As anticipation built for BTS’ historic performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards, ARMY across the globe found a unique and heartfelt way to show their unwavering support: by revisiting and purchasing BTS’ earlier albums, leading to a major resurgence on the US iTunes chart. Albums like You Never Walk Alone, Dark & Wild, Love Yourself: Tear, WINGS, and Love Yourself: Answer began climbing back into the top rankings, years after their initial releases, a stunning display of the group’s lasting impact and the power of their devoted fanbase.

This organic chart takeover wasn’t prompted by any official re-release or promotion. Instead, it was a pure demonstration of love and appreciation, timed perfectly with the growing excitement over BTS’ scheduled performance at the Grammy Awards, a first of its kind for the group, who were nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with their chart-topping single Dynamite.

For many fans, both new and old, this was an opportunity to revisit BTS’ musical journey and relive the moments that shaped them into the powerhouse they are today. The albums that resurfaced weren’t just music collections, they were emotional milestones in the group’s career and in ARMY’s lives.

You Never Walk Alone, originally released in February 2017 as a repackage of WINGS, is a fan favorite not only for its emotional resonance but also because it carries the beloved anthem Spring Day, a song that never leaves the charts in South Korea and is often referred to as the nation’s song of healing. The album also includes Not Today, a rallying cry of resistance and hope, which became symbolic for many ARMYs going through difficult times. The resurgence of You Never Walk Alone reflected the fans’ need to reconnect with the deep emotions BTS had expressed during that era.

Dark & Wild, BTS’ first full studio album released in 2014, marked a turning point in their artistry, where their music began to dive deeper into themes of identity, love, and disillusionment. The album features high-energy tracks like Danger, War of Hormone, and Hip Hop Lover, showcasing their early sound, powerful raps, and gritty production. For newer fans who may have discovered BTS in the “Dynamite” or Map of the Soul eras, Dark & Wild offers a raw look into the group’s roots, while for longtime ARMYs, it evokes deep nostalgia and pride at how far BTS has come.

WINGS, released in 2016, is often seen as a conceptual masterpiece. Inspired by Hermann Hesse’s novel Demian, the album tackled complex themes of temptation, growth, self-discovery, and the pains of youth. Each member had their own solo track, a storytelling device that allowed fans to understand the individuality within the group. With iconic songs like Blood Sweat & Tears, Begin, and Stigma, WINGS marked BTS’ full embrace of their philosophical and introspective style. Its re-entry into the charts highlighted how deeply fans are still connected to the album’s emotional and intellectual narrative.

Then came the Love Yourself series, which truly catapulted BTS into global superstardom. Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer are critically acclaimed for their lyrical depth and artistic range. Tear, in particular, is notable for being the first Korean-language album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Its lead single, Fake Love, captivated the world with its dark, haunting beauty and honest lyrics about the illusion of idealized love.

Love Yourself: Answer, released as a repackaged album in the trilogy, includes the iconic IDOL, the self-love anthem Answer: Love Myself, and a comprehensive collection of tracks that encapsulate the entire Love Yourself message. Its return to the US iTunes chart was symbolic of how that message continues to resonate. At a time when many fans were grappling with the effects of the pandemic, the themes of loving and accepting oneself felt more relevant than ever.

This remarkable iTunes comeback also reflected ARMY’s strategic thinking and deep understanding of the music industry. By boosting older albums ahead of the Grammys, they reminded the world, and the Academy, of BTS’ expansive discography and sustained relevance. It was a collective celebration of not only BTS’ nomination and upcoming performance, but also of the legacy they have built over the years.

Fans flooded social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram with posts showcasing their purchases and favorite tracks from the albums. “Streaming party” hashtags trended globally. Some fans shared emotional stories of what these albums meant to them, while others discovered songs for the first time, expressing awe at BTS’ artistic range. It felt like a worldwide reunion, a shared appreciation for the seven boys who turned pain into poetry, who translated their hardships into healing for others.

Beyond the numbers and charts, what truly stood out was the timing. As BTS prepared to take the Grammy stage, not just as performers, but as the first Korean act to be nominated in a major pop category, ARMY was walking down memory lane. These albums reminded everyone of the blood, sweat, and tears it took for BTS to reach this moment. They weren’t an overnight success; their rise was built on years of hard work, experimentation, setbacks, and growth.

The Grammys were not just a stage for performance, they were a symbol. A symbol of breaking barriers, of global recognition, of dreams once thought impossible. BTS’ earlier albums charting again sent a message that this wasn’t just about Dynamite or one nomination, this was about honoring the entire journey. It was a love letter to every era, every song, and every chapter that led them here.

In true BTS and ARMY fashion, it wasn’t just about hype, it was about meaning. These re-entries weren’t random or fleeting. They were rooted in passion, memory, gratitude, and solidarity. They reflected the fans’ desire to honor the past as they embraced the future.

So as the world watched BTS light up the Grammy stage in 2021 with Dynamite, fans knew it was more than just a performance. It was a culmination of everything that came before, and the reappearance of You Never Walk Alone, Dark & Wild, Love Yourself: Tear, WINGS, and Love Yourself: Answer on the US iTunes chart was proof that the world was watching too.

You Never Walk Alone Album

Dark & Wild Album

Love Yourself: Tear Album

WINGS Album

Love Yourself: Answer Album

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