When BTS dropped “I Need U” on April 29, 2015, it marked a turning point for the group. As the lead track from their third EP, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1, the song opened the door to a new era for BTS’s music, concepts, and their place in the K-pop industry.
The Shift in Sound
“I Need U” introduced a more layered and emotional side of BTS. Initially, their music was aggressive and inspired by American hip-hop. For their third EP, the group embraced a more diverse sound, melding pop, R&B, trap, and EDM together to create something that was unique to them. Lyrically, the song explores heartbreak, loneliness, and the need for support during difficult times.
The Music Video That Started a Universe
The music video for “I Need U” wasn’t a typical visual that emphasized dancing and close-ups of the members’ faces. Directed by Lumpens, it captured the pain of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood—depression, isolation, and self-destructive behavior.
Scenes switch between the members being together vs. being separated from each other, or show Suga lying on a double bed with one side empty. They convey a sense of loss and longing for someone who is no longer present.
Fire and water are used throughout the MV to symbolize being consumed by negative emotions and using destructive behavior as a means of escape. It’s implied RM sets a gas station on fire after he drops his cigarette on the ground. Suga douses his hotel room with gasoline and sets it ablaze. Jimin submerges himself in a bathtub full of water.
The music video led to the creation of the Bangtan Universe. The BU is a complex storyline threaded through multiple music videos, short films, and webcomics.
The Song’s Legacy
Ten years on, “I Need U” remains one of BTS’s most beloved signature songs. Critics have praised the track as one of the best K-pop songs released in the 2010s, and artists like ENHYPEN have covered it.
While it’s been overshadowed by other songs in BTS’s discography like “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “Blood Sweat & Tears,” there’s no denying that “I Need U” laid the groundwork for the group’s later success. The song earned BTS their first music show win, became their first top 10 hit on Korean music charts, and shot the group to new heights in South Korea and internationally.
The mature MV and lyrics attracted non-K-pop fans for their raw take on mental health and the struggles of growing up. Future MVs would focus on layered storytelling that sometimes referenced events from “I Need U.” More importantly, the song’s success showed that BTS weren’t just idols, but actual artists with something meaningful to say.
