Will BTS SUGA’s Wish Come True About the Kind of Impact They Want Their Music To Have in The US?

It is no longer a surprise that SUGA has been speaking about BTS’ future successes in his music, at interviews and even with fellow members. SUGA is someone who is always set on giving his best no matter what. He wants the world to love the music they produce, support it and be impacted by it. He once said that “if you listen to BTS music without prejudice you will come to love it” Which is true, of any music that artists produce, not being judgmental, questioning or dismissing the music because of certain unimportant reasons. At an interview, SUGA and Jimin answered a question about what kind of impact that they would like their music to have on the United States music scene. This was back in 2017 when they were attending their very first Billboard Music Awards.

SUGA’s statement, “I want to be on the Billboard Hot 100 with a single that has Korean lyrics,” holds significant importance, particularly in the context of being an Asian artist, for several reasons:

1. Breaking Language Barriers: Historically, the Billboard Hot 100, which primarily focuses on American mainstream music, has been dominated by English-language songs. The idea of an Asian artist wishing to chart with a song in their native language challenged the prevailing norm. It was a bold assertion of the power of non-English music and the potential for global impact beyond linguistic barriers.
2. Representation and Visibility: For Asian artists, especially in the Western music industry, there has often been an expectation to sing in English to achieve mainstream success. Suga’s statement was significant because it underlined a desire to bring Korean, and by extension, Asian culture into the global music conversation without compromising authenticity or linguistic identity. It resonated with many fans who saw it as a step toward greater representation of Asian artists on the global stage.
3. Cultural Impact: SUGA’s wish symbolized a push for the global recognition of K-pop and Korean culture, particularly in the U.S., which has been a historically dominant market for music. It was an acknowledgment that music from different parts of the world, sung in languages other than English, can resonate with international audiences, including in Western markets.
4. A Win for K-pop: SUGA’s statement reflects the ambition of BTS, and K-pop as a whole, to not just be a niche genre but a global cultural movement. BTS’s success with “Life Goes On” on the Billboard Hot 100, which was sung entirely in Korean, would become a significant milestone, proving that music from non-Western artists could thrive in Western-centric spaces without needing to conform to Western norms.
5. Inspiration for Future Generations: For aspiring artists, especially from non-English-speaking backgrounds, SUGA’s wish serves as a powerful message: that it’s possible to succeed and be recognized on a global platform without compromising your roots, culture, or language. It encourages other Asian artists to push boundaries and aim for success in markets that have historically been dominated by Western artists.

This statement is important because it reflects the changing landscape of global music, where language no longer limits an artist’s potential for success, and it highlights the growing influence of non-English music, especially from Asian artists, in mainstream music culture.

Question: WHAT IMPACT WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ON THE U.S. MUSIC SCENE?

SUGA: I want to be on the Billboard Hot 100 with a single that has Korean lyrics.

Jimin: I wish BTS could set up a model for K-pop with the best music and content, so we have a positive impact on the U.S. music scene.

BTS released their new Album “BE” on November 20th 2020 with their lead single “Life Goes On” wanting to comfort everyone especially this time of the pandemic. The album is fully Korean and has already debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 Charts.

Now we await the results of the top 10 Songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Their song “Dynamite” fully in English, already made its impact on the charts with no. 1 for 3 non consecutive weeks. It remains to be seen if “Life Goes On” fully in Korean will break into the charts.

SUGA’s wish to be on the Billboard Hot 100 with Korean lyrics may have started with their “Savage Love” remix where J-Hope and SUGA rapped in Korean, but that was a collab song, “Life Goes On” is purely a BTS song that is in Korean. This will be the biggest news in the music industry and will be history being made again by BTS, and SUGAonce again will have a “What Yoongi wants, Yoongi Gets” moment! and we are here for it!

Read full interview: HERE