Future’s gonna be okay: 5 of BTS member Suga’s most inspirational songs

Released in his 2016 mixtape AGUST D, Suga explores feeling hopeless and not following conventional life paths. “Everyone is running, but why am I the only one still here?” he asks.

He is upfront about his pain and loneliness, exploring how his pain alienates family and friends. But the song's chorus transforms these struggles into triumphs, laying the groundwork for a beautiful, meaningful life. 

Suga weaves his life struggles into the song, including his mother’s illness and a shoulder injury that required surgery. The amygdala is the portion of the brain responsible for processing fearful, threatening events, eliciting responses to help us overcome them safely. In this song, Suga brings unpleasant memories to face them directly and heal from them.

“In a way, we’re responsible for all our wounds and scars. No one can dodge the first arrow of trouble, of course, but when that second arrow flies at you, you’ve chosen to stand there and get hit, rather than learn from the first time,” he says. Instead of feeling helpless, he takes charge of his fate and encourages fans to do the same.

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Snooze was created with iconic Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto and The Rose’s Woosung. Upon its release, it quickly became a beloved song for BTS fans, otherwise known as ARMY. Suga’s goal for the song was to encourage the younger BTS members and company juniors who closely followed the band's journey. 

The perils of pursuing one's dream are a recurring motif in Suga’s music, enabling him to process the challenges surrounding BTS’s debut in 2013, which continue to persist as they prepare to return in June of this year. Rather than allowing his difficulties to go to waste, Suga channels his emotions into lyrics encouraging inner strength, laying a robust foundation for the next generation of artists.

Suga does not shy away from his complex feelings about stardom in People. After the band catapulted into international fame, he and the other members traded anonymity for endless scrutiny. This song reminds us how fleeting life is, allowing the highs and lows to pass without fear of what comes next. 

“Sometimes you might be in pain again, sometimes you might shed tears,” says Suga. “What about it? Flow along the way water flows—maybe there’s something at the end.”

A sequel to the song People, People Pt 2 marks Suga’s second collaboration with renowned Korean singer IU. The first song accepts how life constantly changes, but its continuation explores the weight of different experiences. One’s connection with the people in their lives may be fragile and fleeting. Despite the potential for future loss, Suga encourages us to stay open and present for those we love—including ourselves. 

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