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On their third major release in 2020, K-pop titans BTS delivered a heartfelt and inspiring soundtrack to pandemic isolation with Be. At a brisk eight tracks, the album arrived at a time when most of their fans around the world were still in various stages of the lockdown brought about by COVID-19, which also halted all of the band's promotional plans for their chart-topping global smash Map of the Soul. Quarantined like everyone else, the septet crafted this gift for fans, a direct link between artist and listener that extends the sentiment that we're all in this together. On the first half of the effort, the boys take a midtempo approach with warm, soothing ballad-esque comforts that offer hope and connection. While Suga melodically rhymes about a swiftly changing world on "Life Goes On," he reassures fans that their relationship remains unchanged. Later, on "Fly to My Room," Jimin, V, Suga, and j-hope offer a behind-the-scenes peek as the boys go stir-crazy, stuck at home and ordering takeout while mindlessly staring at the television just like everyone else. By the time Jin dramatically intones "I just wanna be happier" on the crushing "Blue & Grey," it's abundantly clear that BTS are also having a hard time with 2020's changes. The vulnerability and intimacy in these revealing moments is an essential part of how the boys have so deeply endeared themselves to their ARMY fan base. Once these emotions are purged, a quick skit -- an inside joke with fans involving South Korea's president and their record-breaking number one hit "Dynamite" -- sets the stage for the energetic second half of Be. The pulsing disco funk of "Telepathy" picks up the pace with a groovy bass line and cowbell, while the popping "Dis-ease" provides an old-school hip-hop showcase for j-hope, RM, and Suga's verses backed by V, Jung Kook, Jin, and Jimin's melodic harmonies. Jung Kook and Jin kick off the blissful "Stay," a classic BTS dance track that quickly morphs from a breezy pop ditty into a pounding EDM anthem as RM takes control. These songs build to a natural high point with closer "Dynamite," the retro-cool disco jam that shot to number one in over a dozen countries. Offering a final encouraging note (and a glorious late-song key change), "Dynamite" reminds listeners that, even if they're stuck in quarantine, they might as well focus on the positive and dance. Despite its brief runtime, Be is an expert snapshot of time and place, a document of a worldwide event that manages to strengthen their connection to their listeners and push their songcraft forward with focus, heart, and humanity. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
