Bangtan Sonyeondan, known as BTS by their global audience, released their much anticipated enhanced album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” on Feb. 21. With 20 songs, 15 of which are exclusively new songs, the worldwide phenomenon has made a return after a 10-month rest period.
BTS is a genre of their own. I started listening to the South Korean boy band during high school when I was trying to find the balance between being the person society expected of me and who I hoped to become. What sets BTS apart from other K-pop acts is their socially-aware lyrics and comforting message of self-love. “Map of the Soul: 7” is a love letter to their fans, ARMY, which stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youth. The album confesses their deepest fears and aspirations to those who have been with them since the beginning and also those who have just stumbled upon their music.
The single “Black Swan” was released a month prior to the album. With trap beats and contemporary choreography, the seven members beautifully expressed their fear of losing their passion for the arts they have poured blood, sweat and tears into. The overload of autotune was intentional to illustrate their lost voices and the missing desire for music.
The album’s title track “ON” is a literal reversal of their 2013 single “N.O.” The band enlisted the help of musicians from UCLA to record the instrumentals and harmonize vocals for “ON,” including the marching band and vocal jazz ensemble. The message of “Can’t hold me down ‘cuz you know I’m a fighter” is strong throughout the hip-hop/anthem song.
The album also comprises solo songs of each member, each correlating to their vocal range and personality. RM’s “Persona” is a minimalistic rap track that samples their older song “Skool Luv Affair” with the running question of “Who the hell am I?” SUGA’s “Shadow” is an explosion of anger and fear of being seen by other people. J-Hope’s cheerful “EGO” is about feeling secure and trusting oneself. Jin’s “Moon” is a shy yet passionate declaration of his love for ARMY. Jimin’s “Filter” is his way of escaping the layers of filters he has placed on himself over the years. V’s “Inner Child” tells a story of his younger self telling his future self that “I’ll become you / You just have to look at my galaxies.” Jungkook’s “My Time” reminiscences about his lost childhood and trying to cope with years of being in the spotlight.
The album ends with “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” a homage to their debut song, “We Are Bulletproof Pt.1.” Unlike the hip-hop beat of their debut single, the members took the opportunity to thank their fans for staying by their side through a stadium-anthem, EDM track. Lyrics like “We were only seven / But we have you all now” tug at the heartstrings of those who have watched the boys grow up over the last seven years.
BTS’s dedication to communicating their earnest and authentic feelings through their lyrics is amongst one of the reasons why they have gathered such a strong fanbase and worldwide success. It’s prideful to watch their discography come together as a coherent story. Seven years, seven members and the luck of number seven—it’s a jackpot.
