BTS is enjoying a truly incredible week on several important charts in America, and they have made history in a number of ways with their latest releases. The band’s album Love Yourself: Tear became the first K-pop record to reach No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and just the second top 10, and unsurprisingly, the same group is responsible for the other, which arrived last year. Now the lead single from that collection has become one of the most successful K-pop songs ever, at least as far as chart positions go.
“Fake Love,” the first proper single from Love Yourself: Tear, debuted at No. 10 on the Hot 100, giving the South Korean boy band their first appearance inside the important tally’s uppermost tier. That placement would be reason enough to celebrate for any act, but because the song was released by BTS, it’s immediate popularity is especially noteworthy.
BTS’ “Fake Love” is now the first K-pop song to debut inside the top 10 on the Hot 100. Starting a new track anywhere close to the peak remains a somewhat rare feat for any act, and sometimes even the biggest names in the world can’t manage to see their latest tunes launch within the top 10. The song, which is primarily sung and rapped (it blends elements of hip-hop, dance, pop and K-pop) in Korean, is the first in that language to kick off inside the top 10.
In addition to being the first Korean song to debut between Nos. 1 and 10, “Fake Love” is also just the third K-pop song to make it into the region, and only two artists are responsible for those smashes. Pioneering musician Psy changed the world, and especially America’s mindset when it comes to K-pop music, when his infectious single “Gangnam Style” made it all the way to No. 2 earlier this decade. He followed that up shortly with another big hit, “Gentleman,” which stalled at No. 5.
Whether “Fake Love” is able to hold on inside the top 10, or potentially even climb and reach new heights, BTS have already made their mark on the Hot 100, and they’ve shown that they can chart a hit in ways most artists can only dream of.
