By Nicole Ng - published
BTS has gone through quite the transformation over the past decade. It was 2014, a year after their debut, when I first discovered them through a friend, an era where the band’s ‘golden maknae’ sported red hair and copious amounts of eyeliner, the seven members were seen packed into cramped airplane seats for a trip to L.A., and their dance practice videos were filmed in a dimly-lit room with minimal furnishing.
At the time, mainstream K-Pop was more homogenous—you would expect either a darker concept or a more youthful theme every comeback, and even then, many darker ones felt a little overproduced and conceptual. It was in an environment like that where BTS’ self-penned songs like “N.O.”, which was about expectations about having a “good house”, “good car” and being “trapped in someone else’s dream”; shone particularly bright for those of us who related to their message. You’d struggle to find any other musicians in the region consistently releasing music about double standards and diss tracks that were a direct response to their many critics in the early 2010s.
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Beyond authenticity, what must have played a massive role in BTS’ current superstardom was choosing to evolve beyond that phase in their music, an intuitive shift as the members grew into adulthood alongside many of their fans. In 2015, they went on to drop tracks like “I Need U” and “Run” in their “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” albums, which navigated the complex emotions such as wistfulness and melancholy that often accompany a person’s coming-of-age. This era, the same one that catapulted them to global fame, was a sharp turn from their original hip-hop-heavy concept, but it displayed a multifaceted identity and proved themselves as a group that could do more than produce songs about teenage angst (however valid).
It’s been 11 years since the hit album dropped, and much has changed. The stars have routinely joined and graduated from military conscription, are now ambassadors at the world’s biggest brands, and each of them have embarked on their own musical journeys.
Their highly anticipated latest release feels like a homecoming act for the seven members who have been exploring their own paths from then till now, and the title, Arirang, confirms this. “Arirang” is a Korean folk song with immense historical significance, known across North and South Korea as a symbol of unity for both nations that are divided by the Korean War. Used as the title of the album featuring all seven members for the first time in years, the band positions Arirang to showcase how they are still united by a common passion and brotherhood despite being physically apart.
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1. This Album Is Shaping Up to Show Not Just a New BTS but Rather How the Band Has Grown and Evolved Over the Years
Watching the teaser for “Swim” alone gave me the idea that they’ve been reflecting a lot on their musical journey so far, with the tune carrying an upbeat yet bittersweet feeling. Jimin confirmed this in a clip that aired before the music video premiered, explaining that the album shows a “slightly evolved version of themselves”.
2. The Visuals in “Swim” Show That BTS Isn’t Just Reflecting on How Far They’ve Come Together as a Team, but That They’re Ready for a New Adventure
As with their other music videos—see “Run”—the visuals in BTS’ music videos tend to add an extra layer of meaning to their songs. Aboard a ship at sea, we see that each of the seven members has their own vital role to play, moving the ship—presumably BTS—forward. RM navigates, Jimin keeps a look out, and the youngest, Jungkook, steps up and takes the wheel.
At the end of the music video, the members stand at the bow of the ship, looking ahead at the open waters, an unknown yet promising destination that echoes their days ahead as musicians.
3. “Swim” Was a Great Pick for the Title Track
During the band’s Studio Notes livestream on Weverse, Jimin explained that he was initially hesitant about making “Swim” the title track and wanted something more upbeat for their return, but RM shared that “Swim” best conveyed their sentiments towards reuniting with the rest of the members and ARMYs, as he felt like he was ‘swimming’ towards their comeback date one day at a time. It truly is also a song that is up to interpretation, and the song’s meaning changes depending on how you read phrases such as “water falling off your skin”.
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4. What Is Going On With “No. 29”?
Believe me, I disconnected my earphones several times before I realised that “No. 29” was not a glitch but an instrumental interlude. Upon further research, the chime in “No. 29” references the Bell of King Seongdeok, which was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok to honour his father.
5. Even as BTS Collaborates With International Artistes, They Haven’t Lost Their Signature Musical Sound
Since their rise to mainstream fame, the boys have been exploring new grounds, often incorporating Western influences into their music. It’d have been easy to lose their unique colours in the process, but Arirang proves that the band knows how to navigate a changing style while preserving the soul of BTS. “Merry Go Round” is one such example. As a fan of Tame Impala, one of the producers of the song, I recognised Kevin Parker’s signature sound throughout the track, but the song still felt distinctly BTS’s own as a result of the members’ slow and soulful vocals.
6. They’re Branching Out Into New Styles
Arirang also shows how BTS is exploring new styles on their own. “they don’t know ‘bout us”, a song largely produced by the members themselves, displays a new sound we’ve never really heard from the band before, and I’m living for it. SUGA mentioned in the Weverse stream that this was a song they were unsure about adding to the lineup as it didn’t seem to match the rest of the tracks in the album, but I loved that they pushed forward with it anyway, showing a new side that I hope to see more of.
7. BTS Hasn’t Forgotten Their Roots
Lastly, it was immediately clear that BTS hasn’t forgotten their roots. Since their rookie days, the band has always had a very intentional approach to their music and image, so it’s safe to assume that nothing is shown by accident. From the logo of the album featuring three red circles that resemble some of the elements on the South Korean flag to the album kicking off with “Body to Body”, which samples the titular folk song about crossing a difficult path and moving on, Arirang was created to paint a picture of their past, present and future.