It goes without saying that BTS has a very extensive discography full of hits. However, there are a lot of lesser-known gems the band has released over the years. From debut era rap songs to more serious mixtapes of each member, the artists have created many pieces worth hearing, despite not receiving enough attention. Here are 10 songs from BTS that you really should add to your playlist right now.
1. ‘Sea’
This is a secret track from the album ‘Love Yourself: Her’ that can only be found in its physical version because of how easily it could go unnoticed among fans who are more into streaming. With a metaphor of sea and desert used by BTS, the song talks about the feelings the band feels during the process of achieving their goals. It combines a calm and gentle instrumental part with airy vocals, sounding like ocean waves.
2. ‘Rain’
From the ‘Dark & Wild’ album, ‘Rain’ is a jazz-centric number with a spotlight on relaxed vocal lines, unlike most of BTS’ earlier hip-hop driven tracks. The airy melody flows on top of light percussion and piano, creating a melancholy mood that matches the song’s lyrics about the gloom of a rainy day. A bonus J-Hope, who specialises in rapping, makes a rare appearance singing the mellow verses in this track.
3. ‘Spine Breaker’
From ‘Skool Luv Affair’, this track sees BTS boldly tackling income inequality early on in their career. The meaning behind the name of the song is that young people always demand expensive clothes and shoes from their parents, which causes the folks to have bent backs due to working to satisfy their demands. One of the most memorable things about this album is V’s low vocalisation regarding materialism.
4. ‘We On’
Released in the group’s debut year as part of ‘O!RUL8,2?’, ‘We On’ is one of BTS’ first instances of directly speaking to naysayers through their music. RM addresses critics head-on while Jungkook delivers the pointed lyrics with a sweetness that makes the message hit even harder. It remains one of the least discussed tracks from their early catalogue.
5. ‘Am I Wrong’
One of the only blues-influenced tracks in BTS’ catalogue from the ‘Wings’ album, co-written by Grammy Award-winning musician Keb’ Mo. The funky rhythm and upbeat melody belie the track’s sombre message about apathy in the information age. It was particularly provocative at the time of its 2016 release, given the political climate in South Korea.
6. ‘BTS Cypher Pt. 3: Killer’
From ‘Dark & Wild’, this track is part of the ‘Cypher’ series rap tracks written and performed by RM, Suga and J-Hope and stands as one of the most emotionally raw numbers in their discography. The piercing rap verses glide across soft tunes from eastern instruments in a scathing diss track against those who doubt their hip-hop roots. It also acts as a harbinger for the rap unit’s future tracks with more elevated production.
7. ‘Pied Piper’
From ‘Love Yourself: Her’, this track sees BTS delivering a gentle but sharp admonition directly to their own fandom. The members address behaviours common among fans, spending too much time watching content instead of focusing on their responsibilities. It is more tough love than harsh criticism, with Jin reassuring fans, “You’re not being punished.”
8. ‘So Far Away’
From Suga’s solo mixtape ‘Agust D’, this track features poignant lyrics about existential dread and the struggle of living without a dream. Suga’s gritty rap verses contrast beautifully with singer-songwriter Suran’s ethereal chorus throughout the track. It is one of the most quietly devastating pieces of writing in the entire BTS universe.
9. ‘UhGood ‘
One of the less discussed tracks from RM’s 2018 solo mixtape ‘Mono’, ‘UhGood’ is a vulnerable expression of the BTS leader grappling with meeting expectations. The song’s title in Korean means both “falling short” and “missing each other”, both meanings woven carefully through the lyrics. It is one of the most honest moments of self-reflection RM has ever recorded.
10. ‘Base Line’
From J-Hope’s solo mixtape ‘Hope World’, this groovy rap number often gets overshadowed by the two tracks that received music videos. At just 90 seconds, the track is packed with brass instrumentation and J-Hope playfully alternating between high and low-pitched rapping. In a 2018 interview with TIME, J-Hope shared that the baseline behind the song is his deep gratitude for his life and his work.
