BTS summer smash “Permission to Dance” isn’t just a clever song title. During a YouTube Released chat on Thursday (Sept. 9) with Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, the K-pop septet’s V revealed that after starting professional dance lessons just a few years ago he’s gained a lot of confidence in his hoofing skills.
“I just liked dancing, so I danced by myself,” V said during the 15-minute conversation. “I didn’t care what others thought and just danced whichever way I wanted to. Because I don’t have to be self-conscious when I dance. I just followed where my heart goes, I don’t need permission to dance.”
The ever-self-deprecating Martin opened by saying that he isn’t a professional interviewer and apologizing if he didn’t do a good job, which led RM to gush, “For us, you are the best!” Martin then thanked the boys for giving “a lot of joy” to the world during the COVID-19 pandemic through their music. “So I have a lot of love and respect for you for that,” he said.
The sit-down to discuss the inspiration behind the “Permission” dance challenge featured some of the ARMY fans from around the world who filmed their own choreo to the song, with Martin asking how the group felt seeing all those clips from Texas to Tokyo doing the steps to their song.
RM said that while sometimes they wonder what it all amounts to, confessing that sometimes the choreography and the moves feel a bit “meaningless. But when you see the fans and their eyes, when we dance and sing in front of them. Their energy, their honesty, their message, their letters, their words. Those were the only reasons that we didn’t give up. That’s the only reason for the existence of the band.”
Martin chimed in that he’s personally glad he doesn’t need permission to dance because he’s not very good at it. “But I made a decision about 20 years ago that I don’t care about if it looks cool,” said the singer who is not shy about bounding around the massive, colorful stages his band erects in arenas and stadiums around the world. “The reason why I encourage this ‘Permission to Dance’ song and movement [is] because it symbolizes everybody should be free to be themselves. And it’s also amazing to have the unity of the band [BTS] with your audience.”
The episode ended with BTS unveiling the “Shorts Challenge” version of “Permission,” featuring a montage of global ARMY members performing their best dances along with celebrity guests including Elton John and the Jabbawockeez.
Watch the chat and “Shorts” videos below.
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