Blood Sweat & Tears

Released on October 10, 2016, as the lead single from BTS's second studio album Wings, "Blood Sweat & Tears" marked a turning point for the group. Written by "Hitman" Bang, Kim Do-hoon, RM, Suga, J-Hope, and Pdogg, with Pdogg handling production, the song arrived in both Korean and Japanese versions. The Japanese edition, released on May 10, 2017, through Universal Music Japan, included B-sides "Not Today" and "Spring Day" in Japanese. Musically, the track blends moombahton, trap, and tropical house with dancehall and reggaeton influences, creating a sound that drew comparisons to Major Lazer and Justin Bieber. Lyrically, it explores the pain of addictive love, a theme that resonated deeply with fans and critics alike.

Critics praised the song's production, refreshing sound, and the members' vocal delivery. It earned a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards and appeared on decade-end lists of best K-pop songs by Billboard and GQ. Commercially, the Korean version debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, becoming BTS's first chart-topper there. As of May 2019, it sold over 2.5 million copies in South Korea. The Japanese version also hit number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and became the 22nd best-selling single of 2017 in Japan, earning a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Two music videos were created: the Korean version, directed by YongSeok Choi, premiered on Big Hit's YouTube channel on October 10, 2016. Inspired by Hermann Hesse's novel Demian, the video is heavy with symbolism, showing the members exploring a museum and performing choreography. It won Best Music Video at the 2017 Seoul Music Awards. The Japanese version, featuring psychedelic and neon colors, was uploaded on Universal Japan's YouTube channel on May 10, 2017. BTS promoted the song with live performances on shows like M! Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo, and it was a staple on their The Wings Tour.[edit]