I Ranked Every Single One of BTS’s Music Videos So You Didn’t Have To
** WARNING: The information below is one hundred percent biased and written by a member of the BTS fandom, ARMY.
It all started when I decided to learn their names. At the start of quarantine, I obsessively watched South Korean boyband BTS's feature on James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke. I couldn’t bring myself to stop watching the video because they were so funny, but then I fell down that rabbit hole. That same rabbit hole that millions of people go through as they slowly become a part of the BTS Fandom, ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C for Youth). BTS, or the Bangtan Boys, are the biggest boyband of our generation. The seven members are Kim Seokjin (Jin), Min Yoongi (SUGA), Jung Hoseok (J-Hope), Kim Namjoon (RM), Park Jimin (Jimin), Kim Taehyung (V), and Jeon Jungkook (Jungkook). When I first started watching their music videos to understand their dance moves, I began to realize that within each one, the members had woven a message. Through their lyrics and visuals, they convey their love for their fans, but they also encourage them to rebel against those who don’t listen. They tell them to take care of themselves and their mental health while drawing attention to societal and governmental corruption. But most of all, they teach their fans how to love themselves. BTS taught me how to love myself and this is how.
Compared to all of their other music videos, this one definitely falls short. There is no focus on the members and their individual strengths or particular narrative to the song. The saving point definitely occurs when Jungkook raps because the maknae (youngest member) of the band is multi talented but does not rap as much anymore. Otherwise, this music video could have definitely benefited from more production and visual direction.
21. NO MORE DREAM
This is the video that started it all. This is BTS’s debut music video/song. Their company was bankrupt at the time, but they still managed to create this hit with amazing choreography and considerably great production. This song shows us the power of manifestation and speaking things into existence. BTS sings the song as if they have already made it big in the music industry. The lyrics “I want big house, big car, big rings” ring true as they are now the richest people in South Korea and a billion dollar brand.
20. BOY IN LUV
This music video has it all. It's literally a K-drama in the form of a music video. BTS doesn’t make songs with female characters/actors often because of the backlash they might face if dating rumors arise, so this is a rarity in their discography. It’s very refreshing to see them chasing after a girl and being normal teenage boys. Most K-drama watchers would resonate well with this video due to the storyline. Other than that, it doesn’t have much else to offer or any particular strong message.
19. DYNAMITE
The release of this song truly was one of the most defining moments of summer 2020. It shattered so many records and got BTS their well-deserved Grammy nomination. The band made it to give their fans hope and happiness during this trying time of sorrow and grief, and the music video follows through with that message. The video is certainly an homage to the 60’s/80’s from their retro disco outfits, to Michael Jackson’s crotch grab and them dancing in a record shop, and old school diners all with a colorful modern twist! Pastel colors are executed beautifully throughout the video as BTS tries to convince their audience to remember the good amidst the bad.
This video is both colorful and cute. Each member has definitely worked on their English pronunciation. It is typical bubblegum pop music but very very catchy. I can understand why it was such a huge radio hit. I'm obsessed with the backgrounds, and transitions. Similar to “IDOL” in terms of visuals. I wish they could have changed the concept a bit more. Halsey's addition to the music video is also randomly placed, although she does add a nice flair to the song. She should’ve been better placed throughout the song.
This video was directed by BTS member Jeon Jungkook himself. It features stills of Taehyung driving peacefully through the streets of Seoul as well as shots of BTS watching a movie and enjoying their time together at home. The idea behind the video was to create a home-based environment because the idea of being stuck at home resonates with almost everyone during a global pandemic. While the visuals are impeccable, and Jungkook clearly has talent as a director and videographer, this video lacks the intense choreography and colorful visuals that most BTS music videos have. But at the same time, there is beauty within simplicity and the message of this video is in its name, life goes on.
This is the perfect workout/fight song. BTS sings about being unable to give up in the face of hard times by acknowledging the sacrifices they’ve made to achieve their dreams as superstars. While the meaning of the song is seemingly simple, the music video is far from it. It is ridden with biblical references. The whole video takes place in this medieval dystopian world. Rapper, RM stands in front of Noah’s Ark with animals. Singer Jin resembles peace while Jungkook portrays sin and SUGA is a priest. The music video is shot almost like a movie with the members in an alternate reality, which is intriguing. But at the same time, I think that having a story-line that's too complex can sometimes miscommunicate the essential message of a song.
There is so much beauty in simplicity. In the SAVE ME music video, BTS members don’t necessarily have any flashy outfits or difficult choreography they are just simply dancing to the beat of the song which is romantic and explains how love can save someone from the depths of despair. The song is known to resonate with their fans mainly for the emotion the boys convey because the music video has a very simple concept.
I just know I might receive flack for not including this masterpiece earlier but it is one of their most complex/complicated music videos. This music video is the beginning of the BTS Universe storyline in which a harsh narrative is constructed for the boys where they were once together in the most beautiful time of their life (which is also the name of their album: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life), but the boys are now apart and must find each other by confronting their deepest/darkest fears. In this music video, BTS deals with the death of their youth and thus the loss of their happiness as a result of that. The story then continues with their next music video “RUN.”
This is one of BTS’s most underrated music videos/songs, but it deserves an honorable mention on this list. Their choreography is incredible as well as their visuals in this masterpiece. The message being that young people should do what they want and live their life on their own terms. The best part about this music video is the ninja warriors/backup dancers. Their all black outfits are in perfect contrast with the band’s, which makes for a visually captivating dance performance.
I wish I found out about this music video sooner. The entire video is just BTS celebrating their youth and having fun. They do crazy things that all teenagers do like drink and fight and game and then make a run for it. I really enjoyed seeing RM and V getting handcuffed and running away from the police. It seemed like BTS had a great time filming this video. It is a part of the BTS Universe storyline which began with “I NEED YOU.” “RUN” is basically BTS’s way of ending their youth by having some fun, and running away from their problems.
You know that feeling when it’s 1:00 AM and you’re in your room dancing your heart away. DNA has those dancing in your room at 1:00 AM vibes. This is one of BTS’s most popular music videos. The message behind this song is simple, their love for their fans is in their DNA. Besides that, the video has the boys choreography resembling an actual DNA helix, but with lots of color incorporated. It certainly isn’t the most memorable music video, but it still sticks with the audience because it's catchy.
BTS are some of the most respectful male celebrities in the world. When it comes to women, whether it be other female celebrities or their female fans, they always know how to respectfully bow, and take pictures without making it seem provocative. But in WAR OF HORMONE, the boys become horny males. In the music video, a woman walks and they sing/rap about how much they can't control their hormones when they’re around women because they love them so much. Today, the song is memeable and they don’t perform it live at all, partly because it contains misogynistic lyrics and partly because they’ve matured and grown into young men.
This song got me into BTS back in 2018. I was so mesmerized by the costumes and colorful sequences. It just made me really happy back then, and it still has that effect on me today. BTS are idols (Korean word for pop stars), and their life is made for the public eye. But at the same time, there are downsides to this fame because it involves a loss of the ordinary. The idea of having to change oneself for the camera and be different off screen, has an effect on an individual’s personality and the way they perceive themselves. BTS however uses “IDOL” to show their audience that they are Korean and extremely proud of where they come from. This song is also part of BTS’s love yourself series. Our relationship with ourselves is the most complex yet profound relationship we will ever have. So go practice self love.
This is BTS’s ultimate clapback song to their haters. Every single word of this song rings true. To this day, they have racked up hundreds of accolades and accomplishments, but like any other celebrity in the world, they still have their fair share of haters. This music video is a bit less K-Popesque and more westernized. Steve Aoki’s feature also adds to the crazy energy of this song. The visuals of this music video are also incredible, with BTS wearing some of their career’s best looks while dropping mics wherever they walk. Whoever came up with the hip hop choreography, definitely needs a raise.
In this music video, BTS decides to set every single thing on fire and that makes for the perfect workout song, for you to get fired up! The energy of this song remains unmatched to this day. Several South Korean TV shows/movies have used this song in workout scenes because it has fire within the lyrics of the song. SUGA’s rap also makes this video so much more entertaining, because he has this cynical style of rapping that is perfect for a song like “FIRE.”
While BTS is certainly known for musical versatility, they arguably do their best work when they’re just having fun. “DOPE” is BTS’s way of defending themselves against their haters and applauding other people who work tirelessly like them to achieve their dreams. BTS dresses up as police officers, detectives, train conductors and teachers in this to show their audience what hard work can do for them in the long run. In addition to the message, the funky upbeat choreography is on point and the music video itself is similar to a K-drama.
This song is one of the band’s older works. BTS is known to make songs with social significance. This was their form of protest against the harsh academic standards placed upon Korean students where they are expected to burn out while studying in order to get into specific schools with prestige. The lyrics speak for themselves. They sing, “Who is the one who made us into study machines?It's either number one or a failure.”Throughout the rest of the song, BTS urges their fans to have their own dreams/aspirations and not live for someone else’s unfulfilled dreams. The first two minutes make this music video deserving of a higher ranking because of the futuristic robot teachers who try to turn the boys into machines. Again, in Korean society, rebelling against the education system is frowned upon, but BTS did it.
Have you heard of the phrase, “Fake it till you make it?” It’s what most of us do, consciously or subconsciously. We pretend to be okay when we’re really not. We then tend to love in this way as well, with fake love. In “FAKE LOVE,” BTS calls us fakers out. Us human beings are so inherently afraid of ourselves and what we’re capable of, that instead of genuinely appreciating ourselves and those around us for what they are, we show the world an artificial version to hide insecurities. The video includes several scenes of BTS trying to run away from this fake love that they convey. They are unable to find real love as a result, which saddens them and scares them. Throughout the video, we see each member confronting their darkest fears because they are unable to truly love. They are unable to save themselves because they fall into this dark loophole of faking it until they make it. However they soon find out that they truly can’t make it without being true to themselves and loving themselves.
This song is supposedly BTS paying tribute to the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy which was a shipwreck that occurred in South Korea in 2014. Many of the victims were students who lost their lives en route to Jeju Island during a field trip. The South Korean government has been extensively criticized for their handling of the tragedy. The video takes place aboard a train with RapMonster, or RM aiming to be the student who stands up to the authorities and seeks justice. At the same time, Jimin sits looking into the distance at the sea clearly having experienced loss. To this day the meaning of this song has never been confirmed by BTS themselves. It is left up to the audience’s interpretation to make what they will of the lyrics.
This video is an underrated artistic masterpiece. It has to do with the members losing their love for music which means everything to them. A black swan is an extremely rare event that occurs unexpectedly. BTS describes this idea of music becoming a faded memory over time. They fall out of love with it, and lose their touch with the one thing that gives them the will to live and so a part of them dies in the process. This is also where Park Jimin shines the most. His knowledge of contemporary dance creates a daunting yet captivating version of a black swan. If there’s anyone who knows how to make creative death beautiful, it's BTS.
Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for: This is the best music video BTS has ever released, and arguably one of their best songs too. The story behind this music video is incorporated into the BTS Universe storyline. The entirety of the music video involves the boys dealing with the devil and them trying to resist sin but this is executed with grace and beauty. “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” also earned the band their first Billboard nomination, which is historic because they became the first South Korean act to be nominated for a Billboard music award, resulting in the band gaining international recognition and gaining a plethora of fans.
