Beneath the Scene: BTS Songs You Need to Hear
- Sarah Campaner
- Jan 27, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 6, 2022
Whether you are a baby ARMY and still getting to know the group or you just want to get to know BTS' music better, this is a list of the best or most well known songs from each of their albums, all the way from their debut in 2013 until today.
1. No More Dream
Album: 2 Cool 4 Skool
Released: June 12, 2013
No More Dream is the song every BTS fan should know because it's the song that started it all, THE debut song. Heavily influenced by old school hip-hop, to first time listeners this song may be a far departure from the BTS sound that they are familiar with but this was the group's humble beginnings.
Special Mention: Like
2. N.O.
Album: O!RUL8,2?
Released: Sept 11, 2013
N.O. is another song from their debut year where hip-hop was still the name of the game and we are treated to a young Jungkook during his days as a rapper. Despite BTS still being rookies, they were already showing great potential as a group with their amazing story telling and very synchronized choreography.
Special Mention: Coffee
3. Boy in Luv
Album: Skool Luv Affair
Released: Feb 12, 2014
BTS in high school uniforms should be enough of a reason to like this song but if that's not your style, then stick around for V's low husky vocals. To be honest, some of the scenes in the music video would not fly in today's world but I do think this song is important as a marker of the group's growth.
Special Mention: Jump
4. Danger
Album: Dark & Wild
Released: Aug 20, 2014
Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt it was all one sided, that side being your side? BTS has and they speak of those emotions that can make you go crazy, as seen in the way each member lets out their frustrations in the music video, and the dangers of playing with someone's emotions.
Special Mention: Embarrassed & Look Here
5. I Need U & Dope
Album: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.1
Released: April 29, 2015
I Need U is a very important song in BTS' discography as it symbolizes the turning point for the group's sound, no longer did masculine hip-hop dominate but they allowed themselves to venture and explore different genres. I Need U was the group's first ever music show win and signified the start of the boys' rise in popularity.
DOPE is a song synonymous with BTS. If an ARMY doesn't tell you to listen to this song are they really a fan? Easily recognizable by its iconic intro featuring RM and Jungkook, DOPE is what it is, a DOPE song.
Special Mention: Boyz w/ Fun
6. Run
Album: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.2
Released: Nov 30, 2015
The daring recklessness of youth is the theme of Run and I think the music video does such a great job at telling that story. Seven boys who think that their angst over lost love can be masked by a nonchalant attitude towards life.
Special Mention: Butterfly
7. Save Me
Album: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever
Released: May 2, 2016
Dance break. And RM's verse. Nuff said.
Special Mention: Burning Up (Fire) & Whalien 52
8. Blood Sweat & Tears
Album: Wings
Released: Oct 10, 2016
A music video that might as well be considered a movie, BTS encapsulates us with the beautiful storytelling of the temptation of attaining what they want the most, whether that be love or success, and the great sacrifices that they are willing to make. You'll also get to see Jin kiss a statue.
Special Mention: 2! 3!
9. Spring Day
Album: You Never Walk Alone
Released: Feb 13, 2017
An ARMY favourite, Spring Day compares the emotions of missing a friend to winter but speaks about how everything will be okay because Spring is just around the corner. A lovely music video, with beautiful lyrics and graceful contemporary choreography.
Special Mention: Not Today
10. DNA & MIC Drop
Album: Love Yourself: Her
Released: Sept 18, 2017
For me, it's Jungkook's whistling in the intro. Or maybe it's BTS telling us that our DNA was destined to be together. I don't know, you tell me.
"Did you see my bag, My bag's filled with trophies...Too heavy, my hands aren't enough" *Mic drop*
Fun fact: Former President Obama's famous mic drop was RM's inspiration for the song
Special Mention: dimple & Go Go
11. FAKE LOVE & Airplane pt.2
Album: Love Yourself: Tear
Released: May 18, 2018
FAKE LOVE, the message is all in the title, a love that lies about its happiness when in reality it's suffering. Similar to Blood Sweat & Tears, FAKE LOVE has a much darker sound compared to the rest of BTS' music, but it's that dark sound that drives the message and adds to the emotions of the song.
BTS is taking their airplane around the world, "goin' from Tokyo, Italy, Hong Kong to Brazil," to do what they love and sing their hearts out. And they're gonna do it while looking cool and having fun like a Mariachi band.
Special Mention: Magic Shop
12. IDOL & Answer: Love Myself
Album: Love Yourself: Answer
Released: Aug 24, 2018
In IDOL, BTS tells the world that whatever labels they're given, they don't care because they know who they are and others can't stop them from lovin' themselves. Not only is IDOL a representative BTS song, but it also features flashy, bright and geometric outfits, as well as an iconic high energy dance and wave dance move.
Answer: Love Myself is one of my favourites and honestly, their first song that made me cry. It's a whimsical song that is full of beautiful lyrics which encourage you to love yourself. BTS also tells their fans through this song that ARMY has given the group reasons why they, BTS, should love themselves. The video above was taken by me personally at their concert last December and you can just feel how special this song is to BTS and ARMY
Special Mention: Tear
13. Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)
Album: MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA
Released: April 12, 2019
Boy with Luv, also known as 작은 것들을 위한 시 in Korean, which translates to "a poem for small things," has a simple message, love is the strongest force. This song was my introduction to BTS, and maybe it's the pink outfits or V's blue hair, but it still remains my favourite from the boys.
Special Mention: Dionysus
14. ON
Album: MAP OF THE SOUL: 7
Released: Feb 21, 2020
Hey na-na-na, ON is a 180 degree turn from the pop sounds of Boy with Luv. This song holds a lot of significance in BTS' discography as it was released on the group's 7th year together, 7 is a special number to the boys as there are 7 members. ON is recognized for its distinct use of percussion and complex choreography.
Special Mention: We are Bulletproof: the Eternal
15. Dynamite
Released: August 21, 2020
Aside from this being BTS' first song in English, it's also the song that, in my opinion, launched the group's popularity into the stratosphere. The head bopping disco-pop beat, bright colours and catchy lyrics draw you in and the cute little freestyle moments are what make it light up like Dynamite!
16. Life Goes On
Album: BE
Released: Nov 20, 2020
Life Goes On voices all the feelings that we've felt during this pandemic, but reminds us that despite it all "like an echo in the forest...yeah, life goes on."
Special Mention: Blue & Grey
17. Butter
Released: May 21, 2021
Not much needs to be said about this song, BTS proves to the world why they are "smooth like butter" with their slicked back hair, retro inspired outfits, and can't forget J-Hope eating an actual piece of butter at the end. It's all *Chefs Kiss*
18. Permission to Dance
Released: July 9, 2021
BTS' latest release, which includes American Sign Language in the choreography, is all about living with good vibes and not letting the need for validation from others stop you from being you.
Special Mentions - Japanese Songs:
Most of the songs on this list do have Japanese versions but here are a few of BTS' original Japanese songs that are my favourites.
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Here's a Spotify playlist you can follow to listen to all these songs!
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