Why BTS Chose Certain Songs for the ‘Proof’ Tracklist

On June 10, BTS will release an anthology album titled Proof. The album will have three CDs. The first Proof CD will be comprised of some of BTS’ greatest hits. For the second Proof CD, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook each chose a solo and sub-unit song to be included on the tracklist. The third Proof CD will include previously unreleased songs and demo versions of BTS songs. Proof will also include new songs, including “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment),” “Run BTS,” and “For Youth.”

Leading up to the release of Proof, Big Hit Music shared “Proof of Inspiration” teasers on social media. In each teaser, the members of BTS shared why they chose certain songs for the second Proof CD.

What songs did V and RM pick for ‘Proof’?

For the second Proof CD, V decided to include his solo song “Singularity” and the sub-unit track “00:00 (Zero O’Clock).” In his “Proof of Inspiration” teaser, V shared his thought process behind his selection.

“I tended to think of Kim Taehyung, and artist V as being separate and thought that I had to choose one or the other, as visually portrayed in the ‘Singularity’ music video…,” he said. “Now I’m able to accept both sides of myself, but also keep them separate. I’ve lessened the burden of thinking so much, too, just like how the day resets at midnight. But I think all this time I spent pondering is the Proof that made me who I am today.”

RM ended up choosing his solo song “Intro: Persona” and the sub-unit track “Stay.” Like V, he brought up the “burden” of balancing in his teaser.

“‘Intro: Persona’ starts with ‘Who am I!’ so I’ve been thinking about that a lot… I have all these different ‘me’s, so sometimes it comes as a heavy burden, and at times I wonder who the real ‘me’ is. But in the end, I found that all of these personas that I’ve been shifting between are all me. And I think the members and our ARMY who ‘Stay’ed by my side no matter which of the ‘me’s I was are my Proof,” RM said in his “Proof of Inspiration” video.

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Suga, Jimin, and Jin each chose two songs for BTS’ album ‘Proof’

On the second Proof CD, Jimin decided to include his solo song “Filter” and the sub-unit track “Friends,” both of which appeared on BTS’ 2020 album Map of the Soul: 7.

“I wanted ‘Filter’ and ‘Friends’ to be included in this album. I wanted to live up to ARMY’s expectations and show them many different sides of myself. And I still have many different colors left to share. I might have come across as being colorless instead of colorful if I’d accommodated myself to other people’s ideas without having a distinct hue of my own,” Jimin shared in his “Proof of Inspiration” video.

In Suga’s “Proof of Inspiration” teaser, he explained he wanted to pick two songs that felt like “polar opposite songs.” This led to him choosing “Trivia 轉 : Seesaw” and “BTS Cypher PT.3 : KILLER (Feat. Supreme Boi).”

“I picked two songs in completely contrasting styles. They’re ‘Trivia 轉 : Seesaw,’ which is relatively calm, and ‘BTS Cypher PT.3 : KILLER (Feat. Supreme Boi),’ which is more powerful and full of energy. I wonder what sort of songs I can come up with ranging between these polar opposite songs. It’s fun and meaningful to come up with ideas, for expanding my musical spectrum,” Suga narrated in his teaser.

Jin’s “Proof of Inspiration” revealed that the BTS singer decided to include the sub-unit song “Jamais Vu” and his solo song “Moon.”

“Everyone knows that ARMY and I are inseparable like the Earth and the Moon. And it’s already a well-known fact that this is what ‘Moon’ is about. Now, I think we’re at a point where I am ARMY and ARMY are me — we’ve assimilated into one…,” Jin narrated. “Just like the lyrics in ‘Jamais Vu,’ whenever things get tough and I get exhausted, I will think of our members and ARMY who have been my refuge and comfort, and make more good music.”

What songs did J-Hope and Jungkook pick for BTS’ album ‘Proof’?

Jungkook ended up selecting “Euphoria” and “Dimple” as his two songs. In his “Proof of Inspiration” teaser, Jungkook revealed that he prefers performing with the members of BTS instead of by himself.

“I added ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Dimple’ to this album. To tell you the truth, I like it best when I get to sing with the other members, and connect with ARMY no matter what the songs are. That’s what I’ve been dreaming of… Every single day I am thankful and enjoy myself. Me happily making music while watching ARMY, and your smiles as you watch me — these are my Proofs,” Jungkook said in his teaser.

J-Hope’s “Proof of Inspiration” video was the last to be released, and it revealed that J-Hope decided to include the songs “Outro: Ego” and “Her” on Proof.

“‘Her’ is essentially a love song, but some ARMY interpreted the lyrics as being more complex… There can be many different interpretations, but there are times when I have to wear a mask to hide the sides of myself that I don’t particularly want to show other people…. I came to accept all of my sides as parts of my identity, my ego, because the members and ARMY accept all of me,” J-Hope shared.