BTS - BE

I. Introduction

BE is the first self-directed and seventh mini-album by BTS. It was released on November 20, 2020.

The album debuted at #1 on Billboard 200, becoming BTS's fifth #1 on that chart. BE was the second best-selling album of 2020 in South Korea and is currently the fifth best best-selling album in South Korea of all time.

As of 2021, the album has sold more than two and half million copies.

II. Background and Release

During a YouTube livestream on May 1, Jimin revealed that he was assigned as the music project manager and admitted that the forthcoming album would be written and produced by the members. On May 7, V, J-Hope and RM revealed that V had been assigned the role of visual project manager whilst discussing the album concept, jacket photos and styling during the broadcast. On August 13, Big Hit Entertainment held a corporate briefing where the agency confirmed that BTS' new album would be released in the fourth quarter of 2020.

According to a press release, the album imparts a message of healing to the world by declaring that even in the face of this new normality, our life goes on. BE also reflects the thoughts, emotions and deepest ruminations of BTS while working on the album.

III. Tracklist

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V. Videos

Teaser(s)

Official Video(s)

Live Performance(s)

Dance Practice(s)

VI. Concept Pictures

VII. Reception

BE received generally positive reviews from music critics; most of them praised the album's authenticity while a few also found it unadventurous. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 80 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."

BE debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with 242,000 album-equivalent units, including 177,000 sales, becoming BTS's fifth number-one album in the United States. As a result, BTS became the fastest group to earn five number-one albums since the Beatles between 1966 and 1968. BTS also became the first group to have two chart-topping albums in the country in 2020, and the second act overall following YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Its lead single "Life Goes On" debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 with 150,000 downloads and 14.9 million U.S. streams, becoming BTS' third number-one song following "Dynamite" and "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" remix.

With this, BTS became the fastest group in over 42 years to earn three number-one songs in a span of three months, since the Bee Gees. The band became the second act following Ariana Grande to score three Hot 100 entries in 2020, and also became the first group to land two number-one debuts on the chart. "Life Goes On" marked the first song not sung in an English language to debut atop the chart. BTS became only the second act in history besides Taylor Swift to debut at number one on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously. They also became the first group and ninth overall act to prevail on top of the Artist 100, Hot 100, and Billboard 200 charts simultaneously.

BE debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart with over 2.2 million copies sold in its first week. This marked the second-highest opening week sales figures in the chart's history—Map of the Soul: 7 holds the record with over 3.3 million copies its first week—and the album became BTS' eighth consecutive million seller in the country.

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