BTS The Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS

**Unraveling the Secret of BTS Phenomenon** The largest portion of this book is dedicated to the examination of sixteen albums that BTS has released. It was an unquestionable, obvious organization for me, albeit it may be demanding for the readers. To write this book, I replayed BTS’ entire discography ad nauseam, though I am already familiar with the songs from previous repeated listens. I re-analyzed all the tracks in all of their singles, albums, solo albums, and activities in their entirety from scratch. I replayed same songs too many times to the point of blanking out occasionally. To elaborate the meaning and the appeal of their songs in musical terms, and to formulate a guide for those who listen to their music for the first time, I kept repeating the songs to develop a new framework. As a result, this book became compilation of critiques, reviews, and liner notes. It is my answer to how BTS came to be the sensation they are to-day. You will not find it in a few sentences or an article, but throughout the analyses of all the songs, lyrics, and the steps of the journey that BTS has taken. As you read this book, I wish you will put on your favorite speakers or headsets and enjoy BTS’ music again as you recap their career from the beginning. You may as well compare and contrast your impression with a music critic’s perspective. When you turn the final page, I hope you are satisfied with my answer on the essence and the secret of BTS’ success. **“Sipping a warm cup of tea, I look up at the Milky Way”** PROLOGUE - Unraveling the Secret of BTS Phenomenon 7 Part 1 BTS the Hip-hop Idol 16 COLUMN 01 - The Onset of BTS Phenomenon at KCON 2014 18 REVIEW 01 - 2 COOL 4 SKOOL (2013, Single) 25 Album Review 26 Track Review 28 REVIEW 02 - O!RUL8,2? (2013, EP) 35 Album Review 36 Track Review 38 REVIEW 03 - SKOOL LUV AFFAIR (2014, EP) 45 Album Review 46 Track Review 48 SKOOL LUV AFFAIR SPECIAL ADDITION (2014, Repackage) 55 Track Review 56 COLUMN 02 - The Evolution of K-pop Idols 58 REVIEW 04 - DARK&WILD (2014, Album) 66 Album Review 67 Track Review 69 REVIEW 05 - RM BY Rap Monster (2015, Mixtape) 80 Album Review 81 Track Review 84 INTERVIEW 01 - BTS, the Underrated Rappers _Bong-hyeon Kim, Hip-hop Journalist 90 Part 2 BTS the New Model of K-pop 101 COLUMN 03 - Narrative and Authenticity over Localization 103 REVIEW 06 - The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1 (2015, EP) 117 Album Review 118 Track Review 120 REVIEW 07 - The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2 (2015, EP) 126 Album Review 127 Track Review 128 REVIEW 08 - The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever (2016, Repackage) 134 Album Review 135 Track Review 137 INTERVIEW 02 - Becoming Musicians Beyond Idols_Brother Su, Composer 140 REVIEW 09 - AGUST D BY AGUST D (2016, Mixtape) 150 Album Review 151 Track Review 154 REVIEW 10 - WINGS (2016, Album) 160 Album Review 161 Track Review 163 YOU NEVER WALK ALONE (2017, Repackage) 173 Track Review 174 INTERVIEW 03 - Fan Translators: Leaders of Content Distribution in the Age of New Media 178 INTERVIEW 04 - Consolation for the Distressed Youth_Hyeong-cheol Shin, Literary Critic 187 Part 3 BTS the World’s Most Popular Pop Group 198 REVIEW 11 - LOVE YOURSELF 承 ‘Her’ (2017, EP) 200 Album Review 201 Track Review 203 COLUMN 04 - ARMY’s New K-Pop Discourse 210 INTERVIEW 05 - The Perspective of Korean Popular Music Critics on the BTS Phenomenon 220 REVIEW 12 - HOPE WORLD BY J-HOPE (2018, Mixtape) 229 Album Review 230 Track Review 232 REVIEW 13 - LOVE YOURSELF 轉 ‘Tear’ (2018, Album) 237 Album Review 238 Track Review 240 COLUMN 05 - Is BTS Really Popular in the United States? 249 INTERVIEW 06 - The New Mechanism of K-pop Industry_Jeff Benjamin, Billboard’s K-pop columnist 258 REVIEW 14 - LOVE YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’ (2018, Repackage) 274 Album Review 275 Track Review 277 COLUMN 06 - Eolssu: a Presentation of “Korean Authenticity” in K-pop 283 REVIEW 15 - mono. BY RM (2018, Mixtape) 292 Album Review 293 Track Review 295 COLUMN 07 - Massive Sing-along in Korean in the Heart of New York 300 COLUMN 08 - The Implication of Grammy Awards Nomination 307 INTERVIEW 07 - A Conversation with a Korean Voting Member of the Grammy Awards 314 COLUMN 09 - Beyond “the Greatest Boy Band on the Planet” 328 EPILOGUE - The Missing Link in Media Coverage of the BTS Phenomenon 340 NOTES 346