Courtesy of Vogue
Over the past week, fans have been rushing to various streaming platforms to get a first look at the brand-new studio album by the South Korean boy band BTS, which has taken the world by storm over the past few years.
“Map of the Soul: 7,” the group’s fourth album, consists of 20 songs and has been long-awaited by their fan base, known as the BTS Army. Some of their songs include collaborations with well-known pop stars, such as Halsey and Sia.
The K-pop group’s new album includes previous tracks from their EP “Map of the Soul: Persona,” which was released last year. Some of the songs included are “Boy with Luv,” “Make it Right,” “Dionysus” and “Jamais Vu,” which already sound familiar to the Army.
“Map of the Soul: 7,” is one of their most amazing collections yet, as it combines a variety of genres into one set, ranging from pop, hip-hop and dance to ballads. The group formed in 2013 and this album represents seven years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, and takes K-pop music to the next level.
BTS has become a sensation not only in their native country of South Korea, but all around the world. In the past year, not only has BTS conducted one world tour with another coming up this April, they have been winning several awards. They were the first ever K-pop group to perform at the Grammy Awards, which happened this year.
On “Map of the Soul: 7,” there are many songs to look forward to. “Make it Right,” released as a single in April 2019, was written by the K-pop group in collaboration with pop sensation Ed Sheeran. Overall, “Make it Right” is a very light-hearted, feel-good song that sends a message to those who want to improve their relationships.
“Boy with Luv” is a collaboration with Halsey that gets everyone on their feet. The single has become increasingly popular due to its catchy and dynamic beat. This song broke three world records on the day it was released: “Most Viewed YouTube Video in 24 Hours,” “Most Viewed YouTube Music Video in 24 Hours” and “Most Viewed Music Video in 24 Hours by a K-pop Group.”
“Black Swan” was released as a single last month and has a different tone compared to BTS’ previous singles. It is an exploration of a different genre with some elements that are considered to be dark and haunting, providing a sense of subtle emotions that tug at your heartstrings.
“ON” is considered a special track as there are two versions: an original, and a remix featuring Sia, who does an extraordinary job by lending her vocals. One element of “ON” that was extremely remarkable was the “big band” energy in the song’s introduction. Both versions are equally uplifting and provide a huge dose of positivity.
“Inner Child” primarily talks about struggles. Songwriter Kim Tae-hyung, known as “V,” wrote about what he went through during a rough time in his life and how to become a better person.
The last song worth mentioning is “Interlude: Shadow” written by Min Yoon-gi, known as “Suga.” This track provides a roller coaster of emotions with an emo-rap theme over a heavy bass. It sends a message that even though BTS is content with their worldwide fame and success, there are some negative aspects that come along with fame, such as loneliness and fear, which can’t be driven away.
Overall, BTS has proven again that they are here to stay with their new album “Map of the Soul: 7.”
