A live vocal masterpiece that makes the listener feel like they are at a BTS concert. (‘BTS - Permission To Dance On Stage LIVE’ Album Review)
Written by: Giulia Campora
The lights go out, fans’ screams get louder, and dancers begin dancing on stage to welcome the stars of the night. It’s time for the world-famous Korean boy group to hit the stage. BTS released, on July 18th, the live album of their 2021 short tour, PTD On Stage, named ‘Permission To Dance On Stage LIVE.’ The album begins with the powerful title track of their worldwide acclaimed 2020 album Map Of The Soul, named ON. The track can make the listener feel the power of BTS’ voices and the loud crowd’s fanchant, all of this with a live band!
The second track is another famous title track, from their repackage album The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever, released in 2016, named FIRE. The powerful song brings the listener into the world of younger BTS, and it’s magnificent listening to how great their voices have matured since then. The live band is able to give a different version of this song to fans, one that is more R&B-like, which is so satisfying to hear.
The third track is the title track of the 2015 hit album ‘The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Pt. 1,’ named Dope. This song, once again, proves how BTS can maintain and deliver powerful vocals as they dance the hard choreography!
The fourth track is the song that was able to make BTS break out into the western music industry in 2017, the title track DNA, from their album ‘Love Yourself: Her.’ A very noticeable thing is the VERY LOUD fan chant at the beginning of the song, which is so satisfying to hear. And BTS, once again, are able to deliver a flawless performance.
In the fifth track, the listener begins discovering BTS’ b-side tracks, this specific one being Blue & Grey, from BTS’ 2020 album BE. This is an emotional and melancholic ballad that can pull the heartstrings of anyone hearing it for the first time. And this live version isn’t any different. BTS members deliver a tear-jerking, heaven-like performance, with vocals that truly give goosebumps.
Now, BTS goes back to more title tracks, with the famous R&B song Black Swan, always taken from the 2020 album BE. The song is mellow yet powerful, with the Korean septet delivering breathtaking vocals that contrast fantastically with the fan chants, giving a performance hard to forget.
Next, the listener can enjoy two famous BTS title tracks, Blood Sweat & Tears, released in 2016’s album WINGS, which shortly transition into a full-song performance of 2018’s FAKE LOVE from the album Love Yourself: Tear.’ This performance is fantastic, in which BTS delivers phenomenal live vocals and puts all of their effort into creating something that ARMY (BTS fans) can enjoy to the fullest.
After that, BTS gives fans another title track, but the more mellow Life Goes On, from their 2020 album BE. This performance is fantastic, as BTS delivers more live vocals that are flawless.
Now, it’s time for the worldwide hit Boy With Luv (Feat. Halsey), from the 2019 album Map Of The Soul: Persona. This performance is playful and joyful, as fans are heard doing the famous name chant very loudly.
Next, there come the worldwide hits: 2020’s Dynamite and 2021’s Butter, as the medley makes the crowd dance and jump, BTS delivering fantastic vocals as usual.
Afterward, the crowd is introduced once again to one of BTS’ B-side tracks: Telepathy, from the 2020 album BE. The group gives a playful (featuring hilarious talks of them in Korean in between performing) yet powerful performance, which is fantastic to hear.
The song then transitions into a powerful performance of another b-side track: this time, the 2016 hit ‘Outro: Wings,’ from their album WINGS, which features a phenomenal harmony between members Jungkook and J-Hope in the bridge of the song, as fans sing and cheer unanimously.
As fireworks are heard, BTS introduces another B-side track: the 2020 EDM hit Stay, which makes the crowd jump once again, as the members deliver more breathtaking vocals. This transitions into the next song in the setlist, the famous 2016 b-side track So What, from the album Love Yourself: Tear. This song is a fan-favorite for ARMYs, which is seen as the cheers grow louder, BTS delivering a playful performance, just having fun with their fans. This song features a breathtaking live-vocal harmony in the first verse, between members Jimin and V, that leaves the listener in awe.
Now, onto one of the most famous BTS title tracks, the 2018 hit song IDOL, from the album Love Yourself: Answer, an anthem to stop the hate against artists trying to break out from K-pop stereotypes. The group delivers a different version of the song with the live band, a more R&B-Korean traditional one, which is phenomenal to hear. Noticeable are the vocal changes in their voices: V’s growl-like vocals, Jimin’s high vocals, as all the members do a fantastic job in showcasing their powerful talent to the crowd.
Next, BTS delivers a short performance of another fan-favorite B-side track, Airplane Pt. 2, from the 2018 album Love Yourself: Answer. BTS delivers a powerful and phenomenal blend of live vocals, which makes the crowd scream and dance. The final harmony between members Jungkook and Jimin is breathtaking to hear!
The group then transitions into fan-favorite 2015 B-side track, Silver Spoon (BAEPSAE), from the hit album The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Pt. 2. BTS delivers powerful vocals and harmonies, especially the last one between members Jimin and V, which is so satisfying for the listener.
Another transition: this time into the 2020 B-side track Dis-ease, from their album BE. The group gives a playful yet fantastic performance, in which harmonies and live vocals shine through.
The last two songs of the live album are the famous 2017 title track, Spring Day, from their 2017 repackage album You Never Walk Alone, and the 2021 hit song Permission To Dance, which the short tour is named after. In Spring Day, BTS delivers a soulful pop ballad with breathtaking live vocals that give goosebumps; and in Permission To Dance, BTS gives a last memorable performance to ARMYs, concluding this wonderful live album, as
The group, in 2025, after being discharged one by one from their mandatory military service, is now situated in Los Angeles for the next two months, as they are working in the studio, preparing for their 2026 album (and tour), previously announced in June 2025 on a Weverse live with all the members together. So, in the meantime, if listeners are interested in attending the 2026 tour, they can listen to this live album instead and imagine as if they are there.
