How K-Pop band BTS is taking the world by storm

MANILA, Philippines - Avid K-pop fan or not, it is more than likely that you’ve already heard of international K-pop sensation BTS.

Named one of Time Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet for 2017, BTS (also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan and Beyond the Scene) has been rapidly taking over the world with its huge social media presence and honest, relevant music.

The seven-piece group, composed of rappers Rap Monster, Suga and J-Hope and vocalists Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook, recently concluded its world tour titled 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour, boasting of a string of sold-out arena concerts spanning countries from no less than four continents.

Their highly-successful Manila engagement recently had eager fans lining up at malls the evening before ticket selling, crashing the ticketing website multiple times and selling out both concert dates on the first day tickets were made available — a common occurrence among their shows in other countries, too.

Aside from the phenomenal world tour, the first half of 2017 has been quite eventful for BTS. They bagged the Billboard award for Top Social Artist last May, ending Justin Bieber’s six-year winning streak while also making themselves the second K-pop act after PSY to win a Billboard. They also celebrated their fourth anniversary last June with the annual BTS FESTA, a two-week event in which the group releases free content for fans, affectionately named ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth), every day until their debut on June 13 as a thank-you for their support.

The Bangtan boys’ careers are indeed soaring, but a peek into the group’s history reveals that the seven boys have fought a fierce uphill battle to get to where they are today.

Debuting in 2013 from a small company named BigHit Entertainment, BTS started out without the same resources and publicity afforded to groups from South Korea’s major companies. Despite their underdog status, they released the rap track No More Dream from their debut mini-album 2 Cool 4 Skool, asserting their position as a voice for young people like themselves who struggle with the pressures of adulthood.

Although gaining a following and even winning a few newcomer awards, it was only with their 2015 hit I Need U that they began making waves in the mainstream. The heart-wrenching ballad about a failing relationship was a significant departure from their earlier hip-hop sound, but a confident one that garnered BTS their first No. 1 single in Korea.

Thus, began the fan-favorite Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life in English) era, the pivotal two-part album that further showcased the individual members’ skills not just as performers, but also as talented producers and songwriters. Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa adeptly translated the joys and pains of being young into music that remains some of BTS’ best to date, making it a definitive and widely-beloved era for the group.

The mainstream attention propelled by Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa has continued on until their current overseas success, which BTS always credits to their ever-loyal ARMYs. At almost every acceptance speech for their awards (including the coveted Artist of the Year award at last year’s MNet Asian Music Awards), the first thing to slip out of their mouths is a loud and very proud, “ARMY!” followed by sincere expressions of gratitude to them.

In four years, BTS has cultivated a healthy, mutually supportive relationship with millions of ARMYs from all over the world because they know what matters — communication. From their faithful Twitter updates, to candid moments in their Bangtan Bombs (behind-the-scenes videos uploaded on YouTube), video chats on V LIVE (a live broadcasting application) and more, BTS has made good use of various online platforms to keep in touch with fans as they would their friends.

Onstage, they may be brilliant performers who perfectly execute every dance step and hit every note, but offstage the seven boys of BTS goof around, take naps and watch animé and K-dramas, too, like the rest of us. More than the socially aware, relatable music, maybe it’s the relatability of the boys themselves that has captured the hearts of their dedicated fans.

At the suggestion of producing music in English to reach an even wider audience, BTS commits to stay true to themselves. The seven members believe that if they are to gain further international recognition as BTS, it should and will be for their music as a K-pop group that speaks for their generation.

Gearing up for a highly-anticipated September comeback and J-Hope’s first solo mixtape, BTS promises new music that will wow both longtime fans and new listeners alike.

“Started from the bottom and we’re still goin’ up,” declares rapper Suga on their recent remake of Korean icon Seo Taiji’s Come Back Home. And indeed, the boys of BTS continue soaring to greater heights while keeping their feet on the ground.