Rating: 5/5
방탄소년단, also known as BTS, released their fifth Korean-language studio album on Nov. 20. The eight tracks on the album span a variety of genres, from the slow, melancholy “Blue and Grey” to the upbeat “Dynamite.” Compared to the band’s previous albums, “BE” features the most member involvement in the album production. Every member had a role in the creative process, whether it was producing the songs, writing the lyrics, developing the concept of the album, or directing the music video for their title track “Life Goes On.” With their increased creative involvement, BTS was able to release an album that reflected their feelings and thoughts about the hardships of the pandemic to spread a message of hope.
The first track on their album is the title track “Life Goes On.” The song utilizes the sound of acoustic guitars, synths, and vocal harmonies to create a calming vibe. The meaningful lyrics match the soothing instrumental and the optimistic message of the album. The lines “Like an echo in the forest / The day will come back around / As if nothing happened / Yeah, life goes on” use a metaphor to emphasize how just as an echo always returns, everything will eventually return back to normal.
Their next song, “Fly to My Room,” is performed by a subunit, or a small group of members from the band. In this case, the subunit consists of Jimin, V, Suga, and J-Hope. The funky keyboard played throughout the song accompanies the simple drum beat well. As the title suggests, this song is about the frustration and loneliness associated with being stuck in a room while quarantined at home. Listeners can relate to this song and realize that they aren’t alone with these feelings.
The title of the third track “Blue and Grey” sets the mood for the song. The main instruments played in the background — the nylon guitar, orchestral strings, and clarinet — combined with the background vocals, convey a sense of longing and add to the themes of depression and anxiety. The lyrics “I just want to be happier / Am I being too greedy?” show how emotional this pop ballad is.
Following this song is a skit. This skit isn’t a song, but rather an audio recording of BTS’s reaction to the first time that they got a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their hit “Dynamite.” It serves as a transition between the soft and calming songs on the first half of the album to the upbeat songs on the second half.
Their fifth track, ”Telepathy,” makes use of autotune vocal effects, a groovy bass, and percussion to create a retro, disco-pop song. The lyrics about connecting with their fans despite not being physically together are meaningful and touching.
“Dis-ease” utilizes a hip-hop beat and wordplay to talk about the virus and our habit of overworking ourselves every day. With the increase in work and stress that everyone has to deal with during the pandemic, whether it be from school, a job, or personal life issues, this song describes the situation that we’re in perfectly. The title of the song itself is a play on words. It can be read as “disease”, which means sickness, but it also has a second meaning. “Dis” means “not” so “dis-ease” means unease, referring to the discomfort felt during the pandemic.
“Stay” is an EDM song performed by another subunit, this time by Jungkook, Jin, and RM. The song is about BTS staying together with their fans even when they are physically apart. The song starts slowly, but as it continues, it transitions into an upbeat song with a memorable beat drop. The lyrics “Wherever you are / It doesn’t matter / We connect to 7G” refers to how BTS are able to connect with their fans through social media, livestreams, and their online concerts. The number seven is a special number for BTS because the band consists of seven members, and they’ve been together for seven years. Thus, by saying “7G,” BTS is referring to the members’ connection with each other and with their fans.
BTS concludes their album with “Dynamite,” a disco-pop song with a catchy bassline that energizes their fans. “Dynamite,” BTS’ first all-English song, was originally released on Aug. 21 but was included on this album. The song’s upbeat tunes make it a perfect ending to “BE” and contribute to their goal of producing a soothing album that provides hope.
Overall, I would rate “BE” a five out of five. “BE” is a great album that provides comfort during these challenging times. The messages in these songs are both meaningful and uplifting, which is what everyone needs during this pandemic. BTS was able to deliver their thoughts and feelings perfectly through the use of catchy instrumentals and expressive lyrics in their album “BE.”