BTS’ “Film Out” Lyrics Meaning

BTS’ “Film Out” is, simply put, a heartbreak song. Its thesis sentiment revolves around the vocalist lamenting the fact that the woman he loves is no longer a part of his life. 

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for BTS's Film Out at Lyrics.org.

The implication is that they have most likely broken up, not that she’s dead or anything like that. 

And the lyrics are themed on the well-worn motif of the narrator feeling or imagining that his ex is present, even though she is not.

Now the reason we refer to such as a “well-worn motif” is because there are in fact quite a few songs based on this same exact type of narrative. In fact just about a week before “Film Out” was released Justin Bieber came out with one such track entitled “Ghost” (2021).

But that being noted, in the case of BTS it’s like the boys make more of an effort to illustrate, metaphorically, that they are in fact in emotional “pain”, i.e. heartbroken. 

So the vocalist decides to gather up ‘all the memories stored in his heart’ of his ex, put them into a concise mental image and then fantasize like she is actually around. 

This act apparently goes as far as him laying down “two glasses placed side-by-side”, even though he’s alone. But that particular phrase may be a metaphor. Either way, this song undoubtedly succeeds in relaying the aforementioned thesis sentiment.

But of course fantasizing that a loved one is around when in reality they aren’t ultimately isn’t going to do anything as far as healing a broken heart. 

So the song pretty ends where it began, with the vocalist cleaving onto whatever thoughts or sensations – such as a smell for instance – which remind him of his lost love.

Film Out

Album of “Film Out”

This track is from “BTS, the Best”, a primarily Japanese-sung compilation album that BTS is slated to release in mid-2021. 

This is the lead single from the project, and apparently it is the only new composition that has been added to the compilation.

Music Video

The song was officially released on 1 April 2021. It came alongside an accompanying music video directed by a regular BTS collaborator, Yong-seok Choi. 

The video was teased a week prior to coming out, via a trailer, on 25 March. And as for the song itself, it premiered as a snippet on a preview of Signal in mid-February.

And as far as ‘conspiracy theories’ concerning the music video go, some observant fans have concluded that it is set in a parallel universe of another video dropped by BTS. The video in question is that of the song “Fake Love” (2018), which Yong-seok Choi also directed.

And as for the aforementioned Signal, it is the name of the Japanese movie which “Film Out” serves as the theme song to. 

Or more specifically, the flick is fully entitled “Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation The Movie” (2021). And it is based on a television series of the same name, whose theme song is actually another BTS track entitled “Don’t Leave Me” (2018).

Who wrote “Film Out”?

“Film Out” was written by Iyori Shimizu, a member of a Japanese rock band called Back Number, alongside BTS’s Jungkook. 

And the track was produced by an artist called UTA in conjunction with the entirety of Back Number.

Japanese Lyrics

Although BTS is from South Korea, they have extensive experience dropping songs in Japanese, i.e. the language of the island nation directly to the east. 

In fact they’ve dropped four studio albums in Japanese prior, which are as follows:

  • “Wake Up” (2014)
  • “Youth” (2016)
  • “Face Yourself” (2018)
  • ” Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey” (2020) 

And they’ve also come out with a number of singles that have reached number one in Japan such as “For You” (2015) and” Lights” (2019).

BTS

As noted earlier BTS is a South Korean boy band who, around the time of the release of “Film Out”, are arguably the most-popular musical act in the world. 

In fact they were the top-selling artists of the year 2020 and in 2019 made it into the top 10 of the list. 

As at the issuance of “Film Out” the group consists of 7 members ranging in age from 23 to 28, and they are:

  • J-Hope (27)
  • Jimin (25)
  • Jin (28)
  • Jungkook (23)
  • RM (26)
  • Suga (28)
  • V (25)

8 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Well said. I love how you thoroughly explained the meaning of the music video. It does deal with the topic of heartbreak after a separation of a person that you love, and the emotional pain you feel and experience because you can’t do anything about it. You have no control over the fate of your relationship. It is fated that they have to part despite their strong and burning love for each other. They both nurse a passion for one another, but in the end, they cannot have a happy ending they hoped for, nor can their relationship last.

    I love the artistic approach with their music video, with the complex and nuanced scenes that convey a specific mood in conjunction with the message of the song and the overarching theme of lyrical meaning. in the music video, we see Jungkook, Taehyung, and Jin overlap in their timelines in their own respective universes at one point or another, all reaching out for each other, but sailing in different directions, which makes it impossible for them to meet and intertwine.

    However, we see their different tones mingling and weaving together with the others. Everything, all aspects, are connected and some, are privy of the reality they may be living in. However, it is no doubt that all of the members are beginning to sense something suspicious about their environment and how their realities are interfering with another, the constant time lops and deja vu moments, or their manifestation of another world, created through the parallel universes, such as J-hope and Suga’s mirage in the desert. this is a uncharted and new reality in life and all are lost in their unfamiliar surrounding.

    But it could also be possible that some are still oblivious that they are in a false reality which Jin had created and that Jin is gone or existed. The weightier emotions resonate in the song well and in the hearts of many fans.

    BTS addresses the experiences and anxieties of many who might have also gone through a heartbreak where a cruel twist of fate have decided their course for them, and let each other go. This life altering toll is prominent in the music video, with the member’s melancholic expressions and their defeated, dejected selves mulling over their thoughts and sensations in their positions.

    I love how this song completely expresses and define their own grief and frustrations surrounding the topic of heartbreak and the pain of losing someone. They also seem to have a desperate need for joy and hope, but end up failing to find that source of hope and strength. they are lounging in their feelings, and being fraught in their emotions, firmly grounded in their destined reality.

    They are bound in the same inescapable fate. this shows their stylish vulnerability and expanded their palette of language. This is palatable to a wider audience and resonates to fans and connects with the movie’s plot. perfect ending for the depressing, insightful storyline. Well explained and eloquent answer.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I remember a lot by this songs

  3. Anonymous says:

    Thank you for the detailed explanation!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Thank you 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

  5. Anonymous says:

    The explanation made me appreciate this song and their MV a little bit more. Thank you!

  6. Ahsl says:

    Thank you .. amazing song , love the tune and performance of BTS .. An added appreciation of the song since meaning is fully explained .. great and amazing .

  7. Anonymous says:

    Not gonna lie, they made it feel really emotional, I once almost cried because it kind of felt too real. And not gonna lie, when I thought to watch the trailer of the Movie “Signal” it gave me goosebumps. And not to forget the part of the song where it becomes so intense that I have goosebumps all over my arms every time I listen to it. Oof, this song is always there in my head 😌

  8. Anonymous says:

    Lovely 🥺

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may also like...