‘The Gray Rhino’ Writer Michele Wucker Thanks BTS’s J-Hope for His Thoughtful and Powerful Lyrics

The biggest K-pop act received a thank-you from a world-renowned scholar this time.

On Nov 21, The Gray Rhino (The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore) writer Michele Wucker gave a shout out to BTS, especially J-Hope, for his thoughtful and beautiful lyrics.

She wrote, “Oh WOW. Depression as a grey rhino. Thank you BTS (방탄소년단) for expressing this so beautifully in Blue & Grey. Very much in line with the personal grey rhinos that have been on my mind lately.”

“Blue & Grey” is a track included in BTS’s latest smash BE. It expresses depression and anxiety in the color blue and grey. In J-Hope’s rap, “a grey rhino” appears. Here’s the lyrics: “This lump of metal does feel heavy/ A grey rhino that is coming toward me/ Absently, I stand with vacant eyes.”

The gray rhino is the term that Michele Wucker first used at the 2013 World Economic Forum as a meaning of “a highly probable, high impact yet neglected threat.” This short lyrics alone shows how much effort and thoughts BTS put into their songs.

Meanwhile, BTS’s new album BE follows the concept of consolation during these difficult times. BE, released on Nov 20, sold 2.01 million copies in just 3 days and landed at No.1 on the weekly Retail Album Chart on Gaon Music Chart.

Oh WOW. Depression as a grey rhino. Thank you @bts_bighit (방탄소년단) for expressing this so beautifully in Blue & Grey. Very much in line with the personal grey rhinos that have been on my mind lately. https://t.co/DNjUDGOyaP

— Michele Wucker 🦏 🇺🇦 (@wucker) November 20, 2020

Beautiful lyrics, powerful song. To clarify: It's not a given that you don't take action, just that you are more likely than you think to ignore a gray rhino. Recognizing that gives you a choice. https://t.co/aFqVeBpUQI

— Michele Wucker 🦏 🇺🇦 (@wucker) November 23, 2020

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