BTS Song Association

With the announcement of BTS’s anthology album, we look back on the amazing history of the boys. While thinking of their previous releases, I started thinking of words that would represent each of BTS’s title tracks. After thinking of a few, I figured it would be fun to make it into a little activity. I’ll choose one word to describe each of BTS’s title tracks, and after, there will be a fill out space for you to write in your choices! Now let’s move on to the list!

NO MORE DREAM: YOUTH

The beginning of BTS’s career is marked with this amazing song that displays BTS’s initial rough hip-hop concept. The lyrics discuss the difficulties youth face when approaching their future. Some of these difficulties include others meddling into future decisions such as post-secondary schooling and career paths. I think this song carries such a strong message to youth and reminds them to stick to their dreams–no one else’s. It also reminds us that even though school is important, it isn’t everything. Most of all, this song is extremely relatable to so many young people facing exactly these problems–which are more common than many think. This song really captures the struggles of youth.

“Disobey the hell of society, grant a special pardon to your dream.

N.O: REBELLION

N.O. is pretty clearly about rebelling against authority and living for yourself. In the music video, the boys are seen fighting for their freedom and they finally succeed in their rebellion. In the specific scenario of N.O, the boys are rebelling against the oppression of their dreams. They don’t want to live by anyone else’s dreams or let anyone else choose their future. They want to fight for their own–that being music.

Everybody say no! It's not going to work anymore. Son't be captured in others dreams.

BOY IN LUV: CRUSH

Boy in Luv depicts a first crush scenario in both the lyrics and music video. BTS sings about the whirlwind of emotions that come with a crush as a teenager. The boys experience the power crushes have over oneself and the difficulties that come with it. The school trilogy is ended with love which leads us into the HYYH part of BTS’s storyline.

Why are you shaking up my heart?

DANGER: Confusion

I think the boys experience their first bitter taste of love in this song. Their significant other is sending them mixed signals, confusing them and making them question their relationship status. Through the music video, we see the impact this confusion has on the members. They are clearly unhappy and angry with the whole situation as they are seen boxing punching bags and edgily cutting their hair. The lack of clarity in their relationship is causing their frustration and anger as expressed in this song.

Are you kidding me? What am I to you?

I NEED U: Dependency

Just by the title, it’s easy to tell that this song is about being dependent on someone else. However, without looking at the lyrics, it seems like this is a typical love song. In fact, it is much more complicated than that. The dependency discussed in this song is instead an unwanted dependency. In the verses, the members talk about how much they hate the other person but they continue to circle back to them anyways. Even in the way the members sing the song, you can tell that they are severely dependent on their lover without wanting to be.

I need you girl, why do I need you when I know it hurts me?

RUN: Escape

Run was the song that sparked this whole idea. The music video for this song is so fun and carefree while also being rather dark and grungy. It really captures the essence of youth experiencing the feeling of wanting to run away from everything and just be free. Between the running and partying scenes, we also see scenes of the members struggling. This gives the impression that they are trying to escape from their harsh realities by physically running away as well as partying and living wildly.

I run, run, run, I can’t stop. Run, run, run, I can’t help it. This is all I can do anyways.

FIRE: Live

Fire is a really fun and youthful song about living life to the fullest. In the music video, the members are seen partying and having a good time with each other. After carefully reading the lyrics, I’ve realized that this song is more meaningful than many might think. The lyrics directly call on people who are upset to just let go for a moment and live life fully. I think it can be really comforting to just forget about everything for a while and have a good time which is exactly what BTS encourages us to do in this song. They just want us to live.

It's okay just to live because we're still young.

BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS: Temptation

The video, lyrics, choreography and styling of this song all convey this very word. The overall concept of Blood, Sweat and Tears as derived from the lyrics is young boys facing temptation. Even the way the members sing the song gives the impression that they are addicted to the temptation. Namjoon even mentions this word in his narration part prior to the bridge in the music video: “he too was a tempter.” This keyword also follows along with the possible devil theories related to this video. Overall, the existence of this song exudes temptation.

I cannot worship anyone but you and I knew the grail was poisoned but I drank it anyways.

SPRING DAY: Waiting

Of all the songs on the list, this was the most difficult to describe with only one word. Spring Day has such a complex and beautiful meaning that it is really hard to use just one word to cover its entirety. In the end, I chose the word “waiting.” Spring Day is generally about missing someone. The members sing about how they are waiting for a spring day so they can see the other person again. The tiresome waiting is symbolized by the season of winter and the end goal is represented by the beautiful spring day. Overall, this song is about how difficult missing someone can be and how frustrating waiting for them to return can seem. BTS once again has released this song to comfort us in our waiting. I find this song so meaningful in so many scenarios. For example, during the pandemic, this song was so relevant because we were unable to see anyone and the whole world was trapped in the winter with no clear sight of the spring day ahead. To wrap this one up, BTS did such an amazing job with this song and all its symbolism. No wonder why Spring Day is always high up on music charts!

How long do I have to wait? How many nights do I have to pass? To see you? To meet you?

DNA: Destiny

Back when I was in sixth grade, I had a friend who saw us watching the DNA music video and after that, she always said, destiny. Ever since, I’ve connected this word to DNA. DNA is such a swoony love song and I think the lyrics are so beautifully written. They perfectly describe the feeling of a destined relationship–when everything seems meant to be. I think is it such a romantic way to describe love and I really adore this song because of it. Not to mention, this somewhat reminds me of how I feel about BTS, especially after the concert. I really think the whole situation was destiny!

Don't worry love, none of this is a coincidence. We're totally different baby, because we're the two who found destiny.

FAKE LOVE: Realization

Much like Spring Day, this song was extremely difficult to put into one word as it is so complex. However, I have decided on the word “realization.” By looking at the lyrics of Fake Love, it is clear that the boys are stating how they changed themselves for the person they “loved.” However through this song, they are also realizing the difficulties of love–the pain part of love. They suddenly realize love isn’t always perfect or rather, it isn’t always destiny as they once believed in DNA. Loving someone isn’t always as amazing as the feeling of love itself. This realization of the pain, suffering and heartache that comes with love progresses the Love Yourself story into the Answer segment.

I wish love was as perfect as love itself. I wish all my weaknesses could be hidden. I grew a flower that can't be bloomed in a dream that can't come true.

IDOL: Confidence

Idol is really all about BTS being confident in themselves. I always consider this song a smack in the face to haters who don’t like them because they are Korean as in the music video, they really embrace their culture through set pieces and outfits. The music video overall is very bold and confident with its bright colours, interesting designs and unique CGI. Finally, the lyrics of this song explain just how little BTS cares about the negative comments people have to share. They often state that it doesn’t matter to them and they will keep on working hard regardless. Haters have nothing on BTS!

They point fingers at me but I don't care at all. Whatever the reason for your criticism is I know who I am

BOY WITH LUV: Love

Following the Love Yourself trilogy, BTS emerge as new people who love themselves. With this newfound knowledge, they can finally sing about love properly. I don’t think this song is necessarily about love in a romantic relationship, but being a loving person overall. The members now have love for themselves rather than someone else. With this, they take their love and spread it through this fun, poppy song.

I'm flying high up in the sky with the two wings you gave me back then

ON: Courage

Every time I think back to ON, I think it was an unintentional foreshadowing of the year we were about to have. It discusses having the courage to take on the pain and knowing that BTS and us, ARMY, have each other's backs. This was especially important during the pandemic, when we were separated for so long. When I’m feeling down or discouraged, I listen to this song and feel so empowered.

Can't hold me down 'cause you know I'm a fighter

DYNAMITE: Light

Personally, Dynamite was released at a time when I wasn’t feeling the best. The pandemic had been going on for a few months and the isolation was killing me. Then, Dynamite dropped and it was so refreshing to watch a BTS comeback with my friends again, just like old times. Because of this, I’ve always connected Dynamite with happiness or metaphorically, a light in the middle of a dark tunnel. I think this song had the same effect on many people and BTS often stated that Dynamite’s whole goal was to be just that. They wanted to provide some light to ARMY during a difficult time.

Life is sweet as honey, yeah this beat cha-ching like money.

Life Goes On: Hope

The purpose of the entire BE album was to provide comfort to ARMY during the challenging Pandemic. I’ve heard from many people that Life Goes On was really a source of hope and healing to them. For me, hearing this song reminded me that this was not the end and made me feel like things would get better soon. It was also a source of bonding for BTS and ARMY. Once again, they knew how we were feeling and they helped us by showing us they understood and remaining us that there was still hope for the future.

Like an echo in the forest the wind will come back around as if nothing happened.

BUTTER: Charisma

The first time I heard Butter, I couldn’t believe how true their statements were. For example, when Taehyung said “Hot like summer, yeah I’m making you sweat like that.” The whole song oozes charisma from the flirty lines to the swoon-worthy solo shots, BTS really proves the strength of their charisma through this song. They really are “smooth like butter.”

When I look in the mirror I'll melt your heart into two. I got that superstar glow.

PERMISSION TO DANCE: Freedom

This one is pretty straightforward. Permission to Dance, much like Life Goes On and Dynamite, was meant to serve as a comfort to ARMY. This song however, signals the end of the pandemic and returning to the freedom we once had prior to COVID-19. The music video features people taking off their masks and finally dancing together. Freedom is also metaphorically shown through the child letting go of the balloon. Everytime I hear this song, it washes away my worries, freeing me from the restraints they can have on me. This song is the epitome of freedom in all the best ways.

We don't need to worry 'cause when we fall we know how to land.