2020 may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean BTS is done breaking records just yet. From being the first all-Korean act to top Billboard’s Hot 100 with their English track “Dynamite” last September to becoming the first K-pop group to be nominated for a Grammy just last week, BTS has been making history again and again this year.
Now, they’re making headlines again for their latest accomplishment: Being the first to occupy the no.1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with a Korean song, which is their single “Life Goes On” from their latest album BE.
It is also the first non-English song to top the chart in its debut and the first non-English track to do so with the record’s original version. Past foreign language songs that have landed this spot were not able to do so during the track’s debut and have all been remixes or covers. These were Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito remix featuring Justin Bieber from 2017, Los Del Rio’s Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) in 1996, and Los Lobos’ all-Spanish cover of La Bamba by Ritchie Valens in 1987.
Chart-Topping Album
It isn’t just “Life Goes On” that got recognition. It may be the history-making track, but the rest of BE did not disappoint. All seven songs from their latest album ended up on the Hot 100 chart this week, including Dynamite, which spent three weeks at no. 1 last September and has now soared back to the top five with a no.3 spot.
BE also became their fifth album to earn the no.1 album spot on the Billboard 200 chart. They are now the second act to have both their album and single score that no.1 spot in the same week, the first being Taylor Swift.
You can stream BE here now.
