BTS member RM's 'Lost' music video crosses 1 million views in 4 hours; 5 standout features of Namjoon's song and MV

Kim Namjoon aka RM's 'Lost' music video crossed 1 million views on YouTube within 4 hours of release. The video is just under five and a half minutes long. (Image credit: BIGHIT)

What does the inside of BTS member RM's brain look like? BIGHIT's new music video for Kim Namjoon aka RM's song 'Lost'—part of his second solo album, 'Right Place, Wrong Person'—offers some clues. The album, the song and the music video for 'Lost' dropped early on May 24. Here's a quick look at 5 standout features of the song and the music video:

1. RM's newest album, 'Right Place, Wrong Person' experiments with a mix of genres. There's rap and soft metal in the title song, for instance. 'Lost' is a prime example of alt pop rock. A peppy song, 'Lost' is equal parts dance number and an anthem for a generation that's constantly looking for meaning and a sense of purpose.

2. The 5.24-minute music video for 'Lost' has a sense of humour. The song begins with an animation of Namjoon. There's a handwritten label on his head. It reads: "Inside Namjoon's Brain". This animation makes way for a faux talk-show called 'The Lost! Show starring RM. It's hosted by a Sikh man and a Caucasian woman - perhaps a nod to BTS and RM's global fan base - who introduce the song. Cut to RM in a maze.

3. What follows is a series of vignettes in which we see RM in .maze, RM in an elevator where all the buttons are pressed and there is chaos. RM and four other youngsters (their name tags say RM, too) enter an office space. Before they know it, they are in a rat race.

Scene from the music video for 'Lost' by RM. (Image credit: BIGHIT)

They try to keep up, but get steamrolled, as the lyrics blast: "I snap to it, suddenly I'm in an empty street / Time flies like an arrow, 14 now they're 30 / And I look up in the sky I see a silver cloud, Yo hurry / Dump it on the ground / Pick it up, throw it in the trunk / Dump it on the ground / Pick it up, throw it in the trunk / Dump it on the ground / Pick it up, throw it in the trunk / Dump it on the ground / Pick it up, now let's go dumb / Aye, aye, aye, aye (Dump it on the ground sh*t)."

Throughout the video, the five "RMs" have little to no room to maneuver. Whether they are at work or at home, they seem to be in stuck in tight corners and on narrow paths. In one sequence, one of the five "RM" characters breaks free: instead of sipping tiny quantities of water from a small cup, he drinks from a 20-liter jar - splashing himself with an abandon that seems to speak of a desire to set down the burden of expectations once in a while.

4. Lost feels personal; while HYBE and RM haven't said as much, the song maps well onto the lives of the seven BTS members who were in their teens when they auditioned to be part of the all-boy band. RM, Jin, V, Suga, Jungkook, Jimin and j-hope worked and toured for 10 years, with the weight of their responsibility to their music label and their fans (known worldwide as the BTS ARMY) constantly on their shoulders. The seven are all around 30 now (Jungkook, 26, is the youngest; and Jin, 31, is the oldest).

In 2022, BTS announced they were taking a break from the band so that each member could focus on their individual career before regrouping. The members have also used this time to complete their mandatory service in the South Korean army.

5. RM's 'Lost' music video crossed 1 million views on YouTube within 4 hours of release. Watch the 5.24 minute video till the end for a surreal resolution.

RM song Lost music video credits

The lyrics and vocals are by RM, of course. Many people were involved in the making of the music video. Key among them are

Creative director: San Yawn

Writer and director: Aube Perrie

Cast: Kim Namjoon with Audrey Kang, David H. Lee, Hee Shin, Stephany Yujin , Natalia Bulynia, Taz Singh, Miji Yi, Yasamin Saadati and Kasra Nemati.