Even while serving in the military, BTS’s V (Kim Taehyung) is still dominating the global music scene!
His solo digital single ‘FRI(END)S’, released on March 15, 2024, has officially surpassed 520 million streams on Spotify as of July 18 — proving once again just how powerful and timeless his music is.
The song, a smooth blend of pop soul and R&B, showcases V’s signature elegant vocals — from soft low notes to emotional falsettos. The sweet melody and clever lyrics quickly captured hearts around the world.
Upon release, ‘FRI(END)S’ made a massive impact on the charts:
- #65 on the Billboard Hot 100
- #3 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S.
- #5 on Billboard Global 200
- #13 on the UK Official Singles Chart
- #3 on the UK’s Big Top 40 with only two days of tracking
It also hit #1 on iTunes in 100 countries, making it the first song in 2024 to achieve this milestone. On top of that, the track topped Worldwide iTunes and European iTunes shortly after release.
Major platforms like Amazon Music and Apple Music selected ‘FRI(END)S’ as one of the Best K-pop Songs of 2024, solidifying V’s status as a global solo artist.
The song’s popularity recently got another boost after it was chosen as background music for Season 3 of the hit U.S. drama ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, which started airing on July 16.
V now shares space on the show’s official Spotify playlist with global stars like:
- Taylor Swift (‘You’re Losing Me’)
- Ariana Grande (‘i wish I hated you’)
- Justin Timberlake, Billie Eilish, The Cranberries, Olivia Rodrigo, and more — proving he belongs among today’s top pop icons.
The music video for ‘FRI(END)S’, filmed in the UK, also made waves. V impressed fans by playing two contrasting roles — one alone, one in a relationship — delivering emotional acting that matched the song’s deep message.
The MV topped the YouTube Music Worldwide Trending Chart for 14 consecutive days and made history as the first K-pop artist to hit #1 on the TIDAL Top Video chart in the U.S. It also took No.1 spots on TIDAL charts in multiple countries, gaining massive global love.
Even while away from the spotlight, V’s presence is being felt everywhere — from streaming charts to TV shows. With milestones like this, it’s clear: Kim Taehyung’s voice, visuals, and artistry are simply unforgettable.
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