Throwback Thursday: Best BTS Live Stages
If you count yourself a fan of BTS, the likelihood that you spent your weekend streaming “Bangbangcon” is high. With an aggregate 24 hours of footage from past concerts, fans got the chance to relive some of BTS’s best performances throughout the years. Although a day’s worth of BTS content seems like more than enough, we at The Kraze aren’t ready to let go yet, so this week’s Throwback Thursday is dedicated to some of BTS’s most memorable stages.
“Blood Sweat & Tears,” “Fire” - 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards
Most ARMY remember the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards as the time when BTS won their first “Artist of the Year” daesang. That same night, the group gave one of their most stunning performances to date. Opening with Jungkook suspended in mid-air, the performance began with a J-Hope and Jimin dance collab to “Boy Meets Evil,” before the dancers joined the rest of the group for “Blood Sweat & Tears.” After a sensual scene about temptation from Jin and V, the performance concluded with an incredibly powerful rendition of “Fire,” with plenty of pyrotechnics to spare.
“Danger” - 2014 MBC Gayo Daejejeon
For the 2014 MBC Gayo Daejejeon, BTS opened their stage with the stunning choreography from their performance trailer. With an abundance of background dancers and clad in military uniforms, the boys then went into their most recent hit at the time, “Danger.” Though the boys of BTS were still rookies at the time, the performance made for an explosive one, setting the tone for the rest of their career at year-end shows.
“IDOL” - 2018 Melon Music Awards
Ask any ARMY and they’ll likely agree with you that BTS’s performance at the 2018 Melon Music Awards is their most stunning. The boys opened with “FAKE LOVE” and “Airplane pt. 2,” but what really made the performance was their traditional take on “IDOL.” While the original song already pulled from traditional Korean elements, this stage kicked it up at least a dozen notches: J-Hope partook in a Samgo-Mu alongside traditional drum performers; Jimin wowed with his elegance in a Buchaechum fan dance; and Jungkook closed things out with a traditional Salpuri mask dance. Donning traditional hanbok, the rest of the members took the stage amidst numerous traditional performers in a set that could only be compared to a full-scale festival.
“Fight of the Century” with Block B - 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards
At the 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards, a younger BTS took to the stage alongside Block B in an intense battle aptly titled “Fight of the Century.” While each group shined on its own (BTS with “Danger” and Block B with “HER”), the synergy between the two was undeniable. The moment when ZICO and RM rise up on the stage together? Heart-stopping.
“Ddaeng” - 2018 BTS Festa
During the group’s annual anniversary “festa” celebration in 2018, the rap line unveiled a jaw-dropping performance of their track “Ddaeng.” Though the song was already impressive by itself (have you listened to RM’s verse?), it was made all the more astounding with the three rappers dressed in traditional Korean garb. Even V himself was so into the performance that he couldn’t help but storm the stage.
“Perfect Man” - 2015 MBC Gayo Daejejeon
For any ARMY, this 2015 cover of SHINHWA’s “Perfect Man” is like a rite of passage. Performed at 2015 MBC Gayo Daejejeon, the boys of BTS were perfectly suited to cover the veteran group’s song. Maybe it was the way they nailed the sharp choreography or their boyish charms (yes, I’m looking at you Jimin), but this performance is in a league of its own; BTS has since done many other covers, but few hold a candle to this stage.
“Not Today,” “DNA,” “Cypher 4,” “MIC Drop Remix” - 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards
2017 saw BTS truly start to leave their mark on a global scale, and nothing showcased this better than their mind-blowing performance at that year’s Mnet Asian Music Awards. 2017 notably marked the group’s first time closing the awards show, so it was only fitting that the performance would be one to remember. Though the inclusion of “Cypher 4” was enough to send any fan into a frenzy, it was the finale of “MIC Drop Remix” that left viewers mesmerized. To this day, nothing hits quite like those body rolls in the last dance break or SUGA’s ending mic drop.