After a whirlwind 2020 and a year of career highs, BTS isn’t showing signs of slowing down. In their latest high-profile performance, the septet made their MTV Unplugged debut Tuesday night (Feb. 23). With lots to be excited about — including a Grammy nod for “Dynamite” and the recent release of BE (Essentials Edition) on Feb. 19 — BTS appeared on a stage from Seoul, South Korea, to perform some songs from their latest album for the first time.
In true BTS style, the half-hour performance was filmed with five different sets to match the mood of each respective song. From an arcade room to an indoor field to a retro-style living room, RM, Jimin, Jin, Suga, Jungkook, V, and J-Hope sang acoustic renditions of tracks off of BE, along with a surprise cover of a Coldplay classic. In between each song, members of the boy band thanked their dedicated ARMY and gave behind-the-scenes details behind the making of their latest project.
Here are the five best moments from MTV Unplugged Presents: BTS.
1. Sharing the Inspiration Behind “Telepathy”
The septet opened with the Korean-language “Telepathy,” the fifth track on BE. To kick off their set, the group sang in a game room featuring a foosball table and a basketball hoop while dressed in a more relaxed attire of jeans and tees.
After the song, the members casually interviewed each other and revealed that “Telepathy” was inspired by their fanbase, known as the ARMY. The single, which expresses BTS’ love for ARMY, describes the disappointment in their inability to tour and connect with their fans in the last year.
2. Revealing the Emotions Behind “Blue & Grey”
Following “Telepathy,” the boy band cut to a completely different set for their performance of “Blue & Grey.” For their second song, the group changed into matching gray suits and sang in an indoor field complete with blue flowers and gray walls to match the pop ballad’s lyrics.
According to Jin, V had a big part in writing “Blue & Grey,” which has a more introspective melody. Explained V: “I tried to express my inner sadness and uncertainty, so I translated the feeling of burning out as ‘blue’ and the sadness of not being able to see the ARMY as ‘gray.’”
3. BTS’ Cover of “Fix You” by Coldplay
As a special surprise for their American viewers, BTS switched over to singing in English with their cover of Coldplay’s 2005 single “Fix You.” In a challenging year for everyone, Jimin shared, “This song gave us comfort, so we wanted to prepare this cover to comfort you as well.”
4. The Changes in Sets and Costumes
With five unique sets and five wardrobe changes, BTS put their own K-pop spin on the classic MTV Unplugged franchise through the act’s attention to detail in creating a visual spectacle. From the indoor flower field to the vibrant arcade room, the South Korean boy band was able to translate the colorful world of K-pop into the MTV format.
5. Jungkook’s Sweet Parting Words
Toward the end of their set, members of the band shared their own goodbye message with fans. Looking ahead to what’s in store for 2021, Jungkook assured the ARMY, “We will continue to stay by your side this year with good music.”
