Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey (stylized as Map of the Soul: 7 ~ The Journey ~) is the fourth Japanese studio album, and eighth overall, by South Korean boy band BTS, released on July 14, 2020. It is the band's first full length Japanese offering in two years since 2018's Face Yourself. The album contains Japanese versions of songs from their Love Yourself: Answer (2018), Map of the Soul: Persona (2019) and Map of the Soul: 7 (2020) albums, as well as four new, original Japanese tracks: "Intro: Calling", lead single "Stay Gold", "Your Eyes Tell", and "Outro: The Journey". Previously released 2019 single "Lights" was also included
Map Of The Soul : 7 ~ The Journey ~
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
Released : July 14, 2020 Genre : Pop Length : 46:16 Language : Japanese English Label : Big Hit Def Jam Virgin Producer : Pdogg "Hitman" Bang UTA Fred Gibson Gustav Mared
Background
Billboard Japan first broke the news of a potential Japanese album on March 26, 2020 when it announced that a new BTS song titled "Stay Gold" had been selected as the theme for then upcoming Japanese television drama, Spiral Labyrinth – DNA Forensic Investigation (Rasen no Meikyū). Billboard also stated that the song would be part of the band's "4th Japanese album scheduled to be released this summer". In response to additional reports made in April that a Japanese version of "On" from Map of the Soul: 7 would also be included, Big Hit Entertainment later confirmed in May that an album would be released in July and further information would be given once official schedules were finalized.
On May 7, BTS' fourth Japanese album was officially announced, marking the band's first full-length work in the language in two years since Face Yourself (2018). The album's title, Map of the Soul: 7 ~ The Journey ~, and July 14 release date were revealed, along with a complete 13-song tracklist and details of the various physical versions that would be available for purchase and their accompanying bonuses. The tracklist contained Japanese versions of "On", "Black Swan", "Make It Right", and "Dionysus", four new songs: "Intro: Calling", lead single "Stay Gold", "Your Eyes Tell" written by Jungkook, and "Outro: The Journey", and BTS' third original Japanese single "Lights" (2019).
The first group concept photo was also unveiled: a monochrome image of the band in black suits, seated on stage against a curtained backdrop. The second group concept image was published on May 22 and featured the band in pastel clothes against a colorful 2D illustrated background. A series of seven further individual teaser images were shared online from June 12-18. These solo pictures featured the same monochromatic visual theme as the first group concept photo. Album jacket photos showing the official artwork for each of the album's editions were revealed on May 28.
