On Monday, September 18th, K-Pop group BTS released their highly-anticipated EP Love Yourself: Her. The project marks the first time fans have heard new music from the group since February, when they released You Never Walk Alone, a repacked version of their 2016 album Wings.
If case you are unfamiliar with the group, BTS is a boy band from Seoul, South Korea, consisting of seven members: Rap Monster, J-Hope, Jin, Jimin, V, Jungkook, and Suga. Formed by Big Hit Entertainment, they debuted in 2013 with their single “No More Dream,” and followed up with “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2.” The songs are featured in their EP 2 Cool 4 Skool. While they initially started their careers as primarily a hip-hop group, their style has now evolved to include more genres, which can be heard in their latest musical release Love Yourself: Her.
The first track on Love Yourself, titled “Intro: Serendipity,” puts the spotlight on member Jimin, who is one of the four vocalists in the group. While listening to the song, fans are immediately drawn to his soft vocals. With lyrics aimed directly at a lover, the song easily makes any listener swoon, especially with its chorus of “Just let me love you.” The song appropriately reflects its title, “Serendipity,” and is also the perfect lead-up to the rest of the album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEMaH9Sm3lQ
The second track is lead single “DNA,” which is undeniably the catchiest song off of Love Yourself. The high-energy track gives the group a fresh sound with the use of acoustic guitars and a catchy whistle. The song is sure to draw in many new fans, especially since it has been added to several Spotify playlists, including the ‘Global Top 50’ list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdVXkSdhwU
The third track, “Best of Me,” has received special attention because of BTS’ collaboration with The Chainsmokers. While the EDM duo is not featured on vocals, The Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart helped co-write the song. The duo’s influence is clearly reflected through the song’s fun and upbeat EDM sound. Each of the members have their moment in the song, with the vocal-line members – Jungkook, Jimin, Jin, and V – shining in the chorus, and the rap-line members – Suga, J-Hope, and Rap Monster – taking the lead in the verses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAXcpgDErQ
In contrast with “Best of Me” is the fourth track, “dimple,” which only features the vocal-line members. The song is definitely one of the most memorable on the album, and is a favorite among BTS’ fans, the ARMY. The song has sweet, romantic lyrics talking about loving someone’s dimples. I guarantee whether you have dimples or not, you will be absolutely obsessed with this song because it feels as if the members are singing directly to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1jiZ8-JLo0
Next is “Pied Piper,” which is basically a letter to fans warning them not to become too overwhelmed for their love of BTS. It includes the lyrics, “Stop watching and start studying for your exams. Your parents and boss hate me.” Although the group appreciates fans’ support, they don’t want them to neglect other important aspects of their lives, including school and work, for their passion of the group. The title is a reference to the folktale of the same name about a character who influences others to follow him around. In this case, BTS is the Pied Piper as they sing “follow the sound of the flute, follow this song,” to their fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m2Ozq_1-jY
The next track is titled “Skit: Billboard Music Awards Speech.” It is not a song, and instead, is the audio from when BTS won the Top Social Artist Award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. Any fan would instantly feel emotional hearing the speech, as it just shows how far the guys have come since their debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkrWAxCRBAw
Appropriately following their speech is a track titled “Mic Drop,” which contrasts with the rest of the album because it shows the guys going back to their hip-hop roots. Unlike their past rap songs, this track features all of the members of BTS. The song is directed to their haters, as well as anyone that ever doubted them. They repeat the lyrics, “Did you see my bag? Did you see my bag? My bag’s filled with trophies,” and even give a shout out to their recent Billboard win by saying “Sorry Billboard, Sorry worldwide.” It is my personal favorite on the album, and I guarantee once you listen to it, you will have it on repeat (especially the live performance)!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vnMeXU4Q-g
Next is “Go Go,” which has a very lighthearted sound to it, especially because it repeats the phrase “Yolo,” which means “You only live once.” While the song may sound innocent, the lyrics actually contain a very important message, as it criticizes youth who carelessly spend their time and money partying. The live performance of the song emphasizes the song’s meaning through its playful choreography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YpVt43Aqvk
The last track on Love Yourself is titled “Outro: Her,” which has a jazzy beat and includes rap-line members Rap Monster, J-Hope, and Suga, singing about their love for someone they call “Her.” In an interview with Billboard, Rap Monster said he wrote the verse in just 20 minutes because the lyrics came from the bottom of his heart. Fans have speculated he may have met someone special, but he has not confirmed it. Whether or not that’s true, knowing Rap Monster feels a strong connection to the song puts even more meaning to it. The track has a chill vibe, and is a great way to end the album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJyn5toSd0A
With Love Yourself: Her, BTS has proven once again that they continue to make music that matters, with songs that contain relatable lyrics for the younger generation. Although their style has changed since their debut, they continue to prove they can tackle just about any genre. They have certainly come a long way since their first song, and they can only go up from here.
Overall, Love Yourself: Her is definitely worth the listen, and in case you really like the album, you should go check out its hidden tracks titled “Ocean” and “Skit: Hesitation & Fear.”