“DNA” was released as the lead single for the mini-album “LOVE YOURSELF: 承 ‘Her’”. Featuring acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and autotune effects, this song highlights a new sonic direction for BTS. The song was released on September 18, 2017 in South Korea, and landed on Billboard’s “100 best songs of 2017”, being the only Korean artists on that list. They landed on another Billboard list in 2018 at the 49th spot, the list being “100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time”

The lyrics can be read as a loose continuation of “Intro: Serendipity” where we see the flow of science references extended into this song.

Critics received the song very well. In the United States, Vulture’s Dee Lockett stated, “‘DNA’ is one of the better singles of the year,” upon the song’s release. In terms of sales, they were ranked thirty-seventh in the U.S. The song also made impacts on the Spotify Platform, being the first ever Kpop Act to enter the ‘Global Top 50’ playlist. In the domestic promotions of ‘DNA’ back in South Korea, BTS won 1st place 10 times on multiple music shows.

DNA’s successful performance in the USA also snatched the group a chance to perform at the AMAs, marking their American Television Debut. On November 30, BTS was invited to The Late Late Show with James Corden, being the first Kpop act to ever do so. ‘DNA’ and the Love Yourself 承 ‘Her’ album together marked BTS’s breakthrough into the American mainstream music industry.

“DNA” recently reached 700 million views on YouTube. It was the most watched Music Video of 2017. You can watch the music video here: