cal_j

A rare place for me. I'm not usually here.

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Is there really nothing left now??😭

#BTS_WORLDTOUR_BANGKOK

[cal_j @your_ss004]

@Annxsameerx Lajunyaa 😭💆🏼‍♀️

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Love Qdeoks

[(slow)𝓦𝓸𝓸𝓫𝓲⁷ ⊙⊝⊜ 🇦🇺 ⟭⟬ @BaseLineWoo]

Here is some context for those asking/wondering what we’re talking about…

The Story of QDEOKS (a.k.a. Q 🦆)

So, QDEOKS, a.k.a. Q 🦆, was an ARMY who became something of a legend in the streaming trenches sometime around 2019 to 2022, if I remember correctly. 🤔🤔🤔

During those years, QDEOKS was extremely active in helping ARMY access streams for BTS content that was either paid, region-locked, or otherwise inaccessible to international fans.

QDEOKS became so synonymous with getting ARMY access to paid content that the name became pretty well known within the fandom and, apparently, to the people on the other side of the paywall too. 😂

But QDEOKS wasn't just about finding a stream when BigHit put something behind a paywall.

When COVID hit in 2020 and the Map of the Soul tour was postponed, BTS and ARMY were suddenly stuck at home, the world was falling apart, and we were all desperately looking for ways to feel connected to each other and to BTS themselves.

And this is where QDEOKS really cemented their place in ARMY history.

Before BigHit officially announced BANG BANG CON, QDEOKS organised a massive fan-run online concert marathon, streaming archived BTS concerts, and Musters across platforms and creating an actual schedule so ARMY around the world could all tune in together.

And when I say massive, I mean this was not QDEOKS sitting in a corner with a laptop going, "Hey guys, wanna watch a DVD?" 😂

It was a whole damn production.

There was a fan-made concert schedule, streams running back-to-back, tens of thousands upon thousands of ARMY tuning in, and live commentary on the TL absolutely losing our collective minds.

It gave ARMY something that was desperately needed during lockdown: a reason to gather and find some happiness.

And then, shortly afterwards, BigHit announced BANG BANG CON.

Now, I don't want to claim that QDEOKS single-handedly invented BANG BANG CON because unless Big Hit themselves have gone on record saying that, we simply don't know that. But the timing is 👀 😉

QDEOKS had already demonstrated that ARMY would absolutely turn up for an organised online BTS concert marathon, and then Big Hit launched an official version of essentially the same basic idea.

So whether you call it inspiration, influence, coincidence, or BigHit seeing what ARMY were already doing and thinking "hmmmmm, perhaps we should be doing this ourselves"...

QDEOKS's contribution to that moment in ARMY history is pretty damn significant.

And honestly, during a global pandemic, when people were isolated in their homes and couldn't go anywhere, BANG BANG CON became one of the things that brought ARMY together.

So when people talk about QDEOKS as just some account that used to find streams, they're missing a pretty big part of the story.

And THEN we get to another part of the QDEOKS story.

During BTS or BTS-related broadcasts, particularly region-locked ones, unofficial streams would frequently get taken down, only for another one to appear shortly afterwards.

It basically became Whac-A-Mole: BTS Broke-ARMY Edition.

🔨 Stream taken down.

🦆 Q1: New stream appears.

🔨 That one gets taken down.

🦆 Q2 has entered the chat.

🔨 TAKEN DOWN.

🦆 Q3 HAS ENTERED THE CHAT.

You get the idea. 😂

One particularly memorable example was the December 31, 2020 to January 1, 2021 New Year's Eve Live concert.

The screenshot below shows the message that appeared on unofficial streams while the concert was in progress, warning viewers that the broadcast was unauthorised and directing them towards the official service.

QDEOKS was reportedly one of the largest, if not the largest, unofficial streams being targeted at the time.

So yes, somewhere in BigHit's control room there was apparently a team of people watching illegal streams and trying to shut them down.

And they still do this now.

So don't be surprised when some rando account suddenly DMs you asking, "where are you watching?" That could be a BigHit intern. 😂😂😂

QDEOKS also had a website that served as a repository for streams and video content. And that site, unsurprisingly, also found itself repeatedly dealing with takedowns.

I honestly don't know exactly what eventually happened to the site. But after years of dealing with copyright enforcement and the general headache of running an unofficial streaming operation for one of the most heavily image-protected acts on the planet, QDEOKS eventually appears to have hung up the streaming boots and retired from the game.

And honestly? Fair.

Imagine spending years playing digital cat-and-mouse with BigHit's lawyers and copyright department just so some ARMY in another country can watch BTS on a stream at 3 a.m. 😭

As far as I know, QDEOKS is still around and still an ARMY, occasionally appearing here on the TL.

But the streaming era of Q 🦆? Retired.

She served her time in the trenches so that ARMY could watch Bangtan. 🫡

QDEOKS, wherever you are: thank you for your service. 😂

#BTSARMYHistory

[cal_j @your_ss004]

@coolwithanni_ So everyone can be shreholders now huh

[cal_j @your_ss004]

No wonder I can only listen to BTS pop. I cant stand kpop noise let alone american music so much.

[Terra ✰⋆ @54hrtz]

saying this while name-dropping the 3 biggest efforts that tried to break through to the west is definitely a choice

[cal_j @your_ss004]

HAHAHAHA

[🦔iz🇮🇷 @jjamanie]

entire kpop twt justified exo meeting trump but the same people + bts’s OWN fandom are picking gravestones for joon & hoseok for meeting chris brown. u just can’t make this shit up

[cal_j @your_ss004]

But well..if its really revamped then eat that shit! BTS paved the way as usual

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Yall be crying in the comments blaming BTS while ur favs release statement like ‘kpop being too americazition’..hypocrite fuckers. Just admit that u want that western validation so much but couldnt do so a bunch of unworthy nugus!

[Pop Base @PopBase]

The Recording Academy is considering to revamp its new ‘Asian Pop’ category for the 2027 Grammys, Billboard reports.

Discussions about the category have been held with representatives from K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, Indian music and more, including labels like HYBE over the past weeks.

(https://t.co/fKY9p8sLd9)

[cal_j @your_ss004]

@likeafantasy__ Typical loser behaviour. Instead of making listenable good music..they run around attention seeking in soc media. Duh

[cal_j @your_ss004]

@dontbeblue5 Lol did they settled the babymonster moon plagiarism to hypnosis ive? Still calling out other company but your fav’s comp is literal problematic in the industry

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Tak faham kenapa masih nak stay as group tapi aktiviti ala kadar. Continue solo je lah. Kan letops. Ke sebab nnt xdpt pki nama solo+grp so auto jd nugu..hmm..

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Dia mcm asal ada je. No wonder fans drg ni duk sibuk hal org lain..kurang perhatian. But yes..I genuinely kesian weh. Penat2 backup fav last2 tak kena pandang pun 😭

[Pop EMPIRE @PopEmpirex]

BLACKPINK Announce a Meet & Greet Event for August 8th their 10th Anniversary in Seoul.

The Event will be attended by 'select BLACKPINK members'

[cal_j @your_ss004]

The fact that no one know abt this, much more care enough to get to know..really shows the relevance

[cal_j @your_ss004]

@HumaFazal763680 @blinkbro_4_ever Well then the more reason scammy should continue for whatever it is. Why the categorisation then? And why after all these years, especially after BTS come back with Arirang huge success

[hinata @bluebvrriesss]

AND SAY IT LOUDER

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Tapi tulah..the way Kpop industry react to this mmg drg mcm palau decision BTS ni. And here we are once again..BTS fighting their own battle. No worries..got ARMY right behind when you say so💪🏻

[cal_j @your_ss004]

BTS is really living up to the bulletproof name. Bcoz wdym they rela jadi shield to not let ‘kpop’ being undervalued by scammy. The industry shd compete fair, not being sidelined in diff category like ‘well here’s ur place. U dont deserve to be in main category’ duhh..

[cal_j @your_ss004]

So now grammy win feels more like inkigayo win eh? 🫣

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Hmmm ntahlah ek..yes it is possible because they are BTS. If one thing the juniors and other agencies shd take note is to never settle for less. Dont let an organisation to downplay ur effort like that. So work hard & be big. Success will follow

[Absent Ma'am @sleepinginsilk]

“it seems this situation should be viewed as a story between the grammy and bts rather than an issue between the Grammys and k-pop”...wow, no like i knew no one's gonna boycott but wow this statement is something else entirely

[cal_j @your_ss004]

Love 💜

[BTS Daily⁷ @btsdaily77]

BTS Announces They Won’t Submit to the Grammys This Year.❌

"We’ve decided not to submit our work for this year’s Grammy Awards. We hope music will be recognized and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you, as always, to ARMY and everyone who supports us." ✊