BTS’ new album, “Be,”? features the No. 1 hit “Dynamite.” ?(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
HYYH (화양연화) or “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1” was BTS’ third extended play released April 29, 2015. With its tenth anniversary coming up, I thought it was no better time to revisit the iconic tracks from this album.
“The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” represents a major shift in BTS’ discography. They started to lean away from their gritty image and settled into something new. It was the start of their current sound and arguably remains as one of their best works.
My personal favorite track off this album is the intro titled “Intro: The Most Beautiful Moment In Life.” It’s so simple yet so beautiful. It features a melancholic solo rap from member Suga that really sets the tone for the rest of the album.
The best way I could describe the vibe of this album is bittersweet youth. I always get an intense feeling of nostalgia when listening to any song from this era, even though I wasn’t a fan at the time of its release. I think the members do a wonderful job of capturing the stage of life they were in at the time.
Many of the tracks are yearning love songs, and others are fun spunky tracks that show off the group’s charms. Most notably, the title track “Dope.”
“Dope” is one of the tracks that stayed true to their early grit, but it feels less delinquent. It’s clear that the group’s confidence grew and they settled into themselves. It’s a dynamic song that has a lot going on in a way that keeps you entertained.
The music video is also one of my favorites from the group. It was distinct from their previous ones and still stands out to me in comparison to newer ones. I love how it represents that youthful underdog energy the group had at the time.
A highlight track off this album definitely has to be “I Need You.” It’s the song that got BTS their first music show win on SBS MTV’s “The Show” and for good reason.
It’s a track describing pining that’s done so artfully. The lyrics discuss missing a girl after a tumultuous relationship that came to an end. What I love about it is how the lyrics are delivered.
The emotion in this song is intense and hard hitting, I feel convinced of the lyrics. The music video is also beautifully shot and helps push the song’s narrative in a way that draws you into the story.
I could go on about this album and its arguably even better successor, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2.”
It’s one of my favorites of BTS’ discography and always comes to mind when I think of BTS’ signature sound.
Above all, it marks the start of their one of a kind exponential growth over the years. Just a year after its release, the group became the first from a small company to win a Daesang—the highest honor an artist can receive in Korea.
BTS’ story as a group of underdogs truly cements that no dream is truly impossible, and I think HYYH perfectly encapsulates the passion and determination that brought the group to where they are today.