BTS’ Unprecedented First Decade in 10 Songs
The post BTS’ Unprecedented First Decade in 10 Songs appeared first on Consequence.
In 10 Songs is an entry point to tracing musical trends and exploring artist discographies. Today, we look at the unprecedented first decade of BTS.
Ten years ago today, on June 13th, 2013, a scrappy boy band called Bangtan Sonyeondan debuted on South Korean station Mnet’s M! Countdown. The new group in town was formed around a teenager who went by Rap Monster (now known as RM), with a rap line rounded out by aspiring producer SUGA and a street dancer, j-hope; their vocal line included a handsome college student, Jin, contemporary dancer Jimin, deep-voiced but baby-faced V, and a fifteen-year old with vocal abilities already beyond his years called Jungkook.
BTS of 2013 might shocked to hear of the success they’ve experienced in the last decade, overcoming cultural and language barriers to become one of the best-selling and most well-known acts in the entire world. They rewrote the rules of K-pop, transcending the category to become a force to be reckoned with in pop music as a whole, setting themselves apart as a group that always wanted to tell their own stories in the hopes that other young people might feel seen.
To try to narrow down BTS’s enormous discography (which now spans five full-length Korean-language albums, four Japanese releases, eight EPs, and a handful of compilation albums), is a wildly daring undertaking. Their canon is as rich as it is wide; through combinations of solo tracks, subunits, and full group efforts, the band have always kept it interesting.
For this list, which aims to create a timeline of some of the BTS’s most noteworthy moments and sketch out a picture of how they’ve spent the last ten years, the spotlight is exclusively on tracks that include all seven members — although a list of some of the best solo tracks, a rap line roundup, or subunit focus would be a delightful time, too. While this is by no means a complete look into the rich world of BTS’s music, lyrics, and creative identity, consider it a starting point: From 2013 to 2023, these are some jumping-off points that have defined the group’s story so far.
Check out BTS in 10 Songs below, and scroll to the end for a playlist of every track.
No Budget, No Problem: “Like” (2013)
In 2013, rookie BTS had a mic, a dream, and not much else. What is now HYBE started humbly as Big Hit Entertainment, a company that didn’t have the resources to match the other major labels in South Korea at the time. But what the members lacked in disposable income they made up for with sheer gumption, exploring their emerging skills as rappers, producers, dancers, and vocalists, and putting in the work to keep up with the other acts on the market.
While the septet debuted with “No More Dream,” it’s “Like” that actually feels like the best introduction to BTS of a decade ago. The throwback groove and playful verses bounce over a glittery instrumental; lyrics from RM, SUGA, j-hope, and trusted collaborator Slow Rabbit come together for a track that has truly stood the test of time. While BTS introduced themselves to the public with many more hard edges and plenty to say in the way of social commentary, “Like” feels like a preview of the more romantic side of BTS that was waiting in the wings.
Initial Breakthrough: “I NEED U” (2015)
By 2015, BTS were still finding their footing at home in South Korea. One of their first major wins was courtesy of “I NEED U,” a passionate number that led their third EP and introduced audiences to the interconnected storyline of music videos that has now become known as the “BTS Universe.” It’s instantly nostalgic, but, more importantly, it’s the song that locked in their first win on one of the intensely competitive South Korean music shows that often help determine domestic popularity.
In retrospect, “I NEED U” does feel like a turning point for the group; stories around addiction, loss, anxiety, or depression were still considered quite taboo in South Korea, and most mainstream acts in the K-pop world at the time were refraining from using their platforms to cover such topics. Instead, BTS dove in headfirst, and the result clearly resonated with young audiences.
“Welcome, First Time with BTS?”: “Dope” (2015)
Shortly after, the momentum from “I NEED U” continued with “DOPE,” a high-energy hip-hop track that spotlighted the group’s dizzying charisma and performance skills in equal measure. While lighter than “I NEED U,” there’s still that BTS edge: “I worked all night everyday, when you were out clubbing,” they sing, pointing to their unrelenting work ethic as part of the reason for their budding success. Notably, it was the act’s first music video to hit 100 million views, indicating that domestic success was in fact bubbling.
Giving Their All: “Blood Sweat & Tears” (2016)
WINGS, BTS’s fourth LP, broke new ground for the act by introducing solo tracks for the members and leaning into more mature themes. The seductive “Blood Sweat & Tears” immerses the group in temptation, with breathy falsettos from the vocal line bemoaning the perils of romance. “Kiss me, I don’t care if it hurts/ Hurry up and choke me/ So I can’t get hurt any more,” j-hope raps, while dramatic, sensual choreography carries it all home.
With WINGS, all the members had the chance to express individual struggles and joys — the sweet “Begin” from Jungkook is a thank you to the members who ensured that his fifteen year old self grew up safe and loved. “Stigma,” a solo for V, is a confessional exploration of guilt; Jimin’s “Lie” is intensely theatrical and expressive. This time for BTS was a moment where the members truly began to come into their own individually.
“To See You, To Meet You”: “Spring Day” (2017)
“Spring Day” is one of the most beloved tracks in the band’s canon — if not the very most beloved — and for good reason. For starters, it’s just a lovely song, thoughtfully unpacking themes of loss, grief, and hope in a mid-tempo format that allows the members’ voices to weave over one another. Conceptualized by RM, who was just 22 years old at the time, the lyrics are poignant: “I wanna hold your hand/ And go to the other side of the earth/ Wanna put an end this winter/ How much do I have to long for you like snow piles up on the ground/ Until the spring days come?”
While the song has certainly become something of a promise between BTS and ARMY, there’s another reason “Spring Day” resonates with so many people: The track was released three years after the Sewol Ferry tragedy, in which an overloaded ferry in South Korea capsized during an overnight journey, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people, most of them high school students. Entertainers were encouraged not to speak out about the disaster that devastated the nation, and while BTS have never officially commented on ties between the song and the event, “Spring Day” has evolved into a beacon of solace, understanding, and hope. Upon release, the music video (which references Bong Joon-Ho’s Snowpiercer) quickly broke the record at the time for the most-watched music video in 24 hours by any K-Pop group.
“Spring Day” does not promise that pain will go away; it acknowledges the difficult moments of loss, but also posits that better moments will come in turn: “Until the spring day comes again/ Until the flowers bloom again/ Please stay, please stay there a little longer.” It’s a track that shows off the act’s range, along with their unfailingly genuine nature.
Love Yourself: “DNA” (2017)
Welcome to the Love Yourself era, where a trilogy of albums coincided with the next step in BTS’s journey to global success. “DNA” kicked things off with a colorful burst: The track debuted at number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking their first entry on the chart. As more and more international audiences became familiar with the act, BTS leaned into the upswing and accepted an invitation to perform at the 2017 American Music Awards, their US television debut.
It’s here that the international tides truly began to turn; BTS had found success domestically, and they were starting to do things no other K-pop act had done before. The same year, BTS shocked everyone (except ARMY) and also secured their first Billboard Music Award, for Top Social Artist — beating out Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Selena Gomez.
International Alliances: “MIC DROP (Steve Aoki Remix)”
As impactful then as it is now, “MIC DROP” leaned into BTS’s more bombastic side: “Another trophy, my hands carry ’em/ Too many that I can’t even count ’em,” they brag against the backdrop of various explosions. The song hits on its own, but the Steve Aoki remix pushed it into true banger territory. The group’s performance of the song on Saturday Night Live brought in a slew of new fans, entranced by the group’s choreography, incredible energy, and fluid dynamic. Their brags about “hella trophies” now feels prophetic; BTS of late 2017 might have been shocked to learn what was waiting for them around the corner.
2017 through 2019 was an era of great new collaborations for the group, in fact — the “MIC DROP” remix arrived before the bubbly, buoyant “Boy with Luv,” which featured Halsey and began a long, lovely friendship between the singer and the band. The same year, BTS worked with Juice WRLD, Charli XCX, and Zara Larsson on three more exciting team-ups as the band continued to expand their international footprint.
“Every Moment, an Eternity”: “Black Swan” (2020)
Map of the Soul: 7 had a truly incredible rollout that was cut devastatingly short by the start of the pandemic. While “ON” is sometimes remembered as the star of the show here — reasonably, thanks to some mind-blowing performances of the anthemic single — “Black Swan” is arguably a better example of BTS’s growth at this point in their story. It’s introspective and deeply artful; Jimin, the black swan himself, shines in particular here, with choreography heavily influenced by modern and contemporary dance.
Overall, though, Map of the Soul: 7 is a true milestone in the group’s journey. Organized in three sections — persona, shadow, and ego — and inspired by writings of philosopher Carl Jung, it’s an album that allowed each member to try something new while also showing off their remarkable team dynamic. From playful subunit songs like “Respect” and “Friends” to the individual efforts from the rap line and tender entries from the group’s vocalists, it’s an album that shows BTS in one of their most creatively successful eras.
Global Explosion: “Dynamite” (2020)
Then, of course, came the English-language single that changed everything: Take a little funk, a little soul, and a lot of BTS’s incomparable sparkle, and you’ve got a hit on your hands. “Dynamite” exploded into a new level of commercial success for the act, with the song debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band’s first number-one single in the United States and making them the first all-South Korean act to top the Hot 100. Later, “Dynamite” earned the group a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (the first K-pop act to crack this US awards show). “Dynamite” landed on the lovely BE, the group’s 2020 LP, which also featured a single titled “Life Goes On” (the group’s third No. 1 single and the very first Korean-language single to top the chart.)
“Dynamite” arrived in the midst of the pandemic as a burst of hope and joy, and also kicked off a string of English-language singles. 2021’s “Butter” would go on to chart even longer than “Dynamite,” securing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a wild 10, non-consecutive weeks. This was interrupted by the release of “Permission to Dance,” which also notched a No. 1, and was displaced by “Butter” returning to the top the following week. While this era was a different experiment for BTS, who prefer to have much more of a hand in the creative process behind their music, it was an exciting time to be a fan — never before had an act out of South Korea achieved numbers like this, and watching the band grow bigger and bigger in real time was surreal.
A New Chapter: “Yet to Come” (2022)
While 2022’s PROOF is an anthology album, it includes a handful of brand new tracks, including the heartfelt and hopeful “Yet to Come.” For BTS’s first Korean-language single since “Life Goes On,” the band took a stroll down memory lane, shouting out their old address and exploring their humble beginnings while using the music video to include video references to so many other songs on this very list. “I promise we’ll keep on coming back for more,” they sing joyfully.
The track arrived just days before BTS introduced ARMY to their second chapter, in which the members would begin exploring individual endeavors and solo releases while assuring audiences that they had no intention of disbanding. As more time goes on, the more the lyrics feel revealing about the double-edged sword of their English-language success: “They say we’re the best/ Full of these unfamiliar names/ Now they just feel heavy,” V sings. “We just loved music/ We’re just running forward,” Jungkook continues. However, RM’s commitment to “dream, hope, and going forward” still feels clear and true — while these 10 tracks are just the beginning of BTS’s repertoire, maybe the best really is yet to come.
BTS’ Unprecedented First Decade in 10 Songs
Mary Siroky
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