The countdown to BTS’s return has begun: Revisiting their most memorable songs

D-7…D-6….BTS is almost home from military service, even though we have to wait a little more for Suga to return, which will be on June 21.

But ARMY’s have started painting social media purple, the significant colour of the band, and have compiled quotes, best moments, best songs with the most impeccable choreographies to bring in the band’s return.

Who’s picking up whom at discharge? Will RM be there to welcome V? Will we get our first OT7 Weverse Live? As ARMY’s timelines fill with theories and excitement, there’s no better time to revisit BTS’s most unforgettable tracks—the ones you never skip. Narrowing down the list was nearly impossible, but here’s our take on 10 songs that define BTS and their unmatched connection with fans.

1) Mic Drop 

The footwork. The fury. The fan chants. Mic Drop is pure swagger, from J-Hope’s blazing intro to Suga’s sharp-edged verse that reads like a smirk at critics. “Apologise to Billboard”—and then comes the ARMY-favourite: “Mianhae eomma!” With razor-sharp choreography and their classic OT7 formation, this song continues to electrify concerts, years after its release.

2) Ddaeng

We’re never getting this song on Spotify, are we ARMY? It’s one thing that fans have been craving, considering the boys wield their words like weapons in this song. It’s a snarky track, addressing the criticisms always hurled at Korean rappers—to the point that has been documented on video, and RM, Suga’s reactions are clearly visible. Made for the 2018 fifth anniversary, which was a particularly tough year for BTS to the point that they almost considered disbanding, the song experiments with over 8 meanings of Ddaeng, over a traditional beat of Korean instrumentals.  In some of the best performances of the song, the room goes quiet when RM takes the stage, and utters his verse in quiet tones. Another memorable one? Jungkook joining RM. BTS truly, has the last word here.

3) Spring Day

A song on missing someone close to you, the hope of reunion is now almost a love letter between BTS and ARMY. It’s the last song they sang to fans at Busan before they announced their military, and fans are waiting to hear it again from the true OT7. In the song, BTS hopes for an end to a long winter; they long for spring again. It ends with a little hope, because they promise themselves, and fans: Morning will come again

4) Go Go 

Yes, you saw V wearing the Snow White dress and dancing too. That image is almost inseparable from this upbeat, fun song that actually takes potshots at materialist culture. The choreography, expressions always point to people who have money to splurge and throw around—explained in the words ‘Yolo yolo!

5) Bapsae or Silver Spoon

This song is dedicated to those from the older generation who target the millennial for ‘not working hard’ and for not working enough. The intricacies of the song lie in Korean slang, but essentially, the boys just say that their generation is overworked, especially those from less privileged sections and are expected to work without much pay. The finest moment of the song, is Jungkook’s rare scathing tones, You must be kidding me!’  And RM’s sharp Bang bang!

6) Fire

Suga begins, ‘It’s burning up’. And that kicks off a series of synths, and the blaring tones of Fire! It’s bold, loud and edgy, with a sharp choreography to match, with the cherry on cake being Jimin finishing off the song with incredible footwork at 3:33. The song is a demand for the younger generations to set ‘fire’ to their own worries and limitations that hold them back.

7) Run

Run is filled with painful emotions. It hurts and heals—as it shows the power of being young, and the constant urge to keep running, no matter how exhausted, burnt you are. You have cuts on your feet, but keep going. J-Hope’s stanza is particularly biting—Is this sweat or tears, I can’t really tell…but they make me run again. And then the chorus with Jungkook, Jimin singing, oh foolish fate, curse me. 

8) Run BTS

One of the last few songs that the band wrote before heading to the military, it describes their journey from the ‘bottom’, and how their feet were the only gasoline they had. The most powerful aspect of the song is when J-Hope takes the band’s names, and praises them for doing well. The choreography is practically a masterpiece, as RM stands in the centre, as the leader, with his members around him.

 9) Butter

Light, bright, and unapologetically fun. Butter may have drawn criticism for being fully in English, but BTS shrugged it off—and topped charts for 10 straight weeks. With a Grammy nomination and a chorus that refuses to leave your head, Butter is a summer anthem that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

10) Pied Piper

A song that addresses fan obsessions with the band, this song employs high vocals—particularly Jin and V, who have now made it immortal owing to one video clip that keeps circulating of the two of them singing it with a raging intensity.

These are just a few from a sparkling discography: Other songs include, On, Dynamite, Dope, Butterfly, Save Me, I Need You, Dionysus, among many gems.