This is a hard one.
Seven icons, one group: that’s BTS.
Throwback to my favorite day as a fan: BTS visits the White House. It’s not every day that you see a boy group standing at the White House podium, addressing issues beyond music and a time with the President of the United States — President Joe Biden. BTS did that. And I think that’s enough validation — not that they need it — of the level of influence they already have as a group.
I miss 0T7 moments like this. But entering Chapter 2, I felt like we were never on a break! In 2022, Big Hit has shifted their focus to producing solo works, for now, as each BTS member will have to undergo mandatory military service in South Korea. BTS is already a force to be reckoned with as a group but they have proven the same level of global power as individual artists with their solo projects. Regardless of their break, all numbers match — from streams to sales (album, tour, etc), to commercial and advertising impact up to this day. Jung Kook and Jimin alone topped the Hot 100 Billboard charts despite the changes in the rules. Wild.
Now that our Golden Maknae Jung Kook has released his album ‘Golden,’ it’s time to do the challenging part: ranking my top picks of the 55 BTS solo songs, excluding collaborations. I love all of their songs, I love all of them dearly, and I support their music directions. I’m OT7. But we all have our favorites, right? It’s like — you love Filipino food, but you have your favorite Filipino dish. Gets? Tehee.
With nothing to fear (lol), here are my top 25 favorite BTS Solo Hits (2022 — present)
- AGUST D — Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Woosung of The Rose)
- RM — All Day (feat Tablo of Epik High)
- RM — Still Life (feat Anderson Paak)
- JHOPE — Equal Sign
- Jung Kook — Seven (feat Latto)
- Jung Kook — Yes or No (co-written by Ed Sheeran)
- Jin — Astronaut (co-written by Coldplay and Kygo)
- AGUST D — SDL
- AGUST D — Life Goes On
- JHOPE — Future
- AGUST D — D Day
- RM — Closer (feat Paul Blanco, Mahalia)
- RM — Lonely
- JHOPE — On The Street (feat. J Cole)
- AGUST D — AMYGDALA
- JK — Standing Next To You
- RM — Yun (feat Erykah Badu)
- RM — №2 (feat. parkjiyoon)
- V — For Us
- AGUST D — People Pt 2 (feat IU)
- RM — Wild Flower (feat. youjeen)
- V — Slow Dancing
- Jimin — Face-off
- JHOPE — Safety Zone
- Jimin — Like Crazy
Disclaimer: This is my personal preference as someone who grew up in the music of the 90s. I like how songs take me to places, each word resonates with me — sometimes personal, oftentimes poetic. Aside from the vibe and the beats, I go deep into the lyrics, and its message, and understand the intention of the lyricist. I also take into account how it’s interpreted by the artist, their choice of collaborators, and the like. And… if I can sing it. 😉 (not that this is important).
Wow. I sound like a pro (I’m not!). Based on my list above, it’s obvious that I am obsessed with RM’s Indigo. (I like Indigo’s merchandise, album package, and the way it’s marketed — no TikTok challenge which is so Namjoon, instead, there’s a video series of the creative process!)
Suga is my ultimate bias but that’s not the reason why he also dominated my list. I was pulling back and forth between Snooze and All Day as my number 1 but Suga’s finale performance during his D-Day concert won me over, not to mention how it remixed the hook from my favorite ‘So Far Away’ track from Suga’s first AGUST D album.
I am sure my co-ARMYs have their preferences, too. Different from mine. Because we have different tastes, and that’s okay. Share it. Don’t be shy, just no hate, no harm. To each his own.
Based on NME’s album review, the rap line got 5/5 stars while the vocal line, including the recent release of Jung Kook, got a 4/5 ranking. What I like about this solo era is the opportunity to express their individuality and how each concept is being recognized globally, by critics. They’re not just a product of the KPOP factory, they are real artists. I can’t wait for 2025.
I created a Spotify playlist for my BTS Solo Top 25 Picks. Listen and jam with me here.
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