Permission to Dance

BTS dropped Permission to Dance on July 9, 2021, as a standalone single through Big Hit Music and Sony Music. The song later appeared on the CD version of their earlier single Butter, marking the group's third English-language release. Co-written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Steve Mac, and Jenna Andrews, the track is a bright, uptempo dance-pop number with a cheerful melody and an uplifting message about finding joy through movement and letting go of worries. Its release during the COVID-19 pandemic gave it particular resonance, offering listeners a sense of collective catharsis and hope.

The song achieved significant chart success globally. On the Billboard Hot 100, it debuted at number one on the chart dated July 24, 2021, becoming BTS's sixth number-one single on that chart. It also topped the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, marking BTS's third number-one single in the country. The song reached number one in five other countries, including Hungary, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea (Gaon Digital Chart), and peaked within the top ten in ten additional markets, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and New Zealand.

The music video, directed by Yong Seok Choi (Lumpens), was released simultaneously with the single. It features the members dancing in vibrant settings including a laundromat, a diner, a field, and a rooftop, with choreography that incorporates American Sign Language for the phrase "permission to dance." As of early 2025, the video has amassed over 500 million views on YouTube. The song's inclusive spirit was further highlighted when BTS performed it at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, delivering a speech about COVID-19 and hope. The track also inspired numerous covers and dance challenges on TikTok and YouTube, with fans and other artists participating widely.[edit]