It’s been about two weeks since the release of ‘Wings,’ and BTS has been breaking all the records with their second full album. At this point, it’s easier to ask what records have not been broken yet. As someone who has been with BTS since the very beginning, it was amazing to finally see- or rather hear their sound develop into something more mature than their debut days with ‘We are Bulletproof Pt2.’ I decided to break this review up into 4 parts to compliment the 4 different versions of the album that BTS has released this time. I’ll also be focusing quite a bit on lyrics with this review, since BTS is known for their thought-provoking words and themes. One of the things that really got me excited for this album was the news that each member would have a solo track, and they did not disappoint!
So without further ado, let’s start Part W: When BTS Revealed What Boy Meets.
- Intro: Boy Meets Evil
This is the first time that J-hope has taken the responsibility of the introduction song and he was impressive. He teamed up with Jungkook, who sang the chorus. J-hope rapped his way through telling us what the evil is: a girl. The intro definitely set a dark tone for the entire album, and was backed by a very strong instrumental that had me picturing J-Hope’s trailer choreography the entire time. Previously, Suga’s intro for the special Forever Young album was my favorite, but has now been subsequently replaced by J-Hope and his addictive intro.
Watch the ‘Boy meets Evil’ trailer here:
- Blood, Sweat and Tears
The title track blew me away while watching the music video, and it was powerful enough to do the same without it. Like most of BTS’s songs, this one has a great balance between vocals and rap. While the vocal line creates one of the catchiest choruses I’ve heard, the rap line delivers lyrics that are both dark and suggestive. As with every song, one or two members will stand out to me and I’ll be singing their parts on repeat for days. Here, I found two gems that I have not been able to eradicate from my head:
J-Hope’s “Wonhae manhi manhi” which has no doubt caught the attention of everyone else.
Suga’s “Kiss me on the lips”, at the start of his passionate second rap verse
As far as instrumental goes, there is no doubt of an exotic presence that is new to BTS. Sometimes change isn’t a good thing for a group. However, this time it’s probably the best thing that could have happened. What makes this song such a winner, is the way it captures your attention from the very beginning- which is something very few songs are able to do. Between Jimin’s breathy vocals and the breakdown during J-Hope’s “wonahe manhi manhi,” it’s impossible to not immediately be drawn into a BTS trance. Yes, a trance is the best way to describe the feeling when you listen to this track.
Watch ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ here:
- Begin
The solo songs begin with Jungkook and his touching track about the emotions he felt coming to Seoul at a young age. Even though Rap Monster wrote these lyrics, he managed to capture this essence of gratitude and empathy. In truth, I don’t think I’ve ever truly appreciated Jungkook’s vocal talent before this song. When the track starts, you’re not sure what to expect with it’s strange, almost broken instrumental. And then it slowly progresses into this steady, slow beat then evolves into a more up tempo refrain. If I had to connect instrumental to lyrics, I would say it accurately portrays the conflict and sense of being lost at the beginning, which turns steady as he finds his place and develops a deeper relationship with his brothers.
As far as touching songs go, ‘Begin’ is close to the top of that list with it being dedicated to his hyungs.
Listen to ‘Begin’ here:
- Lie
If I had to describe ‘Lie,’ I would simply call it a roller coaster. Jimin’s self-written lyrics revolve around how a lie, caused by temptation, leads to severe consequences. This track achieves portraying that winding journey. Starting off slow and smooth, and then ascending to a greater height with the high-pitched “caught in a lie,” you’re able to feel how a simple lie progresses into something larger than you’re able to handle. I love how the song dips down and calms before each rise to peaks, where Jimin shows off the highest pitch he’s sung in to date. As Rap Monster said, Jimin captured the feeling of guilt and self-blame in this track, which is something you are able to feel with the emotional quality of his vocals.
I’ve always been a fan of Jimin’s voice and the pitches he’s able to reach. However, ‘Lie’ takes that to a new level. This song is my absolute favorite on the album because the instrumental is kept fairly simple- a strong bass creates the right tempo while Jimin’s vocals do most of the work. I can clearly see why he doesn’t want to perform this song live, but if he did Army’s would be left in awe.
Listen to ‘Lie’ here:
Oh, look at that, Part W has come to an end. If had to review all the songs in one article, you’d be sitting here until BTS releases their next album. To read Part I: Inside the hearts of BTS, click here, and stay tuned to Officially Kmusic Now as we bring you more Korean Entertainment news and reviews!
Source: ibighit | Jungkookie YouTube | Kim tae_v YouTube
Edited by: Gigi E.
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