BTS: Permission To Dance Single Review

 After achieving consecutive success with the mega hits singles "Dynamite" and "Butter"; plus the success of the mini album ‘Be’, this time BTS is back with “Permission To Dance.” The song is part of the CD single "Butter," which was released alongside the instrumental tracks for both hits.

“Permission To Dance” is the third English single from BTS. The song is also BTS's second collaboration with Ed Sheeran; who previously worked on the track "Make It Right" on the album 'Map Of The Soul: Persona' in 2019. Apart from Ed Sheeran, BTS wrote this song with Steve Mac, Johnny McDaid and Jenna Andrews.

Like “Dynamite” and “Butter,” “Permission To Dance” arrives as a radio-friendly single. It's not just the English lyrics that make it easier for listeners on a wide scale to digest this song. Instead of pop rhythms, catchy melodies and grooves, up to hook after hook, it is clear that "Permission To Dance" will be a summer hit.

Mac, Andrews, and Stephen Kirk, who sat in the producer's chair, composed "Permission To Dance" with cheerful notes. The music in this song sounds very light. The type of song that will easily steal listeners' attention when played on the radio, and make them unconsciously mumble along with the melody and lyrics.

If "Dynamite" gets a retro-disco bandage and "Butter" carries a funk-retro to its rhythm. For “Permission To Dance” BTS completely abandoned the retro concept. Just when the trend of retro music has started to fade this year. “Permission To Dance” is actually rich in pop grooves, accompaniment to warm piano tones, and strings.

The combination of instrument-vocal-rap in this song is indeed systematic. There's hardly anything special about the arrangement; Except towards the end of the song when the instruments in the background fade away, replaced by BTS's vocals with the rhythmic accompaniment of applause. Even so, this arrangement style is no longer something new.

"Permission To Dance" is intended not only as a summer-groove, summer-bops, and summer-hits song. BTS includes motivational, uplifting lyrics: something they've continued to do since the release of their 'Be' pandemic-album at the end of last year. As revealed through a press release, this song is dedicated to those who are having a bad day. As well as difficulties in facing reality.

Conceptually, an uplifting summer song does sound appropriate to be released at this time. Especially when the world is still in the "healing" stage of the pandemic. A cheerful rhythmic song and a light tone with uplifting lyrics will be an injection of enthusiasm in itself.

Unfortunately, BTS did not succeed in inserting this concept through the lyrics of "Permission To Dance". Lyrics like "Let's break our plans / And live just like we're golden," and "If you don't let it fasze you / You'll know just how to break" actually sound like empty hopes.

BTS also includes lyrical references to “Dynamite” and “Butter”. Like the chant "da-na-na-na" as well as Suga's rap line, "Just keep the right vibe, yeah / 'Cos there's no looking back," which references verses from previous hits. RM also references the legendary musician in his verse, "When it all seems like it's wrong / Just sing along to Elton John." Follows the lyrics of "Butter" which nods to Michael Jackson and Usher.

Besides the lyrics sound like empty hope; textbook sentences about how to stay cheerful and deal with difficult times; phrases without essence and little meaning. “Permission To Dance” also takes BTS even further from their hip hop roots. Actually, the shift in genre and focus on musicality was already visible when “Dynamite” was released. Not even 'Be', with its few hip hop tracks, managed to bring BTS back to the era of "NO," "Not Today," or "Fire."

There's nothing wrong with exploring new genres and musicalities. Despite debuting under the Kpop umbrella with hip hop as the cornerstone. That's not to say that BTS can't expand into disco music, retro funk, to mainstream pop like "Permission To Dance". Even though it cannot be denied, the distance BTS has with the color of their music presents its own disappointment.

Behind it all, "Permission To Dance" is definitely a certified hit. A summer bop that doesn't need to bother with the hollow lyrics in it. With this song, BTS presents a dance floor for listeners to rock all summer long.