JUNGKOOK AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2022
2022 has been a busy year for BTS’ Jungkook. He’s released three songs as a solo artist: “Stay Alive” in February; “Left and Right” with Charlie Puth; and “Dreamers” featuring Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi.
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“Dreamers” is part of the soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And Jungkook got to perform the song live during the Opening Ceremony, the first Korean artist to sing and perform for FIFA!
An Overview of the Performance
The Opening Ceremony happened on November 20th, 2022, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. It featured seven panels showcasing a mix of Qatari and non-Qatari cultures, including speeches and music. The “Dreamers” panel was number five, and Jungkook’s part didn’t disappoint!
The stage opened with the stadium cast in darkness. A projection of a cloudy sky and the 2022 World Cup mascot, a white ghutra named La’eeb, played on the floor.
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Then, a balloon version of La’eeb entered and was met by people in soldier’s uniform. They aimed rifles at the balloon, but it floated out of their reach as light filled the stadium.
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The soldiers got replaced by dancers in futuristic-looking outfits, including capes and visors. The music changed as well, from beautiful strings to the anthemic opening chant of “Dreamers.” The light turned purple and focused on the stage, where Jungkook now stood with the dancers.
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Jungkook looked amazing in an all-black outfit with black leather boots. His jacket was studded with sequins, and his zipper, belt, and the chain around his neck were gold.
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There was passion in Jungkook’s eyes and in his voice. His vocal delivery, dancing, and even his gaze were charismatic.
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He also looked like he was having fun!
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Fahad Al Kubaisi joined Jungkook for the final part of the song, singing in Arabic.
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The performance ended with the singers and dancers standing together, united by the power of music and sports.
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Watch the full segment here:
All About “Dreamers”
After the Qatar performance, “Dreamers” became the #1 song on iTunes in over 100 countries and the first FIFA World Cup song to reach that milestone. But what is it about?
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“Dreamers” begins with the refrain “Ala ho la dan” (“Oh Red One”). It’s a callback to songs that Qatari sailors would sing to keep their spirits up while at sea.
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The chorus and post-chorus follow. The chorus refers to all fans as dreamers:
While the post-chorus pays tribute to people who are keeping their dreams alive:
The first and only verse is a call for everyone to come together, with lyrics such as:
Fahad Al Kubaisi and the background singers repeat the opening refrain throughout “Dreamers.” Appropriately, they also end the song this way.
It’s not hard to see why “Dreamers” is such a hit. The lyrics are simple, easy to follow, and deliver an important message, both for on and off the field.
What’s Next for BTS?
Despite the confusion over their “hiatus,” the future looks bright for BTS. On November 20, they became the first K-pop act to win Favorite K-Pop Artist at the AMAs. They are also up for five awards at MAMA on November 29-30.
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Jin is the first to enlist in the Korean military. He released his debut solo single “The Astronaut” on October 28th. The song was co-written with Coldplay, which had collaborated with BTS on “My Universe.” No exact date has been set, but Jin will most likely serve in December.
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Suga is the second oldest member, so he’ll probably enlist soon after Jin. He’s expected to release a solo album, but no date has been confirmed. Fans speculate at a collaboration with Japanese singer Fujii Kaze based on photos posted on Suga’s Instagram (see below).
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Besides Jungkook, J-Hope has had a busy year, and it’s not over yet! He is one of MAMA’s headliners and will give his solo performance debut there on November 30. He’s up for six awards, including Artist of the Year.
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RM is releasing his solo debut album, Indigo, on December 2nd. Outside of music, he is co-hosting “The Dictionary of Useless Human Knowledge” with actor Jang Hang-jun.
Jimin, V, and Jungkook are also expected to release solo albums in the near future. However, no dates have been confirmed for them.
Jungkook’s World Cup performance shows how much talent and energy he and the other members have to give ARMY. And while fans may be sad to say good-bye to OT7, they can comfort themselves with these words from Jungkook: “Look who we are, we are the dreamers.”
