BTS blasted a YouTube record to bits on Friday morning with the video for their highly anticipated new track “Dynamite.”
While final figures have not been revealed, it appears as many as 4 million people tuned in for the video’s midnight premiere, breaking a record held by Blackpink’s “How You Like That,” which had 1.65 million concurrent viewers when it debuted.
In its first six hours online, “Dynamite” garnered more than 42 million views – putting it on track to beat the record for the most views in the first 24 hours, currently held by “How You Like That” with 86.3 million. (The video for “Boy with Luv” by BTS ft. Halsey had 74.6 million views in its first 24 hours.)
The disco-tinged “Dynamite” is the first fully English-language track from the K-pop group. In a virtual press conference, RM – the only member of BTS who is fluent in English – described the song as a “new challenge for us.” V said English “fit the melody a little bit better.”
Suga said “Dynamite” is dedicated “to all the people who feel like they’ve fallen down while running a marathon. Even if you’re going through tough times, let’s do what we can in our places, and find freedom and happiness through dance and music.”
He said BTS hopes people “get a little bit of reassurance and healing from it.”
BTS will perform "Dynamite" on the MTV VMAs on Aug. 30.
Watch the video for BTS below: