BTS will probably win a Grammy one day, but it shouldn't be for 'Dynamite', says our writer. AP File
BTS will probably win a Grammy one day, but it shouldn't be for 'Dynamite', says our writer. AP File
BTS will probably win a Grammy one day, but it shouldn't be for 'Dynamite', says our writer. AP File
BTS will probably win a Grammy one day, but it shouldn't be for 'Dynamite', says our writer. AP File

BTS didn't win a Grammy, but that's OK because 'Dynamite' isn't even their best song


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Dynamite is a lot of things.

The first English-language single released by BTS in August 2020 debuted at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the biggest debut on Spotify in the same year. It was also the lead single on the K-pop group's fifth album Be, and helped earn the band its first Grammy nomination, in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

While hopes were high that BTS could make history with a Grammy win, becoming the first K-pop ensemble to do so, those were dashed when Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's Rain On Me won on Sunday at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

In a way, it wasn't all that surprising. For all the things that Dynamite is, there's one thing it arguably isn't: one of BTS's best songs.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but Dynamite, while uplifting and catchy, also feels generic, a bit bland and even uninspired at times.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the track when it released, because it featured the group singing in English for the first time. And they should be applauded for doing such an admirable job. But was the song good enough to win a Grammy? As proven at Sunday night's event, the answer is no.

Had they won, it might have even been a disservice to the group, who have been releasing music since 2013. One could even argue that if past singles such as Boy With Luv, Mic Drop or Idol could have been nominated, they would have fared far better in the category than Dynamite. 

Songs don't necessarily have to be sung in English to be nominated for a Grammy, although the majority of them are. Since the first Grammy Awards in 1959, only one non-English song has won Song of the Year and Record of the Year: the Italian track Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare) by Domenico Modugno.

If there's any group out there that could potentially break this streak and be nominated for a non-English speaking track, however, it would be BTS. And I, for one, believe it'd be better if it were for a song that embodied who they are and what's made them so popular around the world; not one that seems to cater specifically to a Western audience.

So while it's disappointing that they didn't make history, there's still hope for what the future could bring.

After all, it's clear the world has taken notice of how brilliant the South Korean music scene is and, at some point, The Recording Academy will realise it, too.

Scroll through our gallery below to see BTS through the years:

  • BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP
    BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP
  • Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP
    Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP
  • BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP
    BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP
  • Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty
    Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty
  • BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP
    BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP
  • BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters
    BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters
  • BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP
    BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP
  • BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP
    BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP
  • BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP
    BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP
  • BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty
    BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty
  • BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP
    BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP
  • BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty
    BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty
  • BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty
    BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty
  • BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA
    BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA
  • BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters
    BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters
  • BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters
    BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters
  • BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA
    BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA
  • BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters
    BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters
  • BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA
    BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA
  • BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP
    BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP
  • BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP
    BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP
  • BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals
    BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals
  • BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals
    BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals
  • BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters
    BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters
  • BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP
    BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP
  • BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP
    BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP
  • V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters
    V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters
  • BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP
    BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP
  • Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters
    Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters
  • BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters
    BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters
  • BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA
    BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA
  • BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters
    BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters
  • BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters
    BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters
  • BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music
    BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music
  • Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg
    Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg
Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS

Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Group A

Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA

Group B

Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti

Group C

Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia

Group D

Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5