All right.
I mean, it has to be boom, boom, pop.
I mean, if you're playing the set,
the 204...
Right now...
It's kind of running away.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I've been around
to see the transition of music.
Where, when we used to have
live instruments and bands
and stuff like that.
And then, when technology came,
it kind of wiped everything away.
I'm a big fan of technology
and I'm also a big fan of live music.
And one of the things
that I think that BTS does
that I'm really excited about
is that they blend the two together.
Just like music brings people together,
BTS seems like, they're in pop music,
it seems like they're bringing that back.
One should never replace the other.
They should always be used in halves
and to bring together.
And I think that BTS
is leading in that field.
And that's why, that's one of the things
that made me really excited
about working with them.
They cover issues
like mental health and bullying.
I think that’s what really sets BTS apart.
You hear that music.
-They're so popular, it's ridiculous.
-People love BTS.
They're getting ready to rock the crowd.
We're gonna be seeing that
all over social media.
Do you know BTS?
Yes.
Are you a fan of the group?
Yes.
The Billboard Music Awards,
I would see them.
BTS!
That's when I knew
like how much of an impact
they're making with their music.
Even friends that I've talked about
and even my own kid when I, I've said,
"Hey, I'm gonna be doing
a recording session
about the Echo Bar for BTS."
"Really BTS? Really?"
'Cause originally,
when we've been reached out to,
it was like, "It's a secret band."
And then, when I saw the music,
I just liked,
I freaked out,
like jumping around the room.
We get to do so much
as entertainers and artists,
but it's rare to get to work
with living legends.
I mean, they are young,
but they're still, at this point,
living legends.
Yeah, you know, I like, I like the...
you know, what they're doing.
And the rapping and the singing.
And you know, the messages,
they're positive.
I have to come to love myself
for who I am,
for who I was,
and for who I hope to be.
So, you know,
that's what I like about them.
I think they aim to contribute to...
Their message as a band,
it's really cool.
Good job! Future studio guy right here.
In this recording here,
we had some marching band people.
We had some people
from the Global Jazz Department.
We mixed them all together.
And it's kind of like
what BTS does, right?
We mixed them all together
to get one great thing.
And I think we achieved it 'cause...
the tracks are just phenomenal
on this project.
Nice, you guys killed that.
-That was awesome.
-All right.
There's just one punch we gotta get.
I just gotta get bar 24.
-Bar 24?
-Yeah, that's it.
Okay.
Music, everything from the beat,
the groove which is vibration,
and then, of course, you know,
a good lyric.
You know, a good message.
It's no one way to do it.
That's why you have
all these different great artists
doing it in different ways.
You know, it has an effect on people.
-Yeah.
-So then, we'll do the same thing.
You know, just keep thinking
about subdivisions.
Yeah.
For the next section.
Yeah, that tightened it up really good.
I think it's absolutely fabulous
what they're doing
in terms of just
really allowing people to be...
have this kind of self-esteem.
It really talks about
songs of joy and hope.
Yeah, I really dig them.
So you gotta go right here,
-or left here, yo?
-Left.
-Left, yeah. Okay.
-Yeah.
-It makes a difference.
-Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
-Absolutely.
-Yeah, raise the roof with the left.
-Anybody else need a pencil? Are we good?
-Good.
All right. So, guys...
I would guess...
I guess that's just the goal,
the overall goal of our groups.
I mean, I think that BTS is,
they wanna make everyone happy.
They wanna perform.
They want to leave
an impression on people,
you know, and improve people.
You know, as a band,
we want to get out there
and get everyone pumped up.
We want to get everyone excited.
You know, we're not just performing
to make money.
We're, give them something
that can make them happy
or make them live better lives.
And I think both BTS
and the UCLA Bruin Marching Band
share that.
I, I don't know Korean, unfortunately.
Or, I mean, they also sing
in other languages.
so I don't know very well the language
that they sing in.
But when I see what the songs mean,
I can definitely feel how heartfelt it is.
And I can feel the emotion
that they're conveying
through their songs,
regardless of the language.
Dear America,
thank you for embracing us.
Thank you for having us.
Thank you for accepting us.
These seven boys from Korea
who are singers in Korean
and who have even different looks,
speak different languages.
But you guys truly proved to us
that music transcends
the language, looks...
Thank you.
Well, music, as we know,
is a universal language.
No matter who you are,
everyone can relate to good music.
It brings people together.
There's power in music
like nothing else to me.
To me, the arts has...
should be a part of our society.
'Cause we all think about technology
and finances and stuff like that.
I think, music, in general,
is like the thing
that balances everything out.
A few months ago, actually,
when I was just going through
kind of a rough time.
I was just having trouble finding myself,
questioning my own abilities,
my own passions, my own friends.
One day, and the song "Epiphany"
really stuck out to me.
The words, like, "Love yourself",
just like, really touched me.
Really about finding yourself
and loving yourself
before, you know, loving other people.
Just unsure of who I was.
And hearing that like other people
were going through something similar
meant so much to me.
And so, I started listening
to them more and...
Yeah.
So, they do really mean a lot to me now.
I think anybody who's listening
to this music now
as they grow up,
it's gonna stay with them
for the rest of their lives.
If there's a song, or lyric,
or there's a beat, or rhythm
that you really resonate with,
you're always gonna put that on.
It really takes me to a different place.
So, that whole question
about music and healing.
Music, how has it changed you?
I think they're all kind of related.
So, for BTS, I think it's gonna...
That is gonna have value for everybody
on an individual basis.
That really transcends any physical...
The healing power of music
is definitely something
that people need to tap more into,
especially as we age.
I think it's been since 2016, maybe '15.
It might be, it might've been about
four years now.
And they were only here for the one,
the one project.
And then, we've done things
remotely for them,
which has been wonderful.
And it's been, it's been great,
so glad to be a part of all of it.
It's been wonderful.
I'm so sad Bang wasn't able to be here.
But great to see all of y'all.
Well, I think the fact
that the cultural bridge, right?
We're doing things especially for this,
for this project,
but the cultural bridge I think,
by bringing in something
that I would argue
is fairly uniquely American,
a marching band.
In common, other than love for music
and the way that music moves people,
and influences people, but I think the,
the productions themselves
are really well done.
I think he's done an amazing job
on the tracks and embracing, too,
something that,
like I said, is uniquely...
American, a marching band.
You know, very nice.
At the end, I'm proud of you guys.
-Nice job. Well done. Good job.
-Yeah.
-Good job.
-Thank you, so nice to meet you.
-No, likewise. Thank you.
-Thank you.
Great. Well done.
All right, so we gotta keep
-the drums now.
-Yes, we gotta go.
-Yeah.
-Yeah, and we gotta...
Music has the ability
to really put you in a good space,
in a good environment.
Really make you feel like
you are important and that you are valued
in this society, in this world.
That you belong in this, in this universe.
It's good.
So, thanks again, all right?
That's it. Does anybody have
any questions or comments?
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
So, so, not, not to rush everybody,
we got a gospel choir
coming in right behind you.
You know...
Well, again,
I'm all about inclusive, inclusivity.
A marching band does that. You know?
Sometimes, kids that maybe don't even want
to play music for a living,
but they need some kind,
everybody needs to be part
of some kind of group.
And everyone comes together
to make this one thing very special,
whether it be a halftime show,
or a concert, or whatever.
It's the bringing the people together.
Making them feel important about...
and, and giving them a purpose
to achieve and do better in life.
You know, I would say music
is kind of the body's natural endorphin.
It just naturally knows how to heal.
It knows how to put us back in check.
And allows me, a reality check for me.
And I need that a lot of times.
Because it really does
change people's lives, as you can tell.
The joy, I think that's why
everyone loves BTS
and gravitates towards BTS so much.
Because they have
such a joy and love for what they do
that it's infectious.
That was it. That worked. That felt good.
It's ready. We're like...
Again, together.
I experienced depression before.
Yeah, I experienced depression before.
And I didn't know what it was.
But the thing
that definitely got me through
when I felt like
I didn't wanna get out of bed
or that I didn't wanna do anything,
music was always the thing
that kept me calm, kept me peaceful.
And even motivated me
to just get on and keep going.
Like I said, I'm inspired by music.
And I'm inspired by artists
who are genuine,
who are real,
and who truly love what they do.
And they understand the power of music.
And BTS, if you watch them perform live,
there is so much joy, so much fun,
and so much love that it...
it really... truly is transcending
and it truly is infectious.
And so, that's what I gravitate towards.
That's why I appreciate what they do.
That's why I love what they do.
And I think that's why the world
loves what they do.
Because there is a passion, joy,
and love for the arts.
The language barrier, for sure, you know,
I may not understand everything
that's being said,
but you understand the passion.
You understand the concept and the energy.
I think the positivity,
even though I wasn't understanding
the language at first,
the positivity touched me.
They made an impact
before I even knew who they were.
So, yeah. Definitely.
Definitely.
Because there's a lot of people in the US
who have never been outside of the US
and would never know what K-pop was
if they hadn't broken that barrier
and brought us into their world.
And also at the same time gets you excited
for the future of music.
And I think that's why
it's changing the culture
in which how we listen to music
and what we listen to here in the States.
Thank you! Get over here!
-Group hug!
-Thank you!
My man, bring it in, bring it.
-That was so good. Thank you all.
-Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
The power of music
is that it connects everybody.
It also is powerful because
music can change your situation.
You know?
And it connects people all around you.
And I see that, with, like I said,
I keep saying that about BTS,
one of the things
that I'm excited about them
is how they're pulling everybody together.
In a time where it seems like
the world is going the opposite,
so we need people like that.
And we need groups like that,
that are bringing people together.
Not separating them
and keeping them apart.
Especially at a time
in our nation right now
where everybody's trying to be isolated.
Some of the problems
that we have in the world today
are gonna take a global approach.
You know what I mean?
It's gonna take everybody to pull together
to defeat some of the crises
that we're having in the world today.
And if you can bring people together,
like, I think, like they're doing,
I think that that's a step
in the right direction, for sure.
