'Fake Love'

BTS is probably the biggest k-pop group ever at this point in their careers. More people I encounter know BTS than Big Bang when they hear "k-pop," and I never thought that day would come.

May 18, BTS dropped a highly anticipated album just ahead of their going-to-be legendary performance at the BBMA's this Sunday, May 20. They were the first K-Pop group to be nominated for a BBMA and the first to win an award last year. This year, they've been nominated for the same award (Top Social Artist) and asked to perform. The performance will be considered their comeback stage as it will be the first time it's been performed and aired on television (they performed three songs on Ellen yesterday but the show won't air until later this month).

"Fake Love" music video, the title song for the album Love Yourself: Tear, stands in the years-long story that BTS' videos have been telling (starting back in 2015 with "Danger"). It has the trademark Big Hit Entertainment cinematic experience packed in about five and a half minutes.

I'm going to be honest—I was kind of unimpressed with the song. It's definitely something different for BTS, but it doesn't showcase their talent as well as some of their past music has. It's catchy and will more than likely grow on me as I listen to it more. The emotion in the choreography is impressive, as well as the lyrics. It's a strong song to dominate the charts and hearts of fangirls/boys everywhere.

In comparison to the rest of the album, I think they should have chosen a different title track. But, they are performing this on an American stage for the first time for the world and it will most certainly appeal to that audience better. The other singles that will come from the album will be more for those fans that have been around for a while.

'Love Yourself: Tear'

Track 03: "The Truth Untold"

This is my favorite song on the album. It is the vocalists of the group: Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. It's emotional and lovely with a heavy piano instrumental background. Before I read the lyrics, I was already tearing up. These four really conveyed the broken emotion in the lyrics.

Track 04: "134340"

To preface and show off my space nerd side because I knew this right away: the number is Pluto's "new name" as asteroid #134340 once it lost its planethood. Upon listening to the song, it has a really funky, retro 70s undertone and I am really digging it. This kind of title is classic Bangtan using something a little less conventional to make a statement

Track 05: "Paradise"

It's songs like this, with lyrics like this, that made me fall in love with BTS all those years ago. The songs that are really catchy but are actually commentary of the society that is actively rooting for young people to fail. This is one of those songs like "Dope" that will be great on a party playlist but have a deeper meaning that will encourage people, give people peace that they're doing well, and give people a drive to focus on the lives they want instead of letting society weigh them down. Songs like "Paradise" make me so proud of BTS.

Track 06: "Love Maze"

I hope that this is a song that BTS promotes later. It's the perfect summer sound to roll the windows down and go for a drive. Not every song has to be a happy lyrical song, but the beat has to be there. It is. This is probably my second favorite song. It also feels like something BTS would have produced during their The Most Beautiful Moment In Life albums but with a lovely maturity to it. The vocalists really pushed themselves with this one, too, because the key is higher.

Track 07: "Magic Shop"

From my understanding, there is a song on Tear that is dedicated to fans. I'm pretty sure this is the one that is. There is a level of emotion in this song that made me tear up when I was listening to it. Reading the lyrics made me even more emotional. It is a really honest, raw song talking about the darkest parts of being human, of struggling, of finding strength to keep going. I've not been a fan from the beginning but I've been fan long enough to see them explode across the world and wonder if they were leaving their roots behind. Songs like this, where they allow their music to show them at their most vulnerable, that show that they are still humble and able to thank the fans that got them to where they are and will keep them going.

Track 08: "Airplane pt. 2"

This is definitely a song about their experience rising to fame. I really don't know how to talk about it. It seems cocky, but so did "Go Go" on the previous album. The meaning is a bit more obvious, but it still seems to have really heavy meaning. It's their story to tell, so I recommend definitely clicking the link, playing the audio as you read over the lyrics. Note that "Airplane" was a single from rapper J-Hope's mixtape (more affectionately know by fans as Hixtape).

Track 09: "Anpanman"

This has a retro, funky 90s/early 00s vibe to it. But the important, for me at least, is the lyric "but ballin ballin still bangtan." I wasn't really a fan of them changing the meaning of BTS to "Beyond the Scene" as opposed leaving it an acronym for the romanization of "Bangtan Sonyeondan" (Korean for "Bulletproof Boyscouts"). The lyrics also seem to be talking to the industry, especially the Korean entertainment industry.

Track 10: "So What"

If I had to pick a song that would be an excellent follow song (or would have done well as the title track, honestly), it would be "So What." It would appeal to an American audience well but with those wonderful inspirational Bangtan lyrics. It's a beautifully carefree song that I have very high hopes for. Vocalist Jin's voice gives this song even more life, if I do say so myself. He gets the least amount of time to sing but he sounds the best of them all in this song. This is His Song and I really hope they promote with it so he can receive all the much-deserved love.

Track 11: "Outro: Tear"

This features just the rappers of the group: RM, Suga, and J-Hope. It's a lot different than their other songs (like their Cypher parts). It has the same power and passion, but it has a much more emotional, broken sound and they put it all on display with their rapping. I typically pass over the rap line songs (not because I don't like them, they just don't stand out to me as much), but this is one that immediately made it onto my k-music playlist.

The album is incredible. I really hope this one does well because I know it deserves it. Tune in to the BBMA's this Sunday to see BTS' comeback stage for "Fake Love." It's a small part of history, but will be significant for Korea's musical history.