BTS: Their best B-sides
BTS’s title tracks are juggernauts of the K-pop industry, but some of their best songs are B-sides that might escape the notice of casual listeners.
Image: BTS_bighit on Twitter.
As all the members of BTS are currently completing their mandatory military services, their fans, ARMY, will have to wait a bit longer for the group to make music together again. In the meantime, we’re sure ARMY will definitely have the group’s diverse discography on repeat. If you’re new to the band or are a long-time fan, this hand-picked list of BTS’s top 10 B-side tracks will keep you company until the band reunites in 2025.
1. Boyz With Fun
Coming from the septet’s third mini album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt.1, “Boyz With Fun” is a fun retro funk tune which perfectly ties in with the album’s theme of ‘youth’. Each member has their moment to shine and show off their individual charms through the energetic choreography. The song really plays up the group’s cheeky side making it hard not to listen without a smile on your face.
2. Iine!Pt.2 - Ano Bashode -
BTS has some seriously smooth RnB songs in their discography and “Iine!Pt.2 - Ano Bashode -” is one of the catchiest. Released in their first Japanese album Wake Up, the song tells the story of a boy wanting to rekindle a romance with his ex. It serves as a sequel to the equally catchy post-breakup song “Like” from BTS’s first album. The members’ suave vocal runs and slick rapping make this song a sweet and easy listen.
3. The Truth Untold (feat. Steve Aoki)
The vocal line delivers a heart-wrenching ballad in the form of “The Truth Untold”. The song, whose Korean title translates to ‘sincerity that couldn’t be delivered’, is one of the group’s more melancholy tracks. The members’ light and breathy vocals build into an emotive crescendo about desperate loneliness that tugs at the heartstrings.
4. UGH!
In a list of BTS B-sides, it’s impossible not to mention one of the rap line’s bangers. “UGH!” shows off the rappers’ charismatic rage. The aggressive beat and flow make this song a real headbanger that doesn’t pull its punches. RM, SUGA, and j-hope show us that they’ve definitely matured since their Cyphers, but aren’t afraid to call out people who misrepresent the band.
5. Pied Piper
Comparing the relationship between BTS and ARMY to the eponymous fairy tale, the song’s smooth falsetto chorus seduces the listener. We can’t help but be lured by the sweet RnB tune. The lyrics, which include the iconic ‘I’m takin’ over you’, warn us that obsession with the band and their music can be both dangerous and satisfying.
6. Tomorrow
“Tomorrow” stands out as one of the group’s most reflective songs. The members don’t shy away from the reality of how hard it is to grow up, but implore the listener to keep on going one step at a time despite the hardships. The deep bass and shredding electric guitar synth round out the impactful instrumental which reflects the group’s insistent message.
7. Look Here
One of the group’s funkiest songs, “Look Here” takes us back to an era of teenage hormones and cockiness. The groovy instrumental is a fun spin on the group’s early ‘bad boy’ personas, as the lyrics confidently try to entice the listener to fall for the members’ charms. As one of the earliest examples of RM’s famous ‘whisper rap’, his verse is a cheeky highlight of the song.
8. Hold Me Tight
Comforting but melancholy, “Hold Me Tight” remains one of the band’s most touching tracks ever since its release in 2015. Written and produced in part by member V in his first songwriting credit for the group, the song’s soulful message about the desperation for physical touch and affection matured BTS’s sound. It marked a shift into further developing a distinct and introspective tone for their ballads, which the group is now celebrated for.
9. Coffee
Leaning into a classic boy band RnB sound, “Coffee” uses different types of coffee as metaphors to chronicle how a relationship can go from sweet to bitter. The tender vocals of the chorus and laid back rap verses complement each other beautifully in this chill track. Sampled from Urban Zakapa’s song of the same name, “Coffee” has the nostalgic and cosy feel of a café.
10. Outro: Tear
BTS aren’t afraid to show their vulnerability through their music and nowhere is that clearer than in “Outro: Tear”. In the documentary Break the Silence, SUGA revealed that the song was written during a difficult period when BTS were considering disbanding. RM, SUGA, and j-hope play on the multiple meanings of ‘tear’ in their rap verses to deliver an intensely emotional track about regret and fear.
Listen to the B-sides collectively, here:
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
