--- title: Why BTS's Grammys 2021 Performance Matters description: BTS made history with "Dynamite" at the 2021 Grammys, making them the first K-pop act to perform one of their own songs for the show. canonical: https://time.com/5946730/bts-2021-grammys/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2021-03-15T03:57:07.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-14T09:10:34.000Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Why BTS's 2021 Grammys Performance Matters og:description: BTS performed "Dynamite" at Sunday night's ceremony og:url: https://time.com/5946730/bts-2021-grammys/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt37ec750f08bf3054/698a17eb929fadcbdebf72e7/bts-grammys.jpeg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards - Arrivals og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why BTS's 2021 Grammys Performance Matters twitter:description: BTS performed "Dynamite" at Sunday night's ceremony twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt37ec750f08bf3054/698a17eb929fadcbdebf72e7/bts-grammys.jpeg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 03:22 video:published: 2020-12-10 section: entertainment topics: BTS, K-pop, Dynamite, Billboard Hot 100, pandemic, tour cancellation, English-language song, Korean culture, music and performance genre: interview, music profile tones: reflective, humble, upbeat, candid emotions: joy (medium), pride (medium), gratitude (medium), disappointment (low) sentiment: positive audience: BTS fans, K-pop fans, music fans, general entertainment audience organizations: BTS, Billboard products: Dynamite content_suitability: health controversy [00:17-00:22] transcript_source: automatic transcription transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Why BTS's Grammys 2021 Performance Is Important for the Award Show's Future > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: BTS Is TIME's 2020 Entertainer of the Year [Watch (HLS stream): BTS Is TIME's 2020 Entertainer of the Year](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7d36X1gV.m3u8) (3:22)  _Published 2020-12-10. TIME has selected BTS as the 2020 Entertainer of the Year._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary The video features BTS reflecting on 2020, a year they describe as bringing both their best and worst news. They discuss the pandemic and tour cancellation alongside reaching number one on Billboard with "Dynamite." The members address the debate over what counts as K-pop now that they have sung entirely in English. They also talk about being seven people, comparisons to the Beatles, and describe themselves as boys from Korea who love music and performance. ## Key points - The members describe 2020 as having both the best news and the worst news for the group. (00:00) - The worst news of 2020 was the pandemic and the cancellation of their tour. (00:17) - The best news of 2020 was reaching number one on Billboard. (00:22) - "Dynamite" was their first all-English song and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. (00:26) - As K-pop has grown bigger, they say there should be debate about what K-pop actually is. (01:29) - For "Dynamite" they sang the whole lyrics in English for the first time, and it hit number one. (01:35) - They say they do not want to limit their music or hearts to the boundary called K-pop. (01:46) - They describe themselves as just some boys from Korea who love music and performance. (03:03) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:26] Best and worst news of 2020. The members describe 2020 as bringing both the pandemic and tour cancellation and a Billboard number one. - [00:26 to 01:23] Dynamite tops the Billboard Hot 100. The video presents the all-English song Dynamite debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. - [01:23 to 01:55] Debate over what K-pop means. The members discuss singing in English and the debate over what counts as K-pop. - [01:55 to 02:25] Culture, music and performance. The members touch on Korean culture, music and performance. - [02:25 to 02:59] What makes BTS: seven people. The members discuss the feeling of BTS, being seven people, and dance and music. - [02:59 to 03:22] Beatles comparison and closing thoughts. The members address the Beatles comparison and describe themselves as boys from Korea who love music. ## Key quotes - [00:00] BTS member: "2020 was quite a bit more special for us because we had the best news and the worst news." - [00:17] BTS member: "The worst news is of course the pandemic and the tour cancellation." - [01:46] BTS member: "But what's K-pop? You just don't want to like limit this music or our heart to this boundary called K-pop." - [03:03] BTS member: "and we're just some boys from Korea who love music and performance" ## Questions this video answers - What did BTS describe as the best and worst news of 2020? [00:00] - What was the worst news for BTS in 2020? [00:17] - What chart achievement did Dynamite earn? [00:26] - How does BTS respond to the debate over what counts as K-pop? [01:29] - Why was Dynamite significant for the group's language of performance? [01:35] - How do the members describe themselves at the end of the video? [03:03] ## Content suitability - health controversy [00:17-00:22]: Brief mention of the pandemic and the resulting tour cancellation.  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Mar 15, 2021 3:57 AM UTC TIME has selected BTS as the 2020 Entertainer of the Year.  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Mar 15, 2021 3:57 AM UTC BTS and their fans were disappointed at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles when the award for best pop duo/group performance ended up going to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. But the [South Korean group](https://time.com/entertainer-of-the-year-2020-bts/) still made a historic mark on the Recording Academy’s evening with a high-energy, sharply-produced performance of “Dynamite.” (Viewers had to wait until the very end of the nearly-four-hour show for the big moment.) It was not their first appearance at the Grammys: that was [in 2019,](https://time.com/5515897/grammys-2019-when-where-nominees-performers/) when the septet presented an award. It wasn’t even their second time; that was during 2020’s show, when they made a cameo for [Lil Nas X’s performance](https://time.com/5771389/bts-grammys-performance/) of “Old Town Road (Remix),” popping up onstage to join in for a verse of that hit song. But the third time was the charm for BTS getting primetime treatment and plenty of airtime—and making history. There were over a dozen performances at the Grammys on Sunday night, from the vivacious duo of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion to a politically resonant song from [Lil Baby](https://time.com/collection-post/5937671/lil-baby/) and Killer Mike. BTS, however, stood out by becoming the first South Korean act to ever perform one of their own songs at a Grammys show. BTS [dominated airwaves](https://time.com/entertainer-of-the-year-2020-bts/) over the past year with their crossover English-language hit [“Dynamite.”](https://time.com/5920020/bts-dynamite-performance-person-of-the-year/) But they had been challenging the previous limits of success for K-pop and Korean acts for years, making their first big U.S. awards show appearance in 2017 after developing a reputation as a [social media sensation](https://time.com/5912998/bts-army/) thanks to their vocal fanbase, known as ARMY. It has been a long road for K-pop—an over-broad genre categorization—to gain recognition and acceptance by the global music establishment, despite its status as a [multi-billion dollar industry](https://time.com/5899791/bts-bighit-ipo/) with powerful international appeal. Even breakthrough acts, like chart-topping “Gangnam Style” singer PSY and earlier groups including Big Bang and Girls’ Generation, found the Grammys blind to their musical successes. And though the Grammys [have been criticized](https://time.com/5526740/grammys-2019-review/) for shortsightedness, especially in [recent years](https://time.com/5943639/grammys-2021-controversies/), the awards show remains a global standard and mark of achievement. (It’s also worth noting that popular boy bands, including One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer, also struggled with Grammy recognition.) BTS’s performance is part of much-needed change toward increased respect for non-Western acts. Even though BTS went home empty-handed, their status as official Grammy performers suggests a more welcoming Grammys stage in the future, one that may begin to provide much-deserved visibility for acts of all origins. 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