Whailen-52 (BTS) The Song Of The Lonely Whale
Only one whale in the world emits sound waves with a frequency of 52 Hz while other whales communicate with each other at a frequency of 15–25 Hz. So the Whailen-52 is considered unable to communicate with its fellow. It is lonely in the deep blue ocean. Every day the Whailen-52 sends out voices without receiving any response. Is the Whale in “Whailen-52” by BTS?
The first time I heard it, I didn’t understand Korean. I just felt through the melody and thought it was a funny song until I knew the meaning and story of that the Whailen-52, I felt like crying because I or everyone could have been that whale. Loneliness and loss feeling that there is no one to share, just only me in my own world.
So “loneliness” is not being alone. Although there are many people around you, no one understands you truly.
“Whailen-52” is a song from the album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2”, is one of my favorite songs. The first time I heard it was when I became an ARMY, it’s a song that comforts me a lot.
Whailen-52 is the song of the loneliest whale in the world.
It kept singing the words over and over again and hoping for an answer but then … nothing came back. It is lonely in the ocean day after day with only one friend — “lonely”.
“In the heart of the vast ocean
There is a whale with a small and lonely voice
No matter how loud it screams, it can’t be reached and only silences with deep loneliness
Now no matter what happens, I don’t care
When there’s only loneliness next to me
I’m completely alone
Then lock yourself that lonely lock.”
“Whailen” — the name is a combination of Whale and Ailen. Like that strange 52Hz frequency.
Whailen is an alien whale.
How many times in your life have you become like the Whailen-52? How many times have you raised your voice but no one understood? Or maybe there are no words spoken at all because it is just the 52Hz frequency of its heart inside. How many times have you been a stranger or stuck between two worlds and suddenly realized that you don’t belong anywhere?
Like BTS’ rapper boys: Suga, RM, and J-Hope. They write lyrics and rapping, are real rappers but not as aggressive as other rappers. They’re idols but they’re not as pretty as other idols. They make their own music and freely express the most ordinary things. Those boys live between two worlds which are surrounded by walls of prejudice, imposition, and judgment that are trying to suppress them to the bottom.
“Someone said to me, ‘This kid is famous, isn’t he?
Fuck her, what, then what?
Who can be by my side?
Just a cold place is enough for me
The easy gossip about me gradually became a big wall
Even loneliness is fake in your eyes.”
However, those boys even though that they were trapped between many walls. Even if their breath was trapped they never gave up. Like the Whailen-52 who sings songs every day and hopes to find an answer in one day.
“Even if the breath is stuck
I’m still facing the other side of the water…
Lonely lonely lonely whale
Singing alone again
Until this unanswered song
Touching tomorrow
No more no more baby
No more no more
Then one day that signal will reach its destination
Going anywhere reaching the other half of the Earth
No more no more baby no more no more
Even blind whales will see me
Do you have to sing today too?”
The Whailen-52 goes in seeking of its own Neverland.
“Despite the passage of time, Neverland remains deep in the ocean.
But now I’ve always thought that even though I’m asleep in the guise of a shrimp, the dream in me is still the dream of a whale.”
Neverland where is the magical land of Peter Pan and friends is the land of joy, reckless and happy things, so the Whailen-52 is busy looking for that promised land. But then it also realized that even if it finds Neverland and takes away its burdens or loneliness it is still a whale and wants to swim. Although it is not like its fellow, it is still a whale that can still sing its own song. Isn’t that happiness!
“It’s me, ye I’m swimming
Go towards your future. That blue beach.
Put your trust in your Hz frequency. Hey oh oh hey oh
Lonely lonely lonely whale.”
From then on, the lonely whale sings with the love of life.
“This is just a song I sing to myself
I’m looking for the source of this song again
The ocean is so deep
But I still consider myself lucky
Because even if you cry, no one will know
I am a whale
Lonely lonely lonely whale.”
BTS’ music world is like a healing pill.
That world sympathizes with the hearts and minds of young people. When they have to live in prejudice and under pressure to succeed and be the type that others want.
From empathy, BTS’s music heals silent loneliness.
Each person looks inside themselves, heals their own trauma, and does not need to rely on anyone else.
