By Shubhangi Dutta
7 has always been a number of symbolic significance, and for the popular K-pop band BTS, who have taken the world by storm, it holds great meaning. With this album, they have portrayed their journey from their debut 7 years ago to now, together as 7 members. Map of the Soul: 7 is BTS’s first release after their hit song “Boy With Luv” in 2019. This album features 20 songs, out of which 5 are from their previous album Map of the Soul: Persona. This album is a sort of self-referential homage. Each member has a solo track on the album; there are duets, solely rap-line and vocal-line based songs too. Every song has its own unique flavor and allows a larger variety of audience to enjoy listening to the music.
The first 5 songs feature their songs from 2019, including the collaborations with Halsey and Ed Sheeran. The best of these songs is “Intro: Persona” by RM, filled with scratchy riffs and a guitar-based background. The song takes fans back to their older, retro days. The new tracks begin with Suga’s track, “Interlude: Shadow.” Here, he raps about his fears and the constant shadow that haunts him. The next track is “Black Swan,” a beautiful contemporary song which utilizes traditional korean instruments in the beginning and then seamlessly shifts into a more emo hip-hop sound. Through this song, BTS tries to convey the pain of losing the ability to dance for any dancer, so much that it is considered as his first death.
“Filter” by Jimin falls under the R&B genre and makes use of guitar throughout the song. It’s a groovy song with sensual undertones, yet the subject matter is serious; it can be related to how the singer is exposed to various perspectives and prejudices, due to which he shows different versions of himself in front of his fans. Like “Filter,” the other solos “My Time,” “Moon,” and “Inner Child” promote the charms and different vocal colors that the vocalists of the group offer. J-Hope’s “Outro: Ego” is typical of the singer’s personality - bright and joyous. The song is fun to listen to, and J-Hope’s skill as a singer and rapper is perfectly reflected through this upbeat song.
Like Black Swan, “UGH!” also starts with a distinctly East-Asian riff. “UGH!” is the rap-line’s latest diss track. Autotune is used heavily in this track, which may suit the taste of only a few. “00:00 Zero o’Clock” is a powerful ballad. This beautiful track encapsulates the theme of this album - everyone has a chance to choose happiness at the start of a new day. “Friends” and “Respect” are duets, wherein RM and Suga trade verses in the latter while Jimin and V playfully sing about their strong friendship in the first.
The whole group performs together in “Louder than bombs,” an intense and hypnotic track co-written by Suga, RM, J-Hope and Troye Sivan. “We are Bulletproof: Eternal” is a sort of ode to BTS’s fans where they implicitly thank them for being the reason their dreams came true. “We were only seven, but we have you all.”
The title track of this album is “ON,” which has a rather anthem-like quality. The song appears twice on the album, Sia featuring the second time. “ON” kicks off with an implosive drum-roll signalling a marching band. The passionate vocals and earnest rap gives this song a larger-than-life feel. The lyrics, “Hold me down, cause you know I’m a fighter” further emphasize the concept of this album, and also pay homage to their own career.
In conclusion, this album is powerful yet different from their previous releases. With this release, it can be safely said that after BTS, after achieving large influence, is focusing on music they personally prefer making rather than making music merely to suit the taste of the listener. This not only gives them more creative freedom, but also inspires their fans to pursue their passion.
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