BTS: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
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Published 2020-09-21
Stephen Thompson | Sept. 21, 2020
We've been trying to make a BTS Tiny Desk concert happen for years now — even gaming out ways we might move Bob Boilen's desk far enough forward to accommodate the superstar Korean boy band's dance moves.
In the end, it took a global pandemic — and the launch of Tiny Desk (home) concerts back in March — to make something happen. With BTS cooped up in Seoul, the group held true to the series's spirit by convening a live band for its Tiny Desk debut, and even arranged to perform in a workspace with a music-friendly backdrop: the record store VINYL & PLASTIC by Hyundai Card in BTS's hometown.
Opening with this summer's inescapable "Dynamite" — the group's first single to hit No. 1 in the U.S., as well as its first song to be fully recorded in English — BTS leaned hard into the new track's celebratory, "Uptown Funk"-adjacent vibes. From there, the group dipped into its back catalog, seizing on the opportunity to showcase its quieter side while (mostly) staying uncharacteristically seated. The breezily propulsive "Save ME," from 2016, ultimately gave way to a full-on power ballad in 2017's reflective "Spring Day."
The latter track seemed especially true to BTS's hopeful nature: Introduced with a few optimistic words from rapper and singer RM ("It's been the roughest summer ever, but we know that spring will come"), the song reflects on a need to wait out hard times, even as the weight of present-day pain feels oppressive.
BTS had intended to spend 2020 delighting the BTS Army in arenas around the world, only to spend these last few months performing in isolation. Released on the last day of a grim season, "Spring Day" provides a nice reminder of what awaits us on the other side. We just have to get through fall and winter first.
SET LIST
"Dynamite"
"Save ME"
"Spring Day"
MUSICIANS
J-Hope: vocals; SUGA: vocals; Jungkook: vocals; V: vocals; Jin: vocals; RM: vocals; Jimin: vocals; KHAN: drums; DOCSKIM: keyboard; Kim Kiwook: bass; Shyun: guitar
CREDITS
Video and Audio by: Big Hit Entertainment; Producer: Stephen Thompson; Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Subtitles by Renee Klahr; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.
All Comments (21)
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this is my first time listening to them and i am already liking them-
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Wow. I am glad my first intorduction to this group was a live performance. So full of energy and personality.
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Who’s here in 2024?🫂
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I am a 60 years old Army and listening to BTS gives me a feeling of happiness, I love how talented they are, kind, caring and loving to each other and Army.
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First time watching and listening to BTS (I only hear about them), these guys are really good. This "Save Me" song is nice.
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this is actually my first time listening to them and you know what... I get the hype
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May 2024. Who else is here.
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The fact that their live vocals sound 100x BETTER than the recording proves just how talented they are. They definitely live up to their hype <3
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I now understand why they've got the numbers. First time listening to them!
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Let's recognize the musicians behind them too! KHAN in the drums DOCSKIM in the keyboard Kim Kiwook in the bass Shyun in the guitar 👏
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Jimin’s voice is like constantly coated with honey its so smooth
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I wish more musicians loved their own music and loved performing it live as intensely as these boys do
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Yo, these are the guys that filled out rosebowl two nights in a row last year..... I worked in pasadena ans there was so many people. Dang, wish i couldve gone to the concert now...... I like the last song best make me nostaligic even if i dont know what they saying
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To be honest, I was hooked after the first song. The first time I connected with them on a musical and vibing level. Thank god for Tiny Desk!
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i miss my tannies...so i came back here to watch them performing
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Jk voice when singing with jhope in Jhope part is so wow 💜no wonder Jhope always asking Jk to sing with him in his part😍💜
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there is something abt these bois rlly now i kinda understand why there are millions of people go crazy abt them. they are talented i hope ppl will stop qstioning their impact for todays generation. ik they rlly work hard for what they have today. anyways this band very famous in my country i regret not stanning them early Edit: they are so fcking good looking???!!! HOW
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I’ve never listened to them before, but after this imma have to.
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Who’s here in March 2024? When JIMIN said they miss us, I even misses them so much now.
