BTS’s Much-Hyped AMAs Performance Fulfilled All Your K-Pop Dreams

The 2017 American Music Awards marked the first televised performance of BTS in the United States, an event that fans had been speculating on for weeks. (The hashtag #BTSxAMAs quickly started to lead a life of its own.) The evening’s excitement started when Jin, J-Hope, RM, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jungkook stepped out on the red carpet, dressed in sleek matching ensembles by Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello. While the K-pop sensation did not take the stage until the last quarter of the night, their presence in the audience alone sent many fans into a frenzy: When Demi Lovato performed “Sorry Not Sorry,” the band members drove the Internet wild by lip-syncing the lyrics of her hit single.

Once the boys finally got onstage (and Twitter was ready to burst), they didn’t disappoint. Accompanied by characteristically tight choreography and coordinating jeans-and-bomber combos, BTS performed a dynamic rendition of “DNA.” Fans were shown singing along more than enthusiastically—with one female audience member seemingly brought to tears. On top of this being BTS’s American TV debut, the set also marked the rare occasion that a musical act has performed a fully Korean-language song on the AMAs. Considering that Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee took home the Collaboration of the Year award for “Despacito,” an originally all-Spanish song, the night seemed to indicate a shift in what American audiences are craving musically.

In terms of BTS, we are sure to see more of them on American airwaves. They appear to be stealing the scene at every awards ceremony they touch down on (they were named Top Social Artist at the Billboard Music Awards in May), so tonight was only a taste of what’s to come.

See All the Looks From the 2017 American Music Awards Red Carpet