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BTS’s Dynamite Blows Up US Charts

Last week, the hugely successful South Korean “boy band” BTS set another new record – their new song “Dynamite” became the most popular song in the US in the first week that it was released.

Every week, Billboard Magazine creates lists of the “singles” (songs) and albums (collections of songs) that have streamed and sold the most in the US. These lists are often called “the charts”. The “Hot 100” list names the top 100 songs in the nation.

South Korean boy band BTS at the 2019 Seoul Music Awards on 15 January 2019
On August 28, the hugely successful South Korean “boy band” BTS set another new record – their new song “Dynamite” became the most popular song in the US in the first week that it was released. Above, BTS at the 2019 Seoul Music Awards.
(Source: TenAsia [CC BY], via Wikimedia Commons.)

Usually, a hit song starts out lower down on the charts and, if the artist is lucky, slowly climbs to the top. But the BTS song “Dynamite” was Number 1 as soon as it hit the charts. In just the first week, the song was streamed 33.9 million times, and 300,000 copies of the song were sold.

For BTS fans, that’s no surprise. BTS has had massive hits in Asia and other parts of the world. In the US, the group has had three number one albums and its concert tours sell out in minutes. In March, the BTS song “On” reached Number 4.

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BTS has had massive hits in Asia and other parts of the world. In the US, the group has had three number one albums and its concert tours sell out in minutes. In March, the BTS song “On” reached Number 4.

But for some people, it may come as a surprise for a group of young men from South Korea to rocket to the top of the US charts. After all, before “Dynamite”, BTS had never even released an English-language single.

Popular music from South Korea, called K-pop, has become more and more popular in the US in recent years. And BTS has been a big part of that change.

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Popular music from South Korea, called K-pop, has become more and more popular in the US in recent years. And BTS has been a big part of that change. Above, BTS on the Today show in February.

BTS, which stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan, was first formed in 2010. The group has seven band members. RM (RapMonster) leads the group and raps. The other rappers are Suga and J-Hope. The group has four singers: Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook,

The group members all dance, which is part of what makes their live shows so popular. The band is almost as famous for its dancing as for its songs. Many of the band members also help write the group’s songs.

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The group members all dance, which is part of what makes their live shows so popular. The band is almost as famous for its dancing as for its songs. Many of the band members also help write the group’s songs.

But BTS wouldn’t be what it is without its fans, known as the BTS “Army”. From its early days, BTS has worked to seem like a friendly group with songs that send positive messages to its fans. And BTS has gone out of its way to connect with and encourage its fans.

As a result, the BTS Army has become an extremely strong tool for promoting BTS. In 2018, the BTS Army set a Guinness World Record for activity on the social media site Twitter by liking and sharing BTS posts more than a half a billion times.

BTS in concert at Wembley Stadium, 2 June 2019
BTS wouldn’t be what it is without its fans, known as the BTS “Army”. BTS has gone out of its way to connect with and encourage its fans. As a result, the BTS Army has become an extremely strong tool for promoting BTS. Above, a 2019 BTS concert in England.
(Source: NenehTrainer [CC BY], via Wikimedia Commons.)

When the video for the BTS single “Dynamite” was released on YouTube, it was watched more than 100 million times in the first 24 hours – another new record, thanks to the BTS Army.

“Dynamite” is a huge hit – not just in the US, but in countries around the world. And BTS isn’t planning on stopping there. The group is expected to release a new album later this year.

Logo for the BTS song Dynamite
“Dynamite” is a huge hit – not just in the US, but in countries around the world. And BTS isn’t planning on stopping there. The group is expected to release a new album later this year.
(Source: Big Hit Entertainment [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)


Did You Know…?

When BTS’s name (Bangtan Sonyeondan) is written in Korean, it looks like this: 방탄소년단. In English, the name means “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”.

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