This week, the boy band, who are ravaging charts and breaking records all over the world, celebrate ten years since their first record debut. Despite the fact that at the time of writing, BTS has taken a break as a group due to mandatory military service and a focus on solo careers, the ball hasn’t stopped rolling. Among other things, they are current with a brand new single, which they have dedicated to the fans on the occasion of the anniversary. Most people have heard of BTS, but do you know who they are and why they are so popular? Here is a quick guide with 7 reasons why they have taken the world by storm: Handpicked success Did you know that BTS stands for “Bangtan Sonyeondan” – which translated into Norwegian is “bulletproof boy scouts?” Photo: Chris Pizzello / AP It is no coincidence who is in BTS. The seven have the stage names RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – and all have been handpicked to be part of this particular band. The search for the perfect band began in 2010, when the company Big Hit Entertainment began looking for members. All seven have been selected because of their different skills. For example, some people are extra good at rapping or singing, while others are more gifted in dancing. The group practiced together for several years, before they made their debut in 2013. Ten years have passed since the debut “2 Cool 4 Skool”, an album from a then unknown band that sold around 24,000 modest copies of their record in the same year. Since then, a lot has happened. They are now referred to as the world’s biggest band, and “everyone” wants a piece – In addition to having given speeches at the UN, they have been named special ambassadors for South Korea, and they have visited the White House House. BTS visited the White House in May this year. There they met, among other things, President Joe Biden and discussed topics such as hate crime and racism against people of Asian origin. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP Annoyingly catchy music Have you managed to get the mega hit “Dynamite” out of your head yet? Neither do we. A GLOBAL HIT: “Dynamite” was the band’s first song exclusively in English, and is perhaps BTS’ most popular release to date. BTS originally started as a pure hip-hop group. But then BTS started focusing on well-produced pop with elements of rap and RnB, and then came the big breakthrough. The group has set a number of records, including being the first Korean band to be nominated for a Grammy. They have topped the album chart on Billboard, and in 2019 they were the first band from Asia to surpass five billion plays on the streaming service Spotify. BTS has also gradually become known for its many diligent collaborations with other big music names, including Coldplay, Halsey – and our own Kygo, to great success. Determined to be the best BANDS: BTS has a real impact on the South Korean economy. Photo: AFP An important reason why BTS and K-pop have become so big is because the state of South Korea is actively working to promote Korean culture in the world. Do you feel that South Korean movies, music, art and cosmetics are all over the place at the moment? It is not accidental. After an economic crisis in the 90s, the authorities in the country decided that they should become big on cultural exports. The aim was to build a new, national brand, to make money and to strengthen its position in the world. Thus, the state pumped money into pop culture over many years – something that has obviously worked. BTS has become a major source of income for the country, and has achieved enormous success despite primarily singing in their native language. Two years ago, the central bank in South Korea determined that the group contributed a staggering NOK 50 billion a year (!) to the country’s economy. Record-breaking stage shows and music videos Photo: MARIO ANZUONI / Reuters If you’ve seen these guys dance, you know what we’re talking about. Being the world’s biggest boy band requires hard work, and BTS has previously stated that at times they have practiced choreography 12 hours a day to stay fit. The concerts of BTS consist of a very high energy level, where the dancing is as big a part of the show as the music itself. The band is also often praised for its charm on stage, and always does so in trendy outfits that are not afraid to challenge traditional gender norms. Corset, skirt and bling? Yes please. YOUTUBE RECORD: The music video for the song “Butter” received 113 million views in the first 24 hours after publication – an undisputed record on YouTube. BTS’s music videos are known for being polished, hyper-aesthetic – and for breaking records. When the music video for “Dynamite” premiered on YouTube in the summer of 2020, 3 million viewers leaned in front of the screen to watch it. The following year they broke their own record with the music video for Butter – where 3.9 million viewers watched the premiere. ARMY – the dedicated fans Photo: Jordan Strauss / AP The massive fan base of BTS calls itself the ARMY. They have gradually become known for an impressive willingness to mobilize when it comes to promoting the band’s interests. You will be looking for more loyal fans for a long time. Among other things, they have shown muscle by turning a Donald Trump rally into an embarrassing affair because he stood in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, to which BTS has given support. They have also appeared on Times Square billboards in the million class in tribute to the band, and are one of the most active and most organized fan bases on the internet. BTS has a close relationship with their fans, and communicates a lot with them via social media. Here in Norway too, there are a large number of dedicated fans. Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP Different from other K-pop bands Photo: AP There are many k-pop bands out there, but BTS stands out in several ways. They are, according to many, more free to be themselves. Their lyrics are also more personal than many others within the K-pop genre. – Within k-pop there are many love songs about broken hearts and longing, but BTS has chosen to talk about quite a few other things in their songs. That’s what Thea Bakke says. She has a master’s degree in cultural studies and was living in South Korea when BTS debuted. – Among other things, BTS often sings about mental health, and about being happy with yourself as you are, says Bakke. They have also talked about this from the podium at the UN. A few years ago, BTS launched an international campaign, together with UNICEF. “The Love Myself” campaign is about everyone having to accept themselves as they are. Thus, they reach an even larger audience. Boy band with personality Photo: NTB Another reason why BTS have become so popular is simply that they have been on TV a lot. Several of the major American talk shows have put their love on BTS, which has made the band very popular in the United States. Jimmy Fallon has invited them to visit several times, and even had a BTS week a few years ago. BTS has also invested in YouTube, where they have their own channel with more than 75 million subscribers. They have set several records, including the YouTube record for the most views in one day. The song “Dynamite” was viewed 98.3 million times within a day when it was launched in 2020. However, being the world’s most popular boy band is not all joy and fun. Many K-pop groups have traditionally had a dating ban – despite the fact that this has never been confirmed by BTS themselves. K-pop? An abbreviation for Korean pop, i.e. South Korean pop music. The word encompasses both the music genre and an entire subculture around this music. K-pop culture is also known for a distinctive aesthetic, dance style, jargon, fan culture and ideal of beauty. Hungry for more things about music? Check these out:
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BTS turns ten years old – this is how they took over the world – news Culture and entertainment
