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A guide to BTS social commentary through their words & music and how they've always been a socially-conscious group (also introduces their most social pre-debut songs that most armys don't know about)
BTS has been known for making social & political commentary through their music & lyrics since pre-debut. Yes, they've been speaking up a lot on social issues even before they debuted. Let's dissect that.
1. School of Tears (2013)
It was performed by jin, yoongi, and joon as part of their promo song. The lyrics talks about the wrong side of the school system, the bullying that happens, how the bystander that watches the bullying and does nothing are also wrong.
It was performed by jin, yoongi, and joon as part of their promo song. The lyrics talks about the wrong side of the school system, the bullying that happens, how the bystander that watches the bullying and does nothing are also wrong.
As well as the teachers and parents who ignore it are wrong. They're calling out the society that turns a blind eye to the oppression happening around us. They're directly addressing this problem.
"A society built on the teachings
that friends are only for pretend"
"‘I didn’t know because I was out of it'
became an excuse. That’s right
this society is filled with bystanders
that are no different from perpetrators"
- Lyrics from School of tears
that friends are only for pretend"
"‘I didn’t know because I was out of it'
became an excuse. That’s right
this society is filled with bystanders
that are no different from perpetrators"
- Lyrics from School of tears
2. VOTE, or Just Shut Up (2012)
Joon stressed about our rights to vote and the power that it has so we should use it as a political expression instead of being apathetic.
Joon stressed about our rights to vote and the power that it has so we should use it as a political expression instead of being apathetic.
RM also talked about how as time passes by, the freedom we have fought for our rights to vote have slowly gone to waste because people are now bribed for their votes.
"Go vote or do something,
before you make any blames and criticisms.
It’s like the college entrance exams (why?)
because it all depends on how you do."
- Lyrics from VOTE, or just Shut Up
before you make any blames and criticisms.
It’s like the college entrance exams (why?)
because it all depends on how you do."
- Lyrics from VOTE, or just Shut Up
3. 518-062 by SUGA
518 - or May 18, was the date of Pro- Democratic Movement or simply Gwangju Uprising took place which left hundreds of civilians brutally massacred.
O62 - the area code of Gwangju Metropolitan City.
518 - or May 18, was the date of Pro- Democratic Movement or simply Gwangju Uprising took place which left hundreds of civilians brutally massacred.
O62 - the area code of Gwangju Metropolitan City.
The lyrics are asking everyone not to forget about how South Koreans fought for democracy against the military authoritarian government and how he will ignite their will again. The lyrics tell exceptional historical awareness.
4. 'Korean Peninsula Tiger, and Unification' Poem by RM
Joon wrote a patriotic poem at the age of 12. Underneath the title it read, 'Baek Shin Elementary 5th grade- class 5 Kim Nam Joon.' The poem uses a tiger to describe Korea.
Joon wrote a patriotic poem at the age of 12. Underneath the title it read, 'Baek Shin Elementary 5th grade- class 5 Kim Nam Joon.' The poem uses a tiger to describe Korea.
Compliments took over the web, "Really a 5th grader? Dang, better than a high schooler", "BTS always seems to have great interest in history, nation, and society. There is so much you can learn from listening to their music", and many more.
5. No more dream (2013)
They criticize the society for diminishing the dreams of people and creating expectations for the students. It looks at some socioeconomic issues and provide a quiet but powerful commentary on the state of the modern Korean society.
They criticize the society for diminishing the dreams of people and creating expectations for the students. It looks at some socioeconomic issues and provide a quiet but powerful commentary on the state of the modern Korean society.
"Rebel against the hellish society"
This line was likely a reference to the idea of "Hell Joseon", a term used by many Koreans to criticize the rigidity of education and lacking career prospects facing the South Korean youth, such as excessive competition for students.
This line was likely a reference to the idea of "Hell Joseon", a term used by many Koreans to criticize the rigidity of education and lacking career prospects facing the South Korean youth, such as excessive competition for students.
Lyrics of No more dream https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/no-more-dream/
6. N.O (2013)
Similarly, they also have the same message with NO. In SK, there is a greater emphasis on higher education, and the entire song questions the lifestyle of SK students and shows a desire for change.
Similarly, they also have the same message with NO. In SK, there is a greater emphasis on higher education, and the entire song questions the lifestyle of SK students and shows a desire for change.
"In Seoul to the SKY, would our parents be happy?"
The SKY was not referring to literally the sky, but refers to the initials of the top 3 universities in Korea. S for Seoul national university, K for Korea university and Y for Yonsei University.
The SKY was not referring to literally the sky, but refers to the initials of the top 3 universities in Korea. S for Seoul national university, K for Korea university and Y for Yonsei University.
Getting into these unis are extremely hard and you need to be very competitive. They said in the lyrics, "Who is it that makes us into study machines? They classify us as either number one or falling behind."
"Adults tell me that hardships are only momentary
To endure a little more, to do it later
Everybody say NO!
It’s not going to work anymore, Don’t be captured in other’s dreams"
To endure a little more, to do it later
Everybody say NO!
It’s not going to work anymore, Don’t be captured in other’s dreams"
Lyrics of N.O https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2018/12/15/n-o/
7. Am I Wrong (2016)
This song is really sumn else. They criticized the political figures for mistreating the society. They commented on how the elite mistreat the lower class people. And they directly did it. Let's dissect.
This song is really sumn else. They criticized the political figures for mistreating the society. They commented on how the elite mistreat the lower class people. And they directly did it. Let's dissect.
"Even with ears, there's no listening
Even with eyes, there's no seeing
A fish lives in everyone's hearts
Its name is SELFISH SELFISH"
Even with eyes, there's no seeing
A fish lives in everyone's hearts
Its name is SELFISH SELFISH"
"We're all dogs and pigs, become angry and lose our sht"
Before wings was released in 2016, at the same year a scandal came out where the ministry of education official said "public can be treated like dogs and pigs"
Before wings was released in 2016, at the same year a scandal came out where the ministry of education official said "public can be treated like dogs and pigs"
"If you see the news and don’t feel anything,
if you see that comment and don’t feel anything,
if that hatred doesn’t make you feel anything,
you’re not normal but abnormal"
I really LOVE love this verse. No explanation needed. Namjoon just snapped.
if you see that comment and don’t feel anything,
if that hatred doesn’t make you feel anything,
you’re not normal but abnormal"
I really LOVE love this verse. No explanation needed. Namjoon just snapped.
Around that time too, a government scan/dal blew up and in the midst of the scan/dal, MBC got BTS to perform "Am I Wrong" towards the end of their album promotion.
Lyrics of Am I Wrong https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/am-i-wrong/
8. Spring Day (2016)
This song is also theorized to hold references to the Sewol Ferry disaster, in which the Korean government was criticized for how they responded.
This song is also theorized to hold references to the Sewol Ferry disaster, in which the Korean government was criticized for how they responded.
In the lyrics of Spring day, "Snowpiercer" was mentioned, a movie by Bong Joon-ho. The movie revolves in a train and it symbolizes human society, where the people in the "front" are the government and the "lesser" are at the back of the train.
Spring day have been thought to criticize how young people are always taught to follow orders, even if they are being oppressed. Like what happened to Sewol Ferry.
If you want to educate yourself more about the tragedy, I recommend you to watch this.
If you want to educate yourself more about the tragedy, I recommend you to watch this.
10. Baepsae (2016)
The term comes from a korean proverb that roughly translates to "If a crow-tit walks like a stork, it will tear its legs.” Korean crow-tit is a small bird, also known as parrotbill. It is a metaphor for someone with no privilege (opposite of silver spoon)
The term comes from a korean proverb that roughly translates to "If a crow-tit walks like a stork, it will tear its legs.” Korean crow-tit is a small bird, also known as parrotbill. It is a metaphor for someone with no privilege (opposite of silver spoon)
"At the part-time job, there’s passion pay"
Passion pay refers to low wages (or no wages at all) paid for young workers. The term refers to the phenomenon where young workers accept extremely low wages hoping that their hard work will bring them decent jobs in the future.
Passion pay refers to low wages (or no wages at all) paid for young workers. The term refers to the phenomenon where young workers accept extremely low wages hoping that their hard work will bring them decent jobs in the future.
BTS were talking about the unfairness of how some people are automatically given power just because of where they were born or the status of their parents and not based on their hard work.
Lyrics of Baepsae https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2018/08/02/baepsae-silver-spoon/
11. BTS UN Speech (2018)
“I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself. Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.”
“I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself. Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.”
12. BTS Billboard Interview
: I really want to say that everyone in this world are sad and lonely, I hope we can create an environment where we can ask for help and say things are hard when they're hard and say that we miss someone when we miss them.
: I really want to say that everyone in this world are sad and lonely, I hope we can create an environment where we can ask for help and say things are hard when they're hard and say that we miss someone when we miss them.
13. Yoongi Kkul FM
: Do we really have to live passionately? Is it really related to 'Happiness' ? If accomplishing gives happiness to you, you may live passionately, but if you feel happiness from the smallest things, you don't have to.
: Do we really have to live passionately? Is it really related to 'Happiness' ? If accomplishing gives happiness to you, you may live passionately, but if you feel happiness from the smallest things, you don't have to.
14. Strange by Agust D, RM (2020)
The lyrics are about social issues, from war and capitalism, to ideologies of religion and life. The song also talks about how we should step back and reconsider what's really "strange" in this world and what we could interpret as new normal.
The lyrics are about social issues, from war and capitalism, to ideologies of religion and life. The song also talks about how we should step back and reconsider what's really "strange" in this world and what we could interpret as new normal.
"With dreams as its collateral, the capitalism injects the morphine called hope"
He's talking about how capitalism can confiscate someone's dream. The morphine of hope injected with capitalism is a very dangerous one.
He's talking about how capitalism can confiscate someone's dream. The morphine of hope injected with capitalism is a very dangerous one.
"Polarization is the ugliest flower in the world"
I think this line is very underrated. He's literally saying fck capitalism and fck polarization of society between rich and the poor.
I think this line is very underrated. He's literally saying fck capitalism and fck polarization of society between rich and the poor.
BTS really makes good use of their platform and really do call out any social injustice that not only happens around their society which is South Korea, but also happens around the world. And they're doing that in the most clever way lol. Truly the best artists.
