Review

Song Review: BTS – Permission To Dance

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BTS - Permission To DanceThere’s a fine line between polished, sugary radio pop and cloying commercial jingle, and that difference was perfectly illustrated by BTS’s Dynamite and Butter. The two songs are quite similar in sound, style and execution, yet one feels fresh and fun while the other comes across as trite and overcooked. I’m not sure I could even tell you why they strike me so differently, but we’ve crashed right back into Dynamite territory with new single Permission To Dance. Co-written by the omnipresent Ed Sheeran (who also worked on the group’s 2019 Map Of The Soul: Persona album), the track is utter radio slop.

Now, I enjoy a bit of radio slop from time to time. That descriptor doesn’t have to be a bad thing! But, there’s a point where these kind of self-empowerment, ‘let the good times roll!’ anthems tip into a place where they simply feel patronizing. This is the sort of music you hear placed over montages of people dancing with their cats and babies on Good Morning America. It’s fake fun – an over-enthused pep rally you desperately want to escape.

Worse yet, the group’s producers go full bore on Big Hit’s notoriously bad vocal mixing. BTS’s voices are so processed that they begin to lose shape, melting into mumbly-mouthed phrasing that’s difficult to discern. This might actually be a blessing in disguise, given the song’s bad-self-help-book lyricism. I mean, I’ve never felt I needed permission to dance (has anyone, outside of Footloose?), but I wish the track actually made me want to move.

It’s clear what Permission To Dance is aiming for. Beyond replicating the success of Dynamite and Butter, the song seeks to uplift. It’s an admirable goal, but this feels like a particularly cynical way to go about it. I hear no BTS within this product. Back in 2013, if you would’ve told me the young upstarts who challenged the K-pop industry with biting tracks like No More Dream and N.O would be reduced to shuffling along to some lame Ed Sheeran ditty, complete with plonky keys and a music video that feels like an awful pharmaceutical ad, I would’ve thought the world had gone crazy. But, here we are – “da na naing” our way through a jump-the-shark crisis happening in real time.

Fans often say that BTS aren’t K-pop anymore — that they’ve somehow “transcended” the industry. Given their incredible global success, I guess that’s partially true. But if “transcending” means reducing yourself to the lowest common musical denominator, is that really something to be proud of?

 Hooks 6
 Production 7
 Longevity 6
 Bias 5
 RATING 6

400 thoughts on “Song Review: BTS – Permission To Dance”

  1. This has to be the best comment section I’ve ever seen on this site, hands down.

    About the song, though, I actually don’t mind it but I wouldn’t really come back to it much again. I’d give it a high 6 or a low 7.

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    • I was an army since 2014—I found BTS pre-debut, back when Taehyung was a “hidden member”, but officially started stanning them during Boy In Luv era. I have seen these men literally build their career, I watched Fire make its goal of 1 million in a day. I’ve been to their concerts, watched them go through multiple studios. And then I left, after 2019. Their music had changed—and while there is nothing wrong with experimenting, the BTS of 2013-2017 is vastly different from this BTS; and I think it is worth critiquing.

      Because I am no longer an avid fan, I can more clearly criticize their works without the rose-colored glasses. PTD was *bad*. It lacked emotion, and it lacked vibrancy. For a song that is “supposed” to be uplifting, it falls short of stimulating anything for me. The music direction is odd—the cinematography is confusing. the choice in stylizing is downright horrifying (why was Jungkook styled like that?? The highlighter hair for Namjoon??) If you have to go from beautiful productions like Spring Day and BST, to *this*, just to get a Grammy, shouldn’t that tell you one thing or more about what you’re aiming for? That Grammy’s aren’t worth it? Art without soul and essence is the same as no art at all.

      An artist cannot improve without people critiquing their work. Notice, this is the most divisive army have been, ever, for any comeback. And it’s because other army’s are coming out and commenting on their disinterest and dissatisfaction with this new song. Fans can and SHOULD critique their favorite artists productions. To consume everything without complaint is, at best, ridiculous, and at worst—shows obsessive dedication that benefits no-one.

      The thing about BTS now, is, as it was commented: they are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The general public shouldn’t be fed lackluster music to like BTS—especially if this public in the first place wouldn’t make the effort to listen to their Korean music in the first place. Why would you want people like that to invest in BTS?

      Apologies for the long comment; I’ve spent several hours discussing the downfalls of their un-promoted comeback (seems like BigHit is trying to flex that BTS can pull numbers regardless of promotion or not, which is a stupid marketing tactic when they have the means to properly promote) with other friends. Even their newer album “BE”, wasn’t as good as previous albums, and didn’t stick like others claimed. If it takes army’s reminding those who claim “BTS isn’t the same” to say “they released BE and Film Out this year”, shouldn’t that be a testament to the downturn of quality, and the prevalence of how easily forgettable it was? People aren’t remembering these albums, primarily because of how hit-or-miss they were.

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      • I agree. I was disappointed by Be, except for Dis-Ease, which they never promoted. And I have literally listened to Film Out six times and don’t remember a note of it.

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  2. I’m not sure what I feel right now. For once I completely agree about the autotune. How does that level of distortion even belong in a pop tune? I love Butter; I think it’s catchy and retro-tinged fun. I don’t necessarily mind fake fun and radio-friendly pop tunes. Honestly, I might even really enjoy this without the vocal processing. That weird sound like wind hitting the mics at the end? It’s almost like that was plastered over their vocals. The tune is already stuck in my head. It’s not what I want to hear from BTS, but if it were performed differently I would like it more. I’m also really tired of both the push into the American market and the uplifting message songs. I’m ready for them to push the boundaries of kpop again. One Ed Sheeran is enough. Is this the way it’s gonna be from now on?

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    • Exactly my fear. This is not the BTS I know. Once or twice they do something generic and “American”okay. But bro this is becoming a pattern now is this what it’s gonna be like now? Are we never getting the hard hitting deep authentic korean music again?
      What even was this? I love them so much and hence i feel so pissed right now looking at how low the quality of music has fallen.

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      • And it’s not just that the song is very obviously trying to get into the American market, but I swear it sounds like it was mixed with a blender. It sounds plain weird to me, and I’m by no means an expert on such matters. I like Butter, I do. It’s fun and light and doesn’t take itself deriously. I liked BE even though it wasn’t my favorite album, but I thought it spoke to the moment. Comparing this to Map of the Soul just makes me sad.

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        • I felt my road diverging from their’s since Dynamite. But i thought okay they’re trying something and new and so many fans came in so it’s good. Then BE came and it did feel pretty forgettable co.pared to their previous stuff but okay, still nice and lyrically great. Butter was nice. I’m not crazy about it but soo much better than dynamite. Fun. And now this? Film out us probably the only thing I’ve truly liked since MOTS and I just…Idk. Art is subjective as they say. I miss them so much. I’ll be with my Love mysekf, wings and mots tracks, in the Shadow. I hope they come back. Even if they don’t i have enough memories for a lifetime 😦

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          • Being a TRUE Army we never judge. Thank you all for your negativity, it went in one ear and out the other. Like our children, we will support them through good and bad. Peace out and have a great day.💜💜💜💜

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            • So because I’m giving an honest feedback about their music that’s negativity and you’re a “True” army because you put them on a pedestal for both good and bad? Wow man, way to ago. But it’s okay, I know how much I love them so I’m not gonna take your word for whether I’m a true army or a pseudo unless you’re some self proclaimed leader who makes the rules here?
              Cheers.

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        • I fail to understand why people like you think you have a right to tell anyone to leave the fandom/ tell them aren’t a “true” army. There are different kinds of people within the fandom. There are people who would support them regardless of what they feel about a song and stream obsessively – i may not agree with it but it’s not my place to. Do whatever you want I would never say – leave the fandom or you’re not a true fan. So why is it soo unacceptable for you that some armys don’t believe in behaving the way you do? Did anyone stop you? Did anyone insult the boys or use derogatory terms? If freedom of speech in a respectable manner and treating them as professional musicians instead of children to be babied so hard for you to swallow? And that attitude gives you some false sense of superiority that you think you can pass statements like that?

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    • i think this song was made for the fandom not exactly for the charts. Did you notice that TODAY IS ARMY´S BIRTHDAY. This song was made for them, nothing else. That is why they came with another comeback to soon.
      Besides that, if you like the older style I think its great because i love it too, But until now they have to land in AMERICA. THATS WHY THEY STARTED SINGING IN ENGLISH, NOT IN KOREAN. I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN MARKET IS VERY SELECTIVE AND WANTS EVERYTHING FOR THEM. BTS IS A THREAT AND WITH THIS SONGS, WHATEVER THEY ARE , EXTREMELY POPULAR AND SOMETIMES TOO CATCHY , THEY HAVE TO DO IT , UNTIL THEY SET THEIR PLACE IN AMERICA TO PROVE THAT KOREAN MARKET AND K-POP IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE AMERICAN MARKET AND MUSIC.

      UNTIL THAT MOMENT WE WILL HEAR THIS KIND OF SONGS BUT I THINK THAT THE SONGS WE ARE GONNA HEAR IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BTS VIBE WE LOVE SINCE THE BEGGINING BECAUSE WE KNOW THEM.

      BTS HAVE TRIED EVERY SINGLE GENRE IN THIS WORLD I THINK, THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN GENRE. ITS TIME TO HEAR THIS KIND OF SONGS OR THIS GENRE.

      #BTS_WORLD_DOMINATION

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    • I love permission to dance. The song is good enough. buttter, dynamite, and PTD are amazing songs. I love these songs so much. RM also did say that PTD is better than butter. you are welcome.

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  3. As perhaps your comment section’s representative ARMY, I’ve been workshopping a bunch of one-liners to try to respond to this song, let me know which one of these are popping for you.

    1. This literally the worst day of my entire life.

    2. Do you remember in 2017 when DNA dropped and fans were saying they’re selling out and just making commercially viable music now? Well you are like a little baby, watch this.

    3. I believe this song was sent to me as a test from god. This is a god test and I am a god warrior

    4. Maybe…… they should have asked permission to dance.

    5. The teaser reminded me of the Full House theme, which instilled a great sense of dread and foreboding in me. The actual song is worse!

    6. Wildcats everywhere throw your hands up in the air that’s the way we do it let’s get to it time to show the world

    7. God, at least Jungkook looks hot. This is one of the fundamental truths of this universe and it cannot be taken away from me.

    8. ARMY are so numerous and so powerful, there has to be at least one of us who has access to this music beforehand, a hacker or an industry person who has the proverbial nuclear codes and could have shut this thing down before it hit our eardrums. And for this reason I believe we have failed BTS on this day. #ProtectBTS

    9. Yoongi please give me a call. Please stop this. I know this is not your heart

    10. No one hit me up. Real ones know why

    Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to donate funding so somebody can invent the Eternal Sunshine machine and I can forget forget forget.

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    • I still really love BTS, so let us both console each other.

      They made Blood, Sweat and Tears! I Need U! Run! They have stacked up an incredible single run! But they just reduced themselves, that’s all. *Cries*.

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      • Thank you so much for the support, I crossposted some of these to my tumblr and the armys over there are NAHT feeling me AT ALL. I might have to post a handwritten apology promising to reflect and show a more mature side of myself in the future etc at this rate

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        • Gal no apology should be written all you spoke were facts and I am overall disappointed which I am ashamed to say but I am not gonna lie to myself by listening to the song 50 times in order to like it

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    • Number 9, as a non-Army, hits the most. I always thought about Suga when they released Dynamite, Butter and Permission To Dance. It’s really not his heart, like you say.

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      • He’s my ult (as you can probably tell from my icon), you don’t know what this does to me…. at least in Butter he got a fun part, now they’re not even letting him rap anymore. They got him out here SINGING his one line in these little Duane Reade jingles….

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        • I like PTD, it was not exceeding my expectation but it was good. However, Suga is my ult bias and I started loving rap after listening to his First Love and daechwita. Also, loved UGH! by the rap line this year. That’s why I was a bit disappointed when there was barely any rap lines distributed in Butter was too little and in PTD there was no rapping. Either way, I will always support them. I loved MOTS, definitely the Wings era and many more … hopefully they will be making music that feels like them in their new album or single when it comes out. And there better be decent amounts given to the rap line.

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    • Thank you for this. You summed up my feelings very well. I can’t watch them doing this to themselves. Stop this madness please Yoongi. Joon i thought I knew you. I really did. I’ve been proved wrong today.

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    • If I’m going to be completely honest I’m low-key hoping this song doesn’t do as well as butter or dynamite so they get the clue to never make a song like this again 😭

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        • Yes, they are pretty good singers, but they are exceptionally skilled rappers, and that’s what I drew me to their music. If they want to go from being exceptional rappers to pretty good singers that’s up to them, of course, but I think it’s understandable why some people are disappointed by that.

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    • 9 – as soon as I finished watching the mv, I internally screamed YOONGIIIII, DID THEY PUT A G*N TO HOLLY’S HEAD TO MAKE YOU DO THIS?? Who, how, why Yoongiiiii… You said you understand kpop fans are often ridiculed for their taste, yet you do this *sobbing*

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    • Jungkook’s Karen swoop haircut is not hot, they’ve even managed to make him unattractive if you ask me. We’ve discovered what happens when unstoppable force of attraction meets and intolerable haircut.

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      • Oh stop it, he looks perfect as always. The real intolerable haircut was Taehyung’s weird auburn curls and dark headband hairline recently. Sabotage….

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    • unstan bts weirdo. bts wanted us to enjoy this song and here y’all come. BE was literally released a few months ago, talking abt burnout and the stress they feel, but apparently that was ‘commercial’ for y’all too. no one cares if you song like this song, jus don’t sh!t on it.

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      • Nah thanks for the offer but I don’t think I will, I’m a huge fan of theirs and have spent hundreds of dollars collectively on merch concerts albums etc as well as countless weeks of my life over the course of the past 5 years so that’s fine. People like me are fans every bit as much as people like you and we’re going to be in the same fandom no matter what you do. Like there’s literally nothing you can do about it and I love that for you. Respectfully, seethe and cope.

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      • Thank you babes I was going through such a dark time in my life due to the fact that my favorite group ever had released the worst song I’d ever heard and I truly needed to get it all out there lol. I’m really glad so many of u enjoyed it ❤️

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    • They haven’t lost all-cause. They are trying something new. It worked for them for Butter and did not do as well for PTD. That does not mean their failures. This will give them a direction that armies want them to bring back the intricate rap/vocal harmony that we all love.

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      • I hope you’re right but paradoxically, WE NEED THE PEOPLE TO NOT STREAM THE SONG lol. I mean I *hope* the critical reception for PTD will not be as warm and uh, smooth as butter, but with the way fans will tell you to shut your mouth and just stream, I actually have no idea how there’s supposed to be any genuine feedback between the artist and the audience 😭….

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        • unstan bts weirdo. bts wanted us to enjoy this song and here y’all come. BE was literally released a few months ago, talking abt burnout and the stress they feel, but apparently that was ‘commercial’ for y’all too. no one cares if you song like this song, jus don’t sh!t on it.

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          • No, we won’t unstan. We can critique a song if we want, thank you very much. We can still love the group if we don’t love a song. There’s no way BTS would approve of someone coming in and dictating how we should think, feel, and act. It goes against everything they stand for.

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  5. Dynamite brought me to Carpool Karaoke which turned me on to Mic Drop and On, which led me to my favorite song of theirs, Black Swan, and all their other goodness. And that led me to EXO, NCT, Big Bang, Shinee, and so much else. I respect them so much for bringing me to the Kpop madness.

    But I do not respect this song. I have heard sellout pap like this since the 70s. I won’t turn off the radio when i hear this, but I also won’t recommend or buy it, either. So disappointing. I’ll just keep digging into their back catalog.

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        • Move is a really amazing, emotional chill hip hop song. It’s one of my favorite examples of a type of song only BTS was really doing, where they’re reflecting on their career and how it is changing them. Now this is more common, but Move is still the most raw and intimate song I’ve seen in this vein I think. Also Rain and Outro: Her for more with this chill hip hop sound. Whalien 52 is another song unique to BTS I think; it’s based on a whale. Apparently scientists around the world have detected matching frequencies coming from a whale,possibly the same whale, which has a unique voice and therefore is unable to travel with a pod. So it’s a song about being a lonely whale lol

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        • Absolutely! Sorry I’m a little late with these but here goes.

          I think I’ll start with more recent tracks and move backwards? I figure you’re more likely to have heard the newer ones so I’ll get them out of the way first. Assuming you’re caught up with the MOTS series, I’ll start with “love yourself” trilogy? (Otherwise, far and away my favorite song from MOTS is “Home”!)

          Love Yourself Answer: “Euphoria,” Jungkook’s solo, and “Seesaw,” Suga’s solo. To me, “Euphoria,” a super upbeat synth-pop dance track, is like a shot of pure Jungkook essence somehow. Seeing him perform it live was always a huge highlight of their concerts for me. Wow! “Seesaw” is more of a chill R&B track. It’s fairly upbeat but contains really poignant lyrics about a relationship that’s been stretched past its breaking point.

          Love Yourself Tear: “Singularity” (V solo), “134340”/Pluto, “Paradise,” “Love Maze,” “Magic Shop,” “Airplane pt. 2,” “Anpanman”…. yes I realize that’s almost the whole tracklist. My personal fave from this list is either Singularity or 134340, if you’d like me to prioritize further. “Singularity” is a really sexy, slinky, moody R&B track that suits Taehyung’s voice flawlessly. “134340” is a similar but more funky mood, the numbers in the title are the numbers that designate Pluto after it was downgraded from a planet to an asteroid, and it uses that as a metaphor for being left by a lover… which is quite cool, so it’s another one where I’d recommend looking up the lyrics.

          Love Yourself Her: “Pied Piper” and “Sea.” Pied Piper is hooky and sexy… Do you sense a pattern with these recommendations I’m making? Honestly I’m not doing this on purpose, this is my taste lol, but I do think it’s worth reminding ourselves that BTS CAN be sexy. They CAN do it. Right not they’re CHOOSING not to do it, but…. anyway. “Sea” is a hidden track for some reason so it’s lesser-known compared to the rest of these but give it a listen, it’s gorgeous and more reminiscent of their older stuff.

          WINGS/YNWA: “MAMA,” “21st Century Girl,” “Cypher Part 4.” “MAMA” is J-Hope’s solo track, the first one we heard from him and the one that suits him best imo. The highlight of this one is the gospel choir singing with him at the end. Pure serotonin. “21CG” is perhaps not Nick’s cup of tea since it forgoes a melodic chorus in a favor of a beat drop, but I love it personally and if it came on in the club I would lose my mind, which I believe is the point. CP4 is not my favorite cypher but all of the cyphers are a treat for anyone who loves the rap line.

          HYYH PT 1/2/YOUNG FOREVER: “Butterfly,” “House of Cards,” “Love Is Not Over,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Baepsae,” “Move,” “Hold Me Tight.” Someone already recommended it above, but I’ll reiterate that “Move” is a great song that still makes me cry. Give it a listen and read the lyrics next time you’re packing up your things… I became a fan in late 2016 so I’m extremely mad that I’ll never get to see some of these beautiful songs performed live. “Autumn Leaves” especially, a Yoongi-produced masterpiece.

          DARK & WILD: “Cypher Part 3: Killer,” “Embarrassed”/Blanket Kick, “24/7=Heaven,” “Look Here,” “Second Grade.” CP3 is my personal favorite cypher, Yoongi’s verse is just perfection… yeah… this is what is called hip-hop, you know? On the other end of the spectrum, “Embarrassed” is just really cute, put it on if you’re feeling romantic in the summertime…

          SKOOL LUV AFFAIR: “Where You From,” “Jump,” “Miss Right,” “Cypher Part 2: Triptych.” CP2 is required listening for Yoongi’s verse, once again… (Sorry, my bias is showing. Man knows how to end a cypher.) “Jump” is really fun and very representative of their early stuff, an upbeat hip-hop inspired track with rock elements.

          ORUL82: “Coffee” & “Attack on Bangtan.” AoB is especially representative of the self-assuredness that BTS brought to their early career that really made them stand out I think.

          2 COOL 4 SKOOL: “Like,” “Path”/Road. “Path,” like “Sea,” is a hidden track that would be easy to miss if you’re a casual fan, but is absolutely worth it.

          Whew. Sorry so long. Hope you enjoy some of these at least!

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    • Great b-side recs:
      Rain from Dark and Wild- Chill, lofi

      Hold me tight from hyyh:2- Great melodies and rousing climax

      Let me know from Dark and Wild- Wonderful job by the vocal line and memorable hook

      Outro:Tear from ly:tear- Intense, raw and rousing

      Jamais Vu from Persona- Interesting melodies and j-hope’s rough sing-rap provides a great contrast

      Louder than bombs from mots:7- Very dynamic and unique with varied textures, the chorus is just a catharsis of sorts

      Reflection from Wings- Namjoon’s solo, an alternative hip-hop track with heartwrenching lyrics

      Interlude:Set me free from D-2- Atmospheric and brings us towards a sense of redemption

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  6. And this is a sad reality of kpop. No matter how bad songs from big groups or big companies are, they always get the spotlight whereas good songs of small groups rarely get a chance to shine.

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    • To an extent, and this is a problem with any industry not uniquely kpop. However, this song is still not something I’d compare to any of the big 3. When JYP wants to make schlocky pop music they always do it better than this. SM is usually experimental and their worse songs are usually just to bizarre, and rather than too watered down. YG is cringe though.

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  8. So you’re saying this is the wrost single?! Huh???
    Dear person they have added sign language so every HUMAN could understand and know what’s the song about and you’re here saying that they sounded bad
    Ya’ll serious???!
    Stop being jealous of them and think before you speak…

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  10. …This is just such generic fodder. I’ve had my gripes with BTS new music but at least I acknowledged there was a certain level of identity and artistry within them. There is none of that here. Dissapointing to say the least

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  11. “But if “transcending” means reducing yourself to the lowest common musical denominator, is that really something to be proud of?”
    Oh my god, this line and this entire review is like you heard my thoughts and put them together into coherent sentences.
    ‘Alright’ is the only word I can come up with to describe this. This song, it’s not BTS. Save for a couple of songs from BE and MOTS7 I don’t think I’ve heard a single good enough song from them since what? LY Tear? Persona’s songs did grow on me but barely.

    It’s like HYBE is not confident enough to show the world what they’re capable in terms of Korean music. They should have banked on Butter’s success and released some thing truly mind-blowing. Instead we get another radio pop song that will join a list of others and be forgotten by GP in the years to come.

    They only seem to want to re-create their HOT100 chart success at this point.

    Genuinely unsatisfied, even as an army.

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    • First thing that comes into mind is the thought that Bang PD is a good producer and he relied on this kind of lane for BTS with their English releases.

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      • i think this song was made for the fandom not exactly for the charts. Did you notice that TODAY IS ARMY´S BIRTHDAY. This song was made for them, nothing else. That is why they came out with another comeback to soon.
        Besides that, if you like the older style I think its great because i love it too, But until now they have to land in AMERICA. THATS WHY THEY STARTED SINGING IN ENGLISH, NOT IN KOREAN. I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN MARKET IS VERY SELECTIVE AND WANTS EVERYTHING FOR THEM. BTS IS A THREAT AND WITH THIS SONGS, WHATEVER THEY ARE , EXTREMELY POPULAR AND SOMETIMES TOO CATCHY , THEY HAVE TO DO IT , UNTIL THEY SET THEIR PLACE IN AMERICA TO PROVE THAT KOREAN MARKET AND K-POP IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE AMERICAN MARKET AND MUSIC.

        UNTIL THAT MOMENT WE WILL HEAR THIS KIND OF SONGS BUT I THINK THAT THE SONGS WE ARE GONNA HEAR IN THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BTS VIBE WE LOVE SINCE THE BEGGINING BECAUSE WE KNOW THEM.

        BTS HAVE TRIED EVERY SINGLE GENRE IN THIS WORLD I THINK, THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN GENRE. ITS TIME TO HEAR THIS KIND OF SONGS OR THIS GENRE.

        #BTS_WORLD_DOMINATION

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    • maybe this is the reason bang pd stepped down as ceo, he heard this and decided to go back to making better music, i miss bts songs with soul and substance!

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  12. I just don’t get it at all! What is this strategy? My problem with post-LY:tear, pre-Dynamite BTS was usually that they had a tendency to take themselves a bit too seriously for my liking. I still liked a lot of their music, but some of it (ehem, Black Swan) had started to test my patience. I would go back to that in a heartbeat over this though. I get that they’ve been breaking records with these English releases, but that seems fueled by diehard ARMYs more than actual recognition by the broader western market. This just reads as a misunderstanding of what they “should” do, and I’m not about it.

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    • Despite my dislike for Butter and Dynamite, there is a reason why they are breaking records and it’s not just because of a rabid dedicated fanbase. Getting a billion views for Dynamite is not something the ARMY can just do. Getting Butter at the top of the charts for a month and a half is not easy. Despite it, these songs have massive appeal even to other countries. Butter is a literal hit in so many countries, and it’s not losing that steam any time soon.

      These songs are entirely designed to be consumed by the mass public, and easy to digest. And because it’s entirely in English, it has a wider range of appeal than Korean.

      That’s not to say that entirely justifies the songs, just that they are definitely popular with the GP.

      I’m curious though to see if this will be accepted as the new single, or if Butter will continue its reign unaffected. Because I could see it becoming a hit despite the negativity.

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      • Yeah….. I don’t that that’s entirely true. The main reason that “Butter” is on the top of the U.S. charts is from the mass buying from the fandom.

        The sales for “Butter” in its sixth week reflect availability for its original and instrumental versions released May 21; a “Hotter” remix released May 28; “Cooler” and “Sweeter” remixes released June 4; an “alternate single cover” digital single released June 24 in the group’s webstore, with all discounted to 69 cents throughout their availability; and two other versions on sale via BTS’ U.S. webstore.

        Their sales for the original song and a few of the remixes equal about 100,000+ per week yet their U.S. streams are EXTREMELY low for a #1 song. In fact, they are lower than almost half the current songs on the HOT100.

        “The Box” by Roddy Rich was #1 for 11 weeks and here are the first weeks of its U.S. streams compared to Butter.

        Millions: 43/ 68/ 77/ 75/ 67/ 63 (1st to 6th week)

        This is “Butters”

        Millions: 27/ 19/ 15/ 12/ 12/ 11 (1st to 6th week)

        The U.S. is in the streaming generation and I don’t believe that most of the GP have even heard “Butter” nor would they care if the did. YouTube views are really not a good indicator of GP interest.

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    • permission to dance celebrates diversity. BTS incorporating sign language into the choreography then having people of all different ages & races and showing frontline jobs such as being a janitor & a waitress in the pandemic. it’s so heartwarming and what we need now. So I am not sure what you’re on about?

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      • @HAFISA What does that have to do with the song exactly? Your talking about the music video, everyone else is talking about the song in general. The song (MV) isn’t as diversive as you’re claiming it to be considering it shows a very stereotypical outlook and caricaturel aesthetics of America that both non-amercians and Americans would not (and don’t) appreciate, along with the sign language they included is only that of Korean and English SL I hope we recognize that sign language is not universal and each country’s sign language is in fact different. Just because the MV is “diverse” doesn’t mean the song is good in any objective capacity.

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  13. So we are now 174 comments in (the most for this site yet), and this has easily been one of the best comments sections I can see. In_A_Dream has been hilarious as a troll ARMY (with many others in support), everyone is dissecting the song civilly, and no one hated those who do enjoy the song. Even the discussion with Rita which started out quite negatively became positive soon after! Really impressed with everyone 🙂

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  14. Can we just talk about how mixed Ed Sheeran’s 2021 production output has been so far.

    One Ok Rock – Renegades: Amazing!
    Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits: Meh
    BTS – Permission to Dance: Underwhelming.

    I think in Renegades, he got to write a western-esque rhythm, but he was supported by long-time J-Rock writers such as Hayawaka and Moriuchi. That is why that song worked so well.

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    • Ed Sheeran has always been very hit or miss for me. There’ s songs I really like from him (Sing!, Castle on the Hill, etc) and also songs I really don’ t enjoy (Shape of You, this one).

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      • Castle on the Hill is like, gorgeous. But I’m ashamed to admit I like any one of his songs at this point because I think he is among the worst thing to ever happen to the culture lol.

        Conversely I didn’t mind “Shape of You” until somebody pointed out the lyrics are like, “we’re thrifty so we go to the all you can eat buffet on our first date.” The idea of billionaire Ed Sheeran taking a girl on a thrifty first date where he splits the check makes my blood pressure shoot up so high lmaoooo

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        • Right? I adore Castle on the Hill. Fills me with nostalgia in some way.

          I never really took the lyrics as being something Ed personally does – if you think about it that way I suppose that is a little icky. I think the ‘ I’ m just an ordinary guy’ kind of writing works for Ed, though, it suits his persona.

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      • Just dropping by to drop off the Forestella cover of Shape of You, which is immensely better because it is Forestella, also because they drop into the Spanish version and then briefly the Swahili version, as one does.
        ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRHx1hRtJzI

        The rest of the Ed Sheeran catalogue is meh to me He somehow hit the streaming algorithms sweet spot jackpot, and good for him, I guess.

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  15. I don’t know what to think or write about this song. My interest in k-pop started with BTS. I am their fan and that’s not changing. I feel proud of their achievements and I am emotionally invested in the group. They are great guys and they have made a formidable name for themselves worldwide. Few in the pop industry today, let alone K-pop, come close to their popularity and reach. Why am I wasting words on this? It’s because the biggest band in the planet, a k-pop band, has an audience that few can imagine and BTS could literally do anything. It could make the world listen to their Korean music and bop along to it. It could try new uncharted territories for their music. It could raise the level for their audience and take them on their journey. When you have such an audience, you could really either lead or pander. BTS has chosen the latter. The biggest band on the planet has reduced itself to selling mediocre and cookie-cutter music, to pander to whatever they think the US wants. BTS wants radio. They want to reign on these US chart. At this point, they are ready to sell Christmas jingles if they could get that mainstream success. To be honest, I don’t even know sometimes what it is that they want. Surely they can achieve that with good music.

    As their fan, I shouldn’t have trepidation every time they announce new music. I should be eager, excited. I am just nerves though when I watch their teaser and hope to god that I like the new song. That same trepidation was awarded with butter and my delight made me giddy for a few days. Now, I hope to forget this comeback and the next two weeks. I will log off my twitter and concentrate on my courses for this fall. I am moving to NYC this month so I have a lot on my hands, thank god. Anything to make me forget that this July, apart from me moving countries, nothing really happened.

    I blame the sentimentality on the pandemic and the fact that I’ve been stuck home too long. Anyways, I await their next comeback with hope and that same little trepidation. I hope Bangtan gets what it wants and are ready to just come home.

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    • That was extremely well put. My introduction to BTS was “Boy With Love”, which I found pleasant yet generic (doesn’t that sound familiar), so I don’t have the high expectations of fans who’ve been around longer, but I’ve been trying to put my finger on why I’ve continued to be disappointed in their recent releases and you hit it right on the nose. It’s a huge lost opportunity the change the face of Western pop music and I only hope it doesn’t drag the rest of the kpop industry with it.

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    • This is exactly what has been on our minds. In fact, I’ve been trying not to pay attention to the song and forget it even existed. Radio-friendly hits are not a bad thing, but this one, even when it comes on the radio, I am going to be turning it off.

      I became an army a few months after persona was released and the first song I heard was fake love and I started checking out their past catalogue and was impressed. They were what took me to kpop and I’ll have that emotional connection always and I truly hope they’ll go back to their previous style that defined them.

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  17. This song gives the same energy as watching a Christmas Macy’s commercial. It’s not what I expected from the group that brought me into k-pop. I still remember when I Need U, Not Today, and even Fake Love were released and how those felt so much more satisfying to listen to once they were finally released! I used to constantly refresh their teaser videos until I fell asleep the night before the comeback because I couldn’t get enough of those two seconds where you can hear them. For this comeback, I just listened to it once, said “oh cool another BTS song that sounds the exact same,” and went to stream some k-pop that felt like a human wrote it (TXT anyone???). That just feels wrong and I wish it would change.

    I am glad that BTS is finally getting called out on this. I hope that their producers learn that this isn’t what a majority of real army’s want (especially for a group that claims they love their fanbase so much). I doubt this will change because of money and “WOw AmERiCa” but, I guess it’s the thought that counts.

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  19. This song is basically the audio equivalent of that forced smile you give people when they give you a bad gift that you never asked for. It is trying so hard to be fun, yet it has no soul.
    Management wise this makes no sense. BTS has reached a point in popularity where they could release literally anything, and it will still sell and chart ridiculously well regardless of what it is. So why strip them of everything that makes them special and replace it with this. To attract new fans by making them super generically westernized? First, they don’t necessarily need more fans and second the reason they ever blew up in the first place is because people loved who they already were. There is no need for all these English singles that strive so hard just to come off as palatable to those who are not already their fans. They have so many wonderful fans who loved them long before they ever released a single english song, regardless of their own native language. So why force this on them?
    And the vocal processing, just WHY? We know they can sing well, so why do you continually insist on doing this to them. At this point I kind of feel bad for BTS because even for all their success I can’t help but imagine how heavily the weight of expectations and cooperate greed still weights on them.

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    • “This song is basically the audio equivalent of that forced smile you give people when they give you a bad gift that you never asked for. ”

      That’s the most accurate sentence I’ve heard today.

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  20. Even though the song is not my fav tbh, I am still going to support BTS and stream the song from all the apps. There’s more than music in what BTS stands for now. They have to win against this race biased sexist industry. They have done incredible songs and danced to perfected choreographs and this toxic industry didn’t let them have their win because they were only “a simple boyband from South Korea with 7 little boys”. This sickening ideas have to be diminished and BTS is the closest artists to do so. ARMY know their talent and hard work. So it doesn’t matter whether this song is their best or not. ARMY will support it all the way. They should have gotten the highest recognition from the western media until now anyways.

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    • I don’t think a song should be streamed just because of the artist. I love their old songs, but this is not worth streaming imo. Feel free to stream PTD, but this is my take on it.

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    • I understand where you’re coming from…but at the same time don’t you think they have that kind of popularity now? Those who want to hate them purely based on race are just the kind of people who will continue to hate them regardless of everything and never give them a fair chance so why try so hard to bend their prejudiced minds? And I’m a huge army but personally i always dissociate them from their music. I love them as people but no that doesn’t mean i will stream obsessively a song i truly don’t like just to get them a top spot on some Top 100 chart literally owned by the West. What about the sanctity of music honestly? Wouldn’t the boys appreciate if we kept things genuine? True? Years later when you wanna go back to the top hits of 2021 would you not want a realistic and true track list? What do we achieve by this forcible pushing? I feel we only discredit them further when we push mediocre tracks to the top and stream with agendas instead of genuine enjoyment and listening pleasure. Yes Spring day deserved more. So did Fake Love, Bst and countless others. They received their fame in Korea and new fans pouring in are acknowledging and loving them. There’s nothing more we can do now….I just want them to receive a real feedback of what they release so they know what is received well and what isn’t instead of making every song a hit with a number governed mindset.

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      • I loved your answer. You are absolutely right in every word I know. I never streamed any song to the point I would hate to even hear it. I never pushed myself to stream crazily and ofc I’m not trying to justify only myself, there are people who dedicate their days to these comebacks too and I have no say in it too. People will do what they do as usual. And concerning the feedback, as can be seen from the views so far I guess they will get it. As for me, your point of view made sense I will consider this and keep support them fairly and not blindly. I loved to interact with ARMY with different views and it was all respectful. Sorry I am too excited about this because this doesn’t happen all the time unfortunately. Wish you good luck and health💜🙏

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        • Wow you’re the first person who was actually able to understand and see my point of view. Whenever i say this i usually get bashed. I had almost started thinking i should stop calling myself an army😂 but you reinstate my faith thank you so much fellow army 🙂
          Borahe and wish you good health too! 🙂

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          • You girl. All up in this thread. I just wanted to say. You are hilarious. I screenshotted your list of phrases about PTD because it made me laugh out loud

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            • 💕💕💕oh I really appreciate it! Thank you! Just like bts, I am just trying to bring you some levity in this trying time. I am glad at least one of us was successful in this endeavor lol

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      • Exactly! We love the boys forever but they are global superstars and they can handle criticism as much as anyone else. As much as they shouldn’t be dismissed for being Korean, they shouldn’t be put on a pedestal or handled with kid gloves because of it either.

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        • Exactly my point! Why don’t people understand this and keep it real. I spoke to a sensible army friend about this and she said – it’s a love language for us. Also they’ve faced so much shit and racism in the past that armys just wanna make them bulletproof and make the charts irrelevant esp since the Western artists have so much monopoly now, in order to overcome that. Hello? Bts has reached a level now where even western artists cannot touch them. And if we don’t keep things real and honest it’s only gonna come back and bite them someday because I get that people have different choices but one can listen to a song and tell – oh this is so unique lot of people are gonna love and appreciate this. If they keep making this generic stuff….they will loose that edge eventually and a dedicated part of the fandom will still continue lauding them with praise while the rest of the world will just turn away. They set out to make good honest music that came from their soul and so many appreciated them for that. I’d hate to see them loose that. I’d hate to loose them! My biggest comfort providers who uplift me.

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          • Your take on it gave me a lot to think about, seriously. I wanted them to win, I still do but like everyone else in life, they should be able to handle criticism with good intentions to improve themselves as you said. So maybe wrapping them in bubbles will not be of help from now on. I loved this whole conversation going under this comment btw💜. It’s always good to hear different views to improve our way of thinking🙏.

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          • You are so right. I would also add that while I completely understand the desire to shield BTS from the racism they’ve experienced and continue to experience, the kind of exceptionalism that fans have been applying to them actually crosses over into benevolent racism at times. I want to see a world where a Korean-language artist is treated with the same standards as an English-language one and I think we are not going to get there if we act as though BTS are exempt from Western critique.

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        • And for me they are serious artists. They know what they’re doing. They’ve been in it for so long they’re not amateurs. They can handle our words as long as we’re not offensive or derogatory. Every artists deserves that and i know in my heart empty praises don’t mean much to them. Do you remember how depressed Jin was momentarily in Nov Dec when they got nominated for Grammys and he kept saying – there are better singers out there. Now i hated to see him like that, he’s an amazing vocalist, our silver voice and they’ve made so many Grammy worthy songs. But i feel somewhere deep down he knew Dynamite just wasn’t at that level to deserve all that? So that created a rift in his mind…what he thought they actually deserved and what was being heaped up on them. They’re not dumb. They have ears. They know what’s great and what’s just okay.

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          • I loved these comments. I love the boys and after listening to their past music I felt like there are many songs of theirs that should have been nominated for a grammy but weren’t. I did not like Dynamite but loved Butter, after listening to PTD a few times, I started to like it too. I think after they see the mixed reaction of AMRY’s they will definitely evaluate and reconsider how they should produce their next single and album. That being said, there are many non-armys and armys that liked PTD straight away and other Army’s that did not. I think seeing the mixed reviews, they will hopefully produce a Korean single or album that breaks barriers in the Kpop industry. I think they’re good at doing that. Also, they should not all sing. Yes, all of their voices are good, but I think when they all sing then it is hard to tell them apart. Also, we’re giving constructive feedback because we want them to shine like always. I hope this does not offend anyone.

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          • This is a comment that i have been waiting for. I have already said this to myself. They know they are not dumb. We ARMY (True ARMY, and that’s not meaning based on the years being an ARMY) know RM and praise him for being a genius artist as he writes 80-90 percent of bts’s music (his words by the way) and RM has a say-so in many things regarding BTS songs and concepts (his words many times) so why this song? RM and the others know this song is a ploy for Grammy (a huge mistake) that it’s not them. And by the way American’s don’t like this type of pop music that ptd is. Only kid like age 4-10 years old. i am American and the pop we like (the majority) is like Jonas brothers and Justin B if that. Or oldies like back street boys and *NSYNC. PTD is a song for instance a Disney movie like trolls something in animation like Justin Timberlake did. Sorry for long comment. BTS has said ( well RM) on November 19, 2019, in teen Vogue interview that he wants to show a more mature BTS in their duties music released…. What has happen since the start of this decision to sing in English to try
            and get a Grammy is a good ole thing called (unfortunately) a sell out. That’s what this is called and that’s reality. They sold out their integrity to try and get a Grammy. I love and care for them so much but this is what it absolutely what has happened.

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      • I love your comment it is so true its not a game or competition(#no1song)i think they deserve our honesty at this point the first time i knew of bts was after i watched dynamite but i have been drawn to their older songs ptd is okay but not the best

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    • “They have to win against this race biased sexist industry.”

      no they don’t. And why put such pressure on them? and who’s to say they haven’t already? because the same jerks who refuse countless artist like Beyonce, The weekend, etc to give a piece of metal? You ‘beat’ the industry by gaining a following and making sales/money. BTS already does this in the states. Other than reporting, less and less people follow the charts. We stream, the algorithm recommends, or its through recommendation. I’d say TV show interviews/performances do much more for BTS than anything else.

      Us keep fighting for these things is actually giving the jerks validation, not BTS. Its why a lot of artists are starting to boycott these award shows. its politics, not merit.

      The biggest FU BTS can do is to keep doing their thing…. but I doubt its bts calling the shots? its the company as they have said several times that their songs/parts have be dropped out or significantly changed.

      Even if I don’t like a song like Stay, I want more of that because its BTS song, not some paid left overs from people I don’t even listen too (nor knew they exist).

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  21. Thank you Nick. You summed up my every thought, feeling and reaction. The last 3 American song pandering to get a Grammy are not worth BTS losing their integrity. Butter is cute, Dynamite is nonsensical and Permission to Dance, smh. Hopefully America will someday learn to appreciate BTS and other K-Artists lyricism like they did with Latin Music.

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    • I agree that there were many flaws in PTD but I would not say that they lost their integrity or that they should be labelled as failures. Overall, it wasn’t a mind-blowing song but it was good. This song had received mixed reviews with some liking it and some not. Hopefully, BTS recognises the pros/cons in PTS and makes sure that their work going forward will not have those flaws. I do think BTS is a grammy worthy group, but they should aim for the Grammy’s with Eastern Asian music. I think they make amazing Korean music.

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      • They has compromised their integrity. They made a mistake. They absolutely did. Everyone makes mistakes and have a choice to learn from it or not. And i am ARMY for years. I love and care for them. Honest criticism, in kindness of course, but to the point) is what RM has himself stated numerous times over the years, that he needs from ARMY and his management so their music can stay true to who bts is. And this song is not bts. Not that it is in English it’s the entire musicality of it. In kindness and truth is speak and reply. But i respect your opinion. 🙏🏼

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  22. I may be the newest Army – and at 70 among the oldest – to post here. I joined just four months ago on the back of ‘Fix You’, rapidly devoured their back catalogue of mvs and concerts, and learned their story. I totally agree with Nick and most of you – hate to say it but i find this track a mess on so many levels, the mv too. I’m so disappointed. Butter was pretty good, though not compared to their older stuff. But this? What were they thinking? Anyway the seven guys will know, not least because PTD wont chart so well, but also because they’ve got ears and eyes and deep down they can’t be happy with it.

    They truly come alive on the stage in front of an audience of fans so its not surprising they seem dispirited by the endless stream of video interviews and remote performances, to the extent that sometimes they appear to be pretending to be BTS. I don’t know if that makes sense, or am i imagining there’s a feeling of desperation crept in from Covid..

    By the way I found this page through Googling “Permission to Dance disappointing” – As a real newbie this is testing my love, but there’s real comfort in reading your posts.

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    • Welcome! What a cool older lady/ahjumma.

      I wish I could get my parents into kpop too. They’re in their sixties and they are not interested at all. I played “Love Fool” by STAYC in the car last weekend and my dad was grooving to it a little bit but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. Could it be that STAYC is dad music….?

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      • I’ve been sharing K-pop with my mom as of late! She’s a lyrics-oriented person so K-Pop is a hard sell, but she can enjoy the songs better if she sees the
        choreography or MVs. She even stayed up with me to watch a SHINee concert at 2am, which was wonderful and unexpected.

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      • Thanks for the heads up on STAYC’s song, Matchagrl – not just dad music as it’s now on my Spotify playlist, nice. I hadn’t really listened to any K-pop other than BTS (I know, I know) so now seems like a good time to explore. I definitely need distraction from the weird ARMY in-fighting I’ve come across on YT, although the line distiribution count squabbles are always good for a laugh.

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        • Oh, I’m so happy to hear it! 🙂

          BTS are my number one and they’re a great entry point to kpop, so I don’t blame you at all. But I really like kpop in general. There is such a variety of releases that I wouldn’t know where to start recommending things… But if you’re interested, you could tell me what kind of music you like generally and I could try to give you a few jumping points from there!

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          • Oh that would be excellent, thank you🙏. My answer to your question is a bit long I’m afraid! I was looking for a common thread in my musical taste through six(!) decades – I never really had to pin it down before – my conclusion is that I’m a sucker for the combination of really good voices and a strong melody, with harmonies and a soulful guitar riff optional.

            In real life I rarely cry but sometimes I want a favourite song to move me, almost to tears. Sting’s Fields of Gold, Phil Collins’ I Wish it Would Rain Down, and Culture Club’s Victims all do that. For me George Michael was the best singer of his generation and Careless Whisper never fails. I put Jungkook in the same category, his vocals amaze me every single time. I love Film Out, Your Eyes Tell and Euphoria – not ‘real’ Army approved the I’m sure but I’m fine without approval these days. And I listen to his covers, and to random older, mostly upbeat BTS on Soundcloud.

            No women yet, not a conscious move, but some Taylor, Anne Marie are on my playlist too- voices and melody again. Hell, I even have the latest Ed Sheeran there too, possibly it takes me back to my misspent youth😏. His aunt’s a friend and I’ve a vague memory of this gawky teenager at her parents’ home in Wicklow. But I digress…

            By now you’re probably sorry you asked but I promise to listen to everything you recommend. I just realised my husband would absolutely hate all the music I’ve just mentioned – his era was punk, raucous beat and tuneless voices. So did I even answer your question? Either way, I’ll shut up now and post.

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            • First of all, no need to be so apologetic, your comment was interesting to read and not overlong at all! 🙂 It is what I asked for, after all. It’s a tough question and now that I think of it, I’m not sure how I’d sum up my own music tastes either, and I’m looking at closer to 20 years than 60 years of listening myself (I’m turning 29 next month). That’s so crazy that you know Ed Sheeran’s family lol, I apologize for accusing him of being responsible for the death of culture elsewhere in this thread. Remember I also said I loved “Castle on the Hill”….. I love Phil Collins too, I guess he was introduced to my generation through the Tarzan soundtrack, which yes, still makes me cry…

              You will find no argument here on Jungkook’s voice, he is seriously special and Euphoria never fails to lift my mood… saying this with my full bias of course. I have neglected their Japanese discography though, I’ll give Film Out/YET another listen for you :).

              Your preference for melodic songs and strong vocalists means your tastes probably are pretty similar to Nick, who runs this blog, so I would recommend having a look through his archives. He regularly does features where he rates his favorite kpop tracks of the year/month/all time, so I’m sure you will find something you like there. And a bunch of the artists I’m about to recommend are favorites of his, too.

              First of all, maybe the most obvious next step is BTS’s younger labelmate, TXT. Their latest comeback is one of my favorites in a long time, features an emotionally arresting vocal performance and is largely written by RM!

              Other TXT favorites: Eternally, Anti-Romantic, Dear Sputnik, No Rules, Run Away, Drama, Blue Hour, Wishlist, Crown, Ghosting. It’s hard not to recommend almost their whole discography. With few exceptions, it’s all really good.

              LUCY is an amazing group that is really unique in kpop. They are an actual band that plays instruments, featuring prominent violin that gives their tracks an epic, dynamic feeling. Their main vocalist is simply incredible. Oh, I’d love to see them live someday… I know I’d be crying. This one is “Flare,” a b-side for some reason.

              Other LUCY favorites: Snooze, Stove, I Got U

              I also can’t go without mentioning kpop’s biggest female singer/songwriter and amazing vocalist, IU.

              Also check out her whole album, “Chat-Shire.”

              ONF are another group with really strong, distinctive vocals. “We Must Love” is a personal favorite, but this year’s “Beautiful Beautiful” is insanely popular, with good reason. I also love “New World” and “Why.”

              I think those are my most confident recommendations and I can’t go on forever… but also check out all the artists under Woollim entertainment (Infinite, Lovelyz, Golden Child, Drippin), Sejeong, Pentagon, SHINee… probably tons more that I’ll think of later haha, oh well! Enjoy ❤

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              • Wow, that should see me out, thank you. I did enjoy a couple of IU mvs – got curious after I heard Jk was a fan – but the rest will be a whole new experience – exciting! After that (or possibly in my next life) I shall explore Nick’s archives.

                Oh, and Castle on the Hill is probably the last ES I’d listened to more than once until Bad Habits, so no worries there. It turns out the gawky teen I met couldn’t possibly have been Ed who it’s just dawned on me would have been 8 or 9 at the time. Hey ho, one story less 🙄.

                I find most chart music these days pretty meh, but then part of me is still back in time. Songs are like memories – you gather them up through the years but then they overload your brain and slip out for a while. How could I overlook Don McClean’s Vincent, possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and that voice! I was at his free Hyde Park concert in 1975, lucky me.

                Re Film Out, I loved the mv and the second? live performance for Japanese TV where they wear all blue. Both Sowoozoo and the beige live were marred by sound/mic issues for some reason, such a shame.

                Perhaps we’ll meet again on another thread soon when I can report some progress. Im just sorry to say that I still cringe inside when I hear/watch PTD, which, I suppose, is where we came in…

                PS new icon but still me – it’s complicated.

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  23. I getting really tired of these English language songs from BTS. They feel really inauthentic and a little cringey. The boys aren’t bad and the song honestly isn’t terrible either. It’s the mix of the two that really bugs me, especially since I’ve heard all of their other b sides. I think a kpop group doing well in the US with KOREAN songs is a big deal and something I’m waiting to see happen. I want kpop to succeed despite English arrogance.

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  25. I feel like I’ve found a home here. I watched the video twice and said, “Not my cup of tea.” The song is so generic. Not every song has to be full of meaning, but PTD is particularly bad. I can’t support this one, and it annoys me to see so many ARMY state that we all have to support BTS, no matter what. At that point it’s no longer a fandom but a cult. No, thank you!

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    • I think it’s fine if it’s not your cup of tea. I actually really liked PTD. I think, as an AMRY, you should be able to support the music that you love. If you do not like any BTS songs you should not ever be forced to support it. BTS’s whole mantra is about loving and accepting yourself and I do not think they would be happy if a fan ever felt like they are forced to like something. So sorry on the behalf of any ARMY who has been rude to your opinion was different from theirs. Borahae 🙂

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  26. This has been on my mind since PTD has come out and im honestly really disappointed in the reactions army has been giving to the boys. They try so fucking hard for us, they do all these things for us and we continuously bash them and tell them how to do THEIR job. if you don’t like it be quiet. If you cant wait for a song you like, stan another group. Understand your place as a fan and get over yourself. BTS has been trying so hard. They worked so hard, and even if you don’t like the PTD you should at least try and be respectful. To be honest with you i don’t think BTS is going down, i think army is. I know for a fact that we are failing as a supportive and safe community for BTS and its a horrible thing we are doing. BTS was in a really dark place when Wings was created so now that they’re finally happy we should appreciate that.

    I’m just really disappointed in Army. i thought we could do better, i thought we could be more appreciative of them and their choices as grown ass men with lives to live.

    If you cant support BTS fully don’t fucking support them at all.

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    • “If you cant support BTS fully don’t fucking support them at all.”

      Damn, i didn’t know that i wasn’t allowed to dislike a song by them in order to call myself an ARMY. I *am* appreciative of the members and their talents, I just can’t stand this song. Your problem?

      Again, if you like the song, good for you! Another song to add to your playlist, that’s a good thing! 🙂

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    • Just because I stan an artist, it does not mean I must like every single song the artist puts out. We are not being depreciative here, we are merely stating our opinions that the song was characterless and did not represent the true potential of BTS. We know the boys work hard, and readily support them but constructive criticism just helps them grow.

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      • sorry i didnt really make it clear, i kinda got mad. What i meant was i was seeing a bunch of people saying that BTS has ruined their chances at sucesss and thats not something i agree on. What i do agree on is that of course you are allowed to have your own opinion on a song. i personally do quite like PTD and although its not my favourite i do quite enjoy it. and i do understand that cristism helps them grow as a group, but it makes we mad to see people saying that BTS has failed their jobs. 🙂

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        • Of course, they are after all doing what they’re really good at and this song is going to succeed no matter what. But we just don’t want more songs to be made this way seeing its blind success. Yes, they’ve worked hard but so do all other idols. Anyway, thanks for clarifying and have a great day/night!

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    • While I do not agree with EVERYTHING you have said, I feel like some of these comments are unnecessarily negative on the boys. You’re right, It is THEIR job and we can’t do anything about it, But are they doing it because they are ACTUALLY Happy? or do they want to reap in America’s attention? Of course, we cannot assume but the fact they have blitzed THREE English singles in a row doesn’t certainly make a case for them. But I think we shouldn’t assume, They said it was too give out a positive message and I respect the boys for doing that. The Main Problem I have is how they lost connection with their roots and what made them BTS, and the bat-sh*t crazy fanbase, Like you said.

      I honestly feel bad for BTS either way, they get made fun of from all sides and it must be so hard to live upto the expectations. The fans are absolute @ssholes with no sense of dignity and harm the reputation of the boys, and some people only make fun of them because of the fan-base’s horrid reputation.

      But the main point is, BTS have sent a positive message while still retaining their color. PTD just feels so redundant and feels so….ed sheeran. I have no issues with ed, but this song drowns out most of their character. BTS’s music always had a perspective but PTD doesn’t feel like that, It’s not diversifying your discography and it’s not trying something new, It’s basically you forgetting who you are and what made you, and reducing yourselves to appeal to american talk shows.

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    • Being grown ass men means they can also take criticism just like any other artist. They don’t need to be babied by us. The infantilization that’s practiced by some international fans is so weird. I don’t get what’s going on with you in particular. You say they’re grown men who can take care of themselves at the same time you’re saying their fans need to be their emotional support group and rally behind every single artistic choice they ever make. This is such a weird perspective and it’s something you basically only hear from kpop stans. How many western artists have fans who say you need to like every single song they put out? My goodness.

      You seriously sound like you need a break from socials for today, honestly. Try to remind yourself that BTS, as much as we love them, are now rich hot billionaires so they’re probably going to be fine even if one of their songs is a minor flop.

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      • Yes, exactly. If they keep getting positive and sugar-coated responses to literally everything they release, they might assume that people are actually enjoying the stuff and will continue releasing that kind of stuff. Which is exactly how we’ve reached here after Dynamite. And now, after butter’s crazy success, do you think they’ll drop it?
        To them it might look like the audience enjoys this type of content and to further please them, they’re going to continue making more such songs, regardless of whether they like doing it or not. At this rate, it’s not long before we get a proper English album from them. This one is already a single album with photobooks and PCs and the usual stuff.

        Honest review is so so important but because of the sheer size of the fandom and the cult like behavior of streaming everything, it never reaches them.

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        • I agree with all you stated. I feel like an all English album is coming.. i could be wrong. And yes streaming for billboard for number one no matter what is not beneficial. Honest reviews, in kindness but I’m truth is the way. I am a long time ARMY and RM has stated numerous times he wants ARMYs feedback. They have never had this before so i hope they listen and take it in. It’s called listening to what your true fans are saying and want. I’m so over the fans that are absolutely not good for the fandom and is why i don’t follow any one on twitter. I stay an ARMY by myself cause that crap ia embarrassing. I know I’m missing out on becoming friends in real life with probably so cool ARMY but i cannot trust that. So stay a singleARMY to myself.

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    • Like people can’t share an opinion anymore🙄

      By the way, this comment section is so disappointed because we’re all fans of BTS? Why would we care at all if we were not invested in their music? We’re upset because we think this song isn’t showing their full potential. If anything, I’m sure BTS would appreciate feedback from fans rather than blind love.

      Saying you don’t like a song from BTS or that you don’t like the direction they’re moving in does not make you not an Army in the slightest. Trying to paint constructive criticism as “disrespectful” or “hate” is just laughable.

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    • The thing I dislike about the “works so hard” narrative is that applies to literally every single group. Could you be a kpop idol with their schedules? I couldn’t, it’s too much for me. But every single idol out there works just as much as BTS.

      Working hard doesn’t always result in a song that people are going to like as there are a multitude of factors that go into a song. Who is the song written/produced by? Who is in control of the creative direction? Is it chasing certain trends? Not all of them are going to click at the same time all of the time.

      The way you talk about “safe” communities is really weird and extremely parasocial. They are a group, you are a fan. It really shouldn’t be that deep. If you don’t like a song you can express so, if you don’t like the direction a group you previously loved their music of you can express so. That doesn’t mean that BTS are suddenly in an “unsafe” community. You say they are grown men, treat them as such. They don’t need your “supportive and safe community”. I have my faves, but I don’t do much other than listen to their songs. I reckon a lot of kpop fans should step back and just do the same cos honestly, that would probably solve a lot of the toxicity of fandoms more than unconditional support.

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    • This post is exactly what any cult member would say about their group. Just switch out some names and it would be exactly the same. I’m a believer and proponent of independent thought and opinions, meaning that we should all have a voice. Being told to basically “sit down and shut up” just because I don’t like PTD is disrespectful. Fans should be allowed to not like one song or the direction BTS seems to be going in and remain fans. Blind fawning adoration isn’t healthy. I can also respect the hard work on PTD’s choreo AND still dislike the song. I’m not leaving the fandom over one song, regardless of what “real” fans say.

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    • BTS might be working hard, even extra hard to deliver such a song, but the company, marketing, research and producers arent….

      In anything, BTS is working too hard to compensate for such poor selection for their US English work.

      So I’m supporting them by letting them know its ok for them to be themselves and not let the company convince them to perform songs that has nothing to do with them. They can win with their own work.

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  27. I Loved PTD. It was so happy and upbeat. It’s not your typical BTS song, it’s more about liberation, happiness, fighting on and being hopeful. COVID has literally taken so much away, I am so happy they produced this song. If you listen to PTD you will hear that their song has meaning.

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  28. I think it’s fine if it’s not your cup of tea. I actually really liked PTD. I think, as an AMRY, you should be able to support the music that you love. If you do not like any BTS songs you should not ever be forced to support it. BTS’s whole mantra is about loving and accepting yourself and I do not think they would be happy if a fan ever felt like they are forced to like something. So sorry on the behalf of any ARMY who has been rude to your opinion was different from theirs. Borahae 🙂

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  29. Something which annoys me is the phrase “K-pop is just western pop but in the korean language”. Um…if that’s the case, Why did all of us rush to the K-pop scene. Did we like the way how they look? Or was it because of the music? If that’s the case, we all could’ve just chosen western pop music…wouldn’t we?

    I can’t put this into words but Nick, I want to ask you a question…what made you get into K-pop? Why did you switch in the first place?

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    • This question wasn’t for me, but i’m going to add my input anyways because i think it’s valuable.
      I got into kpop when I was really young (I’m ’03 and I got into kpop in 2010-ish) from a cousin who showed me SNSD and Wonder Girls (Even now, Sunmi and Taeyeon are some of my biggest life role models and I think it’ll be like that for a long time). I thought the songs were absolute bangers and I really wanted to be like them. Over what made me stay in kpop and become such a huge fan is:
      1. blending, bending, and fusing of genres (I got a boy 멋진 I got a boy 착한)
      2. not understanding the lyrics
      3. korean is a pleasant sounding language (i’m chinese and sometimes, english/chinese is not great on the ears)
      4. idols are hot (umm like dk and sunmi?!)
      5. constant, consistent releases for artists (for example, lorde and carly rae jepson are some of my all time favorite artists, but sometimes they just kind of disappear)
      6. meaningful lyrics (LETS PLAY FOREVER I juST wannA BE A DAWWWWG)
      7. mostly unproblematic, hard-working celebrities (because accountability actually exists!)
      8. just overall more diverse, stronger song
      9. not every other songs is about drugs/sex/violence
      10. (im asian and kpop helped me embrace being asian and lowkey made me realize the beauty of being asian after i faced racism as a kid)

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    • I am not able to phrase it properly but the reasons that made me get into kpop and made me stay are:
      1. Consistent and quality releases
      2. Meaningful songs(mostly)
      3. Great variety of genres and the bending of it in new directions
      4. The unpredictability as well as the predictability of an artist’s music
      5. Mostly unproblematic music
      6. Not understanding the language lol
      7. The feeling of actually liking something I do which makes me happy-listening to kpop, in this case
      8. The sheer diversity in the songs
      9. Last, but not least, people I can relate to

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    • I write about that a bit in the post linked below, but the short answer is: K-pop sounded different than anything I’d ever heard and the songs were more exciting and adventurous.

      What’s kept me around is the infrastructure supporting the industry. From variety to weekly music shows to constant comebacks, there’s no other music industry (aside from Japan) that offers so many jumping on points. It really is a culture, with great care and focus given to the music itself. I’ve always been attracted to that. America (and western music in general) just doesn’t have that infrastructure any more. Gone are the days of MTV or TRL or Top of the Pops. All the fun stuff is happening in Asian markets.

      From Savage Garden to Golden Child: My Pop Music Timeline

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      • Oh my god Savage Garden! I can still sing every word of Truely Madly Deeply and I haven’t heard it in at least a decade!
        What got my into kpop was the fact I could listen to it and study without being distracted by lyrics, and the fact so many songs are so upbeat.

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    • Also not directed at me, but I come from rock but love early hip-hop, funk, house, New Jack Swing, Quiet Storm, and most disco if it’s not too sugary. Kpop not only uses these styles but it gives jobs to people like Teddy Riley, and people who write songs and produce in an older style like Alawn and Adrian McKinnon. The genre changes are exhilarating and the songwriting is complex and interesting. After being in a scene where indifference on the part of performers was not only tolerated but encouraged, it’s wonderful to hear the performers giving their all on record. And the beauty of the performances is nothing to sneeze at, either.

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    • -Great production quality (i’ve noticed this is coming back to American music)

      -Diversity in subject matter (especially after BTS made it big and more smaller companies can promote so we get more than just generic love songs or sex and violence and money as we have in the west

      -Not having to deal with sex and violence all the time. Nor toxic love lyrics. I don’t relate to any of this

      -Actual singing voices. Seems the only current singers are in RnB and well its always about love songs. Most new American singers seems not be able to sing now?
      _______Here’s what I don’t like_____

      *the obsession with high notes. Part of why I prefer jrock over kpop is all the high pitch sounds and voices. Its also why I rarely go for girl groups (mammamo is my fav). It hurs my ear after a few mins and sad BTS is having so much of it even in their korean and japanse releases.

      *Over mixing of genre. I do like kpop for the mixes, but often times its a like a tossed salad. some times it tastes good, but its best to have a few great items to really get a chance to taste the ingredients

      *Overly following trends. Before BTS there was a few groups here or there that had rap, now everyone has a rap section even if none of the members listen to rap nor write any of the rap lines. Right now, the dark victorian or Island funk is everywhere.

      *The obsession over youth. So much wonderful talent have spending those years honing their craft are left by the way side because they hit their late 20s or went to have a family. We’re seeing more in their 30s and up coming back into the scene and you can tell their level of professionalism is much higher that new debuted teens.

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  30. Just because y’all don’t like this song doesn’t mean it’s a bad song. I don’t like butterfly but it’s still a good song, it’s just not my thing yet you don’t see me hating on it.

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  31. Look, sometimes radio-ready fluff is okay. There’s a perfectly affable (even if not “great” by usual standards) song here that would make for an incredible B-side.

    But honestly I don’t know how I’m supposed to enjoy this when J-Hope sounds like a fucking fish. I’m just so over BigHit vocal processing at this point.

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    • And to be clear the above is NOT a dig at J-Hope, whom I LOVE — his vocal tone is part of what Blood Sweat & Tears so great! I’m just so, so frustrated. The boys have such great voices, why bury it in all that digital slush? Just why?

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    • The recording really is sludgey. The live versions sound better. Not sure what happened with the production on this track, but it chews up their lovely vocals and spits them out in a mangled mess.

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  32. I actually enjoy this song, BUT I do hope they don’t end up releasing three more singles that sound like this. It sounds good as a one-time thing, like those kinds of “hey u know what, we’re just releasing something casually for our fans” songs. It’s danceable, I like it, maybe part of it is because I’m not a fan of them in the first place so I came in without expectations.

    (Agree with many people on the heavy vocal processing though..)

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  33. Dagnabbit, I go screen free for a few days and come back to this come back.

    I have nothing to add, other than to the Army: there is a magic thing called a skip button. As a long time Elf who has endured lots of releases of all sorts of quality and style, and with several hundred SuJu songs on my ipods, there is the magic thing called the skip button. Go on, click it if you want or need to.

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    • Haha Mama, as a fellow elf I feel you! I love your comments so I’m curious what suju songs are on your skip list? For me, just from the title tracks; House Party, 2YA2Yao, Spy, sexy free and single, and A-CHA are definately skipable. Not starting on sub units and b-sides lol. I’m also constantly confused how the boys that brought us growing pains also brought us B.A.D. 🙂

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      • For me, the Lo Siento and One More Time era. I perfectly understand why they did a tour through that sound for all their Latin American fans, but its not for me.

        Although of that same era, “Ahora te puedes marchar” is a frequent listen, because its the Spanish version of “I only want to be with you” by Dusty Springfield which was the first dance song at our wedding. (The lyrics of the two songs mean very different things.) The shot by shot remake of the old video cracks me up.

        Also, “Animals” of the same era is criminally underrated and unappreciated.

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  34. this comment section is disappointing. the boys made this song for us and here y’all come saying it was ‘commercial’ and ‘not good’. i’m very disappointed in you, armys. y’all are siding with this nobody reviewing website, it’s sad really. i don’t care if bts released the worst song i’ve ever heard, i will still support it and stream it. like a real army. y’all are saying it not stream and to not support them as a ‘punishment’ for not releasing the songs you like. if you feel that way, unstan. and never comeback.

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  35. maybe this is the reason bang pd stepped down as ceo, he heard this and decided to go back to making better music, i miss bts songs with soul and substance!

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  37. I feel like that meme of Donald Glover walking into a room with pizza and seeing that everything’s on fire – everything being the comments section. Song’s bad, very bland America radio pop. Ed Sheeran definitely didn’t give the guys his best – probably one of the worse things I’ve heard him have his hand in. BTS’ talents feel wasted on this. For the love of God, give the rap line something to do!

    While K-pop fans are always worried about their favs’ comebacks flopping and tend to stream a song, good or bad, to push them to success, I honestly wouldn’t worry about this song not doing well, (I suspect it will do fine). Even if it doesn’t chart in any meaningful capacity, at this point BTS is bulletproof in terms of popularity and success – not just in that they have an large, avid core fanbase that will never leave, but that they’ve more than left their mark on the international and especially American market. The doors and charts are going to be open to their releases for a good amount of time. They can afford to release a bad song or two, or three, or five – I just wish they wouldn’t. Especially since Jin will be enlisting sooner rather than later, I want a BTS comeback of the same caliber as “Blood, Sweat, & Tears.”

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    • I love the fact that people call BS&T as one of their bests. It’s the song that got me into BTS and still one of my favorite title tracks from them. I spent a while on stan twt a couple years back and even the 5% that talk about the actual music failed to mention this song. I genuinely questioned my own taste because of that lol

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  39. I just had to leave my take here too. I don’t like to say- “BTS oppas sold out!” “They are selling their soul to the devil!” but here they are, performing a kidz bop song that doesn’t even reach the levels of Can’t Stop the Feeling. At least that has some charm to it.

    I just miss when BTS had way more creative input on this. Why silence them when just a little touch of Bangtan can make Butter sound at least tolerable?

    I’ve had enough with all these English releases. This COVID perspective should have been done with Life Goes On.

    No more English releases. No more wacky auto-tune. No more rap-free songs. No more Grammy/Hot100 Chart goals. No more low budget MVs.

    Give us the angsty, angry, emo, ground-breaking BTS back.

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  40. bts can get really disappointing when it comes to making a-sides that don’t fall into sellout pop music, and that’s been going on for a while now. fake love wasn’t as “sellout radio pop” as ptd but listen to the original demos by jimin and rm and you can really tell how badly “radiofied” the song got before being released.

    i honestly can’t tell if this is hybe/bts being afraid of not making it to the charts, specially now that all attention is on them, or if it’s just blind army’s feedback making them think this kind of content is any good. watch armies start bashing on them in a few years if they keep up with this bullshit for too long. lol

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  43. I think that BTS Permission To Dance can still get a remake. I´m going to form my k-pop band in 2028, depending on my college and when i´ll graduate. i might travel to Korea, to go under Hybe labels. if i meet BTS, I might get a chance to remake the Permission to dance song with them.

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  44. The most insulting part of this song is how fake it is. BTS has had genuinely fun songs like Anpanman, Baepsae, Go Go, etc. They haven’t always done edgy emo songs. But the difference is that they genuinely seemed to enjoy performing those songs. They goofed off on stage, they sounded like they actually meant the lyrics they sang. But in PTD, it feels like they’re being held hostage and forced to act like they’re having fun. It just feels unnatural and annoying.

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