A Look Into the Hidden Gems of BTS’s Catalogue

BTS is much more than what you may think they are. While I’ll only be highlighting five songs, their discography consists of a multitude of genres. From hip-hop, Latin pop, EDM, ballads, to moombahton, and so much more, BTS’s catalogue is not only extremely diverse, but well executed. As June gets closer, the birds have started chirping, the sun’s a little brighter, the weather a little warmer, and BTS is almost back from their mandatory military service, prepare for me to be insufferable!

1. Rain

This lo-fi R&B track featured on their first studio album, Dark & Wild, has been one of my favorite BTS songs for years on end, never leaving the top five. Honestly, the entire album is a hidden gem! Outside of my interests in K-Pop, I’m an absolute sucker for R&B. “Rain” is no different, with a steady rhythm kept throughout, littered with ad-libs. From beginning to end, a tranquil piano melody plays out, creating a satisfying contrast with the rap verses and staying consistent through the vocal choruses. As the song comes to a close, Jimin’s execution of the final lines of the chorus hits the ear so perfectly that I just have to play it over at least three more times.

2. Ma City

The minute Jungkook hits that opening note- instant favorite! BTS have shown pride for their hometowns in several of their works, but “Ma City” takes the crown among them. This funk hip-hop track is addicting, and the post-chorus is fun, creative, and made for crowds to sing along to. Each member has a verse unique to them where they boast about what their hometowns bring to the table. Suga even claims that “the fact that I was born there is the pride of Daegu.” Hell yeah!

3. Your eyes tell

This is the type of music I’d expect to be playing at an enchanted frozen lake, and that I magically have the ability to skate like Yuzuru Hanyu. The ‘vocal line’ demonstrates an impressive range, and each of their voices adds a new color to the track. The facility with which these high notes are reached? Wow. To accompany the ballad genre of the track, the rappers adopt a softer talk-rap style to accommodate what the song needs, which I think shows great understanding of musicality.

4. Tomorrow

“Tomorrow” is an absolute classic among fans. The vocal sample present throughout the song adds a unique dimension that keeps the ear attentive to the instrumental. Having one of the members, Suga, as the main producer really enhanced the members individuality in the song and elevated it to a new level. The lyrics are inspirational and trademark to BTS’s message. “Tomorrow” encourages fans to keep chasing after what they want, and that tomorrow, another opportunity will arise if it feels like all hope is lost today.

5. Butterfly (Prologue Mix)

I wish I could be listening to this song every second of the day. I love the original, but this new mix adds a dimension that makes it feel profound, and literally deep, like I’m being pulled out from the bottom of the ocean. The soft rock and gentle falsettos are like honey. As the song progresses, you notice a new element to the instrumental that is able to weave this beautiful tapestry that digs at your heart, just a little. It’s a type of melancholy you want to overcome, like heartbreak, but it’s so inviting that you can’t really bring yourself to, so you reminisce. The vocal line does a fantastic job of conveying all these emotions.

Though there are so many more songs and I truly want to dive into each album in depth, that’d take weeks, and who has the time? However, I hope you find yourself wanting to venture into BTS’s catalogue and take some of these suggestions as pointers on where to start!