For day 42 of analyzing a BTS song every day until their upcoming concert in Tampa, I chose to analyze, “Permission To Dance” by BTS. This song is a classic BTS song because it is one of BTS’ first fully English songs and because it was one of their songs released during the aftermath of the pandemic. In the song, “Permission to Dance” BTS gives their listeners permission to let loose and leave the weights of the world behind them in order to dance.

Throughout the song, BTS makes countless references to different pop culture icons. I feel that they did this in order to further connect with their global audience and follow in those pop culture icon’s footsteps of inspiring listeners to dance through life, even when things are not going well. These references can be seen, for example, at the very beginning of the song when BTS sings, “When it all seems like it’s wrong / Sing along to Elton John” (Lines 4 and 5). It is with this reference that BTS connects to their audience as Elton John is a classic musician that just about everyone knows and has grown up with his music. With these lines, BTS also shows how it is a universal thing to listen to that one good song in order to feel better when life gets rough.

BTS then brings a sort of call to action to the song by then encouraging the listener to get up and dance to that comfort song that they know so well. With the chorus, “We don’t need to worry… we don’t need permission to dance,” BTS explicitly states the mission of their song (Lines 16 and 19). The mission that there’s no need to be scared or worried, instead we should let loose and dance the night away.