What do you get when Ed Sheeran teams up with BTS? An insanely catchy song and memorable video.
BTS is out with their new single, "Permission to Dance," co-written by Sheeran, his frequent collaborators Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid, and Jenna Andrews, who co-wrote "Butter." It celebrates the joys of dancing your troubles away, with the group singing, "We don't need to worry/ 'Cause when we fall, we know how to land/ Don't need to talk the talk, just walk the walk tonight/ 'Cause we don't need permission to dance."
In the first verse, the group sings, "When it all seems like it's wrong/ Just sing along to Elton John." It's not clear who wrote that line, but it's worth noting that Sheeran is friendly with John, was once managed by John's company and mentioned John's song "Tiny Dancer" in his own hit, "Castle on the Hill."
As for the video, it features BTS performing in several different buildings in the middle of a desert, cut with people dancing in different situations -- in an office, a school, a diner. They're all wearing masks, but at the end of the video they all pull their masks off with a flourish and continue to dance.
The clip ends with a huge choreographed number as the guys, joined by dozens of dancers wearing white, dance as the sky fills with balloons. There are also some outtakes at the end worth watching.
"Permission to Dance" is on BTS' new "Butter" CD single. It was released July 9 to mark the eight-year anniversary of the naming of their fan group, ARMY. BTS has also put together a special playlist for the occasion, featuring a solo track by each member.