Following the release of their newest album “BE,” BTS has grabbed the Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo-Group Performance for “Dynamite” and accomplished having two songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The title track of their new album, “Life Goes On” snagged the No. 1 spot, while “Dynamite” landed No. 3. “Life Goes On,” breaking records just by being the first song sung mostly in Korean to grace No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. While many fans say that BTS was robbed of other Grammy nominations such as Song of the Year or Album of the Year for their album “Map of the Soul: 7,” just being nominated has made them the first K-pop group to ever receive a Grammy nomination; that is a huge feat for BTS, as well as the whole K-pop industry. BTS and their record-breaking feats have shown just how powerful they are as artists and they are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
As the album has been out for some time now, I think it’s the perfect time to give a review after taking the time to really listen to each song and appreciate them. As someone who has listened to all of their earlier albums, I can definitely say this one is the most personal yet. The collaborative work that went into this album has really created an album that feels like a hug for the fans. This is also the first album that the members of BTS really got the chance to be involved in all areas of production, direction, composition and creative decisions. Because of this, you can feel the emotions that are expressed as the album was created during this heavy time of quarantine and social distancing in which BTS have been separated from their fans. These songs are gifts to their fans, and when you listen and read the lyrics, you can see that as clear as day.
- Life Goes On
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While a bit melancholy in some parts, overall, this song gives me a feeling of hope. The vocals in this song are just beautiful; there’s no other way to describe them. The lyrics and vocals work together to make it feel like I am being wrapped up in that hug I mentioned earlier, and it really creates that solidifying idea that this album is doing what it can to be a source of comfort for both fans and non-fans. It completely deserves its No. 1 spot.
- Fly To My Room
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This song is a unit song, meaning it doesn’t include all the members, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything less to it. Rather, it’s an incredibly dynamic song with the mix of four very different vocalists and rappers. They compliment each other so well, and the rap sections are highly lyrical, so the flow of the song isn’t interrupted. It’s another song with an interesting message as it focuses on the difficulties of staying home during quarantine and how frustrating it was to not be able to see their fans. Despite that, they were able to deepen their bonds as a group, showing the brighter side of a difficult situation.
- Blue & Grey
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Of all the songs on the album, this is my favorite. I’m not going to lie, it’s sad. The tone of the song is somber right from the beginning, but it’s because of this that those listening can connect in a very emotional way. Two of the lines are, “I just wanna be happier,” and, “Someone come and save me, please,” and both of those lines hit very deep, especially when you think about how even people as successful as them have their own dark moments. The song gets into themes of anxiety and depression, using “blue” and “grey” to convey those feelings of sadness. It easily became the perfect song to add to my crying playlist.
- Skit
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There’s not much to say about this since it’s not actually a song. Like the title suggests, it’s basically a skit. It’s a recording of BTS finding out, and talking, about the first time“Dynamite” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. While it’s not a song, listening to the laughter they share can help brighten your mood. Especially after listening to “Blue & Grey”.
- Telepathy
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I would call this one the “bop” of the album. It’s upbeat right from the start, and gives a really different feel from the other songs on the album. It’s more retro with funky rhythms, so it’s something that can fit into the same category as “Dynamite,” but it still has its own flavor and feel to it. Like with each of these songs, it was born during the pandemic and shares the feeling of wanting to be close to people they aren’t able to be close with now.
- Dis-ease
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Now this would have to be my second favorite song because the bridge in this song is one of the best I have ever heard, and that says a lot about the song. Bridges do a great job of tying a song together so when there’s an amazing bridge, the entirety of the song is usually incredible as well. The song gives an old-school, hip-hop feel, giving a similar feel to some of BTS’s older songs, but there’s something to it that makes it very new. It’s a song that gives hope and it’s something that makes me feel more positive about the future, showing that BTS is succeeding in getting their messages across in their songs.
- Stay
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If you like more of an EDM vibe, this is the song for you. It starts off rather soft, but builds as the song progresses, making it the perfect song for dancing. Once again, the message emphasizes the connection between BTS and their fans.
- Dynamite
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If you haven’t heard “Dynamite” yet, you must be living under a rock. This is a song that has broken records, and being the last track on the album, it creates a sense of coming full circle. From the time this song came out, until now, BTS has been working hard and have continued to break records and by ending the album with this, they are not only ending the album on an upbeat note, but they show all that they have accomplished despite the difficulties of this pandemic.
This album truly does have a song for everyone, and I think that is what’s so comforting and amazing about it. It encompasses the members’ true emotions and goes deep to create connections with fans even when they are so far apart. I think this has been a time for a lot of artists to use the pandemic to inspire their writing and what they hope to show to the world, and BTS is no different. They have been using this time to find a way to cross the barrier set up because of COVID. If you ever have any free time, or you just need something new to listen to, I highly suggest taking some time to check out this album and really listening to it. You’ll find yourself connecting to the emotions conveyed in the beautiful compositions created by BTS. You might just find yourself becoming a fan if you aren’t one already. Happy listening!