From “Butter” to “Butterfly” and beyond, we count down the boundary-smashing Seoul septet’s finest moments so far...
Nearly a decade ago, a seven-member group from a virtually unknown label in South Korea dreamed of a “big house, big car, and big rings.” But thanks to a lethal mix of undeniable talent, remarkable lyricism, a relentless work ethic, magnetic personalities, and a few arresting dimples, BTS are now the biggest band on the planet (and likely even beyond that). Members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook ultimately got their wish, but because they actually had something to say, they gained something much more valuable — the ability to break down walls and build bridges around the globe.
Listing all of the band’s accolades would take longer than it would to learn all of their fan chants at once, so here are a few: BTS have five Number One albums to date and a handful of chart-topping songs, two Grammy nominations, are highly regarded ambassadors to the U.N., and bring in an estimated $5 billion to the South Korean economy annually. But at the core of BTS’ success is the unmatched relationship they have with their fan base, ARMY (“Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth”), fueled by a rich discography that transcends language and culture. Here, we highlight the songs that make up the kaleidoscope that is BTS’ message — of love for yourself and others, of introspection, of connection, and, of course, even a healthy bit of anarchy. From “Danger” and “Sea,” to “Run” and “Ugh!,” we’ve ranked the 100 best BTS songs.
“BTS Cypher Pt.1” kicked off the septet’s brutally honest, technically complex (and fan-favorite) Cypher series. For its opening chapter, RM, Suga, and J-Hope took aim at unjust judgments passed on their rapping abilities: “My attitude is my mentor/Even if you talk smack about me, I’m memento/Show your hip-hop pride but you’ll still feel impotent/Hide your jealousy, I can see your IP address.” Delivered in their respective distinctive flows, each member’s performance solidified their mastery of the art form while familiarizing listeners with the rap line’s unapologetic, fearless side. —D.D.
Released at a time when BTS’ hip-hop concept was at its zenith, “Hip Hop Phile” comes from a place of honor and admiration as the group raps about its respect for hip-hop culture. The track lays out the members’ relationship with the genre and how it inspired their creative liberation, paying tribute to their influences, from South Korean trio Epik High to Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, CL Smooth, Eminem, and others. —D.D.
The emotive quality of the band members’ voices is what gives “Don’t Leave Me” its vastness — that and some truly fierce synth production. Despite its title, the song, from BTS’ third Japanese full-length, Face Yourself, isn’t sung out of fear, but with faith that hardships can be overcome with trust and partnership. “No matter what, rain falls/No matter what, darkness erases/I’ll definitely save you, you are not alone,” Jin, Jimin, and Jung Kook sing. —N.M.
During the height of quarantine, bedrooms were our sweaty dance floors. BTS captured the emotional transport music gave the world in “Fly to My Room,” from 2020’s BE. “This room is all I have/Well, then I’ll just change this place to my world,” Jimin and V sing on the sub-unit track, later joined by Suga and J-Hope’s melodic rapping. The laid-back keyboard groove is tentative at first, but crescendos into a final chorus fit for a church choir — perhaps looking for something to believe in. —N.M.
BTS can criticize, empathize, and lament. But ultimately, they’re uplifting, providing comfort even in times of pitch dark. Feel-good summer bop “Permission to Dance,” co-written by Ed Sheeran, is above all a message of hope — that the light of passion can never be extinguished, and the world is full of beauty. That ethos is even woven into the song’s expressive choreography, as it uses international sign language for “dance,” “fun,” and “peace,” and is deliberately simple enough (by BTS standards, at least) for anyone to join in —N.M.
There’s something about BTS’ Japanese releases that leaves you swaying in a sweet-trancelike state. Perhaps it’s the warm, dulcet sound or bittersweet themes of love and heartache. Either way, BTS’ Japanese offerings continue to be some of the most anticipated (and loved) releases. Serving as the first of two official singles before the release of their album Map of the Soul 7: The Journey, “Stay Gold” brings sanguinity, warmth, and romance wrapped in an upbeat pop arrangement. Released at a time of uncertainty, the single presented itself as a ray of hope, melting away icicles of distress we all felt during the global pandemic. —D.D.
The melody floats in with a soft flourish, and much like its predecessor “Spring Day,” “Crystal Snow” illustrates the ephemeral nature of love using the vibrant image of the seasons. “Even though you pass through me and turn to water, you are still in my heart,” RM raps. “I watch you shining and reflecting on every single sparkling thing.” The Japanese single ebbs and bursts open with the grace and verve of a musical number as the vocalists plead: “I want to hold you one more time before you disappear.” —N.M.
On his bright solo track for BTS’ 2018 LP Love Yourself: Answer, RM plays with the Korean language to express gratefulness for the love he’s received from the group’s fans. He rhymes and interchanges saram (“person”) and sarang (“love”) to convey the transformation he’s undergone as an individual thanks to BTS’ Army. He also includes a nod to Rene Descartes’ famous line “I think, therefore I am” as he happily declares, “I live, so I love.” “Trivia: Love” is packed full of onomatopoeia, symbolism, and Easter eggs — too many to list here — that only the Army can unearth. It’s a fitting gift from BTS’ intellectual leader. —R.C.
Originally set aside to be featured on Jung Kook’s mixtape, BTS’ Japanese single “Your Eyes Tell” is a compelling testament to the vocalist’s songwriting capabilities that brings out a unique perspective on romance, heartaches, and everything in between. Brimming with mellow vocal performances gently nestled between a balladic, soul-stirring melody, “Your Eyes Tell’ has a beauty that lies in its ardent confessions of endearment and hope. —D.D.
It begins with the familiar electro-pop synths of the “Save Me” chorus, but this time sounding much more hollow. The sample distorts and ends before a breathy V rolls in. Just as the words “Save Me,” can be an ambigram of “I’m Fine,” the two songs’ lyrics are also reflections (both structurally and thematically) of each other. Four years later, BTS have found the strength and maturity to rely on themselves — and while they may fondly look back for a moment, their steps will always take them forward. —N.M.
Produced by Steve Aoki, co-written by RM and featuring Jin, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, “The Truth Untold” shows a brand-new side of every artist involved. Aoki steps out of his EDM space to present a glimmering piano ballad, while the vocalists each go beyond their limits to express a heartfelt attempt to conquer fear and self-loathing. The track ultimately expresses that the key to finding love is accepting one’s true self. —R.C.
On “Dynamite,” BTS ejected from the quarantine gloom to joyride in another dimension; for “Life Goes On,” they use their inside-voice. Humbled by the pandemic tragedy, they inhabit an acoustic-tinged pop-R&B ballad to extend the consoling titular message they first introduced at the United Nations’ 75th General Assembly. Jimin’s heart-tugging vocal fry stands out, but V and Jin let the melody flow, while RM, Suga, and J-Hope rap like serene, soothing allies. The video even fades to black-and-white at its close; no flash needed. —C.A.
Artistic triumphs and lavish perks have made BTS undeniable, if ambivalent, global ambassadors. Here, by sleekly reimagining a ’90s teen-runaway paean by Korean pop-rap icons (and Cypress Hill cosplayers) Seo Taiji and Boys, the group directly and vulnerably addresses the modern generation with a luminous display of vocal synergy and self-aware charisma. —C.A.
One of BTS’ most underrated tracks from their formative years, “Coffee” chronicles a bittersweet breakup through coffee metaphors. Though the “cold and bitter aftertaste” of an Americano lingers, the protagonist cannot help but reminisce about the sweet memories of the relationship. Permeated with low-fi beats and sounds sampled from a busy cafe, the chill, laid-back sonic ambience is further elevated by the group’s melodic vocal and rap performance, transporting you right into the middle of the breakup drama. —D.D.
“We all are dogs and pigs/ We get angry and become dogs,” Suga raps, almost mockingly. This particular lyric is what makes this bouncy, bluesy hip-hop B side (featuring a sample of Keb’ Mo’’s 1994 song “Am I Wrong”) one of the group’s most politically charged tracks. The lyric is believed to call out an incident that occurred a few months before Wings’ release in October 2016, in which a South Korean government official reportedly said that 99 percent of his country’s people are “like dogs and pigs,” and can be treated that way. “The whole world seems to be crazy, it feels like the end,” they sing. Turns out, they were right all along. —N.M.
Loaded with groovy Latin beats and flirty lyrics, and paired with a choreographed routine for the books, Jimin’s “Filter” embodies every aspect of his artistry. Delivered in the singer’s signature raspy vocals, “Filter” sees Jimin celebrating his duality as an artist and his ability to display his various charms at the drop of a hat. Sensuous and enticing, “Filter” is a near-perfect introduction to Jimin’s famed showmanship. —D.D.
Written by the rap line and Big Hit Music’s longtime producer Pdogg, “Let Me Know” is one of the most heartbreaking tracks in BTS’ arsenal. The R&B ballad grieves the natural end of a relationship: “Love blooms like cherry blossoms but burns and becomes ashes,” Suga states, indicating that while he knows the smarter decision is to move on, he cannot escape his memories. “Let Me Know” allows every single member of the group to shine; the rappers each convey a different stage of grief in their verses — cruising through denial, anger, and acceptance in turn — while the vocalists deliver some of the most powerful performances of their careers with soaring falsettos and ad-libs. —R.C.
J-Hope opens up about his life’s journey on this emotional solo track from BTS’ Wings. It’s a unique offering from the group, inspired by gospel and hip-hop, and the lyrics pay tribute to the sacrifices the rapper’s mother made so that he could pursue his dreams. “Mama” was also accompanied by spectacular live stagings during the group’s 2017 Wings tour — each performance saw the members of BTS, the group’s backup dancers, and dozens of gospel singers all joining J-Hope to sing along. —R.C.
Not long after the group made its riotous debut, BTS doubled down on their criticisms of South Korean society in “N.O,” condemning adults for making the youth into “studying machines.” And if that message wasn’t clear enough, the music video sees the septet in a Matrix-like dystopian future, battling the stoic guards intent on keeping them dutifully chained behind their desks. “Don’t live your life by being trapped in someone else’s dream,” they sing in the chorus. —N.M.
Neither ballad nor banger, “Make It Right” is BTS’ sneakiest tear-jerker. Co-written by cozy, blue-eyed soul-bro Ed Sheeran, Fred Again, et al., the remix pastes in Lauv for the first verse/pre-chorus/chorus, and he ably transposes his “I Like Me Better” vibe (college kid trying to be suave). But it’s the song’s smoky, feathery, midtempo groove that tugs at you, with a jazzy horn loop being echoed by the group’s liquid falsettos, and nudged along by 808 snares that are somehow martial and lovely at the same time. —C.A.
In a 2018 episode of the band’s reality series, Run BTS!, Suga wrote a poem with this line: “It is true that the more light that burns upon us, the more shadows appear.” In the fiery Map of the Soul: 7 opener, the rapper expounds on this metaphor, further exploring the darkness that goes hand in hand with celebrity. The track begins with a moody sample of “Intro: O!RUL8,2?,” as Suga admits, “I’m afraid, flying high is terrifying. No one told me how lonely it is up here.” But just as it seems the rapper has braced himself to face his demons, the tempo shifts and an ear-splitting bass drops in — Suga is now spitting from his shadow’s perspective, reminding him that they have no choice but to co-exist. —N.M.
Disguised beneath crisp soul-funk production, “Look Here” presents a game of cat and mouse that eventually turns vaguely threatening as jealousy and obsession take over. The vocalists channel a bit of Prince as they step into bright falsettos, offering a delightful contrast to the rappers’ playful, husky verses. —R.C.
This is where we see BTS at their most vulnerable. Written around the time the group was considering disbandment, “Outro: Tear” — from the 2018 EP Love Yourself: Tear — captures all the emotions the septet were drowning in during that tumultuous time. The orchestral hip-hop number finds RM, Suga, and J-Hope outlining the feelings of betrayal, rage, and desperation they all felt. The trio use the double meaning of the word “tear” to symbolize grief, as well as the bonds within the group shattering. J-Hope’s verse is particularly powerful, as he addresses the other members, rapping, “You’re my beginning and my end/That is all/My meeting and my farewell/You were everything, step forward fear/It will be repeated, caused by you/Tear.” —R.C.
At once a hip-hop skit and a parable, “Paldogangsan,” also known as the satoori (dialect) rap, sees the rap line repping their hometowns in South Korea — Suga, from Daegu in Gyeongsang; J-Hope, from Gwangju in Jeolla; RM, from Seoul in Gyeonggi — until the latter, always the peacemaker, urges them to embrace one another’s differences. It’s the same call for unity that the group would make on the U.N. assembly floor many years later — a message universally understood from New York to Korea, from Moonsan to Marado. —N.M.
Jin’s love song to the fans is as massive and shining as his personality. In the joyful guitar-pop ode, Jin taps the power of his full range as he likens his relationship to ARMY to that of celestial bodies: “To you, I’m just a moon/A tiny star of yours that brightens up your heart,” he sings. “You are my Earth/And all I see is you.” In the stage performance, BTS’ eldest member is the Little Prince, standing atop a makeshift moon. But in this version of the story, our hero is anything but lonely. —N.M.
BTS take on the class divide in South Korea by pointing to the expensive North Face padded jackets that have become a status symbol among teens. “Just like the fully filled padding, your greed continues to get filled up,” Suga spits on the quirky hip-hop track. The jackets are dubbed “spine breakers” because of the financial burden kids put on their parents just to prove they can keep up. “Even after seeing your parents’ backs bending, you’re heartlessly relentless.” (Jin’s choreography makes for a particularly entertaining visual aid.) —N.M.
This anthemic electro-pop tune is one of the livelier tracks on BTS’ dark 2016 LP Wings, and aims to celebrate women by encouraging them to be their best selves. With RM sharing writing credits, the group showers its female audience with praise and tells them never to settle, emphasizing the importance of consent and respect. During his verse, Jung Kook declares, “Don’t ever be scared/Whatever people say, you’re OK, all right/You are strong/You say yes or no.” —R.C.
Produced by American duo the Chainsmokers alongside BTS’ longtime producer Pdogg, “Best of Me” is a quintessential, soaring EDM anthem, instantly evoking the genre’s defining years, from 2011 to 2015. With lyrics that offer an exaggerated take on the consequences of love, BTS deliver an electrifying performance, highlighted by Suga and J-hope’s fiery rap verses. Despite being five years old, “Best of Me” continues to serve as a timeless party anthem, often played at BTS concerts to dial up the energy. —D.D.
A highly underrated number from BTS’ earlier days, “Like” hovers between anger and regret at the end of a relationship. Written by Suga, the lyrics are filled with anguish as he raps, “Why am I still stuck in the times we spent together/ When everyone in that world has already stopped?” The track disguises the rage and pain with an uplifting pop-R&B arrangement. The often overlooked “Slow Jam Remix” of “Like” elevates the original, conveying the true message of the song and transforming it into a classic, Nineties-influenced R&B ballad. —R.C.
Heightened by J-Hope’s electric stage presence, “Just Dance” is easily one of the most anticipated moments at a BTS concert. Driven by electro-pop beats, the single narrates the initial stages of a romantic tale using dance as a metaphor: “Because our rhythm is matching/Because we have our dance, it’s a fate-like beat/Let’s get it on POP.” The latter line directly references the rapper-producer’s track “P.O.P” from his mixtape Hope World, which expresses his dream of being the source of happiness in everyone’s life. —D.D.
Steeped in soft drums and dreamy synths, “Friends” commemorates the unbreakable bond of friendship and trust between V and Jimin (commonly referred to as VMin). Reminiscing over sweet high school memories and other fond recollections (such as a fight over dumplings), “Friends” is a heartwarming peek into the duo’s dynamics and how their friendship has blossomed with time. The track particularly holds significance for veteran fans who’ve seen VMin evolve together in front of their eyes. —D.D.
Combining soft jazz, complex piano riffs, and hip-hop, “Rain” perfectly encapsulates BTS’ versatility right from their days as rookies. Written by the rap line and Pdogg, “Rain” uses the metaphor of a rainy day in Seoul to convey sadness and monotony. The lyrics paint a picture of emptiness through powerful imagery like, “As if it knows how my body feels, the rain is falling/As I look at the raindrops welling up in the window, I felt it/The tears that were flowing down my heart.” The song conveys despair but also an underlying current of hope that things might change someday. —R.C.
Love can be a complex, dizzying puzzle — or, it’s a “white T-shirt, denim shorts, and red Converse highs.” “That’s it,” RM declares on the groovy HYYH track. There’s a giddy delight tucked into the song’s cool flirtation, relishing in the excitement of having a crush. When you’re bitten, every little thing matters — from the bat of an eyelash to a gracefully tied double knot. —N.M.
Beloved and astoundingly sly, “Anpanman” is BTS’ greatest trick and/or public service. Identifying with the goofy, kindhearted little manga and anime character known as “the world’s weakest hero,” the group flips arena-pop grandiosity and redirects it into a persuasive confession of fear; a moving comment on the responsibilities of success; and an inspiring message of self-love and support for its fans. The pistoning, poppy patchwork of hip-hop and EDM shifts the tempo and beat repeatedly, using percussive whistles, Auto-Tuned chants, choral ad-libs, and a churchy, hand-clap breakdown to convince kids that real heroism means sacrificing everything for those you love. —C.A.
Also known as “Dead Leaves,” this track compares the transformation of autumn leaves to the passing of youth — the key theme of the Most Beautiful Moment in Life album series. With lyrics like “One leaf left clinging to a branch/It’s shattering, I see the end/Dead leaves becoming dried,” BTS manage to define the cycle of life and passage of time within a single metaphor. The song’s tone oscillates between mourning and acceptance as the production darts through shimmering synths, echoing percussion, and dark trap. —R.C.
“00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” is a gentle reminder to those who struggle with breaking out of their funk. Inspired by the passage of time, the track rationally explains how life is a cycle of good and bad days. As a result, BTS instill the idea of a second chance at happiness and hope — just like a clock that resets at 00:00, you, too, can make the most out of the fresh start. Performed by Jung Kook, Jimin, Jin, and V, the track’s heartfelt message is effectively expressed through their breathy vocals. —D.D.
“But what will happen if Bangtan Sonyeondan advances?” The question posed at the start of the boisterous track seemed like a bold hypothetical back in 2013, the year BTS debuted. Despite its rather misleading title, the rap-heavy “Attack on Bangtan” (a.k.a. “The Rise of Bangtan”) is less of a victim’s call for help and more of a battle cry — “Our reaching the top is a matter of time” — a declaration that the group will stop at nothing to become the biggest name in music. Little did BTS know that a few years later they’d finally get an answer to their question (and a satisfying one, at that), but even today, there’s a magical quality in hearing them excitedly poised for the fight. —N.M.
The dance-pop track is made to bring arenas full of fans to their feet, though “Stay” was first released during the pandemic, so bedrooms would have to do. The seventh song on the septet’s seventh album (a.k.a. a numerical big deal) is a profession of love and connection, even at our most isolated. During the global press conference for BE, Jung Kook explained that “Stay” is meant to convey that “although we are far apart now, we will always stay together.” —N.M.
It’s Coldplay’s most pleasingly unburdened moment, and the first-ever entry at No. 1 by a British artist; as for BTS, it’s their sixth debut at the top. Like so many great collaborations, “My Universe” started with a meeting on a YouTube series (Released), where one artist (BTS) was talking to another (Chris Martin) about a dance challenge (BTS’ #PermissionToDance). What does the song sound like?: BTS covering “Fix You” (see 2021’s MTV Unplugged), given a pop-disco refix and a rad chopped-vocal breakdown. Of the 29 people involved in the track’s creation, special shout out to the other Martin, Max, who co-produced. —C.A.
After BE‘s somber opening tracks about the fear and alienation caused by the pandemic, “Telepathy” is an escapist Eighties pop-funk lark that’s like Bruno Mars lounging on a tumbona. Originally written by Suga, and slightly reworked with RM and J-Hope as a lifeline to ARMY, it’s got a loping bass line, fluttering cowbell, and playfully Auto-Tuned vocals. Suga and J-Hope sing more than rap, while Jung Kook and V’s staccato singing is akin to rapping. The latter two put it simply: “Even if I’m not by your side, yeah/You know we’re together.” —C.A.
This maximalist rap-rock manifesto pogos and meditates on the intoxicating but fleeting catharsis of making music for millions of insatiable fans. BTS consider being artists a sacred, delirious pleasure; but art extracts a pound of flesh for pop’s elite, who take a vow of literal Dionysian excess, i.e., to constantly create or perform. Here, that conflict is dramatized by arena-size flexing, volleys of chanted hooks, guitar throb, general EDM bleepery, and canny, cultural wordplay. J-Hope’s toast? “Drink it up, the pain of creating.” —C.A.
Vibrant, feel-good, and oh-so-romantic; BTS’ “Boy With Luv” served as a refreshing prologue to the septet’s Map of the Soul chapter. Featuring American pop star Halsey, the single delivers an ambient, funky-pop mood as the global superstars sing about an uncomplicated love affair, all the while emphasizing their growth from 2014’s heartbroken “Boy in Luv.” —D.D.
BTS’ quirkiest, yet possibly most ingenious song. Opening with a throwback late-Eighties hip-hop beat, a graceful jazz guitar and flute dart around Jung Kook’s verse, sung in character as — wait for it — the grief-stricken ex-planet Pluto (now referred to as asteroid number “134340”). RM, still as Pluto, earnestly raps: “What meaning is left in the fallen planet’s life?” and “My cold heart is 248 degrees.” The conceit never relents. The pre-chorus is majestic. Damn. —C.A.
Arguably one of the rap line’s most outstanding performances to date, “BTS Cypher Pt. 4” serves as the conclusion to the trio’s scorching Cypher series. RM, Suga and J-Hope show off their individual flows and vocal tones as they cruise through their respective verses — all tied together thanks to a simple foundation of rolling trap. “BTS Cypher Pt. 4” is also the calmest in the series as the rappers bask in well-earned success, celebrate their journey to self-love, and declare they’re thankful to their haters for giving them the attention, because after all, “I like hate comments more than no comments.” —R.C.
Bask in the radiant group-vocal performance on this homage to resilient, reciprocal amour. Jimin flutters in and out of his falsetto, ay-ay-ays on your heart muscle, and sets a perfectly unguarded tone. Jung Kook croons with an elegant maturity and flows into subtle runs that leave you breathless. RM tears headlong into a double-time rap that mimics the rush of early romance. And there are four voices still to go. No wonder the whole world is smitten. —C.A.
BTS’ dalliance with Latin pop is both slick and sexy, as they playfully sway between the their highest, airy registers and low, sultry ranges. A follow-up to the J-Hope solo mixtape track “Airplane,” “Pt. 2” tells the (autobiographical) story of a man dreaming of becoming a world-renowned musician, and the feeling — at times invigorating, at others completely exhausting — of finally becoming the regular jet-setter he set out to be. Fitting that here BTS shout out “el mariachi,” another group of balladeers serenading audiences around the globe. —N.M.
Charli XCX courted BTS for a minute before the crew fixed on “Glow,” a peppy, teasing 2016 demo originally produced for Charli’s unreleased third album, a.k.a., XCX World, by Norwegian hitmaking duo Stargate. Refined into a glassy, candy-coated lattice of breathy harmonies featuring Jimin, Jung Kook, and Jin, “Dream Glow” appeared on the BTS World video game soundtrack. —C.A.
On its surface, “Go Go” sounds like a blissed-out trip-hop ditty that prays at the church of YOLO partying. But in fact, the lyrics contain sharp criticisms of materialism and the emptiness that comes with constantly searching for the next high. “The current generation uses phrases like YOLO and having fun squandering money, but I don’t think people think about why they use such terms so much, even while using the terms,” said Suga of this satirical song in a 2017 press conference. “It isn’t a BTS album if there isn’t a track criticizing society.” —N.M.
Each BTS member has kicked off a new album cycle with a solo turn accompanied by a trailer video. But none quite shook the Bangtan firmament like Jin’s tender ode to self-acceptance, delivered as a smoldering power ballad. It’s Gen Z resculpting the sound waves of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” into their ultimate form. Cue waterworks. —C.A.
Released in 2014 on BTS’ second EP, Skool Luv Affair, “Tomorrow” conveys one of group’s core messages: As long as you have hope, you have a chance of bettering your future. The song looks at various hardships — unemployment, burnout, broken homes — and assures listeners that they will not be trapped in the darkness forever: “When tomorrow comes, the bright light will shine so don’t worry/This isn’t a stop but just a pause in your life for a break/Turn up your thumbs and press play so everyone can see.” The track combines booming bass percussion with a warped synth, creating a haunting foundation for their words to sink in. —R.C.
You may have heard of “déjà vu,” but Jin, J-Hope, and Jung Kook introduce us to “jamais vu,” a psychological phenomenon in which a person is faced with a situation they’ve seen many times, but can’t seem to remember. On the surface, the unit track unfolds like a lovely lullaby — but it conceals one of the group’s darkest moments, as the singers describe the torturous feeling of constantly reliving the same pain, and beg for a remedy. —N.M.
A no-frills EDM banger, motivational raps included — Don’t worry! Let go! Have a glow stick! There are airy interludes for you to meaningfully wave your hands in the air and breakdowns for you to goofily jump up, almost in sync with your friends. Top 10 BTS moment: RM raps, “I don’t wanna die right now,” in full-on Rob Base “It Takes Two” flow. —C.A.
Jung Kook, the youngest of the Bangtan boys, was effectively raised by the members — beginning as a guyliner-clad 15-year-old rapper, and blossoming into the confident, tatted-up vocalist who soars over stadiums. In “My Time,” Jung Kook takes his crystalline pop vocals into R&B territory, reflecting on how quickly he had to grow up in the spotlight, speeding along as if he were in a different time zone: “My life has been a movie all the time,” he muses. And at the pace he’s going, it’ll likely be a long time until we see the credits roll. —N.M.
It begins with the sound of waves crashing softly on the shore. Originally called “Wherever There’s Hope, There’s a Trial” (a quote from Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84), the emotional hidden track off of Love Yourself 承 ‘Her’ details the internal battles and challenges the group faced as it skyrocketed to success. “‘They’re No. 1 somewhere, they have so much stuff, why are they worried?’ People always talk about that. If you are an ARMY and we spent time together from 2013, 2014 — they could understand,” RM told Billboard of the song. “It’s kind of more special, closer to our true hearts.” —N.M.
London co-writer and producer David Stewart declined to call “Dynamite” a “K-pop tune,” and that’s because, as BTS’ English-language debut, it culminated the group’s 10-year American fever dream. Defying the Covid doldrums, “Dynamite” rushed and gushed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Young-genius polymath Jung Kook slid into our DMs with a bubble-pop chirp, tossing stateside keywords (“Lebron,” “King Kong”) to RM, J-Hope, and Jimin, who coolly parlay them as synths swell above a Moog bass and a frisky, disco-clapping chorus. But there’s more! Heralded by uptown-funky horns and guitars, V, Suga, and Jin levitate the function with zesty precision, as if they’re flying between a double rainbow in tight formation like a squad of Blue Angels. What pandemic? —C.A.
“Danger” may very well be the epitome of teen-angst-ridden BTS — and boy, is it catchy. Come for the guitar-rock-infused hip-hop and desperate frustration toward a love who doesn’t seem to care; stay for the punchy, illustrative choreography that would eventually become canon. —N.M.
The video for BTS’ first single was the world’s first real glimpse of the young, seven-member crew’s particular set of skills — choreography and vocals that hit with breakneck precision, lyrics that uplifted hopeless kids, and an exhilarating group dynamic. But the reaction was muted. They’re too hip-hop to be idols; they’re no Big Bang; those “gangsta” mannerisms have gotta go. And while the boys might’ve overexcitedly postured like suburban swag surfers raiding a Hood by Air warehouse, such objections now sound quaint. —C.A.
A distorted, semi-menacing, neo-horrorcore intro builds to a declaration to fight, followed by a shriek. Whew! This is an ARMY battle cry, with an underdog call to arms (“Ready! Aim! Fire!”) and generational shout-out (“Hey crow-tits, all hands up!”) in the midst of a brassy, action-flick fanfare. The song is largely known for its striking, ninja-warrior choreography, seen in a video partially shot around a stone-mining site in Korea’s Chungcheong province. —C.A.
Yep, “DNA” is a Solo-cup–sloshing, spring-break–ready EDM free-for-all, with a dubstep crossfire payoff that’ll make any first-sight, molecularly destined crush seem like it’s gonna last forever. But how BTS get there is crafty. They lure you in with the echoing swirl of an actual human whistle and an urgent, almost percussively strummed acoustic guitar before the cavalcade of voices hits. On second pass, RM and Suga up their eternal-love game, but it’s Jimin, V, Jung Kook, and Jin (in a rare, spotlight moment) who trade-off tenderly phrased and almost-panting verses that deliver an immaculate harmonic heart punch. —C.A.
Photo : Getty Images for Dick Clark Prod
You can always count on BTS to take you back to school — and this time, it’s Greek philosophy. The sparkling “Mikrokosmos” refers to the “microcosm,” and in this context, the concept that humans belong to the universe, yet also contain little universes inside them. It’s a beautiful metaphor on its own, but even more so when the septet play it as it was intended, echoing through a stadium filled with thousands of twinkling light sticks: “In one person, there is one history/In one person, there is one star/Shining with 7 billion lights, 7 billion worlds.” —N.M.
Lyrically, “Idol” is a plainspoken, no-irony message to haters and trolls: We know and love who we are, peace out. But perhaps in response to charges they’d become too Westernized, the BTS creative team (music, video, choreography) took a pro tip from India’s Bollywood and bhangra culture, integrating contemporary dance styles (South African gqom and gwara, reggaeton) with traditional Korean touchstones (samulnori folk percussion, pansori storytelling, a gakgung horn-bow, hanbok clothing, hanok houses, lots of tigers). The result is a frenzied, celebratory fantasia. —C.A.
Like many other introspective tracks from BTS’ discography, “Whalien 52” is full of earnest symbolism, wherein the septet narrate their struggles with loneliness using the metaphor of a 52-hertz whale that is known to be the loneliest whale in the world because its high-pitched frequency cannot be heard by other whales. “Whalien 52” sees the group address its inability to connect with others, stardom, and the anxiety it brings. The whale metaphor holds deep importance in BTS iconography. Most recently, it appeared in the animated music video for “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal.” In this case, the lonely whale (representing BTS itself) is not lonely anymore, because the group has found strength through the companionship of the BTS ARMY. —D.D.
The closing chapter of the “We Are Bulletproof” song series delivers on the epic promise held in its title. The members’ vocals take on an almost ethereal quality over the soaring EDM track, and they describe the awe-inspiring power of their massive global fandom. “We are, we are forever, bulletproof,” BTS sing in the chorus. “(Yeah, we got to heaven)/(Yeah, we have you, have you)/Yeah, we are not seven, with you.” —N.M.
Like a baroque cathedral crossed with a Super Bowl halftime show, “On” is a lot — 10 songwriters, a gospel choir, a Kinetic Manifesto Film, a conch shell horn, and way more. But there are two unmissable events: (1) After the second chorus, as a lone church-organ note vibrates, Jung Kook’s exquisite falsetto pierces the sky and repositions the stars. It’s stupefying. And (2) the dance breakdown over a marching-band trap beat that follows. We remain gobsmacked. —C.A.
The quiet notes of a piano trickle in until an R&B beat takes over, and RM intones, “As I empty my glass, it gets filled up with my longing for you.” It’s a love that seems to be fading, and there’s nothing to do but plead and hold on to fading hope of regaining what was lost. The ballad marks V’s first composition credit, and the beginning of an even more introspective, multidimensional tone for the group’s music. —N.M.
V’s sultry Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’ opener plays to his strengths, highlighting his rich baritone, as well as his beloved, quiet eccentricity. The neo-soul track is seductive and mysterious, the singer contemplating the mask he wears to hide his emotions. “Even in my momentary dreams, the illusions that torture me are still the same,” V sings. “Did I lose myself, or did I gain you?” For someone who’s usually so vulnerable, here he keeps his cards pretty close to his chest. But it’s clear that V relishes in the anticipation of someday playing an even stronger hand. —N.M.
BTS ignited a much-needed celebration in May 2021 with a summery earworm as smooth as its salty-sweet namesake. With its infectious strut and lyrical nods to Usher and Michael Jackson, BTS’ second English-language song proved the perfect soundtrack to a world turning a hopeful eye to a new season as pandemic measures loosened. That the flirty, Grammy-nominated dance track came in a variety of remix flavors (“Hotter,” “Sweeter,” “Cooler,” and a Megan Thee Stallion–assisted rendition) only boosted its charm, as well as its time at Number One on various charts (nearly a year later, it still tops Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs). “Get it, let it roll,” indeed. —A.L.
There’s a reason why a fan-captured video of the vocal line’s live performance of this song has garnered more than 13 million views. “House of Cards” is easily one of the group’s most sensual offerings, serving up sexy high drama over an orchestral melody fit for a Fifty Shades of Grey needle drop. And as Jin, Jung Kook, Jimin, and V hypnotize while they sing of a doomed relationship whose paper-thin walls threaten to collapse, it’s hard to imagine why one would ever leave. —N.M.
Those who expected Suga’s signature spitfire bars and hard-hitting hip-hop beats were pleasantly surprised by the rapper’s change in course on Love Yourself 結 ‘Answer.’ Suga, always one to delight in subverting expectations, sings over a light, playful ditty about a relationship caught in a “seesaw game” — the constant, relentless ups and downs. Mind games get old. But when it comes to seeing this vulnerable side of the rapper, that’s one thing fans will likely never tire of. —N.M.
The Wings closer is a fitting end to what is widely considered a major turning point in BTS’ career. “Spread spread spread my wings,” the members sing over an expansive EDM beat — one that would, years later, echo in arenas and stadiums around the world. The song is full of promise, sung by a group that was already looking skyward, poised to soar higher than anyone could have anticipated. —N.M.
On 2014’s “Intro: Skool Luv Affair” (sampled for this neo–Dust Brothers beat), Rap Monsta firmly counsels J-Hope and Suga: “How can life always be hopeful? This is not Bangtan style … Bangtan style is hip-hop.” Five years is an idol eternity, and though RM was a master builder by 2019, his identity is in crisis throughout the ruthlessly introspective “Intro: Persona,” BTS’ most unfuckwithable hip-hop track. —C.A.
BTS went IMAX with the lead single from Love Yourself: Tear, emphatically supersizing the song with synth sounds galore, including the rock guitar that prowls throughout. The video was a series of color-saturated pleas for your attention: glass shattering, wind howling, water flooding, fire blooming, and the usual dizzying choreography. The theme — don’t emotionally fake it to make it in a relationship — was only a skeletal script. The real story of this song is trap drums, swooshes, more trap drums, more swooshes, and that inescapable hook, i.e., the title, sung in four rhythmic syllables, signal-boosted by stacked harmonies. Welcome to the Top 10, fellas. —C.A.
This sneakily ambitious ballad, co-written by queer pop renegade Troye Sivan, builds an echo chamber of addled, stripped-bare emotions, swept along by deeply fluctuating bass, fitful dream-pop ambience, and high, tight harmonies. As the rappers’ confessions of weakness and anguished defiance reverberate (Suga practically growls about rolling in shit), the stages of life expressed in the song — heartbreak, isolation, self-assertion — detonate on equally convulsive levels. Acknowledging the waves of despair everyone faces, BTS promise on the final, soaring chorus to struggle and sing, endlessly. —C.A.
A deep breath in, then Jung Kook almost whispers, “Don’t think of anything, don’t bring up any word — just smile at me.” A tentative guitar cradles the melody like a gentle, rolling sea as the vocalists sing about a fear of losing something as fragile and delicate as a butterfly. But the track shows its true beauty when its orchestral chorus bursts open like a pair of colorful wings and takes flight. —N.M.
Pinging synths and weightless, pinballing percussion seem to signal an impending, blissful dopamine drop. Instead, all the digital filtering and tweaking only reveal the depth of Jung Kook’s yearning, emotionally fraught voice — not a boy, not yet a man, not yet a lot of things. It’s unexpected, very real, and one of the most successful solo songs yet by a member of BTS. —C.A.
In RM, Suga, and J-Hope’s second Cypher track, the trio take a pointed, fiery, and delightfully profane swipe at their critics in the hip-hop community who continuously seek to discredit them. It begins with their signature swagger as they set the scene — “We’re seven wolves, herding the sheep that are the applause,” J-Hope teases — but the beat suddenly shifts into ultra-high gear as the guys spit furiously fast. “Blindly possessed hyungs full of pride and weird conviction, they get astonished by my eight bars,” RM says; “Look at those stubborn, preachy hip-hop oldies with their stiff necks/When you play underground, BTS plays above ground,” Suga posits. —N.M.
“Mic Drop” has been performed on Ellen, Kimmel, Corden, SNL, and at the Jingle Ball, just to name a few, and it’s no question why. The track was originally released with Love Yourself: Her, and was then remixed by Steve Aoki. The lyrics, which RM and J-Hope contributed to, offer a message to those who have doubted BTS, with references to their unmatched global success. “Mic Drop” also has an unbelievable dance break when performed live, and the version where the members are in their custom Dior outfits is the cherry on top. —K.K.
The group’s most daring conceptual move shifts from confession to self-flagellation to an overt acting out of pop’s florid seduction routine (“I’m your guilty pleasure/You can’t escape, never“). The lyrics don’t try to conceal the song’s message — a startling reprimand of BTS’ fans for being unhealthily obsessive. At times, it’s as if the track is meant to seem extra-addictive — deploying a melody the same exact way over and over (unusual for BTS), and stacking vocal tracks sky-high for an extreme choral effect. When Jung Kook and, later, Jin sing “I’m here to save you/I’m here to ruin you,” it’s a powerfully unnerving dose of pop-star reality. —C.A.
In “Boy in Luv,” it’s the self-effacing quality of BTS’ angst that makes it charming: “Why do I keep checking your profile picture when it’s the same?” J-Hope raps. Pair it with some memorable TV-soap-level acting in the song’s video and an expansive rock refrain, and you’ve got a saga of young love that will take you right back to scribbling on your sneakers in eighth-grade science class. —N.M.
Specifically crafted for BTS’ ARMY, this lush mix of confession and testimony was inspired by the book The Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. Produced by Jung Kook, the song deftly shifts moods with each member’s verse, then gently ascends as the full choir of idols croon empathic mantras. Feel free to swoon. —C.A.
More than anything, “2! 3!” is a promise. In the mellow Wings: You Never Walk Alone B side, the group urges fans that no matter the challenges, they can take comfort in BTS, and together hope for a brighter future. All it takes is to close your eyes and count “1, 2, 3,” and forget the difficult past. “Let’s walk only along the flower path,” RM sings. —N.M.
BTS’ MC trio obliterate the nastiest beat on which they’ve ever rapped here (shout-out to producer Pdogg). It’s the group’s answer to Three 6 Mafia’s “Tear Da Club Up” or Crime Mob’s “Knuck If You Buck.” While you wild out on the rugged, agitated, convulsive chorus — “Ugh!” sounds like “Wook!” in Korean — Suga, RM, and J-Hope go deep on the role of anger in the internet fishbowl. —C.A.
After releasing a trio of hard-hitting hip-hop singles – “No More Dream,” “We Are Bulletproof Pt 2.,” and “N.O” — BTS slowed it down with a soft, cradling R&B track that highlights the honeyed stylings of the vocal line. The members describe what a perfect day with their loved one would be like — “Let’s meet when morning glories bloom and part when they wither,” RM urges. It’s a bittersweet daydream for those who rarely have one free day to spend, but there’s a beauty in letting yourself get lost. —N.M.
A low-key powerful message song in the guise of slinky 2000s R&B, “Paradise” originated with Suga’s appearance on the group’s 2018 New Year’s video. After wishing that fans’ dreams would come true, he added, “if you don’t have a dream, that’s OK, too.” The group ran with that very-BTS, very–Love Yourself sentiment, and the result is an aching, indelible chorus (“It’s alright to not have any dreams”), belted out by Jimin, at his heart-melting best. —C.A.
At the height of the pandemic came BTS’s fifth album, Be, and with it, a hefty dose of burnout. “Dis-ease” tackles the heaviness of that very relatable fatigue with an unexpected lightness, thanks to a bouncy old-school hip-hop beat from Brooklyn producer duo Basstracks and BTS’ clever wordplay (“work” in Korean, 일, sounds like the English word “ill”). But as the frustration builds and finally reaches its climax, in comes in the real catharsis: a rollicking, trumpeting final drop. —N.M.
Following the EDM-pop cloudburst of “I Need U” (BTS’ first Korean Top 10), “Run” roiled with bittersweet, frenzied emotions. A city-slick jazz-blues flourish gives way to RM and Suga matter-of-factly rapping about the burning pangs of a first real soulmate. But the song whooshes forward when V, Jung Kook, and Jimin join; their voices are both breathless and accepting (“Curse me, silly fate!”), and that empathetic surge never fades. Being young and lost in love is like running with cuts and bruises on your feet. You fall down and cry. It may be reckless or a foolish illusion. But don’t stop; always keep running. —C.A.
It’s with this rollicking 2015 track that BTS (a.k.a. Bangtan Sonyeondan) introduce us to 흥탄소년단 (heungtansonyeondan), their groovy, upbeat alter egos. “Yeah, we’re here, ah boys with fun,” they shout in a rhythmic a cappella. Peppered with call and response, nimble wordplay, and a quasi-improvised bridge, the funky track is a full-blown party. And released at a time when the septet were moving away from their freewheeling hip-hop roots and leaning more into earnest pop, “Boyz With Fun” served as a reminder that BTS would always retain a shimmer of their unfettered youth. —N.M.
The irresistibly kinetic video for “Dope” was an early revelation for Western eyes. Positioned as hardworking, well-costumed youth who eschewed clubbing and just happened to be unthinkably adorable, fabulously expressive singers and rappers, BTS moved like B-boy artificial intelligence to Pdogg’s infectious, strangled sax (clearly inspired by Flo Rida’s choked sax on “GDFR” via Lookas’ remix of War’s “Low Rider”). The clip still kills. —C.A.
That soft, playful woodwind-synth repeats as Suga’s love rap edges from whiny to hateful, and an EDM wave of energy starts to rise. Suddenly, V swoons in, wailing “Everything/Everything” like it’s his last word. Rolling snares unleash a dubstep-for-all-ages chorus, while Jimin and Jung Kook trade the epically emo plea, “I need you, girl!” But ultimately, “I Need U” sounds powerful now because it’s the song where BTS cracked the code, branded their sound, had a big hit at home, and welcomed all of us to the Bangtan Universe. —C.A.
BTS’ worldwide moonshot started with this archetypal glitter bomb, which is simultaneously earnest and come-hither. Showcasing the gorgeously fluid falsettos of Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, the track’s producers float tropical-house breezes over a twitchy reggaeton beat with flirty synths that practically ask for your number. The synthesized vocal hook is a bouncy flurry of energy, and the bits of glockenspiel, chimes, cascading guitar, and hand claps are so enticing that you don’t even need an EDM dumb-down. Plus, RM raps about “peaches and cream” like he’s in a deck chair, and J-Hope wants to drink you like whiskey. —C.A.
Back in 2015, BTS were already revealing their alienation from pop stardom, with Suga spitting: “OK, we’re dope from head to toe/Over half of the day, we drown in work/Even if our youth rots in the studio.” “Dionysus” upped the anguish; and here, they fear that their artistic passion has faded. Surrounded by pensive, synthetic strings and a cavernous 808 clap, the group’s strangely Auto-Tuned cries are absorbed by the narcotic, cloud-rap ooze. As if trapped in the video’s glistening void, seven barefoot figures in black bespoke suits bend, snap, and twist. —C.A.
The melody flirts with you first, echoing like a siren call. Then the vocalists lay it on thick: “Was it a mistake made by an angel? Or a deep kiss? That dimple is illegal,” Jimin, V, Jin, and Jung Kook sing on the chorus of “Dimple” — so illegal, in fact, they’ll call you “ille-girl.” Sung by anyone else, the Love Yourself 承 ‘Her’ B side would likely sound like a string of tooth-achingly saccharine pickup lines. But when BTS, here at their most boy-band–y, imbue the lyrics with this kind of delightful, undeniable charm, you’d be hard-pressed not to crack a smile. —N.M.
The group’s singers-plus-rappers configuration is particularly powerful on this millennial fuck-you to patronizing, age-old stereotypes. To appreciate the various levels of the rhymes, it definitely takes internet translation and a general knowledge of Korean society, but the supercharged trap beat slaps you right in the face when Jung Kook chants “BANG BANG” or “You must be kiddin’ me!” And it’s no surprise to learn that he’s exclaiming in reaction to a familiar situation — professional classes expecting kids from challenging backgrounds to always try harder and succeed in deadening jobs that pay with “experience.” The Korean title, “Baepsae,” translates as “small bird” or “crow tit,” derived from a Korean idiom that says, more or less, stay in your lane if you’re born into a certain class. Both a rap flex and a generational anthem, “Silver Spoon (Baepsae)” hits hard. —C.A.
Suga sets it off, intoning plainly, “It’s burning up.” Then, a runway of stuttering house-music snares, horn stabs, and wildly razoring, pinging synths send the boys into an irresistible group chant of the title: “Fiyah, oh-aye-oh!“ But it’s the bold, almost sneering, Beastie Boys–ish spirit of J-Hope and Suga that establishes a tone (though the lyrics themselves express pained frustration). The rappers’ energy only escalates with the candy-flipped dubstep beat yo-yoing and kick drums thumping. The language (a mix of Korean and English) is no barrier to the content; “Fire” is clearly a call-out to kids, no matter their country, economic background, or depressed situation, to get hyped and set fire to class restrictions, dismissive haters, or their own inhibitions. —C.A.
BTS are often lauded for their masterful performances, but since the very beginning, their most powerful weapon has always been their words. Case in point: “Ddaeng,” a slick diss track addressing the criticisms the group has frequently faced about their rapping from South Korea’s hip-hop scene. Made especially for BTS’ fifth anniversary in 2018, the SoundCloud track sees RM, Suga, and J-Hope artfully toy with six different meanings of the word “ddaeng” — namely, “wrong” and (you’re) “finished” — over a plucky beat made of traditional Korean instrumentals. “We’re being ruined, so thanks/For ignoring us until now, thanks/Thanks to you: stadiums, domes, Billboard,” Suga spits. It’s as scathing as it is refreshing, and leaves little room for doubt that BTS have earned the right to have the final word. —N.M.
Here’s where everybody should fall for BTS, and where every geeky music-head should appreciate their perfectionist pop ingenuity (or “400 IQ production,” as one producer put it on YouTube). Jimin’s first verse alone is an airily crooned dramatic turn, and the breathtaking four-man-weave throughout, by all the vocalists, is a marvel of nuanced technical facility. The meticulously eccentric instrumentation — ticking-clock percussion; trickling marimba sound; the distant, yearning quality of the EDM snares! — creates a sense of falling so that the chorus feels like it literally saves you. Plus, the boisterous precise flow of the rappers could make Migos crack a smile. —C.A.
Connect with BTS:
http://www.facebook.com/bangtan.official
https://www.youtube.com/user/BANGTANTV
http://instagram.com/BTS.bighitofficial
https://channels.vlive.tv/FE619
https://www.tiktok.com/@bts_official_...
https://weverse.onelink.me/qt3S/94808190
https://www.weibo.com/BTSbighit
https://www.weibo.com/BTSmembers
http://i.youku.com/btsofficial
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAQUQFOtYRndsDxJLe5VWA
https://twitter.com/7Fates_CHAKHO
https://www.facebook.com/7FATES.CHAKHO.HYBE
https://www.instagram.com/7fates_chakho/
https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211220000781
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-bts-songs-1316499/
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