Have you ever had a song stuck in your head, but you didn’t know the title? That’s exactly how I discovered the K-pop group BTS. 

There was one song stuck in my head for what felt like months. I don’t know where I heard the song, most likely social media, but I just couldn’t stop mumbling the melody. Finally, I had enough and downloaded the Google app, so that I could hum the song and try to find out what the title was. 

“Blood Sweat & Tears,” a 2016 release by the group, popped up on my screen, and that is where I fell down the rabbithole of everything that is BTS. 

At the time of my discovery, the seven members, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, were on hiatus due to mandatory military enlistment, a hiatus that spanned almost four years. 

Early January of this year, the group announced the upcoming release of their fifth album, “Arirang,” marking their return for March 20. 

The album is now out, and if you ask me, it was perfect for this comeback.

My Thoughts 

“Arirang” has a mature and somewhat experimental sound that we haven’t really heard from the group before as a whole. With the help of staggered enlistments, each member was

able to release solo projects that spoke to their individual musical voices, each of which seem to be present on this album. 

Though there’s a wide variety of genres shown, from the hard hitting, hip-hop influenced opening sequence, to more melodic synths and pop-rock sounds in the later tracks, the songs flow cohesively into one another helping to showcase a meaningful theme throughout the project. 

The album’s title comes from a centuries-old Korean folk song of the same name, one that has over 3,000 versions. “Arirang,” historically, is an ever-evolving symbol commonly tied to love, longing, connection, joy, sorrow and Korean resilience. This album is BTS’ own version of “Arirang.”  

The Highlights 

While the traditional folk song was used more as a thematic inspiration, you can hear a sample of the song in the album’s opening track, “Body to Body.” Throughout the song, there is a common theme of celebration and connection through shared stadium energy with and between fans, and even the strong emotional connections between the members themselves. With the addition of “Arirang” in the bridge, BTS seems to connect their present to the past, acknowledging the group’s Korean roots and those who came before them. 

“Aliens,” which I believe to be one of the more powerful songs on the album, focuses on the disrespect the group has faced in the west and hits back against the claims of becoming too “westernized.” RM, the group’s leader, raps “Pardon me, Kim Gu seonsengnim, tell me how you feel / I’m the only one who can speak English, but that is how we kill.” The references to Kim Gu, 

the Korean independence activist, and the fact that the group is not fluent in English, reinforces

the idea that the group does not need to change themselves or forget where they came from in order to succeed. No matter what kind of music they make, BTS will always be proud of who they are. 

In my opinion, track 11, “they don’t know ‘bout us,” is the most personal song on the album. “‘Those guys are special among Asians,’/ ‘Some kinda heroic beings, too hard to break’/ Uh, we can’t relate/We’re just seven people / Ah, you said we changed / We feel the same.” The song speaks to the truth of BTS’ identity, highlighting the disconnect between what the public thinks of them and who they truly are. While the world has put them on an untouchable pedestal, the group still sees themselves as the same people who started this journey. 

With “Into the Sun,” BTS brings the album full circle. The comforting track leaves listeners with a reminder to always chase good things, although it may be hard at times. The closing lines, “I’ll follow you into the sun,” feels not only like a reassurance but also gives the promise of moving forward together. 

Looking Forward 

BTS will kick off the “Arirang World Tour” on April 9 in Goyang, South Korea, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated chapter in their career. In the meantime, fans can tune into Netflix to watch “BTS: The Comeback Live | Arirang,the group’s first performance together since 2022, and “BTS: The Return,” a documentary that highlights the recording of the album. 

Although my introduction to BTS came a bit unexpectedly, their impact has been lasting, and as they step into this new era, I can’t wait to see what they bring next.