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  • An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 3, Behind-the-Scenes Moments

    An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 3, Behind-the-Scenes Moments

    As the last CD for PROOF, BTS had to bring something new. CD 1 is all of their title tracks and CD 2 is member-chosen songs, so what could PROOF CD 3 be? Well, it’s something that ARMY might appreciate.

    Over the years, BTS have released snippets of their demo versions, sharing different verses or other lyrics that didn’t make it to the final cut. Sometimes they shared the demo snippets simply to make ARMY laugh or see what could’ve been, but other times it was just a way to show ARMY behind-the-scenes moments of their career. PROOF CD 3 is an entire CD dedicated to demo versions of some of BTS’ biggest tracks.

    PROOF CD 3: Track Breakdown

    There is a total of fourteen tracks on PROOF CD 3. Nine of which are demo versions, two are songs we haven’t heard before, two other ones are songs we’ve heard but in a different way, and the last song on the CD is the final new song from the entire PROOF album. Unfortunately, most of the songs on PROOF CD 3 are only on the CD, so you won’t be able to hear them unless you buy the album.

    1. “Jump (Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: February 12, 2014

    The first track on PROOF CD 3 is the demo version of their 2014 song “Jump.”

    “Jump” is from BTS’ second mini-album Skool Luv Affair. The song is high in energy, full of iconic lines, and has an unbeatable vibe to it that ARMY still find a bit addicting to this day. (Especially V’s part! It’s iconic in its own way.)

    BTS Proof CD 3 2014
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version of “Jump” features only the rap-line and their parts. It’s possible that this song was originally supposed to be just a rap-line song, but there hasn’t been any indication of this outside of the demo version. The rap seems to be a bit slower and the song immensely shorter (again, this could just be because the vocal-line isn’t in the demo).

    While the demo version is still amazing, it seems to be missing that familiar hook from the singing parts—especially V’s part. Many ARMY missed the singer’s growl during the pre-chorus, but absolutely love what the rap-line did with it.

    2. “애매한 사이 (Young Love)” – Original Release: Never?

    The second track on PROOF CD 3 is a bit of a mystery. It’s not necessarily a song fans have heard before from BTS, but it’s not one of the new songs on the album. So what is it?

    Most likely, “Young Love” is the demo of an unreleased song.

    BTS Jungkook and RM Namjoon 2014
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The track itself seems to only feature Jungkook and RM, a singing part and a short rap part. The overall sound of the song definitely fits the group’s earlier sound compared to now. Based on the title and the lyrics, this track is definitely a softer love song from the group.

    The song is good, that’s for sure, but we have little information as to why they didn’t release it. We also don’t know why they released it on PROOF CD 3, but it’s definitely something fans will cherish from now on.

    3. “상남자 (Boy In Luv – Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: February 12, 2014

    Like “Jump,” ”Boy In Luv” is from the group’s album Skool Luv Affair. This song was actually the title track for the album and is also included on PROOF CD 1.

    “Boy In Luv” is known for its strong dance, catchy chorus, and bad-boy lover feel (in other words, the group carries a certain bad-boy aura with them during this song but sings about being in love with a girl).

    BTS PROOF CD 1 Boy In Luv 2014
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version on PROOF CD 3 features a new section—perhaps a different bridge part—around the end of the song. It’s a bit rougher than the final product but is just as good to listen to. The new section is quite catchy to hear, too, it’s refreshing in the song and takes it in a new direction.

    Perhaps they felt that section didn’t quite fit with the rest of the song (as they removed it in the final product). It does seem to stick out a little from the rest of the song. However, that could just be because we’re used to listening to “Boy In Luv” as the final product version.

    4. “따옴표 (Quotation Mark)” – Original Release: Never?

    The fourth track on PROOF CD 3 is another song ARMY hasn’t heard before from BTS. This song doesn’t seem to have been talked about at any point by the group or included in any past albums.

    “Quotation Mark” is most likely a demo version of another unreleased song from the group.

    BTS Proof CD 3 2015 2016
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    This song seems to include only members RM, j-hope, and Jungkook. The two rappers each have a section and Jungkook fills in the rest with his beautiful vocals. While there’s no known date for when this song was originally released, it’s easy to tell it was written some time ago with how young their voices are.

    Unlike the demo for “Young Love,” though, I personally feel that “Quotation Mark” is closer to the HYYH era or Love Yourself era for BTS (meaning between 2015-2018). This is simply because of Jungkook and j-hope’s voices in the song; they definitely sound younger, but not nearly as young as their voices have sounded in their earlier works. When do you think this song was first written?

    5. “I Need U (Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: April 29, 2015

    Originally from their third mini-album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 3, “I Need U” is one of the most important songs for ARMY and BTS. Not only is it the first song of theirs that won first place on a music show, but it’s the first title track that began a new era for BTS.

    BTS PROOF CD 1 I Need U 2015 HYYH Era the most beautiful moment in life
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version of “I Need U” on PROOF CD 3 is wildly different from the released version. Not only is it mostly the rap-line and Jungkook singing throughout the demo, but the chorus is completely different. The catchy “I need you, girl!” that starts the chorus on the finalized version isn’t there at all on this demo version. Instead, the chorus seems to drop—compared to ramping up in energy.

    The whole feel of the “I Need U” demo is completely different than the released version. The emotions almost seem to be more raw. That could partially be because of the lack of finishing touches on it—this version of the song was only a demo, so there were no perfect recordings or nicely sounding music to make it truly sound like a finished song. This makes it very raw.

    6. “흥탄소년단 (Boyz with Fun – Demo Version)” – Original Release: April 29, 2015

    The next track on PROOF CD 3 is the demo version of “Boyz with Fun.” From the same album as “I Need U,” “Boyz with Fun” is one of the grander pump-up songs from BTS.

    Not only is this song high in energy, but it’s something the boys enjoy performing. This song is quite popular since they performed it in their earlier years.

    BTS PRoof CD 3 concert 2016
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version of “Boyz with Fun” on PROOF CD 3 isn’t too different from the final version. There are instances where it breaks off from what we already know the song to be—like RM’s minimani-minimani-minimani-mo part after j-hope’s verse—but you can still hear the familiar fun-loving song in it.

    Having the demo version makes the song a bit more exciting to listen to. Of course, the song is already pretty exciting in the released version, but the demo version adds another layer of chaos to the song. You can hear a lot more adlibs in the background of the song and more harmonies. It makes it exciting all over again.

    7. “Tony Montana (with Jimin)” – Original Release: August 16, 2016

    One of the most anticipated songs from PROOF CD 3 is “Tony Montana.” Originally from member SUGA’s solo mixtape in 2016—under his other stage name Agust D—this song has a special history to it.

    When “Tony Montana” was first released, it featured artist Yankie. For BTS’ third muster—ARMY.ZIP+ that took place at the very end of 2016—Jimin made a surprise performance on this song alongside SUGA.

    BTS Jimin SUGA Agust D Tony Montana 3rd Muster Performance
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Ever since this performance in 2016, ARMY have been begging BTS to release a studio version of the collaboration. It only took six years, but PROOF CD 3 is finally answering ARMY’s pleas.

    The studio version of “Tony Montana” with Jimin is a bit different than the original. The tempo is a bit higher in tension and there is a lot more synthesizing throughout the song. Of course, the song still packs as powerful of a punch as it did in 2016. It’s not every day we get to experience Jimin rapping, so this song will be a fan favorite for a long time.

    8. “Young Forever (RM Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: May 2, 2016

    Known as the song ARMY sang to BTS in Wembley Stadium as a surprise, “Young Forever” is an iconic and emotional song that everyone treasures.

    In PROOF CD 3, we are given RM’s demo version of “Young Forever.”

    BTS RM Kim Namjoon 2016 Performance Proof CD 3
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Young Forever” is already a heart-breaking song as it is. However, RM’s demo version is almost sadder. The lyrics for the demo version are quite different than the final product. While the final lyrics talk about the conviction BTS have to just keep going through the tough times in their career and have a more hopeful tone about being young forever, the demo version’s lyrics seem to carry a heavier weight.

    The lyrics in the demo version seem to almost beg whoever is listening to let him—RM—stay young forever. There is a line near the beginning that translates roughly to “life is beautiful, so it’s even more cruel” (translation source). This theme carries throughout the whole demo, the idea of being stuck between the beauty and the harshness of life.

    9. “봄날 (Spring Day – V Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: February 13, 2017

    Of course, PROOF CD 3 also includes a demo version of the queen “Spring Day.” For this demo version, it has a special section in it that wasn’t there before. This special part includes a new singing section for member V.

    BTS V 2017 Live performance
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    When the chorus of “Spring Day” starts, it breaks off to V’s new singing part. His voice is smooth, sultry, and a bit different from what fans are used to hearing. In this new part, V sings in a higher register than he usually does.

    It’s not easy to tell if this version was meant to be a new chorus, bridge, or other section of the song, but it is really beautiful. The lyrics are enchanting and V’s voice sends chills down your spine. It would be interesting to see what the song would have been like had this section stayed in the final version.

    10. “DNA (j-hope Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: September 18, 2017

    The tenth track on PROOF CD 3 is one that fans have already fallen in love with. “DNA” is the title track from BTS’ mini-album Love Yourself: Her.

    The finalized version has a dance-worthy chorus and a familiar “DNA” part right before the beat drops. While the demo version also has those parts, too, it is vastly different.

    BTS j-hope DNA MV 2017 Proof CD 3
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    As a j-hope demo, this track on PROOF CD 3 features only the rapper. He sings/raps throughout the short snippet to a familiar yet slightly-off tune that the final version has. The lyrics still depict the same theme as the final version, but they are really different in the demo.

    j-hope’s vocals in the pre-chorus part—as he is singing “try” and “fly”—are insane. We all know j-hope can sing, his parts usually border a sing-song rap style. But this is something we have never quite seen from the rapper before. ARMY are already raving about the demo version, praising the catchy tune and stunning vocals.

    11. “Epiphany (Jin Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: August 9, 2018

    The next track on PROOF CD 3 is Jin’s demo version of his solo song “Epiphany.”

    “Epiphany” was initially released on the group’s 2018 album Love Yourself: Answer as the comeback trailer. It has been continuously used as the anthem for those trying to learn to love themselves. It was the song of Love Yourself: Answer that felt like the actual answer of the entire Love Yourself era.

    BTS Jin Epiphany MV photo proof cd 3
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version has mostly the same backing music; however, the lyrics are something else entirely. Not only are the lyrics in full English, but they almost seem to be Jin talking to someone else rather than himself like in the finalized version.

    In the demo version, epiphany seems to be a person he’s calling out to rather than a moment. The lyrics carry a less upbeat tone to them, no longer being one of acceptance and love for yourself. Instead, they are filled with apologies and amazement. Jin’s voice, of course, is heartbreakingly beautiful throughout the entire track.

    12. “Seesaw (Demo Ver.)” – Original Release: August 24, 2018

    “Seesaw” is already included in the PROOF album on CD 2. On PROOF CD 3, we get a song that seems completely new (in a good way, of course).

    The final version is praised highly for SUGA’s change of pace—he adds dancing to the performance and sings a good portion of the song compared to his usual rap style.

    BTS SUGA Seesaw Performance in Seoul
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The demo version of “Seesaw” is a simple music track, no vocals or anything else added to it. This piano-heavy tune brings a different kind of calmness to the song. The power behind it feels like it’s building throughout most of the track, a fast beat keeping consistent in the background.

    If you listen to both the final version of “Seesaw” and the demo version, it’s really hard to tie them together. They are just that different. But it makes you wonder what the track would have been like had SUGA kept with this original tune. It would have been a different song altogether, that’s for sure.

    13. “Still With You (Acapella)” – Original Release: June 5, 2020

    The second-to-last track on PROOF CD 3 is actually another unique song. From BTS’ 2020 Festa event—the event they use to celebrate their anniversary each year—Jungkook released a solo song for ARMY called “Still With You.”

    This song, of course, was treasured by fans. It was a different style for the singer, but it was still so amazing.

    BTS Proof CD 3 Jungkook 2020
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In PROOF CD 3, we are given the acapella version. With no music to overshadow his voice or carry the song forward, we are left with just Jungkook’s powerful vocals. But that is far from a bad thing. Jungkook’s voice is absolutely stunning to listen to on its own.

    Throughout “Still With You,” Jungkook’s voice remains steady and strong, utilizing harmonies and intricate note patterns to fill the space music would have. Even without the backing music, this song is more than complete—it’s a haunting song that leaves you a bit in awe of Jungkook’s talent.

    14. “For Youth” – Original Release: June 10, 2022

    The final song on PROOF CD 3 is the third and final new song from BTS in the entire PROOF album. Much like the title track “Yet to Come,” this song is quite the tearjerker.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCupTKYKpmE[/embedyt]

     

    The track starts with the chants from ARMY singing “Young Forever” to/with BTS, a song that we already mentioned earlier as meaning a lot to both. In “For Youth” the group sings of staying with someone forever—and with the inclusion of ARMY at the beginning of the song, we can only assume BTS mean them.

    BTS Proof CD 3 Festa 2022
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The lyrics of “For Youth” speak of this person—ARMY—being there for BTS throughout the hard times and sticking with them even in the great times. It also talks about how much they appreciate that they (ARMY) were with them (BTS) throughout everything. Similar to “Run BTS,” the group references past moments and their years in Nonhyun. It makes the song that much more touching to hear.

    PROOF CD 3: An Emotional Rollercoaster of Behind-the-Scenes Moments

    Out of all of the CDs on BTS’ PROOF album, I would argue that CD 3 is the most raw. Mostly because a demo track is by far one of the roughest forms of a song—they’re like the first draft of a story, full of grammar mistakes and choppy sentences (and even horrible plot holes). Because BTS showed these rough versions of themselves in PROOF CD 3, they allowed ARMY to get closer to them. It made the whole album that much more emotional and touching.

    If you want to check out any more blogs we’ve written about BTS, feel free to look through our K-Pop Category. We released content all week leading up to their ninth anniversary, so there is more than enough to read through. Also, be sure to check out the blogs we released for BTS Week last year!

    Happy 9th Anniversary, BTS. It’s been a long ride, but we’re not done yet. ARMY will stick by your side for, as you say in “For Youth,” the rest of our lives.

  • An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 2, a Journey of Individuality and Togetherness

    An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 2, a Journey of Individuality and Togetherness

    PROOF CD 2 is quite the contrast from PROOF CD 1. Not only do these songs vary in sound, but they vary in era, too. These songs aren’t chosen just because of their title track status. Instead, the songs on PROOF CD 2 were specifically chosen by the members of BTS.

    Each member chose a total of two songs to include on this CD, picking them for their own personal reasons—whether it’s a song that brings them comfort or it’s one that holds a special memory for them. Take a look through this specially curated list of songs on PROOF CD 2.

    PROOF CD 2: Track Breakdown

    In the weeks leading up to BTS’ comeback, the group released the usual teaser photos and videos. For PROOF, the members also released individual videos called Proof of Inspiration. In each video, the members discussed which songs they chose for the album and why they chose them. It let ARMY get a closer look into the reasoning behind the album and PROOF CD 2 tracklist’s construction.

    1. “달려라 방탄 (Run BTS)” – Original Release: June 10, 2022

    Despite PROOF CD 2 having a tracklist of songs chosen by the members, the first song is actually one of the three new ones in the entire album!

    “Run BTS” is a track full of hype and power. This song has a unique backing track to it and the members growl their way through most of the song with a specific lilt to their voices (I would say that it’s almost a teasing tone, but I don’t think that’s necessarily right).

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YwJCZRh5M[/embedyt]

     

    The lyrics of “Run BTS” detail the members’ long journey to success. The lyrics reference past parts of their career—including moments from their pre-debut—and other Korean idioms that reference hard work.

    Throughout the song, the group mentions Nonhyun. In their pre-debut years and the very beginning of their career, the group stayed in a very small dorm in Nonhyun. By referencing it in the song, they’re referencing the group’s roots and showing just how much they’ve grown.

    Beginning of BTS first dorm room
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In RM’s verse, there is a lyric that translates to “above the running guy is the flying guy” (translation source). In a sense, this means that there will always be someone better no matter where you are in life. BTS use this lyric as a pushing point for themselves—it shows that BTS continue to work hard even if it seems like they’re already at the top. Check out this fan’s translation where they break down the complex lyrics and the various meanings behind them.

    2. “Intro: Persona” – Original Release: March 28, 2019

    The first member-chosen song on PROOF CD 2 is from RM. “Intro: Persona” is RM’s comeback song for their sixth mini-album Map of the Soul: Persona (shortened as MOTS:P).

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Uy0opVF3s[/embedyt]

     

    In his Proof of Inspiration video, RM talks about why he chose “Intro: Persona” in particular. He says, “’Intro: Persona’ starts with ‘Who am I!’ so I’ve been thinking about that a lot while we ran full speed ahead since our debut, and even now.”

    On many occasions—whether on their fan communication app (Weverse), on V-Live, or during their filmed content—RM has mentioned his battle with learning who RM is versus Kim Namjoon. He’s debated about which one is the “real him” in terms of being an idol, a rapper, someone in the spotlight, or someone who enjoys hiking mountains, reading books, and riding his bike.

    BTS Proof CD 2 Intro: Persona RM Kim Namjoon
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    He concludes, in the Proof of Inspiration video, that they are all still him. He says, “But in the end, I found that all these personas that I’ve been shifting between are all me.”

    3. “Stay” – Original Release: November 20, 2020

    The next song on PROOF CD 2 is also RM’s pick. “Stay” is from the group’s seventh mini-album BE. This song is a unit song with members RM, Jin, and Jungkook.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evBAiaYal1o[/embedyt]

     

    As Jungkook mentioned in his 2020 interview with Weverse Magazine, “Stay” was originally supposed to be on the youngest’s personal mixtape. However, the other members of BTS liked the song so much that they added it to the album.

    Of course, the lyrics were changed to include a different meaning. Jungkook, in the interview, mentions that the song originally meant something along the lines of being together always, no matter how far apart. This theme carried to the rewrite.

    BTS RM PROOF CD 2 Stay BE album image RM
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In his Proof of Inspiration, RM says he chose this song to represent the fact that ARMY and BTS “stay” with him no matter his persona. In other words, RM chose this song because the members and their fans are always with him no matter the person he is—whether that’s as RM or as Kim Namjoon.

    4. “Moon” – Original Release: February 21, 2020

    The third track on PROOF CD 2 is member Jin’s choice and his solo track from their Map of the Soul: 7 (shortened as MOTS:7), “Moon.”

    “Moon” is a song Jin wrote specifically for ARMY. He wanted to show his love for ARMY through “Moon,” taking the concept of him being the earth and ARMY being the moon. In their 2020 interview with Spotify, Jin talked about this. He mentions that he wanted to represent the fact that he is always looking at/toward ARMY—as the moon is always looking at the earth.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5H3g0UR7CI[/embedyt]

     

    In Jin’s Proof of Inspiration, he talks about this concept further. He says, “Now, I think we’re at a point where I am ARMY and ARMY are me—we’ve assimilated into one. The path I’ve taken so far wouldn’t have been possible without ARMY.”

    In their online concert Map of the Soul ON:E, Jin performs “Moon.” At the end of the performance, an Earth (attached by a string) comes down from the ceiling and he either hugs it or kisses it depending on the day of the concert you watch. This symbolizes his love for ARMY.

    BTS Proof CD 2 Jin Kim Seokjin Moon Map of the Soul: 7 CD
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Moon” is the perfect addition to PROOF CD 2 as it reminds fans how much the members, and Jin specifically, cares for them. It’s a song that can bring comfort in both the lyrics and the reason behind its creation.

    5. “Jamais Vu” – Original Release: March 28, 2019

    Jin’s second song for PROOF CD 2 is “Jamais Vu” from MOTS:P. Like “Stay,” “Jamais Vu” is a unit song—members Jin, j-hope, and Jungkook.

    “Jamais Vu” is a soft pop song with impactful lyrics, a heavy meaning, and a whole lot of stunning vocals. The lyrics of the song translate to a heartbreaking story of jamais vu—a French word that means something like the feeling of seeing something for the first time even if you’ve seen it before (and not in the romantic sense, almost in a memory loss sense). Though the most common definition of it is the feeling of seeing something for the first time.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3x17KyNJtg[/embedyt]

     

    If you read through the translated lyrics of “Jamais Vu,” you’ll notice that they’re a bit sad (not just a bit, they are definitely heavy). BTS took to the first definition of jamais vu. The lyrics also speak of reaching out to someone for comfort—of finding comfort in another person in the face of jamais vu.

    In Jin’s Proof of Inspiration video, he mentions that he wanted to include “Jamais Vu” in the album specifically for the lyrical meaning. He says, “Just like in the lyrics in ‘Jamais Vu,’ whenever things get tough and I get exhausted, I will think of our members and ARMY who have been my refuge and comfort and make more good music.”

    BTS Proof CD 2 Jamais Vu Bang Bang Con
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In their BANG BANG CON: The Live concert, this trio performed “Jamais Vu” in a way that expresses the definition of jamais vu. Going in circles, the trio slowly walks up and down a set of stairs as they sing the soft song.

    6. “Trivia 轉: Seesaw” – Original Release: August 24, 2018

    The next two songs on PROOF CD 2 were chosen by SUGA. This first one, “Trivia: Seesaw,” is SUGA’s solo song on BTS’ album Love Yourself: Answer.

    The lyrics depict a relationship that has turned into a seesaw—back and forth with emotions, there’s nothing left in the relationship except arguments and tiredness.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC_Lo8nRqfA[/embedyt]

     

    In his Proof of Inspiration, SUGA says he chose two songs in completely contrasting styles. He wanted his chosen songs to show his expansive musical spectrum and represent who he and BTS are as people—both being more than just one way.

    ARMY particularly enjoys this song from SUGA. Typically, SUGA isn’t known for dancing—he has powerful raps, a unique vocal tone, and more than enough stage presence. He’s not bad at dancing by any means, but many fans weren’t expecting him to have a dance routine for any of his solo work. For “Trivia: Seesaw,” SUGA comes in with a smooth dance routine that left ARMY speechless.

    BTS Trivia: Seesaw SUGA Min Yoongi Love Yourse Speak Yourself Tour
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    SUGA says in his Proof of Inspiration that the contrasting sounds of his music are what make him who he is as an artist. If you’ve ever seen the songs SUGA has produced—even the ones he produced for other people—then you’ll know how widespread his skills are. His range of music is very well represented by the two songs he chose for PROOF CD 2.

    7. “BTS Cypher pt. 3: Killer” – Original Release: August 20, 2014

    From BTS’ first full-length album, Dark & Wild, the rap-line song “BTS Cypher Pt. 3: Killer” is a fan favorite. As a rap unit song, the three rappers—RM, SUGA, and j-hope—give a powerful performance.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I47TUcJj9po[/embedyt]

     

    In BTS’ discography, there are a total of four Cyphers from the rap-line. These songs are powerful, full of heavy rapping, and close to what you expect a diss track to be. Typically, the Cypher songs contain clap backs, slight insults, and talk up their own skills (deservedly, of course).

    For their Cypher songs, the rap line typically gets special stages at their concerts and tailored outfits. Each of their cypher performances hit hard and shows how much power BTS’ rap-line really has.

    BTS PROOF CD 2 Cypher pt. 3 killer r, suga, j-hope
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Since both RM and SUGA were part of the underground rap scene before joining BigHit Entertainment in 2010 (now known as HYBE and BigHit Music), the Cyphers most likely give them a chance to step back into the roots more. And j-hope, too, since he joined the company when BTS was still supposed to be a hip-hop crew.

    8. “Outro: Ego” – Original Release: February 2, 2020

    The next song on the PROOF CD 2 tracklist is j-hope’s solo song from BTS’ album MOTS:7. This song was released as the second comeback trailer for the album.

    “Outro: Ego” is the exact song you think j-hope would have. It’s got a strong beat, boppy backing tracks, and a rap that no one but j-hope can pull off.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmApDbvNCXg[/embedyt]

     

    In his Proof of Inspiration, j-hope mentions that he chose “Outro: Ego” for a similar reason as RM. He says, “…there are times when I have to wear a mask to hide the sides of myself that I don’t particularly want to show other people. And I sometimes hid because I didn’t want to show that side of myself either. But they are all me.”

    The beginning part of “Outro: Ego” is actually a sample from one of BTS’ earlier tracks. In 2013, the group released “Intro: 2 Cool 4 Skool” with the same intro. Much like “Boy With Luv” was a newer rendition of the group’s older song “Boy In Luv,” “Outro: Ego” goes in a new direction with the sample and creates a whole different song.

    BTS Outro: Ego j-hope Proof CD 2
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The lyrics of “Outro: Ego” tell a tale of j-hope finding himself—both as BTS member j-hope and regular Jung Hoseok—and accepting himself for all parts that he is. The songs on PROOF CD 2 really do show how the members of BTS have taken to discovering and accepting themselves as both their stage persona and their non-famous side.

    9. “Outro: Her” – Original Release: September 18, 2017

    j-hope’s second song for PROOF CD 2 is the rap line’s song “Outro: Her.”

    This song was originally released on the group’s fifth mini-album Love Yourself: Her. Though it’s a rap line song, it’s noticeably softer than the others.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY22BTTb6Vk[/embedyt]

     

    The main theme of “Outro: Her” is a love song. However, as j-hope mentions in his Proof of Inspiration, many ARMY have interpreted it in many different ways. Many have said that it’s a complex battle of someone wanting to reshape themselves to fit the mold for someone else—like changing yourself into the ideal person the other would love.

    Taking both interpretations of the song into consideration, it actually fits quite well with “Outro: Ego.” Where “Ego” is a song about accepting yourself despite the things around you, “Her” is a song about wanting to change yourself. Being opposites, they fit pretty well together in comparison.

    BTS Her j-hope rm suga love yourself her album
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In his Proof of Inspiration, j-hope sums the two songs up like this, “I came to accept all of my sides as parts of my identity, my ego, because the member and ARMY accept all of me. Who I am, just as I am, my ego is my proof.”

    10. “Filter” – Original Release: February 21, 2020

    Kicking off Jimin’s choices on PROOF CD 2 is his solo song “Filter.” Similar to the past songs, “Filter” is a song that talks about the different sides of Jimin and how he deals with accepting and showing them.

    This song was also on the MOTS:7 album.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNUnnb8F-Cw[/embedyt]

     

    “Filter” is a song that discusses the idea of being many different filters for someone else. While the initial impression of the lyrics seems too similar to wanting to change yourself or be something specific for someone else, Jimin explains it differently in his Proof of Inspiration.

    In his Proof of Inspiration, he explains it as, “I wanted to live up to ARMY’s expectations and show them many different sides of myself. And I still have many different colors left to share.” So, with this explanation, “Filter” seems to be a song that Jimin uses to explain how much he wants to show ARMY.

    BTS Jimin Filter Performance Map of the Soul ON:E concert
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    In BTS’ Map of the Soul ON:E concert, Jimin performs “Filter” with a unique stage. Throughout, he’s changing elements of his outfit. Around the middle, he even changes the complete outfit (of course, this is most likely a play on video editing, but it still looks really cool!). His stage with this song only drives home that idea of having more than one filter or color.

    11. “친구 (Friends)” – Original Release: February 21, 2020

    Jimin’s second choice for PROOF CD 2 is “Friends,” a song that he did with V.

    Like “Filter,” this song was also on their full-length album MOTS: 7. It was a special song that incorporates a lot of moments between Jimin and V.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7mZX8INIYI[/embedyt]

     

    As a fun and upbeat song, “Friends” tells ARMY just how close V and Jimin are. The lyrics reference inside jokes between them and fun memories—including Jimin’s small pinky or their memories together in high school wearing their uniforms, going to the movies, and the dumpling incident.

    In his Proof of Inspiration, Jimin explains that “Friends” is, for him, a reminder of those who help remind him of who he is. He says, “I might have come across as being colorless instead of colorful if I’d have accommodated myself to other people’s ideas without having a distinct hue of my own. But my ‘Friends’ – the members and ARMY – were always there to help me remind myself of what my essence is and keep myself centered.”

    BTS Jimin and V Friends SOng performance bang bang con the live proof cd 2
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    With the inclusion of “Friends” on PROOF CD 2, it shows the playful side of BTS and the friendship of V and Jimin. On multiple occasions, as in the lyrics of “Friends,” Jimin and V have talked about their pre-debut argument over dumplings. It’s honestly quite funny and shows just how close Jimin and V are. If you want to learn more about the dumpling incident, check out this video that Jimin and V did talking about the song here.

    12. “Singularity” – Original Release: May 6, 2018

    V’s first song selection on PROOF CD 2 is his solo song “Singularity.” This song was the comeback trailer for their Love Yourself: Tear album in the middle of 2018.

    With a sultry tone, V takes on a new challenge with this song. Though V has amazing dance skills alongside the rest of BTS, many ARMY dub it as the song that proves he’s undoubtedly part of the dance-line.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8npDG2ulKQ[/embedyt]

     

    The theme of BTS debating about who they really are between their stage presence outside of the group continues with V and his choice of “Singularity.” In his Proof of Inspiration, he says, “I tended to think of Kim Taehyung and artist V as being separate, and thought that I had to choose one or the other, as visually portrayed in the ‘Singularity’ music video.”

    In the music video, V begins the dance almost battling with himself. At points in the video and the dance, V is using a mask to cover his face. This could be the moment that he’s referring to as keeping V and Kim Taehyung separate.

    BTS V Singularity MV image Proof CD 2
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The mask he wears while performing could represent his presence as V and the moment he removes it could be representing him as Kim Taehyung—of course, it could be the opposite, too. It’s interesting to see that this single theme stayed consistent with each of the members throughout PROOF CD 2.

    13. “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” – Original Release: February 21, 2020

    V’s second pick for PROOF CD 2 was “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” from their MOTS:7 album. This song is a vocal-line song—which is Jungkook, Jimin, Jin, and V.

    This song is quite meaningful for BTS and fans alike, the message being of new beginnings and hope.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3ot5gSvkM[/embedyt]

     

    The lyrics of “00:00” talk about letting burdens go when the clock restarts at midnight (as 24-hour time says 00:00 when midnight strikes). The song aims to bring comfort to ARMY with a reminder that they will be happy—maybe not this second but soon, they just need to take a deep breath when the clock strikes midnight and reset.

    In his Proof of Inspiration, V says that he was able to accept both sides of himself—as the V on stage who enjoys his time with ARMY and Kim Taehyung who prefers time with his friends and family—and reset like the lyrics in “00:00.”

    BTS Bang Bang Con the Live concert
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    For New Year’s Eve, many K-pop fans have the tradition of playing a certain song as the countdown to midnight begins. Many fans time the songs exactly to have a certain phrase ring out right as the clock strikes midnight. After this song was released, many ARMY took to playing it as midnight drew closer, timing it so “and you gonna be happy” played when the New Year started. Because of this and the deep meaning of the lyrics, ARMY have a deep connection with the song. Its inclusion in PROOF CD 2 will only remind ARMY of the comfort it brings.

    14. “Euphoria” – Original Release: April 5, 2018

    These last two songs of PROOF CD 2 were chosen specifically by the maknae of BTS, Jungkook. “Euphoria” is Jungkook’s solo song.

    Uniquely, “Euphoria” has a bit of a funny backstory. This song was first released in April 2018 as a short film titled “Euphoria Theme of Love Yourself Wonder.”

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX0vO4vlJuU[/embedyt]

     

    From what I remember of its release, there wasn’t any lead-up to it or any warning, it was simply released one day. There seemed to be nothing attached to it at that moment. A few months later, after ARMY practically begging BigHit for a studio version of the song, it was announced that BTS would release their Love Yourself: Answer album. Thankfully, “Euphoria” was included on that tracklist. Though, there might still be some mystery as to why the video was released the way it was.

    In his Proof of Inspiration, Jungkook doesn’t necessarily talk about why he chose these two songs in particular for PROOF CD 2. In fact, he just talks about how much he enjoys performing in front of ARMY and writing music for us. (Which… aww, that’s super sweet of you, Jungkook.)

    BTS Jungkook Euphoria Love Yourself Speak Yourself Tour Proof CD 2
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    He probably chose “Euphoria” for PROOF CD 2 because of the happiness stored in the lyrics. In the song, he’s constantly singing about finding his “euphoria” in someone and the happiness they bring—it’s pretty well-known that he’s singing about BTS and ARMY with this song. Perhaps he chose it to remind ARMY that they will always be his euphoria.

    15. “보조개 (Dimple)” – Original Release: September 18, 2017

    The second song Jungkook chose and the last song on PROOF CD 2 is “Dimple.” This vocal-line song flirts between the concept of adorable/cute and sexy.

    The song was released on the group’s mini-album Love Yourself: Her.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n81ceM7rlaw[/embedyt]

     

    While the lyrics and tune of the song are inherently cute, the dance for it sure is closer to the sexy side. With low-cut shirts and silky fabrics, the members in the vocal-line dance with lots of fluid movements and body rolls. (You can watch this performance they did at the 2020 Golden Disc Awards [GDA]).

    This song wasn’t performed too much, unfortunately, but it was definitely a song ARMY enjoyed a lot.

    BTS Dimple 5th magic shop muster proof cd 2
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Since fans enjoyed the performance of “Dimple,” there’s no doubt as to why Jungkook would make this his second song for the PROOF CD 2 tracklist. It shows a teasing and flirty side to BTS that none of the other songs had.

    Did BTS choose any of your favorite songs for PROOF CD 2?

    Out of the fifteen songs on PROOF CD 2, there’s not one that is considered the least favorite for fans. Each song brings a unique flavor to the CD and show just how versatile BTS’ music can get. From their sound in 2013 to their sound now, in 2022, the group has written songs that will always mean something to fans and themselves.

    If you’d like to check out the other articles we’ve written about PROOF, feel free to check out our K-Pop Category! We’ve dived deep into the other CDs for PROOF and wrote a few other blogs about BTS that you might enjoy. Also, be sure to check out the blogs we wrote for BTS Week last year.

  • An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 1, from an Emotional Beginning to a New Ending

    An In-Depth Look at BTS’ PROOF CD 1, from an Emotional Beginning to a New Ending

    Nine years is a long time for K-pop groups. With how in-demand they are for music—releasing two or sometimes three EPs/albums a single year—any group is bound to have quite a few songs. Throughout BTS’ career, the group has released more than 200 songs total (including solo work, collaboration tracks, and other soundtracks).

    BTS’ newest album PROOF brings together both fan favorites and chosen songs from the members of BTS themselves. In this blog, we will dive deeper into the songs on PROOF CD 1, which has a total of nineteen tracks.

    PROOF CD 1: Track Breakdown

    Of the nineteen songs on this list, all but one of them has had an official music video. Though PROOF CD 1 doesn’t contain any of the songs specifically chosen by the members, each song on this album has meant something to them and fans alike. They are all also the title tracks of their albums.

    1. “Born Singer” – Original Release: July 11, 2013

    The first song to kick off PROOF CD 1 is “Born Singer.”

    About a month after the group’s debut, BTS released an adapted song. “Born Singer” has the original audio of J.Cole’s song “Born Sinner,” which had come out shortly beforehand. The group wrote their own lyrics and changed the song into their own.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XsP4I9ds4c[/embedyt]

     

    Carrying a heavier message of chasing your dreams, the group sings lyrics of their battle to debut and fight against those who still looked down on them. In particular, the three rappers (RM, SUGA, and j-hope) have lyrics that include both emotional ties to the fans and things they remember from the past.

    In SUGA’s verse, some of his lyrics translate to “I can handle it cause you’re supporting me / I can stand the pain cause I can hear shouting my name.” In RM’s verse, “Maybe I’ll let you down / I was afraid of making my people down / but I straighten my shoulders and make my debut.” And, finally, in j-hope’s verse, “Remember the day we’ve been through / three years, we were as one / that extremely hard days make me wet / after the stage, drop the tears.”

    This song means a lot to fans in particular after the group’s performance of it in 2015 and 2017. For both stages, the group stands on a rotating circle on stage—they either face each other or face the crowd as they rotate.

    BTS Proof CD 1 Born Singer 2015 stage
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    The impactful lyrics, the emotions BTS express, and the rawness of the song itself make it the best choice to kick off PROOF CD 1.

    2. “No More Dream” – Original Release: June 11/13, 2013 (Debut Song)

    The next song on PROOF CD 1 is BTS’ debut song “No More Dream.”

    Released a couple days before their debut album—2 Cool 4 Skool—this song introduced the members and packed a powerful punch.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBG5L7UsUxA[/embedyt]

     

    As their debut song, it needed to match the meaning the group would have. In the 2013 Kiss the Radio interview the group did, member j-hope explained that their name and general concept were created with the thought of being a shield for adolescents who faced oppression and discrimination. They wanted to be a group that others found comfort in—this meant producing songs with deeper meanings.

    “No More Dream” is a song dedicated to the kids who don’t necessarily have a dream, the ones that are pushed to follow the dreams of others or do things they’re “supposed” to according to their parents. This song is meant to speak to them and tell them they’re not the only ones without dreams.

    Beginning of BTS - No More Dream 2 Cool 4 Skool 2013 Image
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Being the group’s debut song, it means quite a bit to them. It was the beginning of BTS, the beginning of their entire career and the start of these past nine years. When they first released this song, they had no idea they would accomplish so much in these past nine years. That makes “No More Dream” that much more fitting to come next on PROOF CD 1.

    3. “N.O.” – Original Release: September 10, 2013

    Later in their debut year, the group released their first mini-album O! RUL8,2? with the title track “N.O.”

    While still in the hip-hop genre, the group completely swapped their album colors. Whereas 2 Cool 4 Skool was black with gold, this album was white with red.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5GaAEHvHj0[/embedyt]

     

    Much like “No More Dream,” this song tackles the difficulty adolescents face when having no particular dream. This song in particular rebels against the school system—in the sense that kids are made to be “studying machines” and have to be number one to get the approval of their parents.

    The biggest factor of this song is to push against the ideals pushed onto them by adults—the ones who demand them to have dreams, to be number one, and to be better than everyone else. It’s another song meant to bring comfort to adolescents and push BTS’ hip-hop concept.

    BTS PROOF CD 1 N.O 2013
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    This song signaled the group’s first official comeback. While not necessarily one of the most popular title tracks, it’s definitely a song people still listen to when they’re frustrated with the box they’re placed in by society. This earns it a spot on PROOF CD 1.

    4. “상남자 (Boy In Luv)” – Original Release: February 11, 2014

    The next track on PROOF CD 1 is “상남자 (Boy In Luv).”

    This song was originally released as the title track on BTS’ second mini-album Skool Luv Affair. This song, and album, take a slightly different approach compared to the last two songs we mentioned.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHHjp3IMjMk[/embedyt]

     

    Veering slightly from the hard-hitting hip-hop sound, “Boy In Luv” is exactly what you expect it to be. It’s a love song of sorts, one where the boys talk about how much they care about this girl and all of the confusing feelings that come with that. The music video also has the boys singing their lines to said girl (as she both ignores them and walks away from them).

    Most noticeably, this song is pretty popular amongst ARMY because it’s what led us to getting the later track “Boy With Luv.” And the bad boy charm of it all… fans couldn’t resist falling for the group’s charm even more.

    BTS PROOF CD 1 Boy In Luv 2014
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Fun fact, this song actually leads us to a future song—“Boy With Luv” is a different take on this song years after this was released. This title track no doubt is one we needed to have on PROOF CD 1.

    5. “Danger” – Original Release: August 19, 2014

    BTS’ first official full-length album came out at the end of 2014. Dark & Wild featured a total of fourteen songs with the title track “Danger.”

    This song continues on with the theme from “Boy In Luv” as the bad boy love song.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43r6lXilbcQ[/embedyt]

     

    In the song, the group sings/raps about a push and pull relationship.

    Besides “Danger,” Dark & Wild actually brought quite a few classic songs ARMY love. This includes their tacks “Let Me Know,” “Rain,” and “여기 봐 (Look Here).” This entire album shows a different side to BTS—they take up more singing parts and expand their ranges. Quite loved, Jimin’s high notes in “Let Me Know” are still shown throughout the fandom as the member’s versatile voice.

    BTS Danger 2014
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Danger” is tough, gritty, and mixed with a little love, making it the perfect moment of BTS’ history to include in PROOF CD 1. It’s one of the past songs from BTS that many fans still gravitate toward today, and it comes from the very first full-length album BTS released. That alone makes this addition to this anthology album important.

    6. “I Need U” – Original Release: April 29, 2015

    The sixth song on PROOF CD 1 is one everyone expected to be there. “I Need U,” from BTS’ third mini-album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 1, is the song of all songs. It’s a song that marked a change in BTS and started the path they’re on today.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjskoRh8GTE[/embedyt]

     

    The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 1 is the first album of the HYYH series (also known as The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series or the Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa series). It’s the second official era of BTS’ career. Their sound changed ever so slightly and their concept adjusted to match.

    “I Need U” is a turning point for BTS for many reasons. This song brought the group their first music show number one on May 5, 2015. For the first time since their debut not quite two years before this, the group finally seemed to see the fruit of their labors. This song went on to win the group five total number ones.

    BTS PROOF CD 1 I Need U 2015 HYYH Era the most beautiful moment in life
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

     Above any other song, this one holds a special place in BTS and fans’ hearts. It means much more than just a title track. No, it’s a song that brought recognition to BTS and finally showed that they were gaining traction on the music scale. ”I Need U” is a classic song and is no doubt one of the most loved songs on PROOF CD 1.

    7. “Run” – Original Release: November 30, 2015

    The next song on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist is “Run.”

    As the title track from The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt. 2, “Run” is the song that continues the HYYH era. It’s just as emotional and heart-burning as “I Need U.”

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKysONrSmew[/embedyt]

     

    “Run” is another moment in BTS’ discography that fans like to look back on. The song itself is amazing (but most BTS songs are…), but the video is what really captures the fans’ attention. If you don’t know, BTS has their own storyline to go along with their videos and songs—though the group has slowly stopped including things from their storyline in recent music videos.

    “Run” includes a lot of storyline moments. It seems to be the key piece of storyline from the HYYH era. We won’t get into too many details with the storyline—as most of it is still unknown and has been pretty much left behind in the face of their newer videos—but just know that the HYYH era and “Run” in particular play a big part of it.

    BTS Run 2015 HYYH Era
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    After BTS’ success with “I Need U,” they were able to secure three more music show number ones with “Run.” Though it wasn’t more than “I Need U,” it showed that the group was still able to bag some wins. Which was a step in the right direction as compared to not winning any.

    8. “불타오르네 (Fire)” – Original Release: May 2, 2016

    Closing of the HYYH era is The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever compilation album with the title track “Fire.”

    Much like a few songs off of the first two albums in this era, “Fire” is an explosive song that makes everything feel a bit like a party (in a good way, though).

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ujQOR2DMFM[/embedyt]

     

    Known notoriously for being the song that members love to perform on stage (yes, they still perform parts of it today during the medley section at their concerts… even if Jimin looks so over it when the members say “Fire” is their favorite performance song in interviews), “Fire” is a song that still ignites a passion in fans’ hearts. (Yes, I am trying to fit as many fire-related puns as I can into this section.)

    There are a lot of memorable parts to this song, including SUGA’s “불타오르네” at the very beginning and his “용서해줄게” at the end, Jimin’s famous 3:33 dance, and V’s favorite “bow wow wow” lyric. It’s a song meant to pump up fans and spark joy/excitement from the first notes.

    BTS PROOF CD 1 Fire MV 2016
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Fire” was an explosive ending to the HYYH era; it signaled a new beginning was coming and the current one was burning out. This song added three more music shows to BTS’ list of accomplishments and the album itself brought BTS their first Daesang award. With “Fire” on PROOF CD 1, this moment in BTS’ career won’t be forgotten that easily.

    9. “피 땀 눈물 (Blood Sweat & Tears)” – Original Release: October 10, 2016

    The ninth track on PROOF CD 1 is the unforgettable “Blood Sweat & Tears.”

    As the group’s second full-length album, Wings is yet another turning point for the group. Not only did they start diving into solo songs within the album, but they started diving into different concepts. “Blood Sweat & Tears” is known for its particularly sexy concept—shirts with low cuts or one extra button left undone, silky fabrics, and smooth choreography.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmE9f-TEutc[/embedyt]

     

    Wings went on to be a massive point in BTS’ career. First, the album was the best-selling album of 2016 in South Korea—according to the Gaon Chart, it sold over 750,000 copies. Then, the Wings Tour went on to be the biggest for BTS at that time. The Wings Tour was the group’s second official world tour, bringing in around 550,000 fans for forty different shows.

    BTS’ first world tour was The Red Bullet Tour, where they played more than twenty different shows but only sang in front of about 80,000 fans. The Wings Tour showed just how much BTS had grown in popularity, having venues double and even triple the size of that on their first world tour.

    BTS Proof CD 1 Blood Sweat and Tears MV
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Wings also brought new content for BTS’ storyline. In a more direct way, the group released individual WINGS Short Films that went along with their solo songs on the album. Each video expressed a part of that member’s backstory in BTS’ overall storyline. PROOF CD 1 would be incomplete if “Blood Sweat & Tears” wasn’t there—it was actually voted by fans (during a special event BTS put out) as one of the top three tracks that were their favorite.

    10. “봄날 (Spring Day)” – Original Release: February 13, 2017

    Coming in at number ten on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist, we have the queen herself—“Spring Day.”

    From the group’s repackaged album You Never Walk Alone, “Spring Day” is not only a long-time favorite of ARMYs but it is also quite the record-breaker. Hence why fans refer to “Spring Day” as the queen… because she simply is.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEeFrLSkMm8[/embedyt]

     

    “Spring Day” includes lyrics about missing someone and trying to reach them. The music video is overlayed with blue tones and the members are alone for a good duration, really hammering down the idea of being alone and longing for someone else.

    However, there is another meaning to the song that fans speculate. “Spring Day” was released a few years after the Sewol Ferry incident—an unfortunate event in South Korea’s history that led to the death of more than 100 passengers (a good majority of them high school students). Both the music video and some of the lyrics throughout the song seem to speak about this incident.

    BTS Spring Day 2017 Proof CD 1
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    If “Spring Day” is the queen, she needs to have a crown, right? While the song hasn’t hit any of the records for most viewed music video in twenty-four hours or best-selling record, “Spring Day” has done what no other Korean song has before. Since its release, “Spring Day” has maintained a spot on the Top 100 Melon Weekly Chart. As of right now, it holds over a five-year record on this chart. For five years, this song has yet to leave the Top 100 Melon chart. That’s insane!

    11. “DNA” – Original Release: September 18, 2017

    After “Spring Day,” we have the start of a new era. “DNA” is the eleventh track on PROOF CD 1 and the title track of the first Love Yourself series album.

    Love Yourself is the fourth era in BTS’ career. It took place from 2017, with the first album Love Yourself: Her, until the end of 2018, with the last album Love Yourself: Answer.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdVXkSdhwU[/embedyt]

     

    “DNA” is an EDM/pop song that combines powerful dancing beats with a catchy chorus. It’s a sweet love song that talks about their love being in their DNA. The song went on to win the group ten number ones on Korean music shows.

    Once the Love Yourself series kicked off, BTS announced they would be launching a campaign with UNICEF called the LOVE MYSELF Campaign. This campaign aimed to fight against abuse and mistreatment toward children and teens. By 2021, the campaign raised an incredible $3.6 million.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo_mo5vA7tw[/embedyt]

     

    BTS is known very well for their positive message and their campaign of loving yourself. “DNA” is the title track that started it all. It’s the first title song from the Love Yourself series and will always signify the beginning of BTS’ love yourself message. The remaining songs on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist definitely see an increase in popularity compared to BTS’ earlier songs because of it.

    12. “Fake Love” – Original Release: May 18, 2018

    “Fake Love” is the title track for BTS’ third full-length album Love Yourself: Tear and the twelfth song on PROOF CD 1.

    This album has a total of eleven tracks, each rich in meaning and lyrical prowess. Some fan favorites from this album include “134340” (also known as Pluto), “낙원 (Paradise),” and “Magic Shop.”

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2z4GqqS5E[/embedyt]

     

    “Fake Love” brought the sexy concept back from “Blood Sweat & Tears.” However, instead of silk and low-cut shirts, “Fake Love” had harnesses/chains and the familiar bad-boy vibes from BTS’ earlier work.

    Overall, this song broke a lot of records for the group at the time. It was the first song for BTS that received a Perfect All-Kill (PAK) on Korean charts—meaning the song reached number one on all of the major Korean charts. “Fake Love” is also the first song of BTS that made it into the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart—it peaked at the number ten spot. Finally, “Fake Love” is the first song the group performed at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs, 2018). Though it was technically their second American award show performance, this one was at a show where they were also nominated for an award.

    BTS Proof CD 1 Fake Love 2018
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Fake Love” is known for its hard-hitting lyrics—which were about a relationship gone bad—and its insane video—where the members are putting themselves through quite the peculiar location (Jin is in a room that explodes around him, j-hope is laying on a tower of Snickers, Jimin is in a room that starts flooding, and SUGA is in a room that ignites into a ball of flames).

    13. “Idol” – Original Release: August 24, 2018

    To finish off the Love Yourself series and take the number thirteen spot on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist, we have the trendsetting “Idol.”

    Their second compilation album, Love Yourself: Answer, closes off the series with a collection of tracks from the first two albums and seven new songs.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBuZEGYXA6E[/embedyt]

     

    The “Idol” music video depicted a lot of things that K-pop videos get called out for or stereotyped as—videos with random and chaotic imagery, bold colors, and some things that just don’t make sense. With the lyrics being about the group feeling proud over their idol title, BTS kind of made a song to the haters.

    It’s well known that 2016~2018 were difficult years for the group to go through. While they were gaining some recognition on the international scale, they weren’t getting the same praise from their own country. Many K-pop fans (of other groups) still didn’t believe BTS’ sales were honest since they came from a small company and many other artists looked down on them because they were “idols.”

    [include image]

    The Love Yourself: Answer album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was the best-selling album of 2018 in South Korea. It was also the first Korean album to spend a year on the Billboard 200 chart.

    “Idol” is a song that not only shows how proud BTS is to be themselves, but it shows that BTS had overcome those who were putting them down—they were idols, so what? This title track on PROOF CD 1 might seem like one that’s loud and the kind you jump your heart out to, but it means quite a bit more than that when you look a little deeper into what BTS was going through at the time.

    14. “작은 것들을 위한 시 (Boy with Luv) (feat. Halsey)” – Original Release: April 12, 2019

    Not to be confused with the group’s earlier track “Boy in Luv,” the fourteenth track on PROOF CD 1 is “Boy with Luv,” the title track for their mini-album Map of the Soul: Persona (shortened as MOTS:P).

    This song is a collaboration between BTS and Halsey—an American singer the group had made friends with a couple years prior.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsX3ATc3FbA[/embedyt]

     

    MOTS:P is an album that created a bigger movement for BTS in America. Their collaboration with Halsey brought a lot of media attention to them and even got them some radio play (not a whole lot, actually, but more than before… which was nothing).

    “Boy with Luv” broke their previous Hot 100 record and debuted at number eight on the chart. They were able to perform this song live with Halsey at the 2019 BBMAs. They also made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live with this song.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0u1R2H1iHQ[/embedyt]

     

    Since BTS and Halsey are such great friends, fans were ecstatic to see them do a song together (it was the first one for them; SUGA later did a song with Halsey for her/their album Manic). Out of the songs on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist, this is the only collaboration.

    15. “ON” – Original Release: February 21, 2020

    As the song and album that came out right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, “ON” was going to be massive. As the fifteenth song on the PROOF CD 1 tracklist, we should take a moment to remember what BTS had planned for this album.

    “ON” was the title track for their fourth full-length album Map of the Soul: 7 (shortened as MOTS:7). Though the track “Black Song” was released first as a special video, “ON” is the main title track of the album.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPVDGOVjRQ0[/embedyt]

     

    MOTS:7 was going to be the album of all albums for BTS. Not only was it the number seven—something fans and BTS hold special, as the group has seven members—but it was going to be BTS’ seventh anniversary that year. So they planned to make this album something special.

    They had interviews, performances, and special events planned in America, they had a special art concept entwined with this album (it was called CONNECT, BTS—they tried to bridge the gap between art and music), and they had a massive world tour lined up. Unfortunately, promotions and events for this album were cut short when the pandemic hit.

    BTS Proof CD 1 ON MV manifesto film image
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “ON” is a powerhouse song; it has a heavy beat, an anthem feeling, and a keep-going attitude. It was the song for BTS, the one that was going to show how much they could truly do as a group and how far they could go. If the pandemic wouldn’t have happened, who knows how far they could’ve gone with everything they had planned.

    Including “ON” on the tracklist for PROOF CD 1 can serve as a reminder of the passion BTS has for music and how much the pandemic truly affected.

    16. “Dynamite” – Original Release: August 21, 2020

    If “Spring Day” is the queen, then “Dynamite” is the king (at least, in spirit). As the group’s first full-English song, “Dynamite” no doubt has to be on PROOF CD 1’s tracklist.

    “Dynamite” was originally released as a single in August. When the group released their seventh mini-album, BE, “Dynamite” was added to the tracklist.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdZLi9oWNZg[/embedyt]

     

    “Dynamite” is another changing point for BTS. As their first all-English track, there were high expectations for it. And, of course, it more than delivered. The song is a funky disco-pop tune that truly just makes you want to get up and dance. Coupled with the fun video, this song was the perfect recipe to make it big internationally.

    And make it big it did. “Dynamite” became BTS’ first song to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And when ARMY found out they could reach this milestone, they just didn’t stop. “Dynamite” stayed in the number one spot for two consecutive weeks and returned to it later for a total of three weeks. Of course, the song still stayed on the chart for multiple weeks—many times in the top ten—it just wasn’t in the number one spot more than those three weeks.

    BTS Dynamite 2020
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    Since “Dynamite” was released as a single first before being added to BE, it was able to be included as a track on PROOF CD 1. This song means a lot to fans and BTS; many “new” ARMY became fans of the group after “Dynamite” played on their local radio station. Without “Dynamite,” there’s no saying what kind of exposure BTS would have had in the US.

    17. “Life Goes On” – Original Release: November 20, 2020

    BE is BTS’ first self-directed album of their career. As mentioned, “Dynamite” was added to this CD; however, “Life Goes On” is the actual title track.

    “Life Goes On” is a song for those struggling to keep going in the face of the pandemic. For most, life was upended when the pandemic hit—no one could go anywhere, do anything, or see anybody… it was no different for BTS.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5q5mZbe3V8[/embedyt]

     

    BTS’ major tour that year was cancelled. They were no longer able to perform songs from their newest album and they couldn’t just go outside to feel better. Instead, BTS was in lockdown like the rest of us.

    BTS has spoken about this briefly in interviews and V-Lives, but it was hard to get through the pandemic for them. For a career such as theirs, which relies heavily on being able to see fans and perform in front of people, they were at a full standstill. “Life Goes On” is a comforting track that’s meant to bring people together (not physically, of course). The boys wrote this song to remind themselves and remind fans that life will still go on even when it seems like it won’t.

    BTS Life Goes On Proof CD 1
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    As a self-directed album, BE has so many pieces of the members in it. Each member took part in the process of creating this album—from music video directing to photoshoot themes—so it means a lot to them. And it meant even more when ARMY were able to nab the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Life Goes On,” a Korean track rather than an all-English one.

    18. “Butter” – Original Release: May 21, 2021

    The following year after “Dynamite” was released, BTS released yet another all-English track.

    The second-to-last track on PROOF CD 1, “Butter,” is one of the best summer anthems anyone could ever want. It’s smooth like butter, warm to listen to, and quite fun.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMweEpGlu_U[/embedyt]

     

    Like “Dynamite,” “Butter” was expected to be a big hit on the international scale. I doubt the group knew it would be this big of a powerhouse song, though. “Butter” stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a total of ten weeks. It not only debuted in the number one spot, but it kept there for seven consecutive weeks.

    When “Permission to Dance” came out, “Butter” bumped down to a lower position and traded with “Permission to Dance.” The next week, “Butter” was back in the number one spot. It was the only time in Billboard history that something like this had happened.

    BTS Butter 2021
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    “Butter” was another popular song with the international crowd. While “Dynamite” gave BTS some exposure to radio play in America and a multitude of performances, “Butter” seemed to give BTS ten times as much exposure. Everyone loved the song—it was played on radios, in stores, at sports events, and anywhere else you can imagine. The song did a lot for the group as a whole, bringing them more attention and recognition for their talents.

    19. “Yet to Come” – Original Release: June 10, 2022

    The final song on this very long PROOF CD 1 tracklist is actually the new title track for the PROOF album. “Yet to Come” is the only new song on PROOF CD 1.

    It was released quite literally the other day with the rest of the album and a music video.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXpOEzNZ8hQ[/embedyt]

     

    If you’ve been a fan of BTS for any length of time, then this song and video no doubt made you a little emotional (I know it did for me). Much like some of their past songs, “Yet to Come” is a song BTS use to tell their story (not their storyline, but the story of them as humans and as artists).

    The lyrics mention the pressures of being labeled the best but remain steady on their conviction for doing what they’ve always done: make music. This song details that BTS still hold their passion for music and will continue to make it, as the best for them has yet to come.

    BTS Proof Concept Photo Proof version
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    And if the lyrical meaning isn’t enough to make emotions go a little crazy, then the imagery of the music video will. The music video itself shows a combination of the members in recreated scenes from their past music videos. From the train car we’ll never forget associated with RM and Jimin’s specific movements from “Spring Day” to the bus from “No More Dream,” there are a ton of hidden moments throughout the video that overlap with things from BTS’ past.

    Do you have a favorite track from PROOF CD 1?

    I know this was an insanely long list of songs, but these songs mean a lot to BTS and ARMY. By having them on PROOF CD 1, the group is helping fans remember all that BTS has gone through—from their hip-hop beginning to their explosive entrance to the international music scene.

    The first CD of their anthology is the journey itself. It shows the group’s growth and their passion.

    If you want to read a deeper dive into the other two CDs of PROOF, then keep an eye out on our K-Pop Category. In the next two days, we’ll be releasing blogs for each CD! And be sure to check out the other blogs we’ve written for BTS Week.

  • BTS’ “PROOF”—The Extraordinary 2022 Comeback We All Needed

    BTS’ “PROOF”—The Extraordinary 2022 Comeback We All Needed

    The wait is over, ARMY! Finally, after what felt like years, BTS is back with another comeback. Since “Butter” and “Permission to Dance” were released in 2021, fans have been eagerly waiting for a comeback from the group (especially one with a Korean song).

    Here are all of the details you need to know about BTS’ PROOF comeback.

    General Information about PROOF

    As BTS took to the stage on April 16, 2022 on their fourth night in Las Vegas—a city that accepted BTS and ARMY in massive ways (from turning the city entirely purple and renaming themselves Borahegas on Twitter)—fans were highly anticipating some kind of news.

    Thanks to BTS’ habit of announcing things at the end of their livestreamed concerts, ARMY at the actual show and ARMY watching online had their hopes up. And they were right to assume something was coming.

    After the members said goodbye to the fans in person and online, the lights dimmed in the stadium. Unlike what typically happens when the show is over, the livestream of the concert hadn’t ended. It couldn’t have been sixty seconds before the screen flashed again. Suddenly, flashes and moments from BTS’ past music videos flickered across the screen.

    Once it reached the most recent video, it cut to all black. The words “WE ARE BULLETPROOF” faded onto the screen and flickered into a new logo. Finally, at the very end of the video, a date appeared. 2022.06.10.

    BTS would be back.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1xtMmidG2Y[/embedyt]

     

    What is PROOF?

    PROOF is a massive album (literally and figuratively). Not only will this album encompass all the growth BTS has had, but it also contains 48 total songs across three CDs.

    BTS PROOF 2022 Logo
    Image from BTS’ ‘Proof’ Logo Trailer on YouTube

    As an anthology album, PROOF is set to explore songs that mean something both to the fans and to the group themselves. With some older loved title tracks, some emotionally impactful songs, and some behind the scenes looks at our favorite melodies, this album will both be a journey through BTS’ growth and an emotional rollercoaster.

    The album has two overall versions. A standard edition and a compact edition.

    The Standard Edition includes an outer box, an outer sleeve, The Art of Proof, a photobook, a book called Epilogue, a lyric packet, three CDs, a poster, multiple photocards, and a postcard.

    The Compact Edition includes a lot of the same stuff, but in a smaller version. It has an outer sleeve, a photobook, three CDs, a photocard, a postcard, a mini poster, and a discography guide

    BTS Proof 2022 album versions

    Tracklist

    Each CD of PROOF has its own unique tracklist with at least one new one per CD.

    With nineteen total tracks, the first CD has favorites such as “Born Singer,” “I Need U,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” and “Butter.” The title track for PROOF is also on this CD—“Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment).” BTS released this tracklist on Twitter May 8th.

    BTS Proof Tracklist CD 1
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    The day after, BTS released the tracklist for CD 2. This CD dives more into their solo work and unit tracks, including songs such as “Intro: Persona,” “Jamais Vu,” “Filter,” and “00:00 (Zero O’Clock).” On this CD the new song is “달려라 방탄 (Run BTS).”

    BTS Proof CD 2 Tracklist 2022
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    And finally, on May 10th, BTS released the third and final tracklist. Unlike the other tracklists, this one is a bit different. Full of demo versions, this CD will play the behind-the-scenes moments for our favorite songs—including “Jump,” “Boy In Luv,” “Boys with Fun,” and “Spring Day.” There are also quite a few tracks that we haven’t seen included on this album. “For Youth” is the only song from this CD that will be available digitally, but the CD also has the unknown songs “애매한 사이” and “따옴표.”

    BTS Proof CD 3 Tracklist
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    Proof of Inspiration and Concept Photos

    Starting on midnight of May 17th, the group started releasing short clips known as “Proof of Inspiration.” These videos, not quite sixty seconds long, had each member detailing which two songs they chose for the album and why they chose them.

    Unfortunately, the videos aren’t up on YouTube. But you can find each individual member’s video on Twitter here (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, V, Jimin, Jungkook).

    The first concept photo for PROOF came out on May 27th. This version (Proof version) showed the group standing in front of metal that’s littered with bullet holes. In the group shot, there are bullets scattered on the floor to truly showcase BTS’ bulletproof-ness.

    BTS Proof Concept Photo Proof version
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    A few days later, they released the next concept photo version—the Door version. Completely contrasting in colors, the Door version has the members standing in front of a bright white backdrop and wearing soft pastel-colored suits. (There are also individual member images in this version where the members are standing in a dark room.)

    BTS Proof Concept Photo Door Version
    Image from BigHit Music’s Official Twitter

    Other Misc. Content Released

    Of course, the trailer for the music video came out just a few days before the actual music video itself. On June 7th, the teaser for “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” came out. In just thirty seconds, the video shows the members standing by themselves in a desert-like area and a few references to their past eras.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXHCt8Ym9gw[/embedyt]

     

    They also put out a short compilation video of their title tracks over the years leading up to the release of “Yet to Come” and the album.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhRM-X9kqFs[/embedyt]

     

    What is the main idea/concept for PROOF?

    Above everything else, this album is meant to take us on a journey with BTS.  It’s meant to show us snippets of their career through their music, with songs that not only hit hard with their beats but also with their significant messages.

    BTS has grown quite a lot in their nine years of being a group, what better way to honor that than an anthology album?

    “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)”

    If the anthology itself hasn’t been enough to put you in your emotional feels, then “Yet to Come” surely will.

    With soothing music, “Yet to Come” is a song full of shout outs to the past. The lyrics talk to things relating to the group’s career and convey that the best, of course, is still coming for them. Besides the song itself having impactful lyrics, the music video also brings you down memory lane.

    Throughout “Yet to Come,” you can spot various scenes from other music videos (like scenes from “Spring Day,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” and more). The music video is truly like visiting past moments in BTS’ career…

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXpOEzNZ8hQ[/embedyt]

     

    Where to get PROOF?

    If you haven’t gotten your copy yet of PROOF, then you might want to start looking! For those of you who have the Weverse Shop app, you can find both versions of the album there. In the USA, you can find the album versions on popular sites like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and FYE. In other countries, you might need to take a look at your large retail stores or K-pop-related online shops that ship to your country.

    If you’d like to get a closer look at this album, then check out our K-Pop Category. We will be doing a deep dive into each CD from the PROOF album—so keep an eye out! Also, feel free to check out the other blogs we wrote for BTS Week! From information about their growth over these years to their company’s growth, we’ve talked about many things BTS-related. You can also check out the blogs we wrote for BTS’ 8th anniversary last year.

  • From Rags to Riches: BTS’ Growth in 9 Years

    From Rags to Riches: BTS’ Growth in 9 Years

    The past nine years for BTS have been quite the rollercoaster. Not only have they grown to enormous amounts of success worldwide but they’ve also gone through quite the change musically. It’s a well-known fact that BTS’ music has reached just about every genre you can imagine—from hard-hitting raps and emotional ballads to impactful pop pieces and rebellious hip-hop. If you’re patient enough to look through their multitude of songs, you’re bound to find one that you enjoy—no matter you’re preferred genre.

    BTS’ growth in music and popularity throughout their nine years of being a group has undoubtedly paved the way for their success. As they hone in on their own personal style, their popularity only grows bigger and bigger.

    A Brief Overview of BTS’ Growth and Their Success

    In the past few years, it’s hard to deny the success BTS has obtained. This includes their record-breaking “Butter” music video—holding the record for the highest number of views in the first twenty-four hours with over 108.2 million views—to their nomination at the Grammy Awards—they were the first Korean group act to achieve this feat.

    Most recently, the group jumped to the number one spot for April 2022’s Top Tours according to Billboard. With only their four shows in Las Vegas, BTS earned the highest revenue of $35.9 million. You can read more about this feat in Billboard’s article here. Truly, this alone shows BTS’ growth the most—from handing out flyers for their free concert in 2013 to earning millions in just four shows…

    Billboard BTS Top Tours April Revenue
    List from Billboard

    Further, according to Spotify, BTS now has had a total of 25.8+ billion streams since they’ve been on Spotify, 50 million artist page followers, and 35+ million monthly listeners. They also are the first Asian act to join the Spotify Billions Club with Dynamite. Read the article Spotify released to celebrate the group’s upcoming album.

    BTS' Growth Spotify Numbers
    Image from Spotify

    These records are just what the whole group has produced. But BTS’ growth hasn’t affected just the group as a whole, it’s also brought the individual members their own set of accomplishments—from the highest OST listens to Instagram followers, each member of BTS holds their personal record to be proud of.

    BTS Then (Debut – 2017)

    If you’ve read our blog last year for BTS’ eight-year anniversary, the “8 Years with BTS” one, then you know just how small BTS truly used to be.

    BTS' Growth Then vs. Now
    Image Source

    Popularity

    Like any other group from a small company, BTS had their struggles. They lived in a one-bedroom dorm room for quite a while, the room full of three bunk beds and a single bed to make them all fit. To see the bedroom better, you can see it on their reality show Rookie King on Viki with a VikiPass Plus account.

    And even as they started promoting their music and releasing content, the group didn’t gain much recognition. In 2014, the group released their next reality show American Hustle Life where they learned what it meant to be hip-hop and completed various tasks. One of the more well-known tasks they had to do was market their own free concert. They had begged people to show up to their free show—only needing 200 people to be there. Hardly anyone they talked to gave them a second glance, they were nobodies after all.

    American Hustle Life 2014
    Image Source

    Throughout the first few years of their career, BTS stayed as the underdog group. While they gained some recognition, they definitely couldn’t hold much to the competition.

    On Twitter, the group first hit one million followers in June 2015. Member j-hope posted a celebratory photo to show this milestone.

    BTS 1 million twitter follower hoseok
    Image from BTS’ Twitter

    He continued to post celebratory photos for each milestone they reached (see them here: 2 million, 3M, 4M, 5M, 6M, 7M, 8M, and 9M). For their ten million followers on Twitter milestone, the entire group released a video to celebrate.

    What’s fascinating to notice, though, is the amount of time it took them to reach these milestones. It took the group nearly two years to reach one million followers. Then it took another year for them to reach two million. However, it took them less than a month to jump from nine million to the ten million milestone. BTS’ growth by 2017 had surpassed their own expectations.

    Nitty Gritty Details

    In 2014 and 2015, BTS embarked on their first tour—The Red Bullet Tour—that took them all throughout Asia, Australia, North America, and South America. With both legs of the tour, the group performed roughly twenty-two shows. Altogether, this amounted to less than 100,000 fans in attendance (most venues averaging around 5,000 seats or less).

    The group’s first album, 2 Cool 4 Skool, sold only 790 copies during the first week of its release (of course, it gained more sales as the group started promoting and charting).

    BTS' Growth of Concerts 2013 vs Now
    Image Source

    Their 2017 tour—The Wings Tour—is already seen as a massive improvement, it shows BTS’ growth within those first few years. With a total of forty shows, the group performed for more than 500,000 fans. Each show held more than 10,000 fans, some even closer to the 20,000 range. A huge difference from their first tour in 2013, but not nearly as massive as they have nowadays.

    Their Wings album received 500,000 pre-orders alone—200,000 more than their album before. The lead track (“Blood Sweat & Tears”) became the fastest K-pop music video to reach ten million views and the album went on to chart at number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart (making it the highest-ranked K-pop album on the chart at the time).

    BTS' growth then vs. now
    Image Source

    During this time of their career, BTS’ growth was slow but it was progressing more as time goes on. Many fans argue that the Wings album and Wings Tour felt like a turning point for the group, as if it was the first moment that showed BTS’ growth in popularity.

    Music

    At the beginning of BTS’ career, they were set to be a hip-hop idol group. Their sound was more rebellious than anything—they spoke of harsh realities, lacking dreams, and other relatable things to young people around the world. They wanted to be a voice for those experiencing the misunderstandings that come with being young.

    Their sound was heavier by default. More deeply rooted raps, heavier beats, and emotionally charged lyrics. Though they still have these qualities today, there’s a maturity to them now. Back then, the group dressed in all black and pushed against “the system.”

    They were different and they didn’t care.

    2014 Festa event first anniversary BTS
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    By the time 2017 rolled around, BTS had already started evolving their musical tone. It’s not that they were changing who they were—they still wrote emotional lyrics, they still incorporated intense raps into their songs, and they still made sure the beats would hit hard—but they were finding who they wanted to be.

    It seemed that they were less angry at the world. They dressed in softer tones—far less black clothing than they had at debut—and they sang more ballads to express themselves. Instead of being the rebelling hip-hop group, they were a group painting their own musical masterpiece. They found themselves in the ever-changing style of their music. BTS’ growth in music throughout these few years showed us how they evolved into something amazing.

    BTS 2017 Festa photo Spring Day MV
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    BTS Now (2017 – Present)

    Starting with 2017, BTS’ growth has jumped leaps and bounds. Not only has their popularity skyrocketed, but they have grown into themselves so much that we don’t attribute them to a specific genre anymore—they are simply BTS.

    BTS' Growth 2013 compared to now
    Image Source

    Popularity

    As mentioned earlier, BTS first hit ten million followers on Twitter in 2017. It took them nearly four years to hit ten million; however, in just about two years, the group hit twenty million followers. Halfway through 2019, the group became the first Korean account to surpass the twenty million follower milestone. Further, in just over a year, the group hit thirty million followers.

    Today, BTS has a total of 46.2 million followers on Twitter—making them one of the most-followed Korean groups on Twitter. Every day, that number is increasing immensely. Before we know it, the group will reach fifty million followers.

    Another milestone that shows BTS’ growth in popularity is their involvement in western award shows. While the group doesn’t need validation from the western music industry, it is quite an impressive feat to take it over so completely. They are truly the first Korean act to continuously grow in popularity throughout western countries.

    Grammys 2019 BTS
    Image from BTS’ Official Twitter

    From their first appearance at the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) in 2017 to their recent Grammy Performance, BTS has appeared in just about every music award show and talk show imaginable in America. While the music scene in western countries didn’t quite accept BTS right away, the group kept winning awards and gaining more attention.

    Nitty Gritty Details

    For their 2018 Love Yourself World Tour, the group performed a total of sixty-two shows to more than two million fans. The first leg of their tour included mostly arenas and a couple stadiums. However, the extension of the tour—the Love Yourself: Speak Yourself tour—was a full stadium tour. The last leg of the show—twenty shows altogether—amazing nearly one million fans by itself.

    Their 2017 EP Love Yourself: Her became the first K-pop album to surpass one million pre-orders. It also broke their previous record on the Billboard 200 chart, debuting at the number seven spot.

    BTS' Growth 2013 to Now
    Image Source

    But BTS’ growth from 2017 was only getting started. The group’s 2020 album Map of the Soul: 7 album sold over 3.3. million copies within its first week. And their next album BE over 2.2 million copies within the first week. Both earned a spot on music charts for their sheer mass of sold copies.

    BTS’ success with their Permission to Dance: On Stage in Las Vegas shows is proof enough of how successful BTS has become now. They easily became the number one spot for concert revenue in April 2022 with just four concerts.

    Music

    As we began seeing with their music up to 2017, BTS really starting honing in on their own personal music style. They no longer pushed for strong, impactful songs if it wasn’t what they wanted to express themselves. Instead, BTS started veering in a music direction they wanted to.

    In a 2020 interview with John Ochoa from the Grammys, the boys were asked which musical genre they wanted to pursue next. Member SUGA responded by saying, “I think it’s less and less meaningful to divide music into genres.” Other members agreed, saying that their genre is simply BTS.

    A year later, the group did another interview with the Grammys (this time with Ashlee Mitchell). They were asked this time how they felt about the K-pop genre they were labeled under. RM responded, “K-pop is a term used to refer to popular Korean music, but at some point, it became a genre of its own. It’s actually quite difficult to define what K-pop is.”

    BTS 2022 Selfie
    Image from BTS’ Official Facebook

    So, overall, BTS’ music has grown into something more themselves. The emotions they feel, the passion they express, and the struggles they face, their music is something that conveys everything they want to tell their fans. And their new album coming out in just a few days—PROOF, an anthology album—shows just how much their music has evolved over time.

    Is there a point BTS’ growth seemed to start ramping up?

    Honestly, not quite. Though 2015 is an important year to BTS and to ARMY—because it was the year where they earned their first music show win—there weren’t any major changes at that point.

    We could consider 2017 another major year for the group. After their appearance at the BBMAs, BTS started gaining major attention across the world. As we saw in their follower count on Twitter, they increased by the millions far quicker after 2017 than they did before it.

    BTS' Growth then vs. now
    Image Source

    Overall, BTS’ growth has been massive throughout the nine years they’ve been a group. Between their musical growth and their popularity increase, there seems to be no limit to the group’s success. With their upcoming comeback just a few days away, it’ll be truly telling to see the growth they go through this time.

    If you’d like to get a bit more backstory on the beginning of BTS, feel free to check out this article we put out about it! And keep an eye on our K-Pop Category as we release more blogs during the rest of this special BTS Week event. Our next blogs will go into more details about their newest album, so make sure to check back for those.

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