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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia /Culture & Society

BTS Creates Buzz with Mysterious Newspaper Ads, Hinting at 'Normal' Release

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • K-pop group BTS has generated buzz with a full-page advertisement appearing in several U.S. newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Post.
  • The ad, designed like a tabloid front page, features the group members and includes text that has fueled speculation among fans about a new release titled 'Normal'.
  • The use of newspapers for this guerrilla-style promotion is a novel approach for the group, drawing positive reactions online.

K-pop superstars BTS have once again captured public attention with an unconventional promotional strategy: a full-page advertisement placed in major U.S. newspapers. The ads, featured in publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Post, have ignited fervent speculation among their fanbase, known as ARMY.

The advertisement is styled to resemble a tabloid front page, complete with a fictional headline: "BTS Members Seen in Toilet Amid Mysterious Meeting." It prominently displays the group's members, RM, Jin, Suga, J-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, in a stylized setting. The text hints at a late-night gathering, raising questions about whether the situation depicted is "normal," a word emphasized in bold.

This bold use of the word "normal" has led many fans to believe it is a direct clue pointing towards "Normal," a song from the group's album 'Arirang.' This track has long been rumored to be their next single. BTS has previously performed "Normal" during their comeback concerts and special appearances, further fueling anticipation.

Adding to the intrigue, BTS's official Instagram profile picture was changed to "LAMRON," which is "NORMAL" spelled backward. This tactic aligns with BTS's known practice of embedding symbolic clues in their visual content. The use of traditional newspapers for such a guerrilla marketing campaign is a new tactic for the group, which has been met with widespread positive engagement on social media platforms.

normal

โ€” AdvertisementThe bolded word 'normal' in the advertisement's text is interpreted by fans as a clue to a new song.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.