Why is BTS Purple Heart?
For global K-pop sensations BTS and their ARMY fandom, the color purple symbolizes enduring love, trust and sacrifice. The use of the purple heart emoji đź’ś perfectly encapsulates the unbreakable bond between BTS and their loyal fans. But why is this sweet little purple heart so significant?
The Origins of đź’ś in Military Sacrifice
To understand the meaning behind BTS‘ purple heart, you must first learn about the original Purple Heart medal. The Purple Heart is a solemn military distinction awarded to members of the United States armed forces who have been killed or wounded in combat.
The Purple Heart decoration was created way back in 1782 by George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit. At the time, it honored brave soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The award fell out of use for over 150 years until it was revived in 1932 as the Purple Heart medal we know today.
George Washington originally created the Purple Heart decoration in 1782
Since its inception, the prestigious Purple Heart medal has been awarded to more than 1.8 million U.S. service members. It is reserved solely for those who have made profound sacrifices while fighting on the front lines. Receiving a Purple Heart medal represents great honor and courage.
| Purple Heart Facts | |
|---|---|
| Created by George Washington in 1782 | |
| Revived and renamed in 1932 | |
| Awarded only to military members | |
| Given to wounded or killed in action | |
| Over 1.8 million awarded |
So when BTS and ARMY use a purple heart, they are invoking the tradition and sacrifice symbolized by the U.S. military decoration. But how did this specific color become so deeply meaningful for BTS?
Purple Holds Ancient Meaning of Love
The color purple has signified love, devotion and intimacy throughout history. In ancient times, purple dyes were extremely rare and expensive, associated only with royalty and nobles. The rarity of the color imbued it with mystery and extravagance.
Cleopatra, empress of ancient Egypt, decreed that only she could wear purple clothing as a symbol of her wealth and status. In Greek mythology, the goddess Venus, representing love and beauty, is consistently depicted clothed in purple robes.
“Purple does not represent one simple emotion or meaning – it embraces the complexity of love.”
Beyond love, purple can also represent wisdom, creativity, imagination, and spirituality across various cultures. With shades ranging from light lilac to deep violet, the color purple contains multitudes.
So when BTS member V proclaimed that purple will mean trust and love within the BTS universe, he was tapping into thousands of years of color symbolism.
The Significance of Purple for BTS
BTS did not randomly select purple to be their representative color. Like the ancient royalty who prized purple garments, BTS has embraced purple as a symbol of their success and prestige as global superstars.
The color purposefully matches BTS‘ message of love, hope and strength. In an interview, V described purple as the final color of the rainbow, explaining:
“Purple is the last color of the rainbow colors, so it means I will trust and love you for a long time.”
BTS amplifies the mystical and loving associations of purple through their music and videos. The song "Magic Shop" from the Love Yourself: Tear album repeats the line “You gave me the best of me, So you’ll give you the best of you." These uplifting lyrics promise unconditional love and support, perfectly represented by the color purple.
In the vibrant "Boy With Luv" music video, BTS members are clad in stylish purple suits. The purple color scheme connects to the song‘s themes of intimacy and affection.
BTS rocking purple suits in "Boy With Luv" music video
By branding themselves with the color purple, BTS has crafted a singular identity rooted in the ancient heritage of purple representing devotion and sacrifice for love.
ARMY Adopted Purple to Show Their Dedication
BTS‘ worldwide fans, collectively called ARMY, dutifully united behind purple as the band‘s representative color. For ARMY, the BTS purple or “Army Purple” color demonstrates their tireless dedication to supporting their favorite artists.
ARMY purposely invoke the meaning of the U.S. Purple Heart medal when using purple hearts to show their loyalty to BTS. Like Purple Heart recipients, ARMY are willing to sacrifice their time, money and energy in service of BTS‘ success.
During concerts, ARMY will create purple oceans by swinging purple light sticks and wearing purple glow bands. By flooding venues in purple light, fans visibly communicate their unwavering support of BTS.
A purple ocean created by ARMY at a BTS concert
ARMY also show their BTS purple love on social media. Twitter erupts in a barrage of purple heart emojis during BTS performances, new releases, and award show appearances. Even BTS members will tweet purple hearts to acknowledge their fans.
In an endless feedback loop, BTS and ARMY continue to strengthen their loving bond through the color purple.
A purple heart tweet from BTS member J-Hope
| BTS Twitter Followers | ARMY Hashtags Per Year |
|---|---|
| Over 31 million | 3 billion+ |
BTS Dominates Music Globally with Message of Love
The sincerity and positivity of BTS‘ message has catapulted them to become the most influential K-Pop group in history and leading icons of youth culture.
BTS‘ latest single "Dynamite" made historic strides on the U.S Billboard charts, debuting at #1 on the Hot 100. BTS is also the first Korean group to receive Grammy award nominations and be invited to perform at the ceremony.
BTS‘ albums continue to break records, with their 2020 album ‘Map of the Soul: 7‘ becoming the bestselling album in Korea of all time. BTS ranks #2 on Billboard‘s Top Social Artist chart and #14 on Billboard 200, surpassing legacy rock bands like the Rolling Stones.
Yet it‘s not sales and streaming numbers alone that explain the exponential success of BTS. Their heartfelt lyrics spreading hope and self-love have struck a chord with millions of fans worldwide.
In a time of global turmoil, BTS‘ positive vibes and catchy songs motivated a whole generation of youth. The #LoveMyself campaign launched by BTS in partnership with UNICEF has raised over $3 million for youth violence prevention.
While conquering the music charts, BTS stays humble by continually expressing gratitude toward their fans ARMY. This genuine connection with supporters sustains their popularity. Staying true to their lyrics about love and unity, BTS leveraged the power of music to inspire joy, uplift communities and shatter boundaries.
“The reason why we succeed is not because we’re untouchable. It’s because we stay honest and passionate with what we do and share it with our fans.” – V
The Purple Heart Represents Love Between BTS and ARMY
BTS selected purple as their signature color specifically because purple encompasses the range of human emotions related to love. Like the multifaceted color purple, BTS‘ lyrics explore every shade of love from the darkest heartbreak to the most hopeful affection.
By embracing centuries of symbolism associated with the color purple, BTS crafted a unique brand identity that aligns with their artistic message of love.
For BTS and ARMY, each purple heart is a physical embodiment of their spiritual connection. When ARMY use the purple heart emoji đź’ś, they signal a love as strong as any worldly force. The mutual trust between ARMY and BTS is not easily broken.
So the next time you see a purple heart from BTS or their ARMY, consider its profound significance. Whether expressed through symbols, songs or actions, sincere love will continue shining as brightly as purple‘s passionate hue.