BTS’ 2020 highlights: from a Covid-19-friendly home concert with Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa on James Corden’s show, to lighting up charts with Dynamite
Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin and Suga on the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza on February 21, 2020 in New York City – what a year these boys have had. Photo: WireImage
We already know that this has been a special year for BTS – and tagging along for the ride has been pretty great for us too! The group became the first K-pop act to ever receive a Grammy Award nomination, were nominated in more than one category at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, and even won the (fan-voted) Social Artist award at this year’s show – among other things.
But the year’s almost over. So here, without further ado, is a round-up of the five BTS stories we got the most excited about in 2020.
BTS posted Younha’s latest album ‘Unstable Mindset’, featuring her song with RM, on Twitter – and K-pop fans went crazy
Younha and BTS’ RM collaborated on a song for her latest album. Photo: Korea Times
Winter Flower, South Korean singer Younha’s collab with BTS’ RM, topped iTunes singles charts in 43 countries. The first track from Younha’s album, “Unstable Mindset”, was released on January 6, and made her the first South Korean female soloist to top the US iTunes Top Song chart. We’d like to think it was partly thanks to BTS leader RM, who is known to be a dedicated fan of Younha, regularly supporting and recommending her music to his own fans. Nice work, you two!
BTS joined Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa for a coronavirus quarantine concert on James Corden’s show
Home boys: BTS joined James Corden for a special quarantine concert. Photo: Handout
BTS were one of the high-profile acts performing from home for Homefest: James Corden’s Late Late Show Special, with a star-studded line-up that also included Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, British pop diva Dua Lipa and American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. The special edition had been designed in light of the American federal government’s recommendation that public gatherings of more than 50 people be delayed or cancelled amid the spread of Covid-19 in the US back in March.
BTS fans celebrated Jimin’s birthday in the most over-the-top way possible
How do you mark the birthday of a famous K-pop artist? Jimin from BTS turned 25 on October 13 – and fans went all out. Photo: Handout
On October 13, Jimin – one of BTS’ most beloved members – turned 25, and naturally his fans around the world found some truly creative ways to mark the occasion. Here’s the full list of amazing birthday gifts his fans gave him this year, including 8,700 newly planted mangroves and a delightfully cheesy song composed by BTS’ Vietnamese Army.
We found out what BTS were like before they signed with Big Hit Entertainment
The seven members of BTS during their childhoods. Photos: @bangtan__armyyyyy/Instagram
What were the members like before they became household names? Jin got scouted by SM Entertainment, J-Hope attended the same school as TVXQ’s Yunho and 2Ne1’s Minzy, and Jungkook didn’t make it past the first round of Superstar K – but still managed to get plenty of agency calls anyway. We can never know too much about RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook – or see enough cute baby pictures of them.
BTS’ Dynamite and Blackpink’s Ice Cream hit the American music charts – and killed it
BTS made it big in the international market with Dynamite. Photo: AFP Photo/Big Hit Entertainment
Supergroups BTS and Blackpink both released English-language tracks in August, hoping to set the charts alight with the help of big-name collaborations and fancy VMA performances. But as much as we love them, we were surprised it was these songs they chose to showcase their musical flair. We hope in 2021 BTS can do more of what makes them different in the first place, and not be afraid to show their Korean take on pop music for the overseas market going forward. We’re all ears boys – keep up the good work.
The BTS members had an action-packed year, so much so it’s easy to forget what went down – time for a recap of Jungkook, Jimin, Suga, V, RM, Jin and J-Hope’s highlights … are you ready?
