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BTS End Their Nearly Four-year Hiatus With Arirang Marking a Defining Global Comeback
The wait is finally over, and it feels almost unreal. After almost four years of anticipation and longing, BTS has officially returned, marking their homecoming with their fifth studio album, Arirang.
The 14-track album includes Body to Body, Hooligan, Aliens, FYA, 2.0, No. 29 (Interlude), Swim, Merry Go Round, NORMAL, Like Animals, They Don’t Know ’bout Us, One More Night, Please, and Into the Sun.
Along with the album, the group has also released the music video for their lead single, Swim.
Set aboard a ship drifting through an endless sea, the video follows a woman navigating moments of doubt and emotional struggle. The ship becomes a space of healing, with the seven members standing by her as steady, reassuring presences. As the story unfolds, she gradually finds the strength to move forward, turning the journey into one of reflection and recovery. Lili Reinhart stars in the video, with Tanu Muino bringing a cinematic vision to life.
Arirang draws from the traditional Korean folk song of the same name, long associated with themes of longing, distance, and resilience. That emotional core runs through the album, as BTS reflect on their journey and identity as a group that began in South Korea and grew into a global phenomenon.
The members, consisting of RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, Jungkook and V, have consistently woven their own stories into music, expressing an authenticity shaped by their journey from boyhood into youth.
The first half of the album sets a powerful tone, from Body to Body, a roaring anthem to celebrate with fans at live shows, to Hooligan, which traces their trailblazing journey. It continues with Aliens, which captures BTS’ unique identity and aspirations reflected in how they engage with the world, signalling their fiery return through FYA, and leading into the group’s present moment of growth and transformation in 2.0.
At the heart of the album, the interlude No. 29 features the resonant tolling of the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. What follows is a vast emotional landscape: the resolve to move forward through the tides of life (Swim), the steadfastness to endure life’s endless cycles (Merry Go Round), and deeply personal yet universally resonant emotions experienced both on and off stage (Normal).
The latter half also captures the drive to live life fully and freely (Like Animals), the confidence of simply being themselves (They don’t know ’bout us), and profound infatuation (One More Night), before concluding with a wholehearted vow of commitment (Please, Into the Sun).
RM is credited on every track, excluding the interlude, while Suga and J-hope contributed to multiple tracks, including Body to Body, Merry Go Round, and NORMAL. Jimin participated in They don’t know ’bout us and Into the Sun, while V contributed to 2.0 and Into the Sun. Jungkook also played a key role in the creation of four tracks, including Hooligan.
Additionally, contributing to the album’s sound are Diplo, Ryan Tedder, Mike WiLL Made-It, Flume, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), El Guincho and JPEGMAFIA.
Meanwhile, in celebration of Arirang, BTS will hold BTS: The Comeback Live | Arirang, a global live performance streaming on Netflix on March 21 at 8:00 PM KST. Heralded as the most anticipated album of the year, Arirang is available on streaming platforms worldwide now.
Also Read: BTS Arirang animation trailer: A visual prologue tracing the origins behind the comeback album
