Don’t expect BTS to start singing songs entirely in English.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, members of the K-pop group admitted putting out English tracks would increase their chances of radio airplay, which would help get them on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“We don’t want to change our identity or our genuineness to get the number one,” said RM. “Like if we sing suddenly in full English, and change all these other things, then that’s not BTS.”
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RM said the group’s goal is to win a Grammy and to conquer the Hot 100. “We’ll do everything, we’ll try,” he said. “But if we couldn’t get number one or number five, that’s okay.”
RM said it’s sometimes “really embarrassing” when BTS is described as “a 21st-century Beatles.” But, he added, “if they want to call us a boy band, then we’re a boy band. If they want to call us a boy group, we’re a boy group. If they want to call us K-pop, then we’re cool with K-pop.”
The new BTS album Map of the Soul: Persona is set to drop on April 12. The following day, BTS will make their debut as musical guests on Saturday Night Live.