Musical Analysis #1: Am I Wrong

 "Am I Wrong," by BTS - Musical Analysis 

    I could hardly grasp the idea how music could be political. I was always more attuned with the melody, instruments, or the beat of the music. Until I analyzed “Am I Wrong,” which held several meanings.  

    When I listened to this song for the first time, I immediately searched if BTS created a choreography. I did dance back in high school, and in my free-time I like to watch dance tutorials on YouTube, particularly BTS. Their styles of dance and music had wrapped me into their big fanbase. BTS encompasses many genres, but I am more interested with energetic and upbeat music, as opposed to their more slow, lyrical songs. 

    BTS is one of the world’s biggest bands, and they are based in South Korea. "Am I Wrong," is written by Kevin Moore, and produced by several individuals: Sam Klempner, James Reynold, Josh Wilkinson, RM (leader of BTS), Supreme Boi, Gaeko, Pdogg, and Adora. It was released on October 10, 2016, and has over 8.1 million views on YouTube. 

"Am I Wrong" by BTS. Released in 2016. 

Beats and Tempo: 

    Right off the bat, the music incorporates a fast tempo to provide this big boost of energy that is supplied throughout the whole song. Within the song, there are times where it slows down, building energy, then significantly boosts up more to keep you on your toes. The beat remains consistent, but is seemingly slow for a song that seems so lively. However, the steady beat is also the perfect song to create a dance to, that is complement with the energy it provides. 

Form:

    Throughout the song, you can recognize a pattern that repeats consistently. As someone who is incredibly picky with their song, it's not dull or monotonous. In fact, the pattern helps organize the energetic song and creates a sense of balance, so you don’t get overwhelmed by the layers of instrumentals and lyrics.

    It guides the listeners to a musical road trip that creates a perfect example for musical beginners (like me) see how the musical element, form, is implemented. 

How it is organized:

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A little after the introduction, it sets the tone and the intent (as I have mentioned this song is controversial and political):

 “The world’s goin’ crazy.” 

The pre-chorus builds up to intensify emotions and prepare the listener for the chorus, 

“Oh why, oh why… OH MY GOD.” 

The chorus is then showcased and repeats the title of the song, “Am I wrong.” 

Afterwards, it provides another verse that sings a different set of lyrics, but is similar (in tone and complements) with the verse in the beginning. 

Verse 1:                                                                 Verse 2:

Ends at 57 seconds.                                              Appears at 1:43 and ends at 2:00                                                                                           

Then we can see the pattern or the repeat of the pre-chorus that builds up to the chorus. Afterwards, we are introduced to a bridge that is a variation of the chorus (I apologize for repeating chorus!!).

Lastly, the outro is sung by RM, using autotune. The autotune isn’t used to clear imperfections, but to set the tone one last time: “Are you ready for this.” 

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Melody

    I believe there are strong elements of pop and some rap. It’s not too fast, and the lyrics aren’t so complicated that someone at a beginner level in the Korean language could sing along to the entire song. The upbeat tempo sets the stage by providing lively energy throughout. The pre-chorus builds energy, and we could possibly describe it as a stepwise motion leading into the chorus. The chorus is the most melodic feature of the song: the lyrics pair well with the rhythm and beat of the instrumentals, and it’s repetitive. There are multiple patterns of repetition that remain consistent. This song remains as one of my favorites to enjoy because its melodic feature gives me a boost of happiness to start my day. 

Conclusion and Findings:

    “Am I Wrong,” is enjoyable to my ears, and it is so upbeat you could break into a dance. That is what I seek in most songs. Though, it gained attention because some lyrics are indirect/direct references to controversies that happened in South Korea. 

    The media, fans, to the whole country of South Korea had noticed the underlying message that BTS is trying to convey. As per the lyric sang, “Are you ready for this?” No, you are probably not. 

    Suga raps the lyrics, “We’re all dogs and pigs.” This is a reference to Na Hyang-wook, the Ministry of Education official, who compared the average citizen to a “dog and pig,” (Herman, 2018, “Am I Wrong”). Na Hyang-wook states that South Korea must have a caste system, and the average citizen must not be treated the same as someone who's in affluent status. 

    Another example is when they shout “MAYDAY, MAYDAY.” Some believe it was an indirect reference to the sinking of MV Sewol (Muish, 2016, para. 19). As “MAYDAY,” was a distress call that was poorly executed. The Sewol Ferry incident occurred when the ship had capsized. The ferry carried numerous students, teachers, and other passengers to their destination. The incident garnered such controversy because the ship crew failed to rescue the passengers, who later drowned since they were told to stand back while the captain and other crew members were rescued first. I must also emphasize that BTS may have dedicated another song, Spring Day, to this tragic incident. 

 

    As someone who is at a beginner level in understanding the deeper analysis that music offers, “Am I Wrong” by BTS became the perfect example to showcase. It provides a strong melodic theme throughout the song, the form is well executed, and it shows how music can be used as a form of political expression that garnered controversy. 

Works Cited:

Herman, T. (2018) BTS’ Most Political Lyrics: A guide to their social commentary on South Korean society, Billboard. Available at: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bts-lyrics-social-commentary-political-8098832/

Muish (2016) BTS – Am I Wrong (English Translation and Ramblings), WordPress, 23 October. Available at: https://muish.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/bts-am-i-wrong-english-translation-and-ramblings/