BTS’ Hidden Gems! From ‘Film Out’ to ‘Crystal Snow’ – Dive into original Japanese discography of the pop titans

The South Korean pop titans celebrated their 11th anniversary on June 13.

By Nandini Iyengar -

June 22, 2024 - 10:00 AM IST

BTS, the global phenomenon that transcends language barriers, celebrates 11 years since their debut on June 13, 2024! Their journey started with relatable anthems about chasing dreams and perseverance, as seen in songs like ‘No More Dream’ and ‘N.O’. Over time, they matured their sound, delving into emotional depths with tracks like ‘Spring Day’ and ‘Black Swan’, exploring themes of self-doubt, mental health, and navigating the complexities of life.

BTS’ Hidden Gems! From ‘Film Out’ to ‘Crystal Snow’ – Dive into original Japanese discography of the pop titans

Despite their current hiatus due to mandatory military service, BTS continues to captivate audiences with even the slightest update. To celebrate their anniversary, let's explore their captivating Japanese discography! While their Korean releases dominate the charts, BTS' dedication to their Japanese fanbase shines through their original Japanese songs. These tracks offer a unique blend of Korean and Japanese influences, showcasing the group's versatility.

With their impactful music and passionate fanbase, BTS has cemented their place in music history. Whether it's through Korean chart-toppers or heartfelt Japanese ballads, they continue to prove that music transcends language, speaking directly to the soul.

1. WISHING ON A STAR

Go back to BTS’ early days with ‘Wishing on a Star’. This track is reminiscent of BTS classic musical tones which they largely incorporated in their early releases - a smooth mix of vocals and rap, alliterated by hip hop and dance pop beats. This song features on BTS’ second Japanese language album ‘Youth.’

2. FILM OUT

‘Film Out’ is a soothing ballad number that tugs at one’s heartstrings with its soulful lyrics. Members create a soothing harmony with their vocals in this nostalgia-inducing song. The song served as the soundtrack for the Japanese movie Signal the Movie Cold Case Investigation Unit. Japanese rock band Back Number participated in producing this track whereas Jungkook participated in songwriting. ‘Film Out’ was released as a single and it later featured on BTS’ third Japanese-language compilation album BTS: The Best.

3. STAY GOLD

‘Stay Gold’ is a hip-hop-toned dance anthem by BTS. This song gives a message of resilience to its listeners by telling them to not lose their shine even if there are negative things around them. The song also featured as the official soundtrack for the Japanese drama Spiral Labyrinth – DNA Forensic Investigation which aired on TV Tokyo. This track appears on the album Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey.

4. YOUR EYES TELL

‘Your Eyes Tell’ is a love ballad sung by Jungkook. The lyrics exhibit a strong sense of protectiveness for a loved one. The meaning of the song is further accentuated by the acoustic string musical arrangement. ‘Your Eyes Tell’ was also featured in the Japanese movie of the same name as its official soundtrack. Jungkook participated in creating the song. This track appears on BTS’ album Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey.

5. WAKE UP

‘Wake Up’ featured on BTS’ first Japanese language album of the same name. This track showcases a smooth blend of rap and vocals, something that BTS has always managed to craft well in their renditions. This instrumental arrangement for this track flows seamlessly as the members take turns in singing an anthem to get up, wake up and start the work. RM, Suga and J-Hope participated in songwriting for this track.

6. THE STARS

‘The Stars’ is a classic BTS track which reminds the listeners of their younger days. The song highlights the rap verses and stretchy beats as it progresses. It sits in line with BTS’ other productions which were largely focused on hip-hop, rap, trap and other similar-sounding music genres. This song is all about achieving the dream and reaching for the stars, no matter how hard life beats you. It appears on BTS’ first Japanese language album ‘Wake Up.’

7. LET GO

‘Let Go’ features in BTS’s third Japanese full-length album Face Yourself. The song is made up of modern hip-hop beats layered with the members’ soulful vocals as they sing about fear and hesitation in their lives. It continues on the central idea of the album of facing oneself and one’s fears. ‘Let Go’ also featured as the soundtrack for The Moon and the Wolves, a Japanese reality TV show.

8. DON’T LEAVE ME

‘Don’t Leave Me’ is another track from the album Face Yourself that is bound to leave its mark on a listener. The song incorporates electronica and hip-hop tunes along with some inclination towards rap as well. ‘Don’t Leave Me’ was featured as a soundtrack for the 2018 Japanese drama Signal.

9. CRYSTAL SNOW

‘Crystal Snow’ is the third original Japanese track from BTS’ Face Yourself album but it was previously released as a single along with Japanese versions of ‘DNA’ and ‘Mic Drop’. The song is a cinematic ballad, complete with reverbs and vocalization that engulfs the listeners in its heartfelt rendition. RM participated in writing this song.

10. LIGHTS

‘Lights’ from BTS’ album Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey is undoubtedly one of the most loved Japanese language tracks by BTS. This song came out with the Japanese version of ‘Boy with Luv’. This song sits in line with BTS’ ideology of lending a listening ear to their fans. The lyrics echo a heartfelt message of hope and resilience from BTS to their fans. This song sports soft touch instrumentals wrapping the composition in a soothing ballad feel.