BTS were already massive in their native South Korea in 2017 when they scored one of their defining hits, the emotional ballad “Spring Day.” It was a poignant tale of grief and loss. Three years later, “Dynamite” showed a totally different extreme of their music, going for dance-floor kicks. The Chic-style disco rush of “Dynamite” was a blast of sunshine, during the bleak days of the pandemic in the summer of 2020. But different as they are, both songs show how BTS became international superstars, breaking beyond the world of K-pop and conquering the planet.
You can argue all day about which song represents BTS at their absolute peak: “Spring Day” or “Dynamite”? But both songs are pop classics, which is why they’re both on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs, with “Dynamite” at 347 and “Spring Day” at 280.
On this week’s episode of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss “Dynamite” and “Spring Day,” and how they display different sides of BTS’ music. They’re joined by journalist Michelle Hyun Kim to break down the BTS phenomenon: how it began, how it grew, how it spread worldwide, and how these songs play different — but complementary — roles in the group’s story.
“Dynamite” was their big North American explosion, after they were already huge in this country. BTS blew up on their own terms, by refusing to conform to the expectations of the U.S. music industry. It was their first Number One hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the first by any South Korean artist. It was a victory lap for them, after becoming enormous worldwide without making any compromises. So with “Dynamite,” the Bulletproof Boy Scouts finally did a hit in English — but only after proving they didn’t need to. It led to more upbeat hits with a similar vibe, such as “Butter” with Megan Thee Stallion. “Dynamite” happened shortly before the band had to go on hiatus, so the individual members can do their 18 months of military service in South Korea, so it also felt like BTS seizing their chance to kick loose while it was still possible for them.
“Spring Day” was an earlier and very different kind of song — a message-oriented ballad about mental health, about the transitions between different emotional seasons, but music designed to uplift and console, with raps from RM and Suga. “Spring Day” is one cherished by their most hardcore fans as their greatest moment. In some ways, “Spring Day” represents the BTS that belongs to their original audience in South Korea, just as “Dynamite” represents the BTS that belongs to the whole world.
In 2004, Rolling Stone launched its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Tabulated from a massive vote that had artists, industry figures, and critics weighing in, the list has been a source of conversation, inspiration, and controversy for two decades. It’s one of the most popular, influential, and argued-over features the magazine has ever done.
So we set out to make it even bigger, better, and fresher. In 2021, we completely overhauled our 500 Songs list, with a whole new batch of voters from all over the music map. Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs takes a closer look at the entries on our list. Made in partnership with iHeart, Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs finds Brittany and Rob discussing a new song each week, delving into its history and impact with the help of a special guest — including fellow RScolleagues, producers, and the artists themselves. It’s our celebration of the greatest songs ever made — and a breakdown of what makes them so great.
Check out the latest episode above, on iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts, and look for new episodes every Wednesday.
