Hi everyone, want to clarify something:

I did a deeper dive into these guys than I gave myself credit for in this video. On top of reading into their history, the company surrounding them, their online presence and a bit of K-POP in general, I did listen to a good deal of BTS' previous work. I listened through "Love Yourself: Tear" from start to finish a few times, a little bit of "Wings" as well as a few other cuts like "Pied Piper" and "Home" to name a few. I even went way back to their early stuff and listened to when they started out in their more hip hop laden roots. I did clock that Arirang was a return to form in a way and that they've pivoted a few times before this (to the colorful "DNA" era, and the sugary sweet "Dynamite-Butter-Permission to Dance" era). My favorite BTS track is "134340." I couldn't listen to or research absolutely everything, or fit every little detail I wanted into the video as it was already 30 minutes which I don't like going over with my videos, and mind you it ended up being almost 33 minutes after cutting a lot of stuff out of the final cut. It came down to making a concise video focusing on their solo stuff mostly. My takes came from all of that. I feel I offered a fair, respectful and mostly positive critique of them for someone previously unfamiliar with their work. This is not a documentary or a complete guide to BTS, just my thoughts and takes from my personal exposure to them. To which you do not have to agree on. It's just my opinion, and I'm really just some guy on the internet.

Also, I called V a "black sheep" in the video. To clarify, I've heard that used before to simply note that something or someone is unique and different from the pack, however it dawned on me afterward that it can have a negative connotation sometimes like they are infamous or disliked in general for being different. I was not using it like that, I was just saying I feel he's the most unique member of the group in the best way. His music taste consists of mostly jazz and alternative, his voice contrasts the most and his character also separates him from the pack. It should've been obvious I was trying to praise him, I loved his solo stuff the most and he ended up being my favorite member of the group. I could've worded that better but my intention was good and that was obvious.

I did end up really liking these guys after diving into them.

You do know the rappers are the main songwriters/composers for BTS, right? Cause.....

DNA is NOT their first phase, it’s their fourth phase, and Arirang is like phase 7 or something. Your analysis fails when your skipping their first 4-5 years.

Oh dear. 😊 It's obvious that you have a broad knowledge of music and artists in general, but I don't think your knowledge of BTS goes quite as deep.
Arirang isn't really a pivot in their musical direction. If anything, it's a return to their hip-hop roots—the music they started out making. I think that's an important distinction.

It's also a little deceptive to assume that the lyrics are simpler than in their earlier work. On the surface they may appear more straightforward, but songs like Merry Go Round and Like Animals contain layers of meaning that your analysis didn't really touch on.

As others have already pointed out, the members' solo work also began well before the point where you introduce it in your video, so that part of the timeline feels a little misleading.

That said, I do appreciate that you acknowledge BTS's artistic potential and the significance of their work. Where I fundamentally disagree with you—and with quite a few critics—is your conclusion that Arirang is a weak album. I simply don't think that's true. To me, it's one of their most cohesive and thoughtful albums, and one that reveals more of itself the more time you spend with it.

I just finished watching the entire video, and I genuinely appreciate your honesty. I also respect the fact that you actually commit to doing what you set out to do instead of judging something after only a quick listen.

That said, there were moments where some of your conclusions felt a bit superficial to me, so I took them as your personal impressions rather than objective analysis. And that's completely fair we all experience art differently.

I'm also not sure how familiar you are with BTS's broader body of work, so I don't want to make assumptions about your perspective. However, there is one point I strongly disagree with: the way you approached the lyrics.

We're talking about music written and performed by artists expressing themselves in Korean. If you're genuinely interested in understanding a piece of music, I don't think it's enough to rely on a direct translation or assume that the meaning will reveal itself immediately. The fact that the language is unfamiliar to you actually makes it even more important to look into the cultural context, symbolism, wordplay, and the artist's intentions. Some of the most meaningful aspects of Korean songwriting simply don't survive translation into English.

Personally, I see Arirang as an era filled with symbolism and layered writing. That wasn't just my impression it became even clearer after I watched Namjoon's live stream where he talked about the creative process, what he wanted to communicate, the frustrations he felt about how the message was being interpreted, and the meaning behind many of the artistic choices. Hearing those explanations directly from one of the people who created the project completely changed the way I experienced it.

That's why I don't think it's enough to say, "the lyrics aren't that deep." Sometimes the depth isn't immediately accessible not because it isn't there, but because it's embedded in another language, another culture, and another way of thinking. I believe that's something worth considering before drawing conclusions about the writing itself.

I suggest you do more research on BTS before responding. Please improve your knowledge of the group

The fact you think they are corporate, controlled or forced into anything at all, or  on a "typical boy band trajectory" tells me how little you actually know about them.

*5/5 Calling BTS just a ‘boy band’ or kpop at this point in their career does not do them justice.  Saying Arirang is a ‘weak album’ is your opinion, but to me it sounds misguided, shallow and lacking much historical context.  BTS may be grown up now, but they have always been ‘real artists’ from day one.  Their music and story telling has had dark aspects from the very beginning, and was never simply light and poppy.  So the ‘pivot’ to Airiang is not something new, it is a return to their roots and a re-imagining of where they began.  Spend more time learning about them and their history and you will realize this.

1. The rappers are “done dirty”.  The rap line are the ones that are the main song writers, and every member has his time to shine.  RM was first to release mixtape in 2015, so they have had opportunity to do their own work.  

2. Made me laugh when you said Jin sounds like Coldplay, and you showed The Astronaut co written with Chris Martin.

3.  Calling V a “black sheep”, like huh?

4. Saying their first work was sugary sweet, and Arirang is a pivot and is totally unlike them.  I guess you never listened to their early stuff, which was not sugary sweet.  Dynamite, Butter, and Permission to Dance were released during the pandemic specifically to bring joy during those dark times.

You have some misconceptions going on there.  I’m glad that you gave them a chance anyway.

Bruh they way you boxed Jhope , already tell that you haven’t heard jack in the box , dude literally mixed grudge with OG hip hop who does that ? Not drake tho .
And RM is the first to drop solo work , actually the first video in BTS channel is a RMs  cover of Kanye power , changing the lyrics about  the importance of voting and his first mixtape was in 2015.  The rappers write most of the stuff , and what you heard actually well written lyrics they are in the credits, aka no dynimate lol. And the rapper verses in butter the people still not get the wordplay ( that RM wasn’t even trying ) that RM wrote. Just like his part in the ft of old time road remix , peopel still not get his wordplay and is English , which I get it , if you don’t but then you and other people praised other rappers wordplay that they got but still can gets RMs lol.
Also the issue with Vs work is the lyrics are pretty bland ( same with JKs) , that’s why singularity is his best track technically speaking ( RM wrote it , what a surprise ), and his most honest are the ones he wrote like scenery and winter bear. Specially scenery you we actually a good potential cuz his lyrics just naturally came for him liking to take pics of landscapes , which he much was really into that , at that time, but I get you , you just like R&B/pop , meanwhile what is technically better is something that box check, production , lyrics , composition, vocal interpretation , cohesion , etc. And BTS solo even free tracks or group track has a lot of hight scores on those , and most of those songs are written by the rappers or are their solos. Which make sense cuz they are actually the ones that have experience and high skills on those, just like one member is better in dancing , singing , etc.
Also you complaining  about them as a group lyrics are you don’t complain them in their solos ( like V and jk), again you didn’t get their world play ( rappers ).
Also BTS was never for kids was them writing ( rappers mostly  ) what they were facing at those time , like schools, to leave school and what to do ( university be and adult ) what would feel , how they felt when they faced the adult work , all that then mixing with the challenges in the music industry , and again since is their experience is all in the Korean context , so it’s pretty different and harder than you might understand and weird to be this bold and raw, so BTS specially the rappers had always said what they felt they just went more personal in their solo mixtapes cuz in the group music you put everyone’s POV or you try at least.
That’s why what you say is wrong. But again I get you since you don’t know them , but ironically a lot of their songs in their new album like alien , they don’t know about us, normal is for people with your mindset…

I like your opinion; it gives a good perspective from a local who knows BTS's most popular songs. But I hope you'll make a Part 2 and listen to more of BTS's music. I highly recommend the Dark & Wild album.

I wouldn't say the rap line was done dirty. They're the foundation of BTS and have been writing and producing the group's music for over 13 years. Songs with heavy rap sections have always been part of BTS's sound

13:26  The first member to release a solo was RM (March 20, 2015) with the title song "Do You".

They have gone back to their roots with Arirang. Not a pivot. Listen to 2 Cool 4 Skool and Dark and Wild.
Wow, calling it pretty privilege is wild. Did you know they harassed, to the point that members almost quit, for being not idol looking enough? Not pretty enough. And then bashed at the same time for not being rappers.
I think your video is wonderfully edited and you know music.
But I still feel a little of that boy band judement coming through. Maybe watch an explanation video about their come up. They had nothing and came from nothing. They all lived in a 2 room apartment and all slept in one bedroom. They used to rehearse to the point of exhaustion for 14 hours a day. That is not what most people are willing to do. It is not Normal. (Pun on their newest song iykyk)
The reason they are beloved is because they are the underdogs. Still to this day.
So some of your ideas about them are way off.
All that being said, musical taste is subjective and I honor that. I loved V's album too.  Not shocking from him if you know.
Some really great songs that you missed.
Jungkook's jazz song Still With You
And JHope's foray into Punk Rap - Arson and More
RM's Wildflower song makes me cry everytime
V's Winter Bear
Jimin's Lie
Jin Awake
And you did some songs from the trilogy Daechwita and Haegeum but you missed Amygdala which explains the splitting of his personality into Agust D. How deep the mental pain actually was.
Anyway glad you checked them out. There is a reason they have such a loyal fan base and it is not the radio hits. I blame the Western market for only allowing the hits. What keeps me is my love of old school hip hop, the dancing, the depth of their lyrics amd the bond they have woth each other. We should all be so lucky to have that bond with someone.

respect for giving them a listen BUT you didn"t actually dive into their artistry as you think you did and some of your statements shows it, for example claiming the rappers werent able to rap in BTS songs , only do "pop rap" is wrong on so many levels if you just scratched the surface a little bit more, but nonetheless, good honest review but i do recommend giving them a real chance because they have +300 songs and +13 years career and so much depts, I feel like in order to connect to BTS music, you also have to get to know them as people because their music in each era reflect what they are experiencing as artist and people.. they are NOT as generic as people paint them to be.

Okay so the overall insights in this video are fine, but you really wouldnt regret going more in depth into their discography and understand how varied their music really is and what their mindset behind their art is

I'm so confused as to why you're assuming that the rappers are being held back from rapping to their full capacity on BTS tracks when you haven't listened to their full discography. They are capable rappers who adjust their flow depending on the needs of the song and their vision.

I feel like this take can only born from someone who only listened their title tracks, and not even all of them

They have a vast amount of solo work not just their solo album but odd tracks and within BTS albums as well.

maybe you should revisit the group's songs coz the  rap line actually directs the musical direction of the band.

too bad, i was interested in your video but within a few minutes shows your lack of research and misguided confidence that only you are right. You had an opportunity for a good video with indepth study but sadly you missed out.

Fascinating watch so far,  cause you did sit down and listened to quite the portion of their solo stuff , and read up on it and I can see a lot of work went into the editing. You are also in the know about  music industry. Yet somehow you manage to assume a lot of very weird things.
For example around the 11th min mark you are trying to talk in positive about jimin and bts with what they are doing and then you offhandedly say that 'they are not relatable' and I kid you not they are to this day one of the most relatable down to earth people in showbiz.....I don't get where you got that from.