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BTS's most political and socially conscious songs, a thread -
No More Dream” (2 Cool 4 Skool, 2013)
the song strongly relates to how South Korean youth culture revolves largely around the country’s emphasis on education, which sees most students, as young as kindergartners, attending
the song strongly relates to how South Korean youth culture revolves largely around the country’s emphasis on education, which sees most students, as young as kindergartners, attending
special after school classes with the aim of attending the prestigious SKY universities: Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei.
“N.O” ( O!RUL8,2?, 2013)
addressed the hardships they and their peers have faced: "Who made us study machines?" raps Suga. "Who will take responsibility for us living the lives of puppets?"
addressed the hardships they and their peers have faced: "Who made us study machines?" raps Suga. "Who will take responsibility for us living the lives of puppets?"
RM asks as a response to his earlier question of “Will this really make our parents happy?” The entire song similarly questions the lifestyle of South Korean students and, like "No More Dream," expresses a desire to see change
“Dope” (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Part 1, 2015)
how the youth have to give up in the face of economic difficulties and societal ills. "Why are you killing us before we can try?" asks RM, referring to those who call out millennials for allegedly not working hard enough.
how the youth have to give up in the face of economic difficulties and societal ills. "Why are you killing us before we can try?" asks RM, referring to those who call out millennials for allegedly not working hard enough.
He also condemns the media and adults that demean the younger generation in the track ("The media and adults say we have no willpower and
look at us as if we're investments"), with Suga jumping in to declare them the “enemy."
look at us as if we're investments"), with Suga jumping in to declare them the “enemy."
“Silver Spoon” (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Part 2, 2015)
the “spoon” metaphor that is popular in South Korea, in which people are born with golden spoons, silver spoons, rusty spoons, dirty spoons, etc., regarding both their socio-economic status as well as
the “spoon” metaphor that is popular in South Korea, in which people are born with golden spoons, silver spoons, rusty spoons, dirty spoons, etc., regarding both their socio-economic status as well as
their generational plight; many young South Koreans, like many stateside millennials, feel that previous generations have left unstable environments for the current generation to inherit. Second, the animalistic hierarchy in which crow-tits, birds also known as parrotbills, are
try-hards angling to get to the top of the avian world but are unable to do so. The Korean idiom, “if a crow-tits walks like a stork it will break its legs” is frequently quoted as a reminder for people to remain in their lane, and is often used in relation to someone seemingly
low-class trying to reach the upper echelons of society. By embracing the identity of a crow-tit, BTS take ownership of the underdog nature of their career path, and that of their generational peers trying to achieve success in a world that appears biased against them.
The song also expresses anger over many young workers being coerced to accept what is known as “passion pay” in Korea, working for free to gain “experience.”
“Am I Wrong” (Wings, 2016)
this is one of the songs most shaped by BTS' South Korean identity: "We're all dogs and pigs/ we become dogs because we're angry," raps Suga. "It's the stork versus crow-tit, battling it out errday." Like in “Silver Spoon,” Suga references the avian
this is one of the songs most shaped by BTS' South Korean identity: "We're all dogs and pigs/ we become dogs because we're angry," raps Suga. "It's the stork versus crow-tit, battling it out errday." Like in “Silver Spoon,” Suga references the avian
metaphor to refer to people looking to achieve more in life, but it’s his inclusion of “dogs and pigs” that is the real clincher: the song's 2016 release came shortly after a Ministry of Education official, Na Hyang-wook, reportedly said that South Korea needs a caste system, and
described the average person as "dogs and pigs"who should be treated as such
"518-062"
A track created by Suga and featuring the vocals of rapper Nakshun that was released before BTS' formation. The song recalls the Gwangju Democracy Movement of 1980, during which the residents of the city rose up in protest against the coup d'etat and martial rule
A track created by Suga and featuring the vocals of rapper Nakshun that was released before BTS' formation. The song recalls the Gwangju Democracy Movement of 1980, during which the residents of the city rose up in protest against the coup d'etat and martial rule
of Chun Doo-Hwan. The song features lyrics by Suga, then using the pseudonym Gloss, that urge listeners to not forget the largely student-spurred democracy protest.
Sea (2017)
The lyrics explore reaching the peak of success only to realise happiness isn't as easily found, and the difficulty of overcoming those mental hurdles. "But why is there this fear in between the happiness?"
The lyrics explore reaching the peak of success only to realise happiness isn't as easily found, and the difficulty of overcoming those mental hurdles. "But why is there this fear in between the happiness?"
Go Go (2017)
An ode to the YOLO culture we're living in right now, wherepeople seek satisfaction through consumerism "Pinching pennies to spend it all on wasting it"
An ode to the YOLO culture we're living in right now, wherepeople seek satisfaction through consumerism "Pinching pennies to spend it all on wasting it"
“Whalien 52” (2015)
a song exploring their own loneliness through the metaphor of a whale. “Some say, 'Bastard, you’ve become a celebrity,'" Suga raps. “Oh fuck that, yeah, well, so what, nobody remains by my side.”
a song exploring their own loneliness through the metaphor of a whale. “Some say, 'Bastard, you’ve become a celebrity,'" Suga raps. “Oh fuck that, yeah, well, so what, nobody remains by my side.”
RM & Wale - “Change” (2017)
Change speaks of police brutality and the rigid korean system. Wale raps about how he’s “Hated by alt-rights and racist police,” while RM addresses keyboard warriors.
Change speaks of police brutality and the rigid korean system. Wale raps about how he’s “Hated by alt-rights and racist police,” while RM addresses keyboard warriors.
“Not Today” (2017)
This song serves as an empowerment anthem “for all of the underdogs of the world.” Obviously, BTS is included in that group as they came from a small company like Big Hit, then carved a place for themselves at the top of the Korean music charts.
This song serves as an empowerment anthem “for all of the underdogs of the world.” Obviously, BTS is included in that group as they came from a small company like Big Hit, then carved a place for themselves at the top of the Korean music charts.
"So What" (2018)
Calling out people struggling with the difficulties of every day life, BTS give a rousing shout of 'so what' and tell people to follow their dreams without fear "In a sigh, lots of worries are hiding/ Stop thinking about it, you already know it all/in the middle
Calling out people struggling with the difficulties of every day life, BTS give a rousing shout of 'so what' and tell people to follow their dreams without fear "In a sigh, lots of worries are hiding/ Stop thinking about it, you already know it all/in the middle
road, in the moment you want to give it up/shout out louder/so what"
tw // depression
Agust D: The Last (2016)
Suga addresses mental illness "Behind a successful idol rapper stands my weak self, a bit dangerous. Depression and compulsion sometimes flare up, Maybe that’s my true self, feeling of separation from the reality"
Agust D: The Last (2016)
Suga addresses mental illness "Behind a successful idol rapper stands my weak self, a bit dangerous. Depression and compulsion sometimes flare up, Maybe that’s my true self, feeling of separation from the reality"
"21st Century Girls" (2016)
a song that tells girls to live however they want, to have self-confidence and remember "Tell them that you're strong/tell them you're enough"
a song that tells girls to live however they want, to have self-confidence and remember "Tell them that you're strong/tell them you're enough"
Ugh! (2020)
the song talks about misplaced rage and point to the idea that anger and frustration are necessary parts of life sometimes, but there's a point where it becomes destructive more than anything. And the boys rap about how anger is never directed at the right things but
the song talks about misplaced rage and point to the idea that anger and frustration are necessary parts of life sometimes, but there's a point where it becomes destructive more than anything. And the boys rap about how anger is never directed at the right things but
rather wasted on people and things that don't deserve it. "Rage? Of course you need it, When it burns up there's always a reason. Mayhaps it’s our history
Sometimes it changes the world. But this is not rage, this is excretion
Which one is rage, you know? Pretending it's rage and
Sometimes it changes the world. But this is not rage, this is excretion
Which one is rage, you know? Pretending it's rage and
killing, real rage"
"The truths may become false, the lies may become true
In this place, everyone becomes someone with perfect ethics and perfect judgment, that’s funny"
"The truths may become false, the lies may become true
In this place, everyone becomes someone with perfect ethics and perfect judgment, that’s funny"
this pre debut song made by Namjoon urging his people to vote
‘닥투' (vote or just shut up) from 2012
‘닥투' (vote or just shut up) from 2012
"Spine Breaker" (2014)
The title refers to kids who will 'break their parents' backs' demanding expensive items to stay on trend "The class system of the 21st century is divided into two/those who have and those who don't", it also addresses consumerism and peer pressure
The title refers to kids who will 'break their parents' backs' demanding expensive items to stay on trend "The class system of the 21st century is divided into two/those who have and those who don't", it also addresses consumerism and peer pressure
End of thread
this thread was made with the help of quotes from bts lyrics, references from relevant articles and my personal knowledge on their lyricism, thankyou for taking the time to read
