BTS Album Guide: A Rightfully Exhaustive Breakdown of Their Discography
The post BTS Album Guide: A Rightfully Exhaustive Breakdown of Their Discography appeared first on Consequence.
There are so many ways to become part of the BTS ARMY, a journey that is often both joyful and overwhelming. Perhaps you’re a renowned debut ARMY and have been following the group for nearly a decade now; maybe you’re a more recent “Butter” era ARMY, and are still feeling slightly intimidated by the sheer scope of the group’s discography. There are also some points throughout BTS’ career that were watershed moments for the group — SNL, Carpool Karaoke, and “Dynamite” all ushered in a slew of new fans.
However you found your way to RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, V, Jimin, and Jungkook, this week is important for fans old and new alike. On Friday, June 10th, BTS are releasing their first anthology album, PROOF, along with a brand new single, “Yet to Come” (The Most Beautiful Moment).” If this is your first official “comeback” with BTS, there’s probably a lot of new vocab words being tossed around — what defines a comeback, anyway? What does 190811 Jungkook mean, and why are we talking in code?
To make things a little easier for everyone, we’ve put together a handy guide to BTS’ discography so far. This timeline, from the group’s debut in 2013 to last full-length release in 2020, includes all Korean-language EPs and LPs. (To be clear, the Japanese releases absolutely slap, but we are focusing on BTS’ Korean discography as laid out by Big Hit Entertainment for this breakdown — “Lights” stans, you are not forgotten! “Stay Gold,” you will always be famous!)
The fact of the matter is that there are so many gems throughout each era of BTS’ career, so let these album highlights act as jumping-off points for further discoveries within each of them. Enjoy the journey through the wild and whimsical world of Bangtan Sonyeondan with us ahead of PROOF.
2 Cool 4 Skool
Release Year: 2013
Concept: As the story goes, Bang Si-Hyuk, founder of Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE), set out to build a hip-hop crew around BTS member Rap Monster (now, of course, known as RM), a staple of the Seoul underground rap scene at the time. In addition, the resulting lineup for the group included a handsome college student plucked off the street on his way to acting class named Jin, aspiring producer and spitfire rapper SUGA, mesmerizing street dancer J-Hope, a plucky kid who went by V who had only meant to accompany his friend to the open call audition, contemporary dancer Jimin, and a teenager named Jungkook whose voice had led to a bidding war between agencies.
In 2013, BTS had a mic and a dream and not much else — Big Hit Entertainment was a tiny label, nearly broke, and the Bangtan Boys were a ragtag crew when put up against some of their more polished peers. What’s more, they certainly didn’t fit K-pop standards, pushing boundaries with their sound, lyrics, and image. 2 Cool 4 Skool announced BTS to the world.
Essential Music Video: “No More Dream”
BTS debuted with “No More Dream,” which certainly set them apart from other K-pop groups at the time. This is the septet in their absolute rawest and least polished form, and, however they might feel about their artistic evolution, it will always be the song that put them on the map. For a few years, BTS would lead with tracks focused on breaking free from expectations, outdated systems, and oppressive mindsets; the music video, their very first, shows them parked in a suburban cul-de-sac. SUGA kicks the song off by wishing for “a big house, big cars, and big rings,” and the rest was history.
Standout Track: “Like”
This lush and nostalgic b-side holds up remarkably well, and it’s clear the members still love it, too — they performed it as recently as summer of 2021 during their annual Festa celebration. While “We are Bulletproof Pt.2” is certainly worth noting as well, there’s absolutely nothing better on 2 Cool 4 Skool than the throwback beat, indulgent vocals, and vibey chimes of “Like.”
O!RUL8,2?
Release Year: 2013
Concept: BTS’ first mini-album wasn’t a huge shift from their debut effort, and kept the group rooted in fiery rapping and old-school hip-hop beats. The focus remained on following dreams, expanding to discuss life in the classroom in South Korea. Concept photos showed the septet still decked out in oversized chains and baggy clothes; the music from the era certainly still slapped, but BTS’ collective style evolution is a welcome one.
Essential Music Video: “N.O”
The lead single from the EP is a commentary on South Korea’s rigid education system, but listeners around the world can relate to the frustrations the members express. Set in a dystopian classroom reminiscent of a Black Mirror episode, “N.O” was BTS’ chance to express frustrations about a system that put so much pressure on young people to excel in their studies that their dreams and creativity fall to the wayside. (There’s also SO much eyeliner.)
Standout Track: “Attack on Bangtan”
“But what will happen if Bangtan Seonyeondan rises?” This is the question posed at the start of “Attack on Bangtan,” and it’s a line BTS probably didn’t expect to be so prophetic. What happened when Bangtan rose? Let’s ask their two Grammy nominations, countless other accolades, Presidential Envoy status, sold-out arena tours, and legion of devoted fans. Even beyond the predictive nature of the song, this track is just an absolute blast.
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR
Release Year: 2014
Concept: In their second year as a group, BTS was still quite hard-edged — with SKOOL LUV AFFAIR, though, the members started leaning a bit more into the romance that can accompany the trials and tribulations of being a young person. This EP dove into stories about love… especially, as the name suggests, the kind that can be found in the classroom. The intro track sees the three members of the rapline, SUGA, J-Hope, and RM, debating on how young love should feel, and beloved b-side “Jump” kicks off with the sound of a school bell.
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR didn’t abandon the group’s penchant for bold commentary by any means, though. “Spine Breaker” critiques a society that asks people to work until they quite literally break their backs; “BTS – Cypher Pt. 2: Triptych” sees the rapline fearlessly going after industry members who looked down on them for their unconventional style.
Essential Music Video: “Boy In Luv”
The music video for the EP’s lead single has it all: V growling; Jin doing his very best tough guy act; Jimin mopping up a bathroom, for some reason; love at first sight. The septet of local bad boys destroys a classroom once more, this time for the sake of love.
Standout Track: “Just One Day”
There’s a joke among fans that when this song comes on, suddenly everyone is fluent in Korean. The addictive and dreamy chorus to “Just One Day” sees the boys portrayed as much softer than any music video had depicted them so far. There’s a bittersweet edge to the track, too, as it breaks down how each member would spend the day with someone they love, a reality that wasn’t possible with the breakneck pace at which they were working.
DARK&WILD
Release Year: 2014
Concept: As the title suggests, BTS got even darker and wilder with their first official full-length studio album. The 2014 effort is a no-skips supernova that connected what became known as the “school” trilogy to all that came next — the members couldn’t have imagined the magic that was waiting around the corner with The most beautiful moment in life era, and they absolutely made the most of their time as dark, wild, teens heading into their twenties. The sticker on the cover art reads: “WARNING! LOVE HURTS, IT CAUSES ANGER, JEALOUSY OBSESSION. WHY DON’T U LOVE ME BACK?” No notes.
A BTS album that features an intro, outro, and an interlude means good things lie ahead — the blend from “Interlude: What Are You Doing Now?” into “Could You Turn off Your Cell Phone” is perfect. DARK&WILD also features arguably the best “Cypher” the rapline has ever offered — “BTS Cypher Pt.3: Killer” sees the three rappers at their swaggering, confident best, and the English translation is absolutely worth looking up for anyone that has ever vibed to the track without doing so. It’s a rite of passage to read the translations of SUGA’s verse.
Essential Music Video: “War of Hormone” “Danger”
“Danger” kicked off the era by bringing a more rock-tinged sound to another great hip-hop inspired track. We’ve got flannels around the waist, vignettes in grungy subway stations, and a plethora of angst. Things were still quite tough for BTS in 2014, and this music video accurately reflects their mindset at the time. It’s also just wild to remember that there was a time when Jungkook was rapping this much. (Lighting yet another candle for a Rapper JK comeback.)
Now, as for that other low-key iconic/high-key camp music video BTS will probably never acknowledge…that’s for you to explore on your own.
Standout Track: “Look Here”
With “Look Here,” the members are trying their very best to clarify a relationship status in a track that recalls the bouncy, radio success of “Blurred Lines,” but without all the unsavory elements of that stateside hit. It clearly channels Pharrell’s production style at the time, a blend of funk, hip-hop, and straight-up catchy pop with a plethora of ad libs.
While it’s RM’s verse that (rightfully) became legendary, J-Hope rhymes a line with the sound of a sneeze. Icon behavior only in the studio that day!
The most beautiful moment in life pt. 1
Release Year: 2015
Concept: The most beautiful moment in life pt. 1 was a major turning point for the act in which they peeled back their more outwardly aggressive style to explore a broader spectrum of coming-of-age themes. They did so very thoughtfully and with great care, unpacking the double-edged sword of the beauty and anxiety associated with establishing footholds in young adult life.
Throughout the music and content associated with the HYYH era, the members visibly come into their own before the audiences’ eyes and seemed to embrace more sides of their individual selves for insightful lyrics and cinematic visuals. It was also here that the BTS Universe began in their music videos, but that’s a separate article for another day. If you have a few hours to spare, though, why not dive into the 21 (!) music videos that make up a complicated, emotional, interconnected storyline?
Essential Music Video: “Dope”
“Welcome. First time with BTS?”
“Dope,” with its dizzying choreography and addictive saxophone riff, was a breakthrough moment for BTS both domestically and abroad. The second music video for the EP hit 1 million views in less than 15 hours, a first for BTS, before also becoming the group’s first music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube.
The latter accomplishment made BTS the first K-pop group outside of what were considered the “big three” South Korean entertainment agencies (SM, YG, and JYP) to achieve this milestone. All the more amazing is the fact that just over five years later, their music video for “Dynamite” would accomplish the same in just 24 hours, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.
Standout Track: “I Need U”
While it’s a great track on its own, the music video for “I Need U” could also be considered essential to this era. Not only was it the beginning of the aforementioned BTS Universe storyline, it also carefully explored what it means to need another person in the face of the hardships plaguing today’s youth. The music video even originally received a 19+ rating for its allusions to addiction, abandonment, and abuse.
The most beautiful moment in life pt. 2
Release Year: 2015
Concept: Pt.2 continued to explore the themes of the joy and sadness of youth established in Pt. 1. It’s a more introspective tableau than many of its predecessors, with tracks like “Whalien 52,” “Autumn Leaves,” and “House of Cards” digging into crumbling relationships, loneliness, and lost love.
Essential Music Video: Run
The music video for “Run” yielded not just some of the most iconic visuals of the era, but of BTS’ entire career. The chaotic depiction of youthful freedom touches on the joys and sadness of friendship in equal measure. These boys were Acting with a capital A, and it’s not just because of SUGA and Jimin’s noteworthy hair colors that images from this time have sustained — although that certainly helped.
Standout Track: “Silver Spoon”
To be clear, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for BTS in the HYYH time period. “Silver Spoon,” typically referred to lovingly by fans as “Baepsae,” made sure of that. While the song itself is actually a commentary on unfair labels and expectations cast onto today’s youth despite overwhelmingly difficult circumstances, the, shall we say, playful and audacious choreography has cast the song in a different light and ensured that it rose to somewhat legendary status.
The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever
Release Year: 2016
Concept: BTS’ first compilation album wrapped up the trilogy with three new songs (more on a few of those in a moment). In addition to most of the tracks from Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, Young Forever also included a handful of remixes. Everyone might have different favorites, but it’s hard to resist the slow-jam energy of “I Need U (Urban Remix).”
As the album that encompassed both of its previous entries, along with some new tracks, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever also marked the first time BTS won a “daesang,” also known as the top prize in South Korean annual end of year awards shows. Their shocked expressions and tearful reactions are proof that no one really thought their name was on the envelope — least of all them.
Essential Music Video: “Burning Up (Fire)”
If the BTS boys are going to do one thing, it’s make a damn good music video, and the visual accompaniment for “Burning Up (Fire)” is among their best. BTS have a preference for practical effects, and one of the most beloved stories relayed from set is that the figure SUGA encounters before the song begins was a stuntman who actually set himself on fire that day. That’s almost as memorable as Blonde Jin is in this music video.
Standout Track: “Save Me”
Recently, while sharing why they selected various songs for PROOF, J-Hope referred to “Save Me” as a masterpiece. (He’s right!) The EDM-infused track is as much a stunner now as it was upon release in 2016, a deceptively earnest plea for help from a loved one. It was one of the three tracks performed during BTS’ appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk series in 2020, and the single-take music video is a marvel.
WINGS
Release Year: 2016
Concept: BTS’ second full-length album was inspired and largely influenced by an early 1900s coming-of-age novel by German-Swiss writer Herman Hesse, a story that focuses on temptation, desire, and spiritual truth. There are clear Jungian themes throughout this novel and all of Hesse’s work — all the more interesting as WINGS landed years before BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7, an album directly inspired by the philosophy of Carl Jung.
What’s more, WINGS also marked the first time the BTS members dove into solo tracks, and each member’s offering is notably vulnerable in one way or another.
Essential Music Video: “Blood Sweat & Tears”
As if there was any other choice.
Dubbed by the members themselves as the first time they had tried “a sexy concept,” “Blood Sweat & Tears” is a visceral journey into temptation and the pain of an addictive, unhealthy romance. To hear J-Hope sing, “Kiss me, it’s okay if it hurts/ Just make it so tight that I can’t feel the pain anymore,” it’s very clear that these aren’t the boys of the HYYH era anymore.
Standout Track: “Am I Wrong”
For international fans, “Am I Wrong” strikes like another reliable BTS bop on first listen. While the song is certainly catchy, its bold lyrics and societal critiques got the boys into a bit of hot water — SUGA’s verse, specifically, alludes to a politician who had referred to the working class as “dogs and pigs,” all but calling the representative out by name. The bold jab led to the song being banned from performance on music shows in Korea, but did nothing to deter the rapid growth in BTS’ fandom.
YOU NEVER WALK ALONE
Release Year: 2017
Concept: The WINGS repackage might have only introduced two new tracks, but one of them is perhaps the most essential BTS song of all.
Essential Music Video: “Spring Day”
All hail queen “Spring Day.” Not only is it a lovely track, offering top-tier production and vocal performances from everyone, but the music video is a whole cinematic journey. With references to Bong Joon-Ho’s Snowpiercer, the 1973 novella The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, and a now unmistakable bus stop, “Spring Day” deftly portrays the non-linear journey to healing. The set pieces, from the snow-covered train tracks where V kneels to the mountain of discarded clothing on which SUGA sits, are striking to the point where everything feels intentional.
Standout Track: “Spring Day”
While never confirmed by the band, it has long been theorized by fans and members of the Korean media alike that the song was inspired by the Sewol Ferry Disaster, a tragedy that left over 300 young people dead or missing. Whether or not this impacted the writing process for the track, which was penned by RM and SUGA alongside a handful of co-writers, the message is clear — no matter how long or dark the winter, a spring day will always come.
The track has taken on even more significance in recent years, as it became a rallying cry for a more hopeful tomorrow in the midst of the global pandemic. It’s regarded as one of the best K-pop songs of all time, and was named by Rolling Stone as the No. 1 BTS track in their Top 100 ranking. “Maybe cherries are blossoming and winter is going to be over,” they imagine — it’s a sentiment that transcends culture and language, and is the epitome of what makes the breadth of BTS’ discography so very special.
LOVE YOURSELF: HER
Release Year: 2017
Concept: Entering the LOVE YOURSELF series brought along a few other major changes for BTS, too — the lead single off the HER EP, “DNA,” became the first song BTS would perform on an American awards show. Overall, armed with a new, minimalist logo and a focus on the enlightenment that can accompany self-love, BTS was ready to lean into a whole new beginning. In fact, this trilogy specifically focused on narrative structure — beginning, middle, and end — with HER literally serving as the new starting point.
Essential Music Video: DNA
Bonkers visuals and bright colors aside, the whistle hook and irresistible beat of “DNA” would’ve ensured that this song sticks around regardless. Following its release, BTS started their takeover of the American market in earnest with an explosive performance of the track on the 2017 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. It marked the first time a K-pop group had done so, and their successful appearance introduced the members to the global stage in a whole new way.
Standout Track: “dimple”
This unit track from the vocal line (Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) features one of those addictive pop melodies that burrows into the listener’s head and refuses to leave. Here, five years later, the track (which was written by dimpled group leader RM himself) holds up as one of BTS’ best. The line distribution? Immaculate. The choreography when performed live? Heart-stopping. And, most of all, that melody on “illegal?” Irreplaceable.
LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR
Release Year: 2018
Concept: Just a touch darker than HER, from the cover art to the stories tucked within the album, BTS’ third full-length effort became their highest-charting album in Western markets at the time. It was crystal clear by this point that people across languages and cultures were resonating with what BTS had to say. LOVE YOURSELF: HER became the first album by a Korean act to ever top the US albums chart.
Concept photos showed the members dressed down, shown simply in denim and t-shirts, and individual photos featured appropriately tear-streaked faces. Where HER focused on the joy of new love, TEAR dug into the realities of heartbreak.
Essential Music Video: “FAKE LOVE”
With so many amazing set pieces and choreography moments in the BTS canon, it’s a big statement to say that “FAKE LOVE” features some of the very best visuals within their music video lexicon. From the first silhouette shot against a museum wall to the exploding room where Jin stands and the crumbling hallway Jungkook sprints through, “FAKE LOVE” is a passionate feast for the eyes.
Standout Track: “Outro: Tear”
While BTS were clearly on the up and up, LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR arrived at a time when things were quite difficult for the members. Fans were initially a bit confused as to why nearly all the members were in tears during a 2018 acceptance speech, until Jin revealed that they had considered disbanding.
Thankfully, and luckily for us all, they persevered — but in that period of uncertainty, the rap line wrote “Outro: Tear,” a devastating track that nearly served as the act’s goodbye. In a 2020 documentary, Break the Silence, SUGA confirmed that the rap line unit song was written about the feelings around the possibility of ending their time together as BTS: “We walked towards the same place/ But this place becomes our last/ Although we used to talk about forever/ Now we break each other without mercy.”
By the time J-Hope’s verse arrives at the end of the song, things have reached a fever pitch of emotion. The knowledge that BTS’ discography could have ended with the sound of one of the members trying to catch their breath is hard to shake.
LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER
Release Year: 2018
Concept: BTS’ third compilation album conclude the LOVE YOURSELF series with a bang. A whopping 26 tracks, LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER also introduced a new single, “Idol,” which arrived with a remix featuring Nicki Minaj. Who else would have thought to rhyme “Korea” with “career?”
Essential Music Video: “MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)”
No disrespect to queen Nicki, but the most essential remix on LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER is “MIC Drop.” Not only is it ridiculously fun to see BTS actually flexing their mind-boggling achievements, Steve Aoki’s remix took a killer track to the next level.
The “MIC Drop Remix” has since become a staple of BTS’ discography and live performances — the closing dance break is one of the best. Thank goodness for their fiery performance of the track on SNL the following year, which introduced the song and its captivating choreography to American audiences in a whole new way.
Standout Track: “Euphoria”
While initially released on LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR and designed to connect the two albums, LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER begins with the Jungkook solo track — and what better way to kick things off? “Euphoria” is an all-timer. It’s not just a great BTS song; it’s a perfect pop song. The dreamy synth-pop production is an ideal compliment to the vocal performance offered here by BTS’ youngest, who proves time and time again that he was born into this life to sing.
Rather than a music video, “Euphoria” was released with a short film featuring all the members, nearly 9 minutes in run time. The track itself features lyrics co-written by (who else?) RM, which Jungkook brought to life in a way that will forever act as a perfect time capsule in his career and the BTS collective story.
“Won’t you please stay in my dreams/ I hear the ocean from far away/ Across the dream, past the woods/ Following this clarity/ Take my hands now, you are the cause of my euphoria.”
MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA
Release Year: 2019
Concept: When MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, BTS became the first band since the Beatles to have three number-one albums in less than a year. BTS’ sixth EP continued to cement the group as rapidly rising stars, expanding beyond the confines of what was expected from a K-pop act with every passing release.
As the name suggests, this also kicked off an even more philosophical era for BTS’ music. PERSONA and its full-length follow-up, MAP OF THE SOUL: 7, are rooted deeply in Carl Jung’s philosophies of the persona, shadow, and ego, pulled from Jung’s Map of the Soul. The era was announced via a hard-hitting solo track, “Intro: Persona,” from RM.
Essential Music Video: “Boy With Luv feat. Halsey”
With a little help from Halsey, “Boy With Luv” acts as a remarkable showcase for each member of BTS and their individual charms. (We all remember exactly where we were the first time we saw V glance over his shoulder like that, right?) The cotton-candy toned music video is just a treat, lifting the bouncy song and its joyful choreography into more cinematic territory.
More specifically, the music video for “Boy With Luv” contains some pretty direct references to the 1952 classic Singin’ in the Rain — J-Hope swings from a lamp post (“Singin’ in the Rain”), the members leap over a couch with Halsey (“Good Morning”), and RM calls the other members to the stage in a neon-lit musical set (“Broadway Melody”). We have a feeling Gene Kelly would be honored.
Standout Track: “Dionysus”
When it comes to BTS songs, one thing’s for sure — if J-Hope is in the studio, it’s bound to be a banger. With this track and any stage performance for the song, the boys channel the titular Greek god of indulgence and ecstasy while also remembering that Dionysus was an outcast. The lyrics cleverly critique a media landscape that revels in small mistakes and trivial matters, all over a wild trap beat and an EDM conclusion. There are so many great BTS dance practices, but the footage for “Dionysus” is truly top-tier.
MAP OF THE SOUL: 7
Release Year: 2020
Concept: Someday, I will stop being upset that MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 was robbed of its time in the sun. Someday, I will also stop being upset that this didn’t sweep every awards show known to man. Today is not that day!
BTS’ seventh album in their seventh year of activity as a group is something of a masterpiece. The knockout record dug further into Carl Jung’s tenets of the persona, the shadow, and the ego, breaking up the opus into a reflective exploration of their time as a group and their individual stories within BTS. From tortured tracks like SUGA’s “Interlude: Shadow” to a unit track from self-proclaimed soulmates Jimin and V that to this day feels like a fever dream, MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 gave BTS the space to explore anything and everything.
The rapline’s offering of “UGH!” ensured listeners that BTS still had that fire that put them on the map; Jungkook tenderly unpacked his lost youth in “My Time;” Jin, meanwhile, offered up perhaps the sweetest love song the fandom has yet to receive. And, “Louder than bombs,” you will one day get your due — clown makeup has been enthusiastically applied once again.
Essential Music Video: “ON” Kinetic Manifesto Film: Come Prima
While the music video for the album’s lead single, “ON,” is another great entry from the boys, the Kinetic Manifesto Film is the video to show a skeptic who might not understand why these BTS guys are so big.
Filmed at the Sepulveda Dam in California, the choreography video sees the members leading dancers from renowned LA-based collective The Lab Studios in a marching band-inspired routine. They’re under the blazing sun delivering the performance of a lifetime — it’s some of their most difficult choreography, and arguably the best mid-song dance break in their book.
Standout Track: “Black Swan”
It’s a wildly difficult task to pick a standout song on MAP OF THE SOUL: 7, but queen “Black Swan” deserves the crown at the end of the day — track is closer to a piece of musical theater or a work of art than a pop song. Lyrically, the song was inspired by a quote from renowned dancer and choreographer Martha Graham: “A dancer dies twice – once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.” What is an artist to do if they fall out of love with their art, but art is their livelihood?
The choreography and visuals feature Jimin, with his stunning ballet and contemporary background, as the black swan in question. The yearning instrumentals recall “FAKE LOVE,” and an orchestral version of the song was used in an art film from the MN Dance Company. In an album packed to the brim with thoughtful and passionate music, “Black Swan” encapsulates the attention to detail and artistry BTS commit to their work.
BE
Release Year: 2020
Concept: BTS’ tender pandemic-era release was their shortest full-length release to date. With its focus on comfort and healing during an overwhelmingly difficult time across the globe, BE featured two unit tracks (“Fly To My Room” and “Stay”), along with a “Skit,” a nod to their earlier albums. Bookended by the sweet “Life Goes On” and the effervescent “Dynamite,” BE is a small treasure box worth revisiting time and time again.
Fan favorite “Blue & Grey” is a gift for anyone drawn to V’s heartfelt crooning, while bouncy “Telepathy” features one of the sweetest lines (from SUGA) in the BTS catalogue: “Among all the days that feel the same, I’m happiest when I meet you.”
Essential Music Video: “Dynamite”
The music video for “Life Goes On” is absolutely lovely (and was directed by Jungkook!) but “Dynamite” was a next-level release for BTS. The song, their first in English, became their first to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; the music video passed over 100 million (!) views within the first 24 hours; it yielded their first Grammy nomination.
Released with the explicitly stated goal of bringing joy to a dark time, it’s safe to say BTS very much succeeded in lighting everything up. Sometimes, life really is dynamite after all.
Standout Track: “Dis-ease”
Okay, listen. Listen. Once again, our king J-Hope didn’t have to go so hard in the studio, but he did, and he did that for us. “Dis-ease” is a ’90s-drenched bop with one of the catchiest pre-choruses in BTS history, and a build in the bridge that just soars. By the time the horns arrive in the final chorus, it’s all over. Thank goodness it was included on the PERMISSION TO DANCE – ON STAGE set list; it’s one of the most energetic and joyful b-sides BTS has ever bestowed upon us.
BTS Album Guide: A Rightfully Exhaustive Breakdown of Their Discography
Mary Siroky
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