recommend most if you are curious enough to give this album a listen.
A
s one of the biggest acts in the world, BTS is a name many are familiar with. The South Korean boy band consists of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The group debuted in 2013 and has become a prominent force in the music industry with multiple hit songs and millions of album sales. While the group’s sales are impressive, their versatility as artists is even more remarkable. From hiphop to R&B, BTS constantly challenges themselves by experimenting with their sound and themes every release. One album that embodies this idea is “LOVE YOURSELF: Tear.” “LOVE YOURSELF” Tear” is a part of BTS’s LOVE YOURSELF series, a three-part album series that explores the theme of learning to love oneself before being able to love others. The series began on Sept. 18, 2017, with the release of “LOVE YOURSELF: Her” and ended with “LOVE YOURSELF: Answer” on Aug. 24, 2018. Released on May 18, 2018, the album is the second installment of BTS’s LOVE YOURSELF series and features 11 unique tracks. Together, the songs tell a story of heartbreak and self-love. “It points out that a made-up, fake love eventually leads to break up,” said RM at the album’s 2018 press conference. “I wanted to say that the key to all love is loving oneself. The album tells the story of a boy who faces a breakup.” To this day, “LOVE YOURSELF: Tear” is considered one of BTS’s best works because of its diverse tracklist, emotional themes, and stellar production. Dailyn’s 7 Stand out Tracks: Although I could spend hours talking about all of the 11 songs on “LOVE YOURSELF: Tear,” I will withhold and instead showcase the seven tracks that I
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“Fake Love” (“I grew a flower that can’t be bloomed in a dream that can’t come true”) Starting with the title track, “Fake Love” is an emo hip-hop song that uses grunge rock guitar and trap beats to create a dark and unusual vibe. The lyrics talk about the effects of a failed and even toxic relationship. This ‘fake love’ made the person feel like they had to wear a mask to hide their emotions, but they ended up losing themselves in the process. “134340” (“Tell me how am I not as good as that moon”) “134340” references the minor name designation given to 134340 Pluto after it was downgraded to a dwarf planet. The members personify Pluto by comparing its removal from the solar system to the aftermath of a breakup. ‘Pluto,’ who once held significance to its star (the Sun), now spends its days alone, still orbiting around the Sun and watching it shine from afar. The song even references the dwarf planet’s temperature, comparing it to its now cold heart through the lyrics, “My cold heart is 248 degrees below zero.” BTS expertly blends genres such as jazz, lo-fi, hiphop, and R&B to create an almost dreamlike sound, making the listener feel like they’re floating through space. “Paradise” (“Your dream is actually a burden”) Influenced by the ideas of Marxism, “Paradise” is an R&B track that acts as a resting point for those who feel pressured to have a dream. The song itself feels like paradise with captivating vocals and beats from beginning to end. “The world never teaches you how to dream, but it always promotes competition,” Suga said on the message of “Paradise” at BTS’ 2018 press conference. “I’d like many of those
