A SHORT LIST OF BTS’ SONGS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT

BTS’ new album, Map of the Soul: 7 (MOTS: 7), has conquered the charts across the globe, and the 20-track release has generated massive numbers. Lead single ON positioned itself at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while MOTS: 7 occupied #1 on Billboard 200. The album showcases various genres that affirms BTS’ production capability.

But, this is just one album from BTS’ diverse discography. If you’re new to the absolute force of a fandom that is ARMY or just didn’t have enough time to dive deeper into BTS’ older works (let’s be honest, it’s hard to keep up with all the content), we’ve got you.

BTS has never shied away from the real, the raw, and the vulnerable. The thought-provoking lyrics on fame, dreams, aspirations, and expectations of Interlude: Shadow paired with a slow-paced, dark instrumental is not the only song where BTS’ SUGA has let listeners peer into his thoughts. First Love from the album WINGS reveals his emotional relationship with music through a piano, his first love, while The Last from his solo mixtape Agust D talks openly about SUGA’s struggles with depression and anxiety. The final track of the mixtape, So Far Away (feat. SURAN), reassures the listener that it’s still okay if you don’t have a dream, which parallels the sentiment portrayed in Tomorrow (Skool Luv Affair): being young and unsure of the future. RM’s uhgood off his mixtape mono. is another song that explores the disappointment of not meeting certain expectations and the feel of needing to do better.

However with every shadow, there is light.

BTS makes sure to fill you with a different, lighter sentiment than explored previously. The powerful dance track ON is nothing short of a motivational anthem that gets your blood pumping and you ready to conquer the world. Similar songs that encourage enthusiasm and motivation to go forward can be found throughout BTS discography. Not Today (You Never Walk Alone) spurs you to go forward no matter what, while the uplifting So What (Love Yourself 轉 'Tear') encourages you to put all of your worries aside. Similarly, DOPE (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1) presses you to never give up, and Burning UP (FIRE) (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever) urges you to live your life the way you want, because it belongs to you.

The positive energy from earlier discography continues into BTS’ newest album MOTS: 7 with the help of j-hope. The album is iconically closed with the song Outro: Ego, a funky vitamin bomb that is masterfully crafted by none other than j-hope himself. If you want to fill yourself up with good vibes, then Hope World and Daydream - from j-hope’s solo mixtape Hope World - or MAMA (WINGS) is the right way to go. Rhythmic and upbeat dance track Trivia 起: Just Dance (Love Yourself 結 'Answer') will get your body moving in no time. In addition to j-hope’s energetic works, other tracks like Boyz with Fun (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1), Attack on Bangtan (O!RUL8,2?) and Paldogangsan (O!RUL8,2?) will also show you the more fun and light-hearted side of BTS.

BTS’ adrenaline-inducing tracks do not stop there. If you’ve been liking the way BTS’ rapline RM, j-hope, and SUGA aggressively express their anger towards malicious rage and their address to haters in UGH!, there’s a good chance you’ll be bopping to these rap and hip-hop heavy tracks of BTS in no time. The iconic “Cypher” series is a must-listen. First introduced in 2013’s O!RUL8,2? album, the rappers call out the haters through BTS Cypher Pt. 1, BTS Cypher Pt.2: Triptych (Skool Luv Affair) and BTS Cypher Pt.3: Killer (Dark&Wild) for looking at BTS as hip-hop imitators and idol-rappers (which carries a negative connotation with the hip-hop community). BTS Cypher 4 (WINGS) takes a bit of a different turn, urging the haters to love themselves since they focus so much on BTS. MIC Drop (Love Yourself 承 'Her') has the septet proclaiming their worldwide success, while Ddaeng (땡) uses clever wordplay to present the diss of the century (and rightfully so).

Slowing it down, BTS’ vocal line showcases a different side of the group. The melodious and gentle 00:00 (Zero O’Clock) sung by BTS’ Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook is not their first waltz in bringing emotion and sentimentality to BTS’ discography. The Truth Untold (Love Yourself 轉 'Tear') carries a similar, gentle melody alongside heart-wrenching lyrics about one’s inner struggles and a fear of showing one’s true self. Let Go, a Japanese track off FACE YOURSELF album performed by the septet, conveys the emotions of a painful goodbye. Autumn Leaves (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2), Hold Me Tight, Outro: Love Is Not Over (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1), and Let Me Know (Dark&Wild) all dive deeper into complicated emotions, such as the feelings of doubt and the fear of letting go.

Expressions of love and comfort are also commonly and explicitly directed towards their fans, the BTS ARMY. We are Bulletproof: The Eternal is a song dedicated to ARMYs, whom BTS deems as their strength. It’s one of those songs that makes your heart ache, yet heals you at the same time. 2!3!, A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone (You Never Walk Alone) and Epilogue: Young Forever (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever) fit well alongside the message of We are Bulletproof: The Eternal. Two hidden gems of BTS’ discography are Sea (Love Yourself 承 'Her') and Road/Path (2COOL4SKOOL), both expressing more emotional topics that are intended for the ears of ARMYs. Both of these tracks are hidden releases and are available only on the physical editions of the albums.

BTS is known for their musical diversity and skill in nailing any genre they take on. With this short list in place, we hope you’ll be able to get to know BTS’ music more closely. We hope you enjoy taking your first steps into discovering even more amazing BTS tracks that hide in each of their albums!

Written by: Jynx

Edited by: Sno

Designed by: Kaitlyn

ARMY Magazine does not own any of the photos or music shared in our blog. No copyright infringement intended.