"Permission to Dance" is a song by South Korean boy bandBTS. It was released throughBig Hit Music andSony Music on July 9, 2021, as a stand-alone single. The song was also included as part of the CD release of the group's previous single "Butter", and is the band's third English-language single. The song topped the charts in five countries and reached the top ten in ten other territories.
Ed sent us this amazingly good song, and as soon as we listened to it we just couldn't resist it. We thought it went really well with our image too, so we just went with it.
On May 21, 2021, BTS released their second English-language single "Butter" to critical and commercial success.[2] The song was initially released digitally, as acassette, and as a7-inch vinyl.[3] On June 15, BTS announced a CD release of "Butter" alongside the announcement for a new song.[4] On June 27, Ed Sheeran revealed in an interview withMost Requested Live that he wrote a song for BTS, stating "I've actually worked with BTS on their last record, and I've just written a song for their new record".[5] On July 1, the group revealed the tracklist for the CD release, announcing the song's title as "Permission to Dance".[6] The song was released on July 9, 2021, alongside its instrumental.[7][8]
"Permission to Dance" was written byEd Sheeran,Johnny McDaid,Steve Mac andJenna Andrews, with production being handled by Mac and Andrews alongside Stephen Kirk.[9] Sheeran had previously co-written "Make It Right", from BTS'sMap of the Soul: Persona (2019).[5] The song is performed in the key ofE major with atempo of 125 beats per minute incommon time with BTS vocals range spanning from C♯4 to B5.[10] Big Hit initially described that the song "will make your heart beat to the rhythm of BTS's positive energy".[4] It is a upbeatdance-pop track which is accompanied by a powerful string section, bouncy piano lines, and an enticing melody.[11][12]
"Permission to Dance" debuted at number one on theBillboard Hot 100 in the United States, on the issue dated July 24, 2021, earning 15.9 million streams, 1.1 million radio airplay impressions, and selling 140,000 copies in its first week of release. The song replaced "Butter" from the top of the chart, marking the first time an artist had self-replaced themselves sinceDrake's "In My Feelings" replaced his own "Nice for What" in 2018. The song also became BTS' fifth number-one hit on the chart in ten months and two weeks, making them the artist with the fastest accumulation of five number-one singles sinceMichael Jackson did so in 1988. Additionally, it became their fourth single to debut atop the Hot 100, extending their record as the group with the most number-one single debuts (tied withJustin Bieber and Drake, but behindAriana Grande, who has five). On theDigital Songs chart, "Permission to Dance" became BTS' eighth number-one, extending their record as the group with the most number-one hits on the chart.[13] The song debuted atop theBillboard Hot Trending Songs, a chart powered byTwitter which tracks the most-discussed songs on the platform.[14]
In September, Oricon reported that the single had crossed 100 million streams in Japan, becoming BTS' fifth song to do so. This made the band the second male artist to have five songs accumulate as many streams in the country—Official Hige Dandism holds the record with seven.[15]
In her 4-star review forNME, Rhian Daly wrote that "Permission to Dance" cemented BTS status as "kings of the feel-good summer smash." She described the song a "classic, uplifting pop" which results in an "undeniable surge of infectious energy."[16]
Unlike with past singles, BTS did not attend anydomestic television music programs to promote "Permission to Dance",[17] but still won eight first-place trophies, and achieved aTriple Crown onInkigayo.[17] The song also won the Melon Popularity Award for five consecutive weeks from July 19 to August 16, 2021.[18]
Big Hit released a teaser video, containing a brief excerpt of the song, that showed BTS dancing and having fun outside of a laundromat in the desert, on July 5 at 12AM KST.[32] The official music video was released on July 9 and garnered 72.3 million views on its first day, becoming the sixth-most viewed YouTube video in the first 24 hours at the time.[33]
A scene in the music video where BTS can be seen doing sign language as part of the choreography.[34]
Set in apost-pandemic world,[35] the band members are seen dancing in multiple settings including a sunny locale, a laundromat, and a patio.[36] The video's emphasis on service workers echoes the message of BTS's 2018 song "Anpanman," which was inspired by the Japanese picture book hero of thesame name and was a promise by the members to give their all in improving the lives of fans; when they debuted their performance, they dressed in the uniforms of firefighters and construction workers, the everyday superheroes who do the same. Similar scenes can be seen in "Permission to Dance," which also features scenes of masked-up employees being welcomed back to work after a year away, a server dancing by herself in a deserted restaurant, a janitor dancing with a teacher in a deserted school hallway, and a mail carrier spotting one of those ubiquitous purple balloons while performing her job. The last 60 seconds of the music video are devoted to the team that works with BTS behind the scenes, and they include a large group of stylists, choreographers, makeup artists, and everyone else who contributes to the creation of music by dancing to the song's choreography with the members.[37]
BTS andYouTube announced the Permission to Dance Challenge, which took place from July 23 to August 14, exclusively onYouTube Shorts.[38] On September 10, BTS released a new version of the song's music video on the BANGTANTV YouTube Channel. Those who took part in the "Permission to Dance" YouTube Shorts Challenge appeared in the compilation video.[39] On July 24, the group appeared onSBS evening news program,8 News for a special interview with news anchor Kim Yong-tae.[40] They also talked about the song on U.S radio stationsZach Sang Show and102.7 KIIS FM.[41][42]
BTS shared the first performance of "Permission to Dance," which premiered on theHYBE Label's official Youtube Channel on July 9 for their comeback specialA Butterful Getaway with BTS. The setlist also included "Butter" and "Spring Day".[43] The single debuted on television for the first time on the July 13 episode of onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The septet performed it in the atrium of a shopping mall decorated with thousands of purple balloons as part of the band's "two-day takeover event" for the show.[44] The band made theirRadio 1 Live Lounge debut on July 27, performing three songs: "Permission to Dance", "Dynamite" and a cover ofPuff Daddy andFaith Evans' 1997 hit "I'll Be Missing You".[45] BTS also performed the song at the76th United Nations General Assembly on Septembter 20.[46] On September 26, the group gave a special performance of the song at theGlobal Citizen Live in Seoul.[47] They performed onThe Fact Music Awards on October 2.[48] BTS performed the track on November 24, during their appearance onThe Late Late Show with James Corden, accompanied by a moving backdrop that included graffiti-covered walls, purple balloons, and flashing lights, marking their first in-person performance on the show since 2020.[49]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
^BTS、Official髭男dism、藤井風、ストリーミング1億再生突破【オリコンランキング】 [BTS, Official Hige Dandism, Fujii Kaze, Over 100 Million Streaming Playbacks [Oricon Ranking]] (in Japanese).Oricon. September 8, 2021.Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2022.
^abYeon, Hee-sun (August 15, 2021).'인기가요' 방탄소년단 1위, 출연 없이도 트리플 크라운...효연 'Second' 컴백 [종합] ['Inkigayo' BTS 1st place, triple crown without appearance... Hyoyeon's 'Second' comeback [General]].Osen (in Korean).Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 12, 2021 – via Naver.
^주간 인기상 [Weekly Popularity].Melon (in Korean). Archived fromthe original on August 16, 2021. RetrievedAugust 16, 2021. (Note: Click on tab marked '7월' at top of page and then scroll up to view all wins from 07.19 to 08.16.)
^Kim, Jong-eun (January 27, 2022).방탄소년단 8관왕·아이유 5관왕, '가온차트' 휩쓸었다 [종합] [(Summary) BTS won 8 times, IU won 5 times, swept the "Gaon Chart Awards"].TV Daily (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2022.
^Snow Man「日本ゴールドディスク大賞」受賞！BTSは部門賞で10冠、米津玄師は史上初の5年連続受賞 [Snow Man won the "Japan Gold Disc Awards"! BTS won 10 category awards, Kenshi Yonezu won for fifth consecutive year, the first time in history].Natalie (in Japanese). March 14, 2022.Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. RetrievedMarch 13, 2022.
^Hwang, Soo-yeon (July 17, 2021).'음악중심' 방탄소년단, 에스파·MSG워너비 꺾었다…출연 없이 1위 [종합] ['Music Core' BTS defeated Aespa and MSG Wannabe... 1st place without appearance [Overall]].X Sports News (in Korean).Archived from the original on July 17, 2021. RetrievedJuly 17, 2021 – via Naver.
^Oh, Yoon-joo (July 18, 2021).'인기가요' 방탄소년단, '퍼미션 투 댄스'로 출연 없이도 1위 [종합] ['Inkigayo' BTS, 'Permission to Dance' took first place without appearing [General]].My Daily (in Korean).Archived from the original on July 18, 2021. RetrievedJuly 18, 2021 – via Naver.
^Shin, So-won (August 8, 2021).방탄소년단 '퍼미션 투 댄스', '인기가요' 1위 [BTS 'Permission to Dance', wins 1st place on 'Inkigayo'].Ten Asia (in Korean). RetrievedAugust 8, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Mi-ji (August 15, 2021).'인기가요' 방탄소년단, 'PTD'로 트리플크라운…더보이즈·박지훈·효연 컴백[종합] ['Inkigayo' BTS, triple crown with 'PTD'... The Boyz·Park Ji-hoon·Hyo-yeon comeback [General]].X Sport News (in Korean). RetrievedAugust 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^SHOW CHAMPION 402회 TOP5 [SHOW CHAMPION Episode 402 TOP 5].MBC Plus (in Korean). July 21, 2021.Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. RetrievedJuly 21, 2021.
^SHOW CHAMPION 403회 TOP5 [SHOW CHAMPION Episode 403 TOP 5].MBC Plus (in Korean). July 28, 2021.Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. RetrievedJuly 28, 2021.
^Lee, Seo-eun (July 23, 2021).방탄소년단, 에스파 꺾고 1위… 공민지 컴백 (뮤직뱅크) [종합] [BTS beat Aespa to take 1st place... Gong Minji Comeback (Music Bank) [General]].X Sports News (in Korean).Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. RetrievedJuly 23, 2021 – via Naver.
^7월 4주순위 [Music Bank ranking for the fifth week of July].KBS Music Bank (in Korean). July 30, 2021. RetrievedJuly 30, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 28. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202128 into search.Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. RetrievedJuly 26, 2021.
^2021년 07월 Digital Chart [Digital Chart – July 2021].Gaon Music Chart (in Korean).Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. RetrievedAugust 25, 2021.
