BTS have had quite the year, to say the least. The South Korean K-pop group have had three Hot 100 number ones, a Grammy nomination, smashed the YouTube record for most views in 24 hours and spoke at the 75th UN General Assembly – and that’s only since August.
BE is BTS’ 2nd album of 2020, following their hit Map of The Soul: 7 which dropped in February. The new album sports the most direct involvement from the group’s members – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – with every member being credited as a songwriter on at least one of the 6 new songs. While BTS have been known for being active songwriters since their debut days, this album in particular was a very interactive experience as they took fans through the entire creation process through frequent live streamed broadcasts where they discussed how they were project-managing not just the tracks but also the visuals, storytelling, music videos and all the details, right down to the number of tracks. This makes for BTS’, in their own words, “most BTS-like album yet” thanks to it being heavily self-produced.
The overall tone of BE, which currently sits at No.1 on the Billboard album’s chart and debuted at No.1 on the Irish album charts, is strikingly different to the group’s previous sparkly disco-pop hit single “Dynamite”. You get the impression that the members are taking you through their pandemic experience, with their soft and soulful title track “Life Goes On” opening the album. The song is a clear reference to the current health crisis with lyrics that draw attention to the fact that while the current situation seems to be never ending, life does continue on and “the day will come back around/As if nothing happened”. The song is entirely relatable and quite emotionally touching. Jungkook’s opening lines in particular strike a painful chord in the heart as he recalls “One day, the world stopped/Without any warning/Spring didn’t know to wait/Showed up not even a minute late”.
The album continues its soothing yet sentimental feel with the song “Fly to My Room”, a sub-unit song featuring Jimin, V, J-Hope and Suga. The song tells us that while travel is difficult during Covid, we should not hesitate to “fly” to more private places for rest and relaxation. The album continues with “Blue and Grey”, co-produced by V, a touching song that uses colour metaphors to represent depression and anxiety.
The midpoint of the album is the fourth track , entitled “Skit”, an audio sketch showcasing the members reactions to their first ever Billboard Hot 100 No.1 with “Dynamite”. It breaks up the album into two halves and lightens the mood for the proceeding tracks. Following this we have the funky and fun “Telepathy” which describes a connection one can feel to someone far away, hinting at their relationship with their fanbase, ARMY. “Dis-ease” gives us a throwback hip-hop vibe, reflecting on the trying times artists are going through during this pandemic.
“Stay” is the final new song on the album, a second sub-unit song which consists of RM, Jungkook and Jin. It is a hype EDM track that reminds the fans one last time to hold out until they can once again meet in concert. The album is topped off with the groups only exclusively English track, the positive and fun “Dynamite”, ensuring that the album comes entirely through the pandemic experience having started off with darker, more emotional tracks and ending on the group’s lightest and most positive track yet.
