BTS's J-Hope brought the house down in Paris with an unforgettable performance at the Le Gala des Pieces Jaunes charity event on January 23, leaving fans in awe. The event, held at the La Defense Arena, was a major highlight of the evening, with the French First Lady, Brigitte Macron, personally requesting J-Hope to open the event this year!

As soon as J-Hope stepped onto the stage, the arena erupted in excitement, with a sea of purple from BTS’s official lightstick, the ARMY Bomb, lighting up the venue. Fans chanted his name even before the show began, and J-Hope greeted the crowd with a cheerful "What's up Paris," instantly kicking off the spectacular performance.

J-Hope performed three powerful tracks: the solo version of "on the street" from his special album HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1, his title track "MORE" from his first solo album Jack In The Box, and BTS's smash hit "MIC Drop."

Each performance was a spectacle in itself, with "MORE" and "MIC Drop" featuring grand orchestral arrangements that added a new level of intensity and class to the already dynamic songs.

Alongside his dancers, J-Hope delivered flawless vocals and an electrifying dance routine, keeping the 35,000 fans on their feet and chanting along in Korean.

The climax of the night was undoubtedly "MIC Drop." As the intro blared, the energy in the arena reached a fever pitch. Fans completed the performance with their synchronized chants, and J-Hope ended the song with a dramatic conductor-like pose, perfectly in sync with the orchestra, leaving everyone in awe.

J-Hope shared his heartfelt feelings through his agency, BigHit Music, saying, "It’s been such a long time since I greeted fans on a European stage. I was so happy to meet you all in such a meaningful place. I realized once again how wonderful it is to give people hope and comfort through songs and dances. I want to thank the ARMY for their constant support, and if I get the chance, I’ll come back anytime to show you great performances."

The Le Gala des Pieces Jaunes is organized by Operation Pieces Jaunes, a charity foundation led by Brigitte Macron that raises funds to help hospitalized children and teenagers.

The event's performances will be broadcast on French public channel France 2 on January 28, giving fans worldwide a chance to relive the unforgettable night!

J-Hope’s stunning performance and his meaningful connection with fans are sure to make this event a cherished memory for years to come.

Source (1)

BTS's V, also known as TaeTae, continues to rule Japan's popularity rankings, cementing his status as a global superstar and making "TaeTaeLand" the place to be!

From January 13 to 19, 2025, V took the top spot in the male idol ranking poll on Japan's popular site NEHAN, marking an unbelievable 199 consecutive weeks at number one. This achievement is a testament to his immense popularity in Japan, where his influence keeps growing by the day.

But V didn’t stop there! During the same period, he made history by ranking first for an incredible 47 straight weeks in the "Actor Popularity Ranking" on the Korean actor site BIHAN.

He also secured the top position for 195 consecutive weeks in the "20s Korean Actor" category, proving that his reach isn't just limited to music.

On K-board, a platform offering K-culture news, V’s dominance continued as he topped the "K-pop Idol Popularity Ranking" for 155 weeks in a row. He also maintained the top spot in both the "Korean Drama Male Actor Election" and the "Flower Boy Election." Over on the K-pop site KPOP JUICE, V’s popularity remained unmatched.

V’s influence stretches beyond music and acting. Since the rise of the Hallyu wave in Japan, he has topped the "Celebrity Ranking" on X (formerly Twitter), surpassing both Korean and Japanese stars. BTS has also topped Japan's Google Trends, further proving their immense popularity.

Not only has V become a trendsetter in music and acting, but he's also a style icon, especially for Japanese Gen Z men.

Many have started copying his hairstyle and fashion, making him a true trend leader. One example of V’s impact is a small café in Japan, run by a barista rumored to look like V.

The café has become a hotspot, drawing huge crowds every weekend as women visit to see if the barista really resembles V.

Recently, this barista appeared on the Japanese variety show Too Beautiful Ramen Shop Owner & Handsome Café Owner alongside his mother. When asked if she thought her son looked like V, his mother humorously replied that she didn’t think he resembled V from the front but found it funny nonetheless.

The barista revealed his dream of having the best café in the world, with the host jokingly suggesting calling it "Cafe TaeTae."

V’s influence is so powerful that simply being rumored to look like him has brought appearances on Japanese media and broadcasts, proving just how far his reach extends.

Fans all over Japan are obsessed with TaeTae, and it's clear that his popularity is only going to rise even more.

Source (1)