Top 20 Best BTS Songs - Ranked by Rollingstone

20. 'Pied Piper' (2017)

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Don’t be fooled by the happy, stroll-in-the-park instrumental — 'Pied Piper' has one of BTS’s most incendiary messages. This song is a warning to ARMY who lose sight of reality and spend too much time on BTS, rather than focusing on their own lives first. It’s a rare occasion for a group to call out their passionate fans, but highly relevant given how easy it is to go from health support to brainwashed behavior towards a band.

Alluding to the German legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, BTS’s rap line acts as the voice of reason (“You have so many pictures of me in your room anyway / It's not just one hour, it's a whole year that'll disappear”), while the vocal line doubles down on airy falsettos that bait the listener further into temptation (“I'm here to save you, I'm here to ruin you / You called me, see? I'm so sweet”).

19. 'Boy in Luv' (2014)

A collaboration with US star Halsey, on release ‘Boy With Luv’ became BTS’ most successful song to date stateside, even temporarily holding the record for most views on a YouTube video in a twenty-four-hour span

. It’s easy to tell why: the sugary instrumental sprinkled with the individual members’ versatile contributions is an easy recipe for a hit, with Halsey’s cries of ‘Oh my my my’ during the chorus acting as the icing on the cake. The music video is classic BTS as well, with the group’s dancing in a diner being a particular highlight, and a drive through a pink-purple cityscape with Halsey as another. SUGA’s and RM’s rap verses prove once again that the group is astonishingly multi-faceted, each member contributing significantly on different levels.

18. 'Magic Shop' (2018)

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More than a song too many people, another life savior. Why search for answers to questions when they can be found within yourselves, yes in the magic shop inside your heart, just open the door and all the worries would be out!

17. '2! 3!' (2016)

“Wishing for better days,” the group sing in the emotionally charged chorus of this melodic fan song. An overview of the ‘BTS and ARMY’ life, this track not only bears a message of hope but relishes the pain and struggles the group went through to get this far. The Big Hit team of Pdogg, Slow Rabbit and Hitman Bang have contributed to writing the lyrics of this song along with BTS’ rap line.

16. 'Ugh!' (2020)

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BTS’ rap line have a penchant for ferocious wordplay and the trio live up to that reputation as they romanticize anger and frustration as important driving forces of life—when applied in the right situations—in this aggressive high-tempo track. j-hope shines through with his diverse and almost playful vocal modulation. The track accentuates the negatives of destructive rage, advising listeners to use their anger for positive change. It’s a massive dig at all online keyboard ‘warriors’ and trolls who spend their days typing hateful comments instead of paying attention to bigger, societal issues.

15. 'Just One Day' (2014)

14. 'Paradise' (2018)

Photo: Youtube

13. 'Dis-ease' (2020)

12. 'Run' (2015)

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Considered a key foundation of BTS’ cinematic and lyrical universe, “Run” is a great blend of refreshing vocals and edgy rap flows which played a massive role in the group’s rise to fame. It portrays teenage rebellion and the dreams and hopes of youth, switching between fast and slow-paced sonic scapes, giving the track an almost dreamlike quality. As proof of the diamond-in-the-rough potential of BTS in 2015, the track is a crown jewel in the group’s discography today. “Run” urges the listener to keep going and never give up no matter how devastating life gets. The relatablity of the lyrics as well as the stories of the characters in its music video established BTS’ image as a mirror for the youth to see themselves in.

11. 'Boyz With Fun' (2015)

In 2015, on the cusp of their journey to becoming the biggest band in the world, BTS was beginning to experiment with more mellow soundscapes. However, 'Boyz With Fun' was proof that they could churn out high-energy tracks without taking themselves too seriously.

One of the early career highlights, the track sees the septet trading rap and vocal melodies with ease made even more charming by the semi-improvisational bridge which showcased the band’s ability to abandon polished musicality for a bit of fun.

10. 'Dope' (2015)

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“Dope” hurtled BTS from being moderately known to a rising force in the K-pop industry back in 2015. Also widely recognized in pop culture by RM’s “Welcome, first time to BTS?” opening line, it’s almost as if the leader predicted an influx of thousands of new fans with the release. The track has a mellow build-up that leads to a powerful chorus featuring instruments like saxophones and trumpet squeals, which give the track its characteristic melody.

Don’t let the party beat mislead you, because the lyrics narrate a different story. Defined as ‘jungle-exotic’ lyrics by music critics, the boys describe their tireless work as their biggest weapon. In a time where ‘being dope’ meant clubbing and waning away productive youth, the BTS definition of ‘being dope’ is committing to hard work, sacrifice, talent, and progression. The gleaming music video, with over 500 million views (the first of theirs to hit 100 million views) features the boys dressed as professionals in various fields, such as a doctor, car racer, office worker, policeman, etc, keeping the message clear: no matter what the job is, hard work is the key to success.

9. 'I Need U' (2015)

The track that gave BTS their first music show win in South Korea, it marked the group’s evolution towards a more diverse, pop sound and the introduction of BTS’s cinematic narrative, known as Bangtan Universe (BU). In the MV, the members enact a coming of age story allegedly inspired by Alan Garner’s novel The Owl Service, and depict experiences of love, friendship, loss, violence, and more.

Released in 2015, this vital BTS track thrives on a wistful atmosphere of electronic synths and emotional hooks. They yearn for a doomed relationship — “I need you, girl / Why do you love me and leave me all by yourself? / I need you, girl / Why do I need you when I know it hurts me?” goes the chorus — and take the listener on a journey that is both exhilarating and moving.

8. 'Blood Sweat & Tears' (2016)

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"Blood Sweat & Tears" explores themes of temptation, desire, desperation, and sacrifice. Between the sensuality of the song itself and the sumptuous music video — partially inspired by Herman Hesse's Demian — it's a feast for the senses.

This Top hit of BTS from the very famous 2016 Wings Album has won Billboard Music Award. (Truly Deserving)

The video involves BTS sending across a message to the youth about falling into temptation and losing their innocence.

The inner struggles oneself between good and evil are well portrayed.

The music video is rife with Biblical art references such as ‘The Last Supper’ and the ‘Forbidden Fruit.’

When it comes to the dance no one can deny how lavish it is.

7. 'Black Swan' (2020)

From the moment it begins, you know “Black Swan” is different from anything BTS has ever done before.

The top BTS song is the title track of the most sold album Map of the Soul:7.

Lyrically, “Black Swan” is a nerve-wracking portrayal of how the passage of time affects an artist, the fear of not being able to create music that resonates with the world and losing the ability to express oneself.

How an artist dies twice once the actual death and the other when the artist loses his passion is brilliantly put across!

6. 'Dimple' (2017)

Photo: Youtube

A romantic vocal-line pop track describing almost illegal dimples that make hearts flutter, this song appears on BTS’ fifth EP Love Yourself: Her (the first of the Love Yourself trilogy). Written by RM, with lyrical wordplay, “illegal (illegal) oh yes,/ So I call you illegirl,” we are serenaded by Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook over a melodic rhythm that is flirtatiously captivating. The quartet’s live performance of this track is another unforgettable moment in BTS’ onstage arsenal; they flirt playfully with the audience throughout, giving out generous doses of winks, eye-contact with the cameras, and sexy choreography.

5. 'Silver Spoon (Baepsae)' (2015)

Under the facade of a clamoring beat and many hip thrusts, this song is a reminder of the band’s unequalled narrative of social critique in their music. Co-written by RM, the lyrics are a breakdown of the hierarchical workplace systems in South Korea and make satirical use of Korean traditional proverbs to diss the idea of, “effort will get you where you deserve.” The song is also titled “Silver Spoon” in English, brazenly calling out the unethical ways of the system designed to reward the rich while the poor remain at the bottom.

4. 'Burning Up (Fire)' (2016)

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In 2016, BTS completed their youth-focused HYYH era with 'The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever' and of its three singles 'Fire' is simultaneously heartfelt, comforting and explosive, capturing the frustration of a young life not yet fulfilled where others seem to be succeeding.

“Throw your hands up, scream, burn it up,” Jimin sings in Korean, as synths and bass shudder faster behind him into a balled fist of sound. Suga speaks his deadpan '불타오르네 (burning up)' into the brief silence before you’re plunged into one of the noisiest, hands-in-the-air choruses of BTS’s career.

Sonic trends have come and gone since, but the EDM throwdown of 'Fire' hasn’t lost an iota of its ability to make the pulse race.

3. 'Ddaeng' (2018)

This number is the ultimate diss track and was written by the rappers RM, SUGA and j-hope to be released on Soundcloud for free as a part of BTS Festa (an annual event celebrating the group’s anniversary.) The song’s beat incorporates traditional Korean instruments with a gritty trap beat and the lyrics again display BTS’ love for wordplay with several puns and cultural references. For example, the song starts with, ‘ilpal, ilsam, sampal,’ (numbers 18, 13, 38) which is the strongest combination in Korean card games, implying that the hand BTS currently holds is unbeatable.

The title “Ddaeng” itself alludes to multiple symbolic references, such as the sound of a buzzer to indicate a wrong answer, a school bell, or even a winning hand of bingo. RM uses nearly six different meanings of the word to deliver a scorching, calculated diss to haters. The track is completely profanity-free, but the confidence, swagger and overall message is very clear: nobody should ever belittle the power of BTS.

2. 'Save Me' (2016)

Photo: imdb

A love song with a difference, 'Save Me' is a mix of longing, rap, and iconic EDM breaks. The track is multifaceted, on one hand you have Jimin kicking off the song with melancholic vocals, then rap segments by RM, J-Hope, and Suga, all spliced with an electronic dance beat that was peak 2016.

What stands out the most on this track is not only that again it highlights how diverse in sound and style BTS as a collective are, but also the insane choreography they do. 'Save Me' is a track that puts all of BTS’ strengths on a platter, whilst also conveying the heartache that is carried out in the lyrics. There are not many songs that can have such a contrast of making you feel forlorn, whilst also wanting to get up and dance.

1. 'Spring Day' (2017)

One of the band’s most emotional offerings to date, 'Spring Day' from 'You Never Walk Alone', is a poetic exploration of friendships lost to the passage of time and the longing to rekindle it. The track begins with aching nostalgia which turns hopeful reflected in the analogy of changing seasons as sadness follows happiness follows sadness in an endless loop that is life. With sentimental lyricism and wintery imagery complementing the delicate melancholy of its production, elevated by a showcase of goosebump-inducing vocals.

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