BTS returned to the top of the charts in 2026 with Arirangwhich debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and gave the group its seventh No. 1 album. The title track “Swim” also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album had an opening week of 641,000 units, according to reports.
The new version has also attracted strong attention from fans. Billboard’s fan poll showed it Arirang as the favorite new music release of the week, adding commercial momentum to the album. The result keeps BTS at the center of current pop coverage, even as older songs in their catalog continue to be compared in strength in charts and audience response.
The best songs
“Spring Day” remains one of BTS’ most recognized songs. It has shown long-term support from fans and recognition from critics, and Rolling Stone ranked it 37th on its list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century of 2025, according to Allkpop.
“Dynamite” is one of BTS’ biggest commercial successes. It became the group’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped expand their reach beyond their core fan base.
“Butter”, “Permission to Dance”, “Life Goes On” and “My Universe” also reached #1 on the Hot 100. These chart results give them clear weight on any chart, even when fan reaction varies from song to song.
Other songs that often rank high on fans’ and critics’ lists include “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “Fake Love,” “Black Swan” and “I Need U.” These songs are often cited for the production, performance, and their role in defining BTS’s sound.
The worst songs
There is no official ranking of BTS’s worst songs, so the lower ranking depends on fan discussions and album reviews rather than hard data. However, some songs are mentioned more often than others when listeners point out the weaker parts of the catalog.
“Permission to Dance” is an example because it had great commercial results but a more mixed fan response than BTS’s more popular songs. “So What” and “ON (feat. Sia)” are also often described as less favored than the stronger tracks on their albums.
These songs were not commercial mistakes. BTS’s weakest tracks, however, come from albums that performed well and helped keep the group highly visible on the charts, Kworb reported.
Get up early
BTS formed in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment and started out with a hip-hop-focused image that set them apart from many K-pop groups at the time. Their early songs were about pressure, youth and identity, which helped them build a loyal fan base before becoming global stars.
Their breakthrough occurred gradually, then accelerated with the The most beautiful moment of life era and the success of songs like “I Need U” and “Dope,” which broadened their audience. By the time “Blood Sweat & Tears” arrived, BTS had already become one of K-pop’s most followed artists.
Turning point
BTS’s international breakthrough came later with “Dynamite,” which became their first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and introduced them to an even larger global audience. That success was followed by more chart-topping singles and excellent albums, turning BTS into one of the most commercially successful groups in modern pop, according to Card Masters.
