BDC is a trio that was formed from contestants of the famous survival show, Produce X 101. The group consists of members Sihun, Seongjun, and Junghwan. While Sihun is a rapper, all three members know how to sing. They debuted last year with the ballad, “Remember Me.” Now they have finally released their first EP, The Intersection: Belief. While the group is marketed as a unit, there is currently no word of what bigger group they will be part of. However, even as a unit, they are not holding back on quality with their latest MV for their lead track, “Shoot the Moon.” The MV explores the use of symbolism to convey a message about escaping a destructive mentality.
The MV for “Shoot the Moon” is a fantasy world that takes place in a space station, or possibly on a moon. There are high-quality special effects that create amazing scenes of the moon’s surface, a space station, and other fantastical elements. The phrase “shoot the moon” refers to completing or reaching towards an almost impossible task. The MV is a metaphor and literal interpretation of these lyrics. A third of the way into the MV, a moon is literally destroyed by a laser. However, the MV also uses imagery to point to the song’s theme about escaping a sense of despair.
While at times the members look like they are in charge, in other moments they are being held captive. The trio is locked each in glass cylinders in a mysterious white room. On top of already being in glass imprisonment, the members also are constrained by straitjackets and crystal masks that hide their facial expressions. Without facial expressions, humans cannot communicate their feelings preventing them from seeking help. However, we can still gather their desperation from their body language as they struggle to escape. As the lyrics point to someone who is sad with no one to turn to, the captured members represent imprisonment of one’s own feelings.
This contrasts with their other personas when they are wearing air force inspired suits and looking more contemplative. In these scenes, we see two members playing a game of chess which is largely used to symbolize war and strategy. There is also an armless statue pointing at a sense of helplessness. As debris flies around them and wires hang down, we gather that they are on the losing end of a battle. While in other scenes they are imprisoned, here they are in charge and trying to figure out a solution to their dilemma. In connection to the song, they are looking for a way to escape this undesirable situation to become free of these negative emotions.
The use of light and shadow creates a serious tone but also helps create innovative effects. The pitch darkness surrounding the members is used in combination with rays of light to creates mystery by sometimes obscuring their faces. On a more technical level, the use of light and shadow is used to elevate their dance routine by making it more futuristic. Various members and sometimes all members dance on a beam of light that creates a rectangle on the floor. The beam is surrounded by pure darkness, and along with impressive camera work, makes it seem like the members are on a floating stage that moves around while they manage to keep balance. The effect correlates well with the overall theme of space creating a gravity-free look to their dance routine.
Blue is used often throughout the MV to make certain symbols pop out like the chess pieces, the beams on the cylinder prisons, and the paint dripping down the statue. The member’s final dance routine is also shown in bold blue suits making them stand out against the shadows. Additionally, each member brings a blue crystal that is used to create a beam. At first, you would think the beam is going to destroy another moon but, instead, it lights the moon blue. Blue has a more positive connotation that signifies the member’s quest for freedom. Instead of destruction, the final blue moon shows that the trio are finally free of their negative emotions.
The moon theme is also incorporated into their choreography. The members sometimes use their hands to create a circle when singing the chorus representing the moon. More importantly, the beginning and end of the song both have the back-up dancers creating a moon with their arms around the trio. As they are in the center of the moon, this further implies that they are trapped inside. However, the first scene shows them in their straitjackets, and the last scene shows them in their blue attire. As they opted to illuminate the moon in blue versus destroying it, the final scene in their blue outfits represents their positive conclusion.
The voice of the song is concerned about someone who is seemingly depressed and invites them to run away with them to be free of their worries. The song may be referring to a romantic interest, as we see the voice using the term “baby.” However, the MV expands on the theme further when we see the MV’s personas trying to escape their destructive environment. Instead of trying to help someone else, the freedom they are seeking is for themselves from their negative emotions:
Throw away your worries suppressing you.
Take off and throw them away down there and let’s fly.
Don’t worry. Now I am right next to you.
Let’s runaway anywhere, just tell me where oh.
BDC’s “Shoot the Moon” can sometimes be a little on the nose when it comes to literal interpretations of the moon seen through the destroyed moon and physical interpretations of it throughout the dance. However, they elevate the concept into something more with the use of symbolism to represent the mental anguish that their personas are trying to escape from. The MV takes a known phrase as its basis and interprets it a new way. Overall is a great MV to go along with their refreshing synthwave song. If this is only a unit then there is hopefully a bigger project for BDC that will also have a high-quality song and MV. All we know, for now, is that as a trio, BDC already stands out.
(Youtube. Lyrics via Colorcoded. Images via Brand New Music.)
