BTS has achieved a major milestone on YouTube. The music video for their hit song Dynamite has surpassed 2 billion views. This makes it the first BTS video to reach this number. It is also the first music video by any male K-pop group to hit this mark. The video reached this record on September 4 at 9:16 AM KST. This happened just over five years after its release on August 21, 2020. The song was released during the COVID-19 pandemic. It quickly became a global sensation. It gave people a feeling of joy during a difficult time. Dynamite was BTS’s first full-English single. It helped the group reach new fans around the world. The video is known for its bright colors and fun dance moves.
Dynamite has broken many records since it came out. It was the first song by a Korean artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It stayed at the top for three weeks. The song also earned BTS their first Grammy nomination. It won awards like Best Song at the MTV Europe Music Awards and Top Selling Song at the Billboard Music Awards. On Spotify, Dynamite also reached over 2 billion streams. This made it the first song by a Korean artist to do that. Apple Music placed Dynamite at number 34 on its list of the most-streamed songs worldwide over the past ten years.
The Story Behind Dynamite
BTS did not originally plan to release Dynamite. The group’s oldest member, Jin, shared that the members were not very excited about the song at first. They had other options but liked Dynamite the most among the demos they heard. Their agency gave them three demos to choose from. The group had to cancel a tour because of the pandemic. They did not want to stay idle. So they decided to release new music. Dynamite was chosen to bring positive energy to people during a hard time. The song was written by David Stewart and Jessica Agombar. It was produced by Stewart. The lyrics talk about finding joy in small things. The song has a disco-pop sound with elements of funk and soul.
“We were very lucky. Here’s the thing with Dynamite. It was never the song that the members favoured. We had a scheduled tour, but it got cancelled due to the pandemic. We couldn’t just idle, so our agency prepared three demos for us. Dynamite was the first one we heard. We asked for alternatives, but we liked the other two less. We weren’t exactly thrilled about it,” said Jin on Netflix’s show Screwballs.
How Dynamite Changed BTS’s Career
Dynamite played a big role in expanding BTS’s popularity in the West. It was their first full-English song. This helped them connect with a wider audience. After Dynamite, BTS released more English songs like Butter and Permission to Dance. These songs were also huge successes. Dynamite’s music video broke YouTube records when it came out. It had the most views for a YouTube premiere at that time. It was also the fastest video to reach 100 million views. The video features the members in colorful outfits dancing in fun settings. The style is inspired by the 1970s and 1990s. It includes references to pop culture icons like Michael Jackson.
The song’s success is not just about views. It had a big impact on music charts worldwide. It topped charts in countries like Israel, Malaysia, and Singapore. In South Korea, it was also a number-one hit. The song sold 265,000 downloads in its first week in the United States. This was the biggest pure sales week since Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do in 2017. Dynamite was later included in BTS’s album Be which came out in November 2020.
BTS Fans Celebrate the Milestone
BTS fans, known as the ARMY, celebrated the 2 billion views milestone on social media. They used hashtags like BTSDynamite to share their joy. Fans have been supporting the video since its release. They continue to watch and share it even after five years. The video gained over 100 million views in just about nine months before reaching 2 billion. This shows that people still love watching it. The video’s bright and positive feeling keeps people coming back. The group often talks about how grateful they are for their fans. The ARMY has helped BTS achieve many records over the years.
What BTS Is Doing Now
All seven members of BTS recently finished their mandatory military service in South Korea. They have reunited and are working on new music. The group is planning to release a new album in spring 2026. They will also go on a world tour after the album release. The members have been in Los Angeles working with producers like Diplo and Charlie Puth. They returned to South Korea to continue working on the album. BTS has said that the new album will include ideas from all members. They are excited to share new music with their fans.
“We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music. Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started. We’re also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are,” said BTS in a statement.
BTS has been active since their debut in 2013. They have become one of the most popular music groups in the world. Their influence goes beyond music. They have helped spread Korean culture globally. A report showed that one in every thirteen tourists visiting South Korea comes because of BTS. The group has also contributed billions of dollars to South Korea’s economy. Their success has opened doors for other K-pop artists. Many groups are now trying to reach global audiences like BTS.
The Lasting Impact of Dynamite
Dynamite is more than just a song for BTS and their fans. It represents a turning point in their career. It showed that music could bring people together during a global crisis. The song’s message of happiness and hope resonated with millions. Its success proved that language is not a barrier in music. BTS has always been known for their meaningful lyrics and positive messages. Dynamite is a perfect example of that. Even though it was not their favorite song initially, it has become one of their most important releases. The record-breaking YouTube views are a proof of its lasting appeal.
