Woosung's breathy vocals in the chorus accentuate the silken emotions in the track. Agust D nods to his track ‘So Far Away’ in the bridge as he sings a wonderful melody. In the same track, he also nods to his 2015 track ‘Intro: Never Mind’ from The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2 as he tells the listener, “I'm always here, so don't worry too much/If you're afraid to crash, I'll willingly receive you.”

 

LIFE GOES ON

 

D-Day comes to a stunning conclusion with ‘Life Goes On’. The song draws parallels to BTS' track of the same name and sends a message that it will all be fine in the end. Just like the time that keeps on flowing, our life too keeps on flowing. It goes on, no matter what. “As time goеs by / Someone will be forgottеn / Just do what you want / Time is like a wave / It will be washed away like the ebb / But don't forget to find me.” As a person who understands other's pain and struggles, Agust D lends a shoulder of support to his listeners with this concluding R&B track.

 

In conclusion, SUGA’s music transcends his musical personality and reaches the audience. Be it SUGA or Agust D, his tracks leave the listeners mesmerized with the sheer honesty, raw sentimentalism, and hard-hitting music which compliments the message that he wants to convey. D-Day encompasses self-reflection and thought-provoking social commentary as the Agust D chapter comes to a close. The musician feels liberation, authenticity and vulnerability while approaching as trilogy of his musical journey ends.

 

Also Read: BTS’ SUGA named global ambassador for NBA: ‘Music and basketball have been shared passions of mine since my youth’

Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection,New Movies Release, Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood News Today & upcoming movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.