Appreciation [D-1] MIN SUGA BIRTHDAY - More Than Tongue Technology, amirite?

[cyphersonic]

 

There are endless reasons to love Min Yoongi, Augst D, Min Yoonji, Suga, Gloss, and Min Yoongi Jjang Jjang Man Boong Boong. But, like the man himself, my first love is his music. So let's countdown, by album, my highly scientific and entirely biased Best Yoongi Lyrics!

Please note: these are about the (translated) words themselves, divorced from delivery and flow.

 

2 Cool 4 Skool

(June 2013)

 

 

If Yoongi is one thing (and he is oh-so-many things), it is consistent. In the days of early BTS, he was about the same things that he is today: working hard and throwing shade. Consider this gem from We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2:

 

I spent all night holding a pen,
closing my eyes only after the morning sun rises
My limit was broken in the
double standards and many oppositions
But I got lucky and was contacted by an agency
All you who are called rappers because you can’t sing,
the rapper title is an extravagance for you

 

I can listen to this song no problem, but I still struggle watching this MV with some of the styling decisions, loool. Like, let's all agree we need to burn that cane? Yes? Yes. Good thing the dance is fun. BUT I DIGRESS –

 

 

O!RUL8,2?

(September 2013)

 

 

I enjoy any time Yoongi speaks directly to naysayers. Like in the sometimes-underrated jam We On from the early days of BTS:

 

Oh oh my haters, talk more smack about me
Keyboard warriors, make some more effort
Yes, look down on me like that
It’s my hobby to prove you wrong
Uh my skills become a controversy,
it’s too early to draw a conclusion

 

 

 

Skool Luv Affair

(February & May 2014)

 

 

Obviously this list would not be complete without selections from songs Yoongi also produced himself. This one comes from one of my favorite songs he has ever created: Tomorrow. As someone in my 20s, it struck a lot of chords regarding the stress of moving into young adulthood, the uncertainty and hopelessness:

 

Same day, same moon
24/7 every moment repeats
My life is in between

…

It’s funny, you think anything
is possible when you’re a kid

 

 

 

OKAY SO I HAVE TO PUT ON A SECOND ONE – forgive me. But his verse in Cypher Pt. 2: TRIPTYCH is my favorite for little quips like this:

 

Speech and action are like shackles,
my crime is assault with my tongue

…

My voice even bewitches your girlfriend

…

Like your parents, my heart hurts every time I see you

 

 

 

Dark & Wild

(August 2014)

 

 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Cypher Pt. 3: KILLER is not my choice here, though in general I do choose it for everything... ever. From a flow standpoint, Cypher 5eva, but for strictly lyrical content, I find these simple but evocative lyrics at the top of his verse in Let Me Know to be the most compelling:

 

Suddenly, in my eyes
rain wells up
You well up,
I see you even when I breathe
Love blooms
like cherry blossoms
but burns and becomes ashes

 

 

 

HYYH Pt. 1

(April 2015)

 

 

Though I love Yoongi's reference to his mother in Move, I could once again not resist the allure that is Yoongi Intros – so here is a selection from another that kicked off their first album in the HYYH series. I must resist the urge to post the entire song and instead I will cheat by giving multiple snippets:

 

The rim looks farther away today
Sighs are building on top of the court
The boy is afraid of reality
But his heart is at peace
only when he throws the ball

...

Thoughts fill my head and instead of the ball,
I throw my future
Because of the other's
standard of success
My worries spread like cancer again, god damn it

…

I keep getting scared
at the looming sense of reality
Others are running ahead but why am I still here?

 

 

 

HYYH Pt. 2

(November 2015)

 

 

I could not choose anything on this album other than Intro: Never Mind, despite the strong contenders in other songs. (I have a lot of love for the extended leaf metaphor in Autumn Leaves.) However, attention must go to the song that was far too long when Yoongi initially wrote it and had to be edited, his autobiographical statement that preceded the glory of his mixtape that was still to come:

 

I want to ask the several people who prayed for me to screw up
Does it seem like my home is going broke, you bastards?
I DON’T GIVE A SHIT
I DON’T GIVE A FUCK

 

I love cursing, especially when well-timed. Fight me about it.

 

 

 

Young Forever

(May 2016)

 

 

Choosing for this one was tough! I settled on part of his verse in Epilogue: Young Forever where his simple but poetic statement of his apprehension, a theme that resonates in several tracks on his mixtape as well, gives us one of the clearest glances beyond the defensive wall that is Suga to a more vulnerable Yoongi:

 

I stand on the middle of the hot, empty stage
And suddenly I feel so afraid of the void
These mixed feelings with my life on the line
I pretend to be careless

 

 

 

Augst D

(August 2016)

 

 

Like in many of my “which one is better?†BTS decisions, choosing the best lyrics from this album is a real Sophie's choice. This highly-personal, self-produced mixtape is one of the clearest pictures of Yoongi we have gotten so far in his career with hard-hitting bangers we are accustomed to and also an intimate glimpse into his private struggles. For the sake of length – man, do I love words – I will choose one set of deeper lyrics and then my favorite upbeat lyrics.

 

From 140503 At Dawn, I have selected:

 

Don’t climb over the wall I’ve built in front of me
I’m the island in this vast ocean, don’t abandon me

 

 

 

From Augst D, the A++ picture of excellence that brought us the phrase tongue technology and a lovely section of Sarcastic Yoongi flicking you off while wishing you well, I had to go with:

 

I’m the guy who shoves his junior or senior
who copies from copiers
Doesn’t matter if I’m nasty or if I’m a wack or fack,
I’m the guy that will carve history on the ground
Always getting more light

 

 

 

Wings

(October 2016)

 

 

It would feel sacrilegious not to select First Love, his solo from this album. I also love several of his lines in the title track, but the simple repetition of the “brown piano†and his treatment of it almost as a lover in this rumination on his relationship with music is simultaneously heart-breaking and compelling:

 

Even though I was gone for a long time
Without repulsion
You accepted me
Without you there’s nothing
After the dawn, two of us
We welcomed the morning together

…

The corner of my memory
A brown piano settled on one side
In the corner of my childhood house
A brown piano settled on one side

 

 

 

You Never Walk Alone

(February 2017)

 

 

The most recent entry! I am still learning which songs will become permanent fixtures on my playlists (read: probably all of them). Being a greedy cheater, as mentioned previously, I have chosen two. The first comes from his verse on Spring Day, which is a lovely commentary on the complexity that comes when a once important relationship is no longer there:

 

Did you change?

Or did I change?

…

Honestly, I miss you
But now I’ll erase you
Because that will hurt less than resenting you

 

 

 

On the lighter side, ASS, also known as A Supplementary Story, brought me some of my favorite Yoongi lyrics this time around, captured here as his full verse:

 

Why does God
Keep bothering us? Oh no
Even if we’re filled with scars
We can smile, if we’re together
At the end of this road that I walk on by myself
Whatever is there, I’ll take a step
Though I get tired and hurt sometimes
It’s alright, because I’m next to you
You and I, if we’re together
We can smile

 

What a nice, optimistic end, no?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdPAIrzyQBI

 

 

So... what do you think of my list? Agree? Disagree? Add in your own beloved Yoongi lyrics or come fight me!

 

[Aneira3019]

I really love they're lyrics, that's why I was drawn to them in the first place.

[cyphersonic]

My favorite part of listening to any BTS song is hearing it the first time for the flow of it and deciding which ones I like. Then I go and look up the meaning of the lyrics and figure out which ones I LOVE.

[Peachy Keen]

Suga never ceases to amaze me with his lyrics. I don't even know how to describe how i feel about them, they're just something else <3

[cyphersonic]

Also, because I wanted to post this gif up there too, but it didn't really fit:

 

[nixsi]

[Rainism]

His verses are always great, and his delivery on stage just brings them to another level

[cyphersonic]

His verses are always great, and his delivery on stage just brings them to another level

 

ALWAYS:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BfhfYJHZKA

[♡🌑taeken🌕♡]

i love him too much its unhealthy

some body save me

[tearose]

i don't mean to hijack your post, but I just have to include my favorite lyrics from The Last.

 

Shit shit I get it already so stop it

The cause of everything is me so I’ll quit on my own

If my unhappiness is your happiness then I will willingly be unhappy

If I’m the target of hatred then I will stand at the guillotine for you

[nxxna]

I love them. Raw, honest, outright strong. That's why he became my bias 

[pururin]

nice choices!! 

 

that verse you chose from 140503 at dawn is one of my favorites from his mixtape too.

 

my favorite suga lyrics from WINGS are in the interlude/outro:

 

I trust myself, since the reason why my back hurts
Is so that wings can sprout
Believe me, you, though the beginning may be humble,
The future will be prosperous
Fly fly up in the sky
Fly fly get ‘em up high
This is the path you’ve chosen kid, don’t chicken out
This is only the first flight after all uh

 

from cypher pt3, my favorite part is when he calls himself a baby shaman and a starfish that grows feeding of the hate and jealousy (we're talking about translations but i love the play with the sound of the words boolgasai and boolgasari in the starfish verse)

 

All over the world, my music is breathing.
I’m a baby shaman that walks the blade called the beat, that’s me

 

also that part when he talks about his flow job   whatever that means...

 

and everything about intro: hyyh is perfect

[cyphersonic]

 

i don't mean to hijack your post, but I just have to include my favorite lyrics from The Last.

 

Shit shit I get it already so stop it

The cause of everything is me so I’ll quit on my own

If my unhappiness is your happiness then I will willingly be unhappy

If I’m the target of hatred then I will stand at the guillotine for you

 

 

HIJACK AWAY! I had the absolutely hardest time choosing from his mixtape, honestly. The reason I chose those lyrics from At Dawn is honestly because they feel personal to me. Thank you for sharing~

 

 

nice choices!! 

 

that verse you chose from 140503 at dawn is one of my favorites from his mixtape too.

 

my favorite suga lyrics from WINGS are in the interlude/outro:

 

I trust myself, since the reason why my back hurts

Is so that wings can sprout

I believe me, you, though the beginning may be humble,

The future will be prosperous

Fly fly up in the sky

Fly fly get ‘em up high

This is the path you’ve chosen kid, don’t chicken out

This is only the first flight after all uh

 

from cypher pt3, my favorite part is when he calls himself a baby shaman and a starfish that grows feeding of the hate and jealousy (we're talking about translations but i love the play with the sound of the words boolgasai and boolgasari in the starfish verse)

 

All over the world, my music is breathing.

I’m a baby shaman that walks the blade called the beat, that’s me

 

also that part when he talks about his flow job   whatever that means...

 

When I decided to do a post about lyrics I liked, I almost divided it into my favorite dirty/rude lyrics versus my favorite deep/beautiful lyrics.

[Lucier]

Suga is so good at straightforward emotional lyrics that hit you right in the feels

More than tongue technology for sure.

 

This is a lovely thread btw, thank you for taking the time and effort to make it!

[DULSET]

Dream, your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be

[cyphersonic]

Suga is so good at straightforward emotional lyrics that hit you right in the feels

More than tongue technology for sure.

 

This is a lovely thread btw, thank you for taking the time and effort to make it!

 

Thank you! It got much longer than I anticipated.

[SUGAMAN]

imma cry

 

this whole thread hit me so hard

 

i'm about to fall asleep dead tired so i'll make sure to comment something decent tomorrow, needs to be a quality answer for this quality thread

 

thanks for making this, it's awesome!

[Harrieth]

This was super nice :D really lovely, you made a great thread.

[Maphisto40]

This thread is great. I love Suga's lyricism, and his flow is my favorite in Bangtan. Everything about Suga is just raw and open. His verses tend to hit me the hardest because he does not hold back, and I love him for it.

 

I agree, his verse in Cypher pt 2 is also my favorite. I could listen to it on loop. 

 

Oh, and his mixtape is on permanent rotation, because...masterpiece.

[Pied Piper]

I really love his part on We On. It's so badass. His lyric always relatable.

[caipirinhas]

This is such a good post. You have flawless taste, and I agree with so many of your lyric choices. His verse in Spring Day kills me. I relate to it far too much. And I adore your description of First Love. It is a really artistic song where he really treats that piano/personification of music truly as a lover. Not just his "first love."

 

Things you didn't mention -

 

Intro: Nevermind : If you think you're gonna crash, accelerate. Never mind... This song has always been my "I wish I thought that way" song. As a musician myself who moved away from pursuing it professionally, I often wonder where I would be if I had just stepped harder.

 

Honestly, the entirety of Agust D wrecks me on so many levels. So Far Away makes me cry. The Last makes me cry. The other songs make me bop. So, I'll go with Tony Montana. It's a strange song as it feels like a moody, grindy banger.  But really, the lyrics and the general emotional thrust of the song is quite deep. It's about the fear of what greed does to you. How it corrupts and ruins you. And fearing that it will happen.

 

Tony Montana : 

 

I know, feel like tony montana

Success and happiness look alike but they’re different

But I want a bigger success

More wealth and bigger honor

I want the money to chase me but I hope I don’t become the monster chasing only money

 

I pray

I tell myself I won’t hope for other’s failure

My family and fan, and my team are my top priorities

That’s right, let’s earn money. My grand ambition is quite high

The world is yours now the entire wolrd is god damn in my hand

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT - ps, happy D-1 to cyphersonic's bday, too. 

[nagzk]

Definitely makes you feel something with his unfiltered message. I have a hard time picking favorites but you choose a solid list. His mixtape brought another level to the game, I keep finding myself going back to SFA.

[Ivga]

Wow

[RevengefulBaby]

"I DONT GIVE A SHIT, I DONT GIVE A FUCK!"

 

....... still my most favorite lyrics of him.

My Life's motto. that IMPACT. ICONIC n truly INSPIRING! still gave me goosebumps everytime.

All Hail King Agust D. the one and truly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thank you for being alive.

 

 

[cyphersonic]

Thanks for the compliments and upvotes, and especially sharing your own favorite lyrics!

 

I almost quoted his verse from Converse High where he is playing the antagonist and saying why he doesn't want you to wear Converse. I can imagine him being ambivalent to the concept and then going: DON'T WORRY, GUYS, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR MY VERSE.