Hey everyone. It’s been a while since we’ve had this discussion, so I thought it’d be okay to post this. I think most of us in this sub would agree that BTS has a top tier discography, and they’re master storytellers – through their music, lyrics, choreography and music videos. One of my favorite things they do so so well is when the production aids in the storytelling and message of the song. Even after all this time of listening to their songs, I still make new discoveries, little gems in the production, and it makes me so happy. So I thought it’d be fun to discuss our favorite moments in their production, whether it’s just a really cool and amazing moment or it aids in relaying the message of the song. Let me start off with some of mine:
– [Polar Night]( https://youtu.be/fvcrtyaP3GY?si=irMb-1ojHCpQyfvW&t=17) – That electric guitar at the back through the entirety of the song, as Yoongi passionately raps and critiques society. It’s literally perfect for me. You know how people talk about the pang of heartache? That’s how it feels for me. Like we’re mourning the downfall of society right alongside Yoongi, and it’s all too heartbreaking.
– ***Butterfly*** – The whole song is ethereal and so delicate but [this part]( https://youtu.be/Xy9heqcKLAI?si=i75ZzBtDEXYKYVPl&t=48) of the song where it feels like everything is being sucked in by this urgency and fear of losing whoever they’re singing about, right before they release it all in the chorus. The [choreography]( https://youtu.be/jucstn9Uonk?si=Jc1Ey8ti6xvRqvlF&t=135) illustrates it so well too.
– ***Dope*** – I just really adore that [deep bass]( https://youtu.be/qi3dicwdbdQ?si=F_vpWTJoFr2h2HnW&t=34) at the back, starting from the first instrumental chorus, then during each of the rapline’s verses. It just ties down the song so perfectly.
– ***Just one day*** – This song really is the cutest with all the sound effects they have added for each lyric, actual sounds of the things they’re describing, that makes it so immersive. The [deep breath](https://youtu.be/DTcKkcyS410?si=EMReIj1v91FMqfoc&t=40) as Yoongi talks about their BGM being the sound of breathing, how she says [his name]( https://youtu.be/DTcKkcyS410?si=jykqpOlE-uGyd-ua&t=41), [clock ticking]( https://youtu.be/2DFvc5o5xAY?si=y6jv2MVOYi6_1LGq&t=2m33s) as Hobi says “24 hours”, talks about [kissing them]( https://youtu.be/bf0cjpzXlg4?si=ea4u6u8S1E1OTR6t&t=2m35s) from the morning and grabbing some [brunch]( https://youtu.be/2DFvc5o5xAY?si=y6jv2MVOYi6_1LGq&t=2m39s) together. Just too cute!
– ***Bicycle*** – I just really adore the [little bicycle bell]( https://youtu.be/6uq3P7zeYyU?si=hufJuIpwTTBFE9o9&t=108) sound he adds. Feels like we’re right there with him cycling along the Han river.
– ***Whalien 52*** – The synth that sounds like the [cry of a whale]( https://youtu.be/o1wuiLF04Rg?si=SjHxNmjITkoL3oGm&t=72) that’s there at the back throughout the length of the song, quieter at first but gets louder (especially during Joon’s verse) and at the end, it’s the only instrumental we hear. And we can hear the splashing of the ocean waves too if we listen closely.
– ***What am I to you*** – The way this whole song is produced, how it follows Joon’s lyrical narrative exactly. We [start off with happy sounding violins]( https://youtu.be/_3OLpHsAR54?si=i0DbHscSPCpjMfvh&t=20) almost like that of a wedding march as he describes happy and giddy love just beginning, then [the heavier strings come in]( https://youtu.be/_3OLpHsAR54?si=i0DbHscSPCpjMfvh&t=81) as he starts to question parts of the relationship and it sounds much more melancholy. Finally, we reach the climax at the end where he’s in full sorrow and anger and [the drums just hit so hard and with urgency]( https://youtu.be/_3OLpHsAR54?si=i0DbHscSPCpjMfvh&t=142) as he cries out in confusion and pain. It’s perfection.
– ***Save me*** – I love the [panning from one ear to the other]( https://youtu.be/GZjt_sA2eso?si=QgKrO-0e8E9WVH64&t=173) in Joon’s verse and how you anticipate another fulfilling chorus after his verse, but it never comes. It rather ends with a sad prechorus sung by JK and Jimin. Makes you want to go right back and restart the song. They’re geniuses actually.
– ***Love is not over*** – Hobi’s first two lines that [each end with a pause]( https://youtu.be/iZLt0FfCsKI?si=mS8e4d6ANJKeKP6p&t=110), as he says “stop” and “dot”. So satisfying when he comes back in and it provides such good pacing for the song.
– ***Don’t leave me*** – First of all, this whole song is perfection. I’m obsessed with the panning from ear to ear of [Jungkook’s Oh, oh, oh]( https://youtu.be/Cz6BUM4F2tY?si=4JiuOuXcHCe4OSQU&t=47) behind a relatively calmer instrumental just before we’re hit with that majestic chorus.
I’ll be honest. I have too many I like, so I just put on my bangtan playlist and noted down the first ones I liked, or else I’d be writing all day. I’m also not at all an expert on music production, so I’ve just written down how I feel with no technical terms hahah. I’m curious about everyone else’s choices. What are your favorite production moments in bangtan songs, solo or group? Please share below. I’d love to hear all of them, especially more subtler moments I may not even have noticed before.
by zikachhakchhuak
LGO – BE – I always hear a ticking clock or tapping sound in the first verse. It’s so subtle. But I feel like it gives that added feel about time passing by while you are standing still.
Snooze – You can still hear Yoongi’s breaths after the last “Dream”.
LGO – D-day. The static/glitch you hear in the intro
Honsool – the vocal distortions. Gives the song the exact feel that Yoongi wanted to create.
People – and quite a few songs in D-2, can hear the breaths before the verses. I don’t know, I just feel like it gives it more character, instead of a fully cleaned up version.
Will edit to add more as I remember them.
The electronic drops for Magic Shop, Ringwanderung and Euphoria. I really love future bass and those drops were hella HEAVY.
>Don’t leave me – First of all, this whole song is perfection. I’m obsessed with the panning from ear to ear of Jungkook’s Oh, oh, oh behind a relatively calmer instrumental just before we’re hit with that majestic chorus.
Me every time my favorite BTS song gets mentioned on this sub.
The ad libs in the very back track of The Last really got me the first time I focused on them
I think the Interlude: Shadow MV and song are a perfect pair. Specifically in the song the tone switch after the final “I want to be a rockstar” where it goes to that rough outro is so perfect for the message/story of the song.
Sampling Skool Luv Affair for Intro: Persona is one of my favorite samples they’ve done. Also N.O uses a sample from the Oldboy OST which is interesting considering how subversive the movie is and the song is about pressures of being young in Korea
Polar night is so underrated
Boy Meets Evil’s instrumentals alone transports me in another dimension. Also, the production in Outro: Tear and Louder Than Bombs is pure chef’s kiss.
Ohhhhhhh this is my favorite topic because before anything, I’m here for the music.
* Moon: I love the bridge in this one in the sense that when Jin is going “너의 곁을 지킬게”, you can hear the drums go off and I just adore that. I love drums going off.
* The Astronaut: Same, when Jin is singing “And I love you” at the end, you can hear the drums going off and I just love how in both songs, the music goes down just for the drums to pick up the pace.
* Trivia: Love: The horns exploding at the end of the song along with the adlibs makes up a magical combination, “넌 나의 사람, 사람, 사람 (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)”. I just love this song so much.
* Trivia: Just Dance: Right at the bridge where Hobi is going “느꼈어 baby 순간 너와 나 baby
그 모든 합이 공식같이 맞춰진 걸 baby 막연함도 baby
큰 힘듦도 baby” and then repeats the verse with more energy and how the music goes down in the first part and just absolutely goes to 100% when he repeats it?! Just absolutely amazing.
21st Century Girl! Obsessed with how the instruments change in the last chorus and you get this heavy, electronic thrum behind the vocal. So good.
* 134340 – my fave part is yoongi’s verse starting off sounding like he’s far away and crackly, like he’s calling in from space (which is so apt for the song), before his voice slowly gets closer
* jamais vu – i love the layering of vocals in the final chorus where jin and jk trade lines, with hobi ad-libbing softly
Young Forever – the panning in Joon’s verse at the beginning you hear it better when you listen with headphones