GRAMMYs Showrunner Reveals How Shockingly Fast BTS’s Team Recreated The Awards Show Set
While fans agree BTS was definitely snubbed at the GRAMMYs this year, there’s no doubt their performance was incredible as always. One of the most impressive parts was the way Big Hit Entertainment recreated the whole GRAMMY Awards venue in South Korea—and, according to the GRAMMYs showrunner, they did it in record time too.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, GRAMMYs showrunner Ben Winston explained that the Recording Academy originally planned to have all the performing artists fly out to Los Angeles, California in order to record their performances. However, given the current pandemic situation, BTS and two other artists weren’t able to make it.
It mainly had to do with health and safety, and immigration issues.
— Ben Winston
Of course, this wasn’t going to be BTS’s first time recording a performance remotely. They’ve been part of several US productions from the comfort of South Korea since the pandemic began, including an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Winston, who was involved in booking BTS’s appearance on the show, found himself in awe when he received their performance video.
They didn’t tell us anything about that performance. They were just submitting a video… They sent this video, and I’ll never forget opening it.
— Ben Winston
The part of BTS’s performance that blew the GRAMMYs showrunner away came at the end of “Dynamite”, when the group performed on an identical replica of the real set for The Late Late Show. According to Winston, they got everything right, from the seats to the signage to the mug on the table.
It was a huge undertaking, and everything was so precise… They’d really studied it.
— Ben Winston
It was upon recalling this recreation that Ben Winston came up with the idea for BTS and Big Hit Entertainment to recreate the GRAMMYs set as well. However, there were just three weeks left—maybe less—until the big ceremony.
When I was talking to BTS’s management, I said, ‘Look, you did that amazing thing for The Late Late Show. Because you can’t be here, do you think you could do that?’
— Ben Winston
While most would balk at the idea of recreating such an expensive and intricate set in such little time, Big Hit Entertainment agreed—and BTS’s GRAMMYs performance was born.
That said, some might say their performance on a real skyscraper rooftop was even more impressive.
Ben Winston noted that one “beautiful” thing about BTS’s GRAMMY Awards set was that they changed the flowers to Korean roses “as a little nod to where they were.” Ultimately, the showrunner described BTS’s performance as “amazing“, “absolutely brilliant“, and worth breaking his original Los Angeles mandate for.
Their performance was amazing. It wasn’t cut up. It wasn’t a music video. It was a live performance. It was a live vocal.
— Ben Winston
Some ARMYs say that the GRAMMYs asking BTS to recreate the entire stage makes it all the more upsetting that they didn’t receive an award, especially given how Big Hit Entertainment likely had a stage planned more than three weeks in advance.
“So, when I was talking to BTS’ management, I said, “Look, you did that amazing thing for the Late Late Show. Because you can’t be here, do you think you could do that?””
less than 3 weeks….and they recreated the entire grammy stage…this is making me angry again 😭 pic.twitter.com/GMreHc7sS3
— bora (@modooborahae) March 19, 2021
Others noted how the recreation is a true testament to how committed and hardworking BTS’s team is.
Their team is so damn creative and brilliant. They knew how much time they had when they agreed to this and they made it happen for our boys to be on that stage. I think that’s important to note even if the show stuck them at the end. Their team deserves all the praise for this
— Rafranz⁷ (@RafranzDavis) March 19, 2021
