DEEP DIVE: Let’s ‘SWIM’ Into BTS’ ARIRANG

The moment that ARMYs have been waiting for is finally here. After almost four years, BTS is back, with their fifth full-length album, ARIRANG. The living legends didn’t pull any punches on this one, and it’s maybe their greatest album yet.

We hope you made a note of where you were when you first listened to ARIRANG, because that’s a moment you’ll remember forever.

ARIRANG

First things first, let’s talk about the album title. ARIRANG refers to a traditional folk song that is deeply embedded in Korean culture. ‘Arirang’ was first recorded in the U.S. in 1896 by ethnologist Alice Fletcher. There’s a very iconic photograph of the seven men who sang that recording, and BTS even went as far as to echo that photograph in their own album artwork. The album logo for ARIRANG also mimics the Hangeul version of the title, 아리랑, as well as the Geongongamri trigrams in the South Korean flag, which represent the elements of heaven/sky, earth, water, and fire.

The title ARIRANG is an immediate declaration of intent. Throughout the album, BTS explore and celebrate their cultural identity and history as South Koreans, even as they themselves are creators of culture, both nationally and globally. So let’s get stuck into how they do that, and more, in each track!

Track By Track:

‘Body to Body’

Having listened to the full album, we don’t think BTS could’ve made a better choice for the opener. ‘Body to Body’ weaves 2000s rap with traditional Korean folk, which is a sentence we didn’t expect to write. The juxtaposition of the traditional percussion under the stadium-themed lyrics shows how BTS are deeply embedded in Korean history, whilst also writing their futures. How seamlessly the choir singing ‘Arirang’ is brought in is truly jaw-dropping, and we love how the beat changes in line with the vocals, too. RM’s delivery reminds us of his solo, ‘Groin,’ and we need to hear him say “What you need, twin?” on tour more than we need oxygen.

‘Hooligan’

Anyone who thought BTS had distanced themselves from their original sound is instantly proved wrong on ‘Hooligan.’ This track takes us right back to the likes of O!RUL82? and Dark & Wild! With this song, BTS shows that the album is not only influenced by Korean history, but the group’s history, too. The sounds of swords clashing throughout add to that historical edge, as well as maybe giving a nod to the battles that BTS have had to fight to get to where they are now. BTW, BTS are right, why is this bassline slapping so rude?

‘Aliens’

Again, in ‘Aliens,’ BTS focus on their own sense of their Korean identity, while mixing it with their global prowess. Throughout the chorus, they reference different pieces of Korean culture, like taking your shoes off before entering a house, or dancing to Jungmori (a traditional Korean rhythm). They even get stuck into the stereotypes that they’ve faced, how hard they work, and RM specifically references Kim Koo, a celebrated activist who campaigned for Korea’s independence.

Honestly, the lyrics for ‘Aliens’ are so rich with details that we highly suggest you read full translations. Our favorite, though, has to be “From the Ga, Na, to the Ha,” which is essentially the Hangeul version of “From A, B, to Z.” All of this, on top of an incredible, Timbaland-esque track? We’re so hooked.

‘FYA’

Unsurprisingly, this is another one that we absolutely cannot wait to see live. Before its release, we were all waiting to see what ‘FYA’ stood for, but it turns out that, for once, we should’ve guessed the most obvious meaning: fire. The Britney reference (we’re obsessed with it) reminds us of the music icons referenced across BTS’ previous English-language songs, but sonically, ‘FYA’ couldn’t be more different. Having said that, we’d love this song to become a single… imagine the chaotic music video we could get.

Another song that we’re reminded of is Megan Thee Stallion and RM’s ‘Neva Play,’ thanks to how similar Namjoon’s filthy delivery is. Underneath the vocals, the track hits hard. ‘FYA’ had several producers on it, and with how much it changes up, you can kinda tell, in the best way possible. P.S. Yoongi finally got the jersey club song he’s been wanting!

‘2.0’

Ok, who’s gonna remind BTS that we’re technically in chapter three now, not two? Regardless, we love BTS referring to this new era as ‘2.0.’ This track is brimming with confidence, as BTS get ready to reclaim their already-won thrones. The group is returning, but they aren’t rookies in any way, shape, or form. BTS said that this was the hardest song on ARIRANG to record and one of the tracks they were the least sure of. They, and the producers, weren’t confident that they could pull it off. Which is wild to hear, because they certainly do… “do, do, do, do.”

‘No. 29’ (Interlude)

Honestly, even if we weren’t awed by the story behind ‘No. 29,’ we’d still be grateful for the respite it offers in the ARIRANG tracklist. We need a second after all that! Or rather, we need 97 seconds, which is exactly how long it takes for the tolling of King Seongdeok’s Divine Bell to run out. The bell was officially named the 29th National treasure of Korea in 1962, hence the track’s name (though this number system is no longer in use). In an album full of historical references and cultural significance, BTS, quite literally, don’t even let silence go to waste.

‘SWIM’

BTS kick off part two of ARIRANG with the title track, ‘SWIM.’ A deliberate change of pace to the album thus far, as well as to BTS’ usual title track style (think ‘Mic Drop,’ ‘IDOL,’ etc.), ‘SWIM’ is almost understated in comparison. The lyrics focus on facing your own challenges at whatever pace and with whatever tactics work for you. In fact, lyrically, it reminds us of a fan favorite, ‘Paradise.’ But don’t tell BTS that, because they won’t know what you’re talking about…

We’re also completely in love with the music video for ‘SWIM!’ BTS, and guest star Lili Reinhart (eek!), do an incredible job of elevating ‘SWIM’s’ storytelling, and the aesthetic is a dream come true. On the ARIRANG Studio Notes Live, BTS clarified their intentions for the music video; they wanted to focus on promoting the story, rather than promoting themselves. We agree that they 100% made the right call. Plus, Yoongi has already let slip that we can (probably… almost definitely… ) expect more music videos from ARIRANG, so stay tuned!

‘Merry Go Round’

Speaking of Yoongi, we absolutely loved getting to hear him sing in ‘Merry Go Round.’ This one has a psychedelic rock edge to it, and you could probably guess it was produced by Kevin of Tame Impala, even if you didn’t already know it! ‘Merry Go Round’ is an ode to the cycles we ourselves are stuck in, whether personally or on a broader ‘circle of life,’ societal scale. Even if we didn’t love this song for the message behind it, we’d be sold on that bass line alone.

‘NORMAL’

First and foremost, we obviously have to say how much we love that BTS addressed this topic in ARIRANG. Naturally, as some of the most famous people on the planet, BTS’ idea of ‘NORMAL’ is a convoluted one. They’ve touched on this topic before, particularly across the MOTS7 album, but this is the most literal they’ve been about fame in a while. BTS are trying to bridge the gap between them onstage and the ‘them’ that exists when they’re on their own. This sense of grounding comes across in the song itself, too; it feels almost intimate and conversational. Even the stylistic choice to have this track title in all caps says a lot; the idea of ‘NORMAL’ doesn’t come easy.

‘Like Animals’

Again, we continue on this psychedelic-edged journey through the second half of ARIRANG. This time, though, ‘Like Animals’ has a gritty, grungy twist. Online, a lot of people’s minds seemed to go elsewhere, but this song instantly made us think of BTS’ time in the military; they’re now living free. The harmonies in this one are everything, and it’s one we’re particularly keen to see BTS perform on the ARIRANG tour. Namjoon said that this is his favorite track on the album, and if it hadn’t made the cut, he would’ve kept it for himself. We can totally see why he loves it so much!

‘they don’t know ’bout us’

When we initially saw the ARIRANG tracklist, we thought this might be a song about love and relationships in the limelight (we think we were subconsciously stuck on One Direction and Little Mix’s songs with very similar titles), but as always, BTS exceeded our expectations. ‘they don’t know ’bout us’ is a defiant and cocky statement. They’re unprecedented, and they know it!

Ironically, it reminds us of labelmate Yeonjun’s ‘Do It,’ which says that even if he gave you step-by-step instructions on how to be him, you still couldn’t do it. Similarly, there’s no formula or secret behind BTS’ success: it’s just them. ‘they don’t know ’bout us’ isn’t arrogant either, it’s self-assured.

‘One More Night’

Ever seen those videos at the end of a BTS concert where the members are just walking around the stage, basically refusing to leave because they’ve had so much fun? Yeah? Well, if you could distill that sentiment down into a song, it would be ‘One More Night.’ This song somehow blends house and pop-rock, with a little sprinkle of Eurodance on top. Don’t believe that mix could work? We wouldn’t have believed it either, ’til BTS pulled it off.

‘Please’

Like so much of the album, ‘Please’ has a rich, trap-infused percussion. Contrastingly, over that, the lyrics and vocal delivery are super sweet and earnest. ‘One More Night’ and ‘Please’ feel like two sides of the same coin, which just once again shows the beauty of BTS’ tracklisting. Something about this song totally gives Love Yourself era to us, and we could totally see it on the ARIRANG setlist, sandwiched between the likes of ‘Love Maze,’ ‘dimple,’ or ‘134340.’

‘Into the Sun’

BTS could not have picked a more perfect album closer for ARIRANG than ‘Into The Sun.’ In fact, we’re already begging that this is an encore track on tour, because just imagine the joy of ARMY-filled stadiums singing “I’ll follow you into the sun, into the sun, into the sun.” We could genuinely cry just thinking about it (and we already have).

Throughout ARIRANG, Bangtan have proven why they got to where they are, re-stated their claim on the industry, asked ‘you’ to stay by their side, and now we’re all moving forwards together. The message of ‘Into The Sun’ is so hopeful but with almost a tinge of desperation: we’ve made it to the glorious sunshine, and we don’t mind getting burned by it as long as we stay by each other’s side. Icarus, eat your heart out!

We’re so proud of BTS for ARIRANG! This is one of the most highly anticipated comebacks of all time, and not only did they not disappoint, but they exceeded all expectations. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the ARIRANG era looks like!

So, which track is your favorite? Where does ARIRANG sit in your BTS album rankings? Let us know in the comments below, or tell us over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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