BTS has once again proven the lasting power of its music, as ‘Anpanman’ climbs back to the top of a major Billboard chart seven years and seven months after its original release.
According to Billboard’s latest chart dated December 20, ‘Anpanman’ ranked No. 1 on the World Digital Song Sales chart, marking a remarkable reverse charting achievement. The song also placed No. 7 on the Digital Song Sales chart, reaffirming its strong global demand.
A Seven Year Journey Back to the Summit
‘Anpanman’ was originally released in May 2018 as a b side track on BTS’s third full length album ‘Love Yourself: Tear.’ Despite not being a title track, the song has continued to resonate with fans worldwide and its recent resurgence highlights the group’s enduring influence. The renewed success comes nearly eight years after release, an exceptionally rare feat in the global music market, particularly for a non English track.
Global Reverse Charting Phenomenon
The song’s momentum has been driven by massive international fan support. As of December 8, ‘Anpanman’ had reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in 75 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy sparkling a full scale global reverse-charting trend. The track also made a strong showing on the UK Official Charts, ranking No. 12 on Official Singles Downloads and No. 24 on Official Singles Sales, further demonstrating its renewed popularity in major music markets.
Why ‘Anpanman’ Still Resonates
Inspired by the Japanese superhero Anpanman who gives parts of himself to those in need BTS reimagined the character as a metaphor for an imperfect, human hero. Rather than superpowers, the song emphasizes sincerity, endurance, and staying by someone’s side through repeated falls.
Lyrics such as “I’ll stay by your side / I may fall again, but trust me, because I’m your hero” capture BTS’s core message of hope and quiet strength—values that continue to connect deeply with listeners years later. Industry insiders note that the song’s renewed attention coincides with anticipation surrounding BTS’s full-group comeback expected in spring 2026, suggesting that fan excitement has naturally reignited interest in the group’s earlier work.
Continued Success Across Solo and Group Activities
BTS’s presence on global charts extends beyond group releases. On Billboard’s Global 200, Jungkook’s ‘Seven’ ranked No. 150, while Jin’s ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ placed No. 166. On the Global Excl. U.S. chart, Jin’s ‘Don’t Say You Love Me,’ Jungkook’s ‘Seven,’ and Jimin’s ‘Who’ ranked No. 79, No. 81, and No. 137, respectively. BTS’s anthology album ‘Proof’ also secured No. 9 on the World Albums chart.
Touring Power Still Going Strong
Billboard recently released its list of ‘Top 10 Highest Grossing K-pop Tours of 2025.’ J-Hope’s first solo world tour ranked No. 3, the highest among solo artists, while Jin’s first solo fan concert tour placed No. 7.
According to Billboard, J-Hope held 33 shows across Asia and North America, drawing over 500,000 attendees, while Jin attracted approximately 300,000 fans through 18 shows across Asia, North America, and Europe. In addition, Japan’s Oricon 2025 Year End Rankings placed Jin’s album ‘Echo’ at No. 39 on the Album Chart, marking the highest-ranking release by a Korean solo artist this year.