BTS’ 10 Most Iconic Story-Led Music Videos

South Korean pop group BTS are set to return later at 2:30 PM (IST) today with their fourth studio album Map Of The Soul: 7. The comeback will be led by the single “ON” and will mark a new addition to their arsenal of stunning visuals with a music video titled “Kinetic Manifesto Film : Come Prima.” The septet set a standard when it comes to music videos, starting early on in their career with 2015’s “I NEED U;” they built an intricate cinematic universe which expanded with each new release and with a storyline that continued all the way up to the present.

So far in 2020, BTS have dropped three videos, “Interlude: Shadow,” “Black Swan,” and “Outro: Ego,” all of which are extremely different from one another but address the very human struggle of finding one’s own identity. As we wait for them to take us forward on the journey, let’s revisit and recap some of the most iconic story-led visuals of their career.

“I NEED U” Original Version (2015)

This iconic video marked an artistic turning point for BTS and shocked audiences with its raw portrayal of societal realities like depression, abuse, murder, addiction, suicide and loneliness. The seven members portray different characters, each of whom face a major trial in their lives which eventually leads to the end of the happy days of their youth.

“Prologue” (2015)

This music video is the core of BTS’ The Most Beautiful Moment in Life albums. It ties “I NEED U” and “Run” together and is often interpreted as a seesaw between life and death, with the seven members trapped in a loop between harsh reality and an escape to Neverland.

“Run” (2015)

“Run” plays out kind of like fragments of memories, similar to those we cherish of old friends we no longer know. With throwbacks to moments from “I NEED U,” the video shows the members of BTS spending time together, running helter-skelter through the cityscape causing mischief, with the bliss of youth providing an escape. It’s bittersweet with its nostalgia and the certainty in knowing those happy times had to end.

“Blood, Sweat & Tears” (2016)

The baroque-influenced smorgasbord of symbolism still remains one of BTS’ most visually detailed music videos to date. In “Blood Sweat & Tears” BTS took a sharp turn away from realism to dive directly into mythology. The decadent sets and costumes play into the almost biblical storyline of angels and demons, putting the members on trial as they attempt not to give into sin and temptation.

“Euphoria” (2018)

This nine-minute video continues the ‘Bangtan Universe’ storyline with direct parallels to previous releases all the way back to 2015’s “I NEED U.” The members are united right from the get-go and finally seem happy, untouched by the darkness of their previous timelines. The joy is short-lived, however as the video ends at the same place as “Prologue”, this time with Jin taking V’s place atop the pier and making the jump into the water, ensuring his sacrifice keeps his friends safe.

“Fake Love” (2018)

“Fake Love” marks the beginning of BTS’ current journey in the confrontation of the self and darkness of one’s own doubts and fears. The members are each trapped alone in their own personal versions of hell; for example SUGA with the fire that killed him in the “I NEED U” video and Jimin with the water. RM faces his own reflection (a callback to their 2016 LP WINGS) while Jin is yet again burdened with saving his friends.

“Spring Day” (2017)

Perhaps one of the most poignant videos of BTS’ career, “Spring Day” portrays loss, grief and the process of moving on. Rumoured to be a tribute to the victims of South Korea’s Sewol Ferry tragedy, the clip is packed with symbolism around death, the afterlife and closure. While the members begin the video alone in various locations, they are finally united at the end as they begin a new journey with their friendship as their salvation. The clip features various fascinating references to Oscar-winning Korean director Bong Joon Ho‘s 2013 film Snowpiercer as well as the book The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin.

“Epiphany” (2018)

Vocalist Jin’s character has long been considered the key to understanding BTS’ complex fictional storyline–over the years, there have been several theories that assume he is on a journey to prevent the tragedies that befall his friends, cruising through several timelines to stop tragedy, and “Epiphany” seems to confirm this; Jin is caught in a loop as multiple versions of him attempt to save his friends again and again.

“Boy In Luv” (2014)

The members play high school students attempting to woo a fellow female student. The seven friends work together to come up with a plan, taking turns to impress her. Other than the part when they slam her against a locker, it’s all pretty sweet, nostalgic and endearing.

“Blood Sweat & Tears” Japanese Version (2017)

Although severely underrated, this psychedelic video blends the timelines from “I NEED U,” “Run” and the Korean video of “Blood Sweat & Tears” to deliver a dark alternate dimension and is the first solid dip into the concept of multiple realities–the members harm and even attempt to kill one another before finally fracturing the space time continuum.