BTS’s Best B-Sides: Anniversary Edition
This past Saturday, BTS and ARMY celebrated the group’s seven year anniversary through the very emotional BANGBANGCON and an equally emotional yearly Festa celebration. Feelings were off the charts as Jin spoke about how the group had just passed the day when they would have disbanded, reminding fans how close we all came to losing them. This week for B-sides, we’re celebrating the break of the seven year curse with the best of Bangtan.
“Dead Leaves”
Arguably the best album release from BTS, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2’s final track “Dead Leaves” is another masterpiece by producer SUGA. This track captures the perfect autumn mood, comparing a withering love to the shriveling and dying brown leaves at the end of their season. The slow tempo R&B melody elicits a feeling of melancholy that goes along with fading relationships and the desperation to hold onto what’s familiar. The emotion of “Dead Leaves” is written all over the lyrics and melody and shows the true prowess of the group to properly express the pain all of us feel from time to time.
“Hold Me Tight”
Much in the same vein as “Dead Leaves,” “Hold Me Tight” has a forlorn tone with more of a ballad twist. The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1 track is member V’s first composition to be included in the group’s discography and it is a spectacular one at that. The slow buildup into the chorus with Jungkook and Jimin’s frantic double time verse dropping into the pleading “please” drives home the emotional heartbreak of the track.
“Come Back Home”
This 2017 cover of the original hit by Seo Taiji and The Boys was a collaboration with the original artist. Taking the 90s track and revamping it for the modern era, the boys returned to their hip-hop roots and brought their signature heartfelt lyrics, producing yet another track about the disillusionment of youth with an added message of hope that many fans fell in love with at first listen. Many respect the boys for working directly with Seo Taiji and effortlessly molding a classic into the modern era.
“21st Century Girls”
WINGS brought us the fun and energetic “21st Century Girls,” an unexpected yet fantastic B-side that celebrates the beauty of all women. For any ladies that need a bit of a confidence boost, this track is on par with GOT7’s “Just Right” in bringing feelings of acceptance for all of our differences. Not only has BTS proven they’ve mastered the misguided youth concept, they’re also able to be here to help remind you that you are, in fact, perfect as you are.
“Outro: Tear”
For many, “Outro: Tear” had held a very intense message toward a breakup, but only recently did SUGA reveal that the track was actually produced amidst their discussion of contract renewal, thus giving it an even more raw meaning for many fans, as it could have signified the group’s ultimate disbandment. But as any well constructed song, the meaning is interpretable by the listener, so this track is the ultimate cathartic release from exploding emotions, whether that be toward a relationship breakup or a simple parting. The intensity of RM’s rap kicking off the track is more than enough to get the listener riled up, and finishing the track leaves a sense of emotional release unlike many other softer tracks.