If there were ever any doubts that K-pop sensation BTS would be first in line as song-of-the-summer contenders, consider those doubts duly squashed and smoothed over. With their new single “Butter,”
the band’s second song sung entirely in English, the boys make conjuring joy look easy—so long as you’ve got enough drip.
“If you hear the title ‘Butter,’ you know immediately that we tried to prepare a song that’s easy listening, instead of [something with] a really heavy or profound message,” band member Jimin told Variety. “This is a little embarrassing, but it’s something smooth like butter, that really melts into and grabs hold of you. It’s a very cute song, sort of a confession.”
A confession of what, exactly, Jimin didn’t clarify, but we’d hazard a guess it’s that the band is admitting what the rest of the world already knows: They’re at the very pinnacle of global pop. They’ve crossed borders, figurative and literal, that no other group has managed before them. If you think you know how big they are, think bigger. There is no other crew embracing superstar status in a vein quite like BTS, and the lyrics of “Butter” are a cheeky admission that the seven young men are relishing the view from the top. Oh, and they have zero intentions of halting the climb.
“Of course we want and continue to want to receive a Grammy Award,” band member Suga told Variety. “‘Butter’ will be another try at the Grammy Award. I hope we will have good results.”
You won’t uncover much symbolism or hidden codes embedded in “Butter”’s simple lyrics, but the verses contain several clever references both to other musicians and pop culture ephemera. The band credits Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” in their opening lyrics (“Smooth like butter / like a criminal undercover”), as well as Usher’s “U Got It Bad” (“Don't need no Usher / To remind me you got it bad”). And, of course, they reference their beloved fans, known as ARMY: “All the playas get movin' when the bass low / Got ARMY right behind us when we say so.”
Get an early jump on summer celebrating by checking out the video and lyrics below.
Verse 1: Jung Kook, V
Smooth like butter
Like a criminal undercover
Gon’ pop like trouble
Breakin’ into your heart like that (Ooh)
Cool shade stunner
Yeah, I owe it all to my mother
Hot like summer
Yeah, I’m makin’ you sweat like that
Break it down
Pre-Chorus: Jin, RM
Oh, when I look in the mirror
I’ll melt your heart into two
I got that superstar glow so (Ooh)
Do the boogie like
Chorus: Jung Kook, Jimin, V
Side step, right, left to my beat
High like the moon, rock with me, baby
Know that I got that heat
Let me show you ‘cause talk is cheap
Side step, right, left to my beat
Get it, let it roll
Verse 2: Jung Kook, V, Jin
Smooth like butter
Pull you in like no other
Don’t need no Usher
To remind me you got it bad
Ain’t no other
That can sweep you up like a robber
Straight up, I got ya
Makin’ you fall like that
Break it down
Pre-Chorus: Jimin, RM
Oh, when I look in the mirror
I’ll melt your heart into two
I got that superstar glow so (Ooh)
Do the boogie like
Chorus: Jimin, Jin, Jung Kook
Side step, right, left to my beat
High like the moon, rock with me, baby
Know that I got that heat
Let me show you ‘cause talk is cheap
Side step, right, left to my beat
Get it, let it roll
Post-Chorus: Jimin
Get it, let it roll
Get it, let it roll
Verse 3: SUGA, RM
Ice on my wrist, I’m the nice guy
Got the right body and the right mind
Rollin’ up to party, got the right vibe
Smooth like (Butter), hate us (Love us)
Fresh boy pull up and we lay low
All the playas get movin’ when the bass low
Got ARMY right behind us when we say so
Let's go
Chorus: V, Jin, Jung Kook, Jimin
Side step, right, left to my beat (Right, left to my beat)
High like the moon, rock with me, baby
Know that I got that heat
Let me show you 'cause talk is cheap (You know that talk is cheap)
Side step, right, left to my beat
Get it, let it roll
Post-Chorus: j-hope, RM, Jung Kook
Smooth like (Butter), cool shade (Stunner)
And you know we don't stop
Hot like (Summer), ain’t no (Bummer)
You be like oh my god
We gon’ make you rock and you say (Yeah)
We gon’ make you bounce and you say (Yeah)
Hotter? Sweeter! Cooler? Butter!
Get it, let it roll