Love Yourself

As 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 recommend most if you are curious enough to give this album a listen.

“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

who are tired from the competition to listen to this song. I’d like those tired souls to find rest through ‘Paradise.’” Shortly after the song’s release, in a live stream, RM went into depth on the inspiration for his lyrics.

“We think we must have one. If you don’t have a dream, you are not living a life,” he said. “I think that’s not cool. People think we must have one. We think we must accomplish our goals and make our dreams come true. It’s not bad. We all have dreams. But I didn’t always have a dream. Sometimes I have and sometimes I don’t. The dream I had last night is also my dream. Based on those thoughts I wrote the lyrics.”

“Love Maze” (“Trapped in a maze of decisions”)

“Love Maze” is another R&B-influenced track using a maze as a metaphor to describe love. RM has praised the song as one of his favorites off of the album. In his live stream, he excitedly told listeners, “Let me give you a tip. You have to go outdoors and listen to this song.”

“Magic Shop” (“You’ll find it, the galaxy inside you”)

A BTS album wouldn’t be complete without a song dedicated to their fans. Co-written by J-Hope, Jungkook, RM, and Suga and co-produced by Jungkook, “Magic Shop” is a pop track that takes a different approach to comfort fans. Instead of telling their fans to cheer up and stay positive during hard times, BTS instead shares how they can relate to those experiences and emotions.

“Magic Shop is written for the fans…During our concert, RM said to the fans, ‘You found us and acknowledged us, and that makes you capable of anything.’ This song is based on those words,” Jungkook said at BTS’ album press conference “When you’re down and tired and want to escape from the reality, open the door inside you, and there will be a magic shop, in which you’ll find the seven of “Airplane pt.2” (“You’re the ones who’re better at playing celebrities”)

“Airplane pt.2” is a Latin pop song that takes inspiration from “Airplane,” a song from J-Hope’s first mixtape. The lyrics express the members’ thoughts when they’re on tour and their journey as a group. With its alluring vibe and creative choreography, “Airplane pt.2” is a track you don’t want to skip.

“Outro: Tear” (“Goodbyes are, for me, a tear”)

RM, J-Hope, and Suga close off the album with “Outro: Tear,” a rap and hip hop song that perfectly expresses the pain of a breakup with each member having a different perspective.

“The word ‘Tear’ is interesting,” RM said during a live stream “’Tear’ in English. You can shed tears and tear paper. The word symbolizes what a breakup means to each. It was tears for me, tearing apart for Yoongi (Suga). For Hoseok (J-Hope), it was fear of talking about after the breakup. Tear, tear, and fear. These are three themes of this song.”

While the song is about a breakup, it is also about BTS. “Outro: Tear” was written when the members were experiencing a challenging time mentally to the point where they considered disbanding. In their movie, “Break the Silence,” Suga revealed that he wrote the lyrics for his members and shared how they ended up crying together while listening to it.

“LOVE YOURSELF: Tear” is truly an unforgettable album because of its outstanding production and emotional themes. Many listeners will find themselves relating to the lyrics or simply enjoying the captivating beats. I highly recommend listening to this album, even if it’s just one song. By: Dailyn Morales 17