Determination, hard work, and persistence made BTS the icon they are today. The year 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the band in the industry. The fame they have today may have seemed an impossible target for them to achieve when they began. The K-pop band BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, started as a hip-hop group in 2013.
Little did they know that a few years down the lane, they would be ruling the hearts of millions of people worldwide with their music. Their loyal fan base, ARMY (Adorable Representative MC for Youth), doesn’t just see the band as a means of entertainment but as a source of inspiration.
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The seven boys from the popular South Korean band have achieved milestones that were previously unheard of. Let's have a look at their decade-long journey in the music industry.
BTS is a seven-member group consisting of Kim Namjoon, or Rap Monster (RM), the leader and main rapper of the group, Kim Seokjin or Jin is the vocalist, Min Yoongi or Suga is the lead rapper, Jung Hoseok or J-Hope, the main dancer and rapper, Park Jimin is the leading dancer and vocalist, Kim Taehyung or V is a vocalist, and Jeon Jungkook is the golden maknae, lead dancer and main vocalist.
BTS debuted with Big Hit Entertainment, and their English name, Bulletproof Boys Scouts, is in line with the band’s goal to shield themselves from the prejudices and oppression of the world. The band debuted with the release of their single, 2 Cool 4 Skool, in 2013 and were welcomed with baptism of fire as they battled with their contemporaries. Nevertheless, they still won three Rookie of the Year awards.
The band started spreading its wings into the world stages by performing for the first time at the Los Angeles KCON festival in 2014. The same year, BTS’ No More Dream was at number 3 on the Oricon singles charts in Japan. Their fortunes changed in 2015 with the release of their iconic album trilogy, Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life), taking the message of self-love to a deeper level.
The band’s career soared high with the conclusion of the trilogy. BTS’ second album, Wings, topped local and global music charts. They became the first Korean band to win at the BBMA's 2017 and took home its first award at the Billboard Music Awards. Their success did not stop there, the group's third album, Love Yourself: Tear, cemented the top position on the Billboard 200 in 2018. It was the very first album from South Korea to top the American list.
The follow-up to Love Yourself: Answer also topped the Billboard 200 and became the first K-pop album to receive gold and platinum certifications from the American Recording Academy. Their success saw no limits, they continued to achieve milestones in their native country as well. Their album, Love Yourself: Her, became the group’s first million-seller album.
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BTS collaborated with UNICEF to spread their message of self-love worldwide. They launched the #ENDviolence and #Lovemyself campaigns, which were carried out until 2021. They also presented their message of self-love to the UN. The band, represented by RM, spoke to young people all over the world about accepting diversity and speaking up for themselves and became the first South Korean group to address a UN session.
BTS visited the White House in May as a part of their ongoing efforts to support minorities and speak out on social concerns. At US President Joe Biden's invitation, the seven boys visited Washington, D.C., and spoke about racism and hate crimes against Asians.
BTS became the first Korean artist to present an award at the Grammys in 2019. The following year, they performed at the show. The group continued to spread their message of self-love in their new album, Map of the Soul. They made history by becoming the first group since the Beatles to top the Billboard 200 thrice in less than a year's time.
BTS's fourth album, Map of the Soul: 7, made its debut at the top of music charts worldwide and was named the best-selling album of 2020 globally. A first for K-pop, their first English song, Dynamite, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band made history once more when their subsequent album, Be, and its lead single, Life Goes On, became the first work by a Korean artist to simultaneously top Billboard's albums and singles charts.
The achievement was more meaningful because Life Goes On was the first song that wasn't in the English language to enter the Billboard. Taking forward the song's message, the boys addressed the younger generation virtually at the UN.
Each member of the group has a unique talent set, including rap prowess, dancing ability, and vocal intricacies that separate them from others in the industry. They undergo relentless and continuous training to refine their skills and be the best in the field. Another major thing that contributed to their huge success is their unapologetic discussion on issues such as mental health, cultural pressure, and self-love.
They don’t shy away from revealing their true self to the world. Hence, people connect with their ordeals and love their authenticity. BTS has strongly bonded with their fans by being open and honest about their feelings, experiences and insecurities. The members can often be seen live on Weverse, where they communicate with their audiences, giving them personal updates, talking about their upcoming projects, etc. The band formally announced a break to complete their compulsory military service. Their reunion is expected after 2025 when all members finish their service.
In this decade-long journey, BTS became a global sensation, all thanks to their immense talent, authenticity, and devotion towards their craft. What are your thoughts?
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