BTS creates history on Billboard 200 and beats The Beatles record debuting their three albums in the #1 slot
It has been a busy year for BTS, who have released three albums in the span of almost 11 months, all of which debuted at #1 in the Billboard 200. This has broken the record previously held by The Beatles who managed to release three albums that debuted at #1 in 1995-96 when 'Anthology 1', 'Anthology 2' and 'Anthology 3' released.
The k-pop band's previous two albums, 'Love Yourself: Tear', 'Love Yourself: Answer' also had an inherent message and this message struck a chord with many. It was also one of the reasons why the band's two albums soared to new heights, brought them their first Billboards Award nomination and win and ushered in more fans for the boy band.
This was their archival release. BTS' album 'Map of Soul: Persona' debuted at #1 when it released on April 8, and the song 'Boy with Luv' is at #8 on the Billboard's single hot 100 charts. The album has retained its #1 position the Billboard 200 according to the chart dated April 27. The single 'Boy with Luv' feat Halsey also broke records on YouTube when the song received more than 74 million views in the first 24 hours and holds the overall biggest YouTube 24-hour view record.
The band's first #1 at the Billboard 200 was 'Love Yourself: Tear' which was a followup to 'Love Yourself: Her' which debuted on May 18 and was released through BigHit Entertainment. The album was included in the June 2, 2018, chart and this album was the beginning of the seven-member boy band spreading the message of self-love. Something that was very important at a time when the music industry, including the South Korean music industry, saw their artistes go through depression and a few did not make it to the end of the dark tunnel. This album, which is primarily in Korean also happens to the first foreign language album to top the charts in 12 years.
The follow up to 'Love Yourself: Tear' titled 'Love Yourself: Answer' which was released on August 24 also made it to Billboard 200 list dated September 8, 2018. This album had seven new songs led by the track 'Idol' and was the second album of the band to consecutively make it to the Billboard 200. The band's dedication to the theme of their campaign and their album was visible when RM of BTS was invited to give a speech at the launch of Generation Unlimited at UN General Assembly right after the debut of this album.
He expanded on the inspiration behind the albums and their campaign titled 'Love Yourself' in collaboration with UNICEF. In the speech, he said, "Looking back, that’s when I began to worry about what other people thought of me and started seeing myself through their eyes. I stopped looking up at the stars at night. I stopped daydreaming. I tried to jam myself into moulds that other people made. Soon, I began to shut out my own voice and started to listen to the voices of others. No one called out my name, and neither did I. My heart stopped and my eyes closed shut. So, like this, I, we, all lost our names. We became like ghosts."
He went on to add, "But I am still an ordinary, 24-year-old guy. If there’s anything that I’ve achieved, it was only possible because I had my other BTS members by my side, and because of the love and support of our ARMY fans. Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become."