BTS Should've Had More Time Onstage at the Grammys
The supergroup was treated like backup dancers during a performance of "Old Town Road."
BTS is one of the most influential pop music groups in the world right now.
The South Korean boy band has skyrocketed to the top of the charts and into the hearts of millions of fans, becoming one of the most beloved pop groups in recent memory. At this year's Grammy awards, they appeared as a feature in Lil Nas X's impressive rendition of "Old Town Road," but they were given a mere 20 seconds onstage to sing their part of "Seoul Town Road," one of the song's many remixes.
The performance was an impressive show of multicultural, multi-generational, and multi-genre unity. Visually, it was a triumph, if a bit hallucinatory.
BTS's appearance also made history, as it was the first time a South Korean band performed at the Grammys. True to form, the boys used the time the best they could.
Still, fans are calling the Grammys out for underusing the band's talents. BTS deserved more time, if not their own solo slot onstage, considering the amount of talent and influence they wield—and fans are already calling for the Grammys to remedy their mistake by giving BTS their own Grammys moment (and a lot of awards, hopefully) next year.
Watch clips of the performance below:
The Grammys have been heavily criticized for their poor diversity and representation. This ceremony marked an improvement from previous years—Gary Clark, Jr.'s fiery protest song was a flashpoint—but in order to keep changing and keeping up with the pulse of the music world, the Grammys needs to shift its focus from Eurocentric music and English-language art to a more global view.