Map Of The Soul: 7 - BTS

All translation quoted from Doolsetlyrics

7 years. 7 members. Map Of The Soul: 7 is an introspective and retrospective narrative following the septet's experiences as BTS. The album's diverse sounds immerse listeners into the group's personal stories, revealing different sides of their character. Though they never believed such height would unfold in their career, BTS has manifested the same convictions since their debut in June 2013.

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Welcoming you to the album, is the title track ON, an exhilarating drumbeat anthem. It's accompanied by the Kinetic Manifesto: Come Prima art film, where BTS perform alongside the LAB dancers with impressive choreography showcasing. The dance showcases body control, textured movements, and energy lengthening from their arms to fingertips. In an interview with Billboard, leader and rapper RM explained, "ON is about after these ups and downs inside [ourselves]. We finally got to admit all the past and destinies we've been through. We might face some shadows or disasters even from now on but we already admitted these as part of ourselves." BTS take on the dark among life's highlights during their rollercoaster path as global inspirations: "Bring the pain, it'll all become my very blood and flesh."

BTS write contemplative lyrics to gain a better understanding of themselves, so the album feels like a diary. "So this is sort of a personal thing I have for this album," Jimin says in an interview, "This album is about the pains and difficulties that we faced and how we've decided we've accepted it and are taking it with us. What I really wanted to tell the fans is that it's thanks to you, we were able to accept who we are, carry all we have and move forward."

Listeners will notice how BTS take inspiration from Psychologist Carl Jung, using his archetypes persona, shadow, and ego. Using this, they explore the their inner selves and bloom better self-awareness. RM says, “shadow means our wounds and accepting our fate is ego." For example, rapper SUGA's emo hip-hop solo Interlude: Shadow describes how the spotlight of fame cause shadows of insecurity. He speaks through his shadow and raps, "we're one body and sometimes we'll crash // You'll never be able to take me off // you'll be more at ease if you accept it." The trials may always be there, but BTS turn their vulnerabilities into art, embracing them, which takes bravery.

Their single, Black Swan, is a bass heavy track with trap beats. It narrates when one's outlet of creativity begins dissolving. How you once purged negative emotions is now contaminated by anxiety. It's a raw take on fear and loss of artistry. In contrast, JHOPE's Outro: EGO celebrates being a member of BTS. The song's mood showcases Jhope's personal upbeat flair with a booming bass and backing gospel vocals. The lyrics portrays his development aftet letting go of worry. JHOPE mentions his past searching for purpose, "the life of Hoseok, not Jhope flashes across my mind // With my dance chasing ghosts // me blaming my dream // casting doubt on why I live." Through seven years, the members faced personal trials and struggles as a group but they looked inward for answers.

The vocalists new solos include Jimin's Filter, a flirty Latin-pop track about his ever changing personas and how people fit him into their perception. Meanwhile, rock guitar strings turn to trap beats and alternative R&B on Jeon Jungkook's My Time. It's a recollection of emotions of being a young artist: "24, I feel as though I've become an adult faster than anyone // 24, It feels as if I became an adult quicker than anyone." Both chill and ambient, Jungkook's smooth vocals fill the music with depth and sentiment. While the youngest member thanks his "hyungs" and fans for support, sometimes he feels the world feels to heavy on his shoulders.

Inner Child is vocalist Kim Taehyung's (aka V) emotional pop ballad. Inner Child is a message to his younger self, promising growth and recovery. Finally, Jin writes Moon to "Army," their passionate fanbase. The phenomenal connection they've made to fans around the world has sparked a realization that language isn't a single form of communication. The jubilant chorus and upbeat melodies make this song bright and cheerful.

The vocalists come together for Zero O'clock. The lyrics comment on allowing yourself to breath when feeling upset: "Days when you’re sad for no reason // when your body feels heavy // and everyone, except me // looks busy, fiercely living their life." It's an honest song for people that feel stuck and alone can find comfort in. The rapline returns with a hip hop track that's bold and heated. Named 욱 (UGH), a Korean word for disgust, the track concentrates their anger into lyricism. UGH chews on words from malicious comments then spits them into a fiery rap enraged by constant affliction: "Once he starts latching onto a prey // it becomes everyone’s punching bag // When there’s no reaction, he just kills the prey."

For their song Louder Than Bomb, co-written by Troye Sivan, it's a bassy, deep electro-pop track emphasizing the invisible wounds of the mind singing, "Don’t you give up your life. Here I stay, pray just for better days." Next, "Ayo SUGA," begins Respect, a bouncy, retro inspired hip-hop duet between RM and Yoongi about what respect really is. Similarly, Jimin and V's duet 친구 (Friends) recites the two's friendship in a playful manner, adding each other's characteristics to the lyrics. 

We Are Bulletproof: the Eternal is an emotional ballad reflecting on BTS' career and how their fans remained with them: "We were only seven // But we have you all now // After seven winters and springs, at the tips of our fingers interlocked //Yeah we got to heaven."

Each track on Map Of The Soul: 7 is very individual, combining aspects of various genres to create their own. BTS unashamedly remains themselves. They even stated In an interview with the Grammy Recording Academy, "the genre is BTS. That's the genre we want to make and the music that we want. New genre." SUGA added, "I think it's less and less meaningful to divide music into genres now." BTS evoke emotions without cliche metaphors. They're wise in their decision to purge pain and anguish into music, advocating we must allow ourselves to feel and grieve in order to heal like V said to MTV, "The way we write our solo songs is that we take the emotions that we feel and put them in the lyrics. And we try to put them in the songs." BTS writes lyrics that are relatable and endearing. The sincerity they want to deliver surely does reach the audience.

Listen to the album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6mJZTV8lCqnwftYZa94bXS?si=I4O-O6MkSNG23_V5SSjsoA