Throwback Thursday: BTS Edition

With the start of award season, BTS has already been breaking records left and right. After another historic year, the group has swept all daesangs from the MelOn Music Awards and, as of yesterday, the Mnet Asian Music Awards as well. Thus far, BTS’s performances at each gig have harkened back to their earlier days as artists, juxtaposing their newer tracks against some of their classics. So, it’s only fitting that The Kraze throws it back to BTS’s older days too.

“Just One Day”

Released as a follow-up to Skool Luv Affair’s title track “Boy In Luv,” “Just One Day” was BTS’s softest release at the time. A stark contrast to their early bad boy image, “Just One Day” had the boys trade in their chains and heavy eyeliner for preppy sweaters and smooth vocals. The track is a suave R&B song set to make anyone swoon. A not so well known fact? There are three separate versions of the music video in addition to the official one.

“N.O”

“N.O” is the title track of BTS’s second mini-album ORUL82? and hit every bit as hard as their debut track “No More Dream.” Following their theme of critiquing South Korea’s education system and society’s harsh standards, “N.O”—which some may not know actually stands for “no offense”—urges youth to fight their own battles instead of giving in to the pressures of others. Recently, the group performed the song on the Mnet Asian Music Awards amidst a backdrop strikingly similar to the 2013 music video. One thing’s for sure, the song’s message certainly hits a little differently six years later.

“What Am I To You”

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t impressed by BTS’s rap line. With a discography that includes the likes of “Ddaeng,” “Outro: Tear,” and the famous “Cypher” series, the talent of BTS’s rap line is undeniable. One vastly underappreciated track, however, is RM’s “What Am I To You.” The song serves as the intro to the group’s first full album DARK & WILD and exemplifies RM’s incredible control, flow, and passion in a way that is simply impossible to replicate.

“EPILOGUE: Young Forever”

As an ode to the conclusion of their landmark The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series, BTS dropped the music video for “EPILOGUE: Young Forever” in April 2016 with no prior warning. The song—one of leader RM’s first compositions—is an autobiographical take on the group’s journey as artists. Whereas much of their discography at the time was comprised of music for others, “EPILOGUE: Young Forever” is a song about BTS for BTS. The lyrics are filled with images of fleeting youth as the group promises to cherish each moment in their time as BTS.