From the 1980s to today, the pop music genre has been a significant part of culture worldwide. Michael Jackson’s 1982 sophomore album, Thriller, remains a paradigm for performers within the genre. On the album, producer Quincy Jones successfully collaborated with the King of Pop and developed a new wave of “sonic sound.” The tracks featured the “hit sound” from a drum machine played at a variety of tempos. The result was the creation of iconic singles like the title track, “Billie Jean,” and “Beat It.” What is also innovative is that they created a music video for each single with “military-style” dance choreography that made the performances memorable for fans.
Another important aspect of pop music is the creation of boybands. Groups like New Kids on The Block, New Edition, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC each incorporate the “hit sound” and “military-style.” Each of these groups and others within the genre had excellent songwriters on their production teams, which makes the music even more impactful. If you’re a Millennial chances are you could sing these songs well in karaoke and perform some (if not all) of the choreography.
Popular South Korean boyband, BTS, continues to have success in pop music. After watching their performances, you can see the influences from pop music pioneers. They also have extraordinary songwriters and excellent performances.
BTS appeared on Saturday Night Live back in 2019 and performed their hit song “Boy With Luv” live for the first time. Halsey is featured on the song however she did not make an appearance at the show, but did perform with the group at the Billboard Awards.
“Boy With Luv” is about stating how you truly feel inside. It focuses on telling the story of opening the heart in order to reach someone else. It is about achieving a true love in life based on a pure, direct connection to another person. The song is now a fan favorite and the choreography for their performances will be memorable like other pop hits such as NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye” or the King of Pop’s “Thriller.”
Lyrics
모든 게 궁금해 how’s your day
Oh tell me (oh yeah oh yeah, ah yeh ah yeh)
뭐가 널 행복하게 하는지
Oh text me (oh yeah oh yeah, oh yeah oh yeah)
Translation:
I’m curious everything, how’s your day
Oh tell me (oh yah oy yah, oh yah oh yah)
What makes you happy?
Oh text me (oh yah oy yah, oh yah oh yah)
*The lyrics in verse one is about opening the line of communication with the one you love. Asking someone how their day was is an important thing. Alanis Morissette once said in her song “Head Over Feet” that by asking how her day was you could win her over. Not only just asking, but actually listening and being a person that’s easy to talk to and supportive, which can establish the line of communication.
Your every picture
내 머리맡에 두고 싶어 oh bae
Come be my teacher
네 모든 걸 다 가르쳐줘
Your one, your two
Translation:
Your every picture
I wanna have it by my pillow oh bae
Come, be my teacher
Teach me everything about you
Your 1, your 2
*These lyrics regard how to keep another person close and truly discover more about them with an open mind while embracing and supporting who they are on the inside. The idea of keeping someone’s pictures near by indicates the desire for an intense connection.
Listen my baby 나는
저 하늘을 높이 날고 있어
(그때 네가 내게 줬던 두 날개로)
이제 여긴 너무 높아
난 내 눈에 널 맞추고 싶어
Yeah you makin’ me a boy with love
Translation:
Listen my baby
I’m flying high in the sky
(With the two wings you gave me back then)
Now, it’s so high up here
I want you tuned in to my eyes
Yeah you makin ‘me a boy with luv
*These lyrics describe the incredible interpersonal communication between two people, where one feels like they are so high and reaches out to another to bring them to the point where they can connect on a spiritual level through a loving gaze.
Vocals
Each member of BTS delivers his own vocals in “Boy With Luv.” There is a creative mixture of traditional pop vocals with hip hop verses.
Instrumentation
“Boy With Luv” is a drum machine-based song with elements of live keyboard, base and guitar.
Performance
“Boy With Luv” has become one of their most popular songs and they always perform it when on tour.