If you can’t beat the BTS ARMY, you join them. Surely, if BTS fans can donate millions in the name of BTS, it’s good to be part of the ARMY?
BTS stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan (translated as “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”), and they also go by Beyond The Scene. Their motto to “block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets” – bulletproof, so to speak metaphorically – has seen them writing songs that critique society and speaking at the United Nations for their LOVE MYSELF movement, in collaboration with UNICEF’s #ENDviolence campaign.
We dive into seven of their iconic songs to find out what makes BTS, well, quintessentially BTS. We chose 7 to represent the number of BTS members (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) and because 7 is just a nice number.
Now, without further ado, let’s get it!
1. No More Dream (2013)
Their first single No More Dream hears BTS rapping rough and aggressive, old-school hip hop style, about the afflictions of youth in society.
Back then, they faced difficulties securing broadcast time on local channels as a small and unknown agency and were ridiculed for being too ambitious, even though they practiced hard. Their CEO, Bang Si-hyuk, former producer of JYP Entertainment, monitored their performances frame by frame during their trainee days, and was extra strict even on the way they gazed at the cameras.
2. I NEED U (2015)
I NEED U was their first win on South Korean television music show Music Bank two years after debut, breaking EXO’s winning streak. Musically, it marked BTS’ foray into ambient electronic-pop sounds, compared to the previous hip-hop singles of their early years.
The music video portrays the first appearance of the Bangtan Universe, an alternate storyline shrouded in clues for the hardcore ARMYs to unravel – don’t even begin asking about the endless conspiracy theories, because they might just be as complex as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The idea of transmedia storytelling, where content across multiple digital platforms converge to tell a story experience, has become popular in recent years as brands reach out to their fans across channels and formats. This creative way of engaging and inviting fans to add to the story narrative means that BTS extends past screen time and into community discussions that bond ARMY together.
3. Fire (2016)
Fun fact: the iconic “bultaoreune (불타오르네, burning up)” Suga mutters at the start of the music video was recorded on the spur of the moment when they were brainstorming for that one line to complete the song. They didn’t have their usual equipment on hand and simply recorded “burning up” on a cheap mic. Fire remains one of BTS’ hottest songs, lighting up the way towards their global popularity.
4. Spring Day (2017)
Spring Day reigned on Korea’s streaming platform Melon Top 100 weekly chart for over 200 consecutive weeks – that’s about four years! The beautifully-shot music video featured an allusion to running away from the utopia of Omelas and towards bitter truths of reality, based on Ursula K. Le Guin’s short philosophical story The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.
The lyrics within Spring Day are about holding on through the transition from harsh winter to a more forgiving spring. Its lyrics about missing someone you love, but getting to reunite once more when spring arrives, strike an emotional chord and makes this song a fan favourite.
Its music video features a few places that are now must-see tourist destinations. The bus stop on the album cover, for instance, has become a popular photo-taking spot:
Perhaps when the pandemic is over, you can sign yourself up for a BTS Seoul tour here.
5. IDOL (2018)
IDOL is the lead single from their third album Love Yourself: Answer, featuring American rapper Nicki Minaj. Their music video caught international attention for its bright neon colours and combination of traditional Korean music alongside EDM beats – hitting 100 million views in just five days.
Dancing in traditional Korean hanboks designed by the famous hanbok designer Baek Oak-soo, their outfits garnered much buzz among Kmedia. IDOL is a loud and proud statement that BTS knows their own worth and identity, no matter how Koreans and the Western media judge them. Notably, the song lyrics call out those who ridiculed them for blurring the lines between what it meant to be an artist, an idol, hip-hop rappers, and staying true to their cultural roots as they stride towards global stardom.
Is that why they say “BTS is the genre”?
More recently on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, BTS starred in a cool, all-black performance in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the ‘Five Grand Palaces’ built by the Joseon dynasty. They danced IDOL in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall, where kings used to host meetings and welcome foreign envoys.
Although a global celebrity, BTS still holds fast to their roots and culture, and are unafraid to belt out entirely Korean songs in front of audiences who are learning to understand them rather than expecting BTS to conform to popular tropes. In recognition of their contribution to spreading South Korean culture and language across the world, BTS was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 by the South Korean president, making all seven members the youngest recipients of that award.
6. Boy With Luv (2019)
This pastel party was complemented by the fiery-haired Halsey. Not to be confused with Boy In Luv released in 2014 about teen love, Boy With Luv celebrates the small, everyday gestures of what BTS thinks represents love now that they’ve grown up. Unlike your usual romance songs, BTS dedicates this to the fans: they expressed their appreciation for the loyal and loving ARMY for lifting up BTS to where they are today. Rather than loud gestures, love is the little things – RM says, “You know, because ‘Boy In Luv,’ the love is outside. But ‘Boy With Luv,’ it’s inside. That’s the difference.”
7. Dynamite (2020)
Dynamite was released in August 2020, months into the coronavirus pandemic. As a fun, retro, and groovy homage to The King of Pop Michael Jackson himself, it was a welcome distraction for ARMYs stuck at home across the world.
Dynamite was their first English single and broke multiple Guinness world records, including Most Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales Chart. People started to notice BTS everywhere: Saturday Night Live, NPR’s Tiny Desk concert, the MTV VMAs…and BTS even took over The Tonight Show for an entire week to deliver online performances.
BTS and Their Mic Drop on the Music Industry
If you think BTS’ influence is just restricted to the music industry, think again. BTS has even inspired a ground-up academic journal known as the Rhizomatic Revolution Review [20130613] (R3) – an online, open-access, peer-reviewed journal focused on the impact of BTS.
Today, they boast a legion of ARMY fans, spanning confessions from the high-flying actor and WWE wrestler John Cena, to collaborations with renowned artists like Lauv, Ed Sheeran, and Steve Aoki. The seven members were announced as Louis Vuitton’s house ambassadors just last month, amidst other global scale collaborations like that of McDonald’s and FILA.
We expect BTS will keep breaking world records with their newest single released today, Butter.
Are you a BTS ARMY yet? We’ll leave you with BTS’ Mic Drop, featuring American musician and DJ Steve Aoki to convince you:
