Grammy nominee BTS’ “Life Goes On” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, the first Korean song to top the chart in 62 years since it began in 1958.
The idol group’s “BE (Deluxe Edition)” album brought double treat. “BE” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and now its main track “Life Goes On” claimed the top spot on Billboard Hot 100 on the Dec. 5-dated chart.
“Life Goes On” is BTS’ third No. 1 on the Hot 100 in three months. “Dynamite” debuted at No. 1 on the chart last September followed by a No. 1 BTS remix of Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo's "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" in October.
According to Billboard, "’Life Goes On’ is also the first Hot 100 No. 1 in the chart's 62-year history sung predominantly in Korean.”
The Hot 100 chart is based on streaming, radio airplay and sales in the US. In topping Hot 100, “Life Goes On” garnered “14.9 million streams and sold 150,000 in the week ending Nov. 26, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It also earned 410,000 radio airplay audience impressions in the week ending Nov. 29.”
Billboard added that by earning three No. 1s on Hot 100 in three months, “BTS scores the fastest accumulation of three Hot 100 No. 1s in over 42 years, since the Bee Gees” from December 1977 to March 1978.
“BTS has landed its first three No. 1s more quickly than any act since The Beatles, whose first three leaders, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand,’ ‘She Loves You’ and ‘Can't Buy Me Love,’ hit No. 1 over a span of just two months and three days (Feb. 1-April 4, 1964),” the magazine wrote.
In addition, BTS became the second artist this year to have three No. 1s on Hot 100 after Ariana Grande. “Life Goes On” is the 46th song to debut on top of Hot 100 and “the 19th song to ascend to No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the first time in 2020.”