Album Review: "ARIRANG" - BTS

Shelbi Baker
4 minutes ago
8 min read

BTS's new album, ARIRANG, is finally here! If you're ARMY, this is the comeback you've been waiting for for years now. This is the group's first full length album as a band since each member staggered their mandatory military service, starting in 2022. So strap in and let's break it down!

Tracklist: 1. Body to Body 2. Hooligan 3. Aliens 4. FYA 5. 2.0

No. 29
7. SWIM
8. Merry Go Round 9. NORMAL
10. Like Animals
11. they don't know 'bout us
12. One More Night
13. Please
14. Into the Sun

If you haven't heard of BTS by now, this explosive K-pop boy band debuted in 2013 and have been nonstop ever since. They've released six full length studio albums, as well as countless singles, EPs, and solo projects. Everywhere you go, you can find some piece of BTS merch, bearing testament to the group's popularity. The band consists of seven members, Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, and Jeon Jungkook, better known as RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Each member is known for their unique talents in things like singing, dancing, and rapping. Of course, the band is also beloved for the members' personalities and the way they interact together. Each new album is a cherished event amongst the group's fanbase, ARMY.

Body to Body Starting off strong is our first track, "Body to Body". This song immediately kicks off the tone of the album, with an edgier approach than we're used to seeing from recent BTS. The general theming of the track revolves around wanting to be close to someone. Life is hectic, especially when you're an idol, and you probably don't get to slow down and feel that closeness very often. However, it's also a great party track, telling listeners to get up and jump, bringing that hip hop essence we all know and love from BTS. Overall, this is a great hook for the new album, immediately drawing us in to see what the boys are cooking up next.

Hooligan

Next up is "Hooligan", featuring our rap line in full force. The "classic movie" music sampled into the beat is absolutely divine to the ears, bringing a creative genre dissonance that's wholly unique. This is the kind of banger that BTS fans have been waiting to hear for a long time, with all three rappers back in the same place, and the vocal line offering flowing lines in-between. Lyrically, the track is just about having a beat that goes hard, and it does! It's about going crazy, like a hooligan, and losing yourself in the music. Overall, it's just a fun track with super well-done production that keeps your head bobbing throughout. I highly recommend this one for your next car ride.

Aliens
Speaking of songs to blast in the car, "Aliens" also fits the bill. Here on track three, we've now set the vibe for the album, edgy, spicy hip hop, something akin to the BTS we knew during their "Dark & Wild" era. However, this one feels a little more cryptic. The premise of the song is pretty entertaining, talking about how the band members see themselves as aliens. From my perspective, the group compares being idols to being aliens, conveying that they lives totally different lives than the average person, but it's okay, just get up and dance. The track also includes references to Korean culture, maybe also alluding to their Korean heritage as being 'alien' to the Western world. No matter the intended meaning, "Aliens" stands as a real hip hop banger for the group. Definitely add it to your playlist!

FYA
Moving into more of a pop music space, "FYA" absolutely brings the heat, literally. The word "FYA" is just another way to say fire. (Maybe this is the spiritual successor to "Burning Up"?) With that said, the music embodies the title perfectly. It's an upbeat dance anthem, featuring some pretty clever lyrics. My personal favorite is, "Club go crazy like Britney, baby. Hit me with it one more time.". Of course, this works so well because of the song's club-type beat. This is 100% something you'd want to hear with low lights and a drink in hand. "FYA" brings the hype, a perfect pop jam for this era, showing the fans that the boys who captivated a generation never left.
2.0
I don't know about you, but I am absolutely living for all of the hip hop influence on this album. "2.0" stays in that space, featuring each member in a unique light. However, we hear impressive rap sections from RM, SUGA and J-Hope, really showcasing their talent. The song's meaning, however, is pretty interesting. The lyrics want us to know that this is definitely a new era. It's version 2.0 of BTS. Our boys are telling us that they're coming back stronger than ever, still brilliant, still bulletproof. And this one goes hard, keeping that high energy throughout.

No. 29
Okay, now for something way out of left field. "No. 29" isn't your traditional track. Actually, it's not really even a song. We hear a gong sound that rings out for exactly one minute, thirty-eight seconds, ending in silence. And no, there's nothing wrong with your headphones. This was intentional. At first it's confusing, but there's a Korean history reference at play here. The specific bell sound heard here is meant to be the divine bell of King Seongdeok, dating all the way back to 771 AD. This chime is considered to be South Korea's National Treasure No. 29. This is a parallel to the album's title, ARIRANG, a traditional Korean folk song with specific emotional significance. I believe "No. 29" exists on this album to further solidify the Korean heritage that BTS takes immense pride in. It also serves as a meditative interlude between tracks.
SWIM
"SWIM", ARIRANG's marketed single, is one of the only tracks on the album that is entirely in English. It's also more mellow than anything we've heard on the album so far. "SWIM" feels softer, more like an R&B-style love song. The track describes longing over a girl, just wanting to dive right in and be with her. Additionally, the music video takes place on a boat, further solidifying the nautical theme. The somber energy in "SWIM" takes us somewhere relaxing, painting a picture of somewhere by the ocean.
8. Merry Go Round
Our eighth track, "Merry Go Round", describes the feeling of being stuck in a loop. It expresses the feeling of doing something over and over again that you might not necessarily love, but keep doing anyway. Beyond this, it talks about putting on a smile to hide our true feelings. It's a story we can all relate to in some capacity. Musically, "Merry Go Round" keeps the mellow energy we've built in the middle of this album, but this time a little sadder, and it makes sense. Day to day life can feel overwhelming, mundane, and repetitive. Sometimes, we just want to get off this ride, and that resonates with me.
NORMAL
"NORMAL" stops to reflect on just how different BTS's lives are from the average person's. They describe how the things that they call normal are actually incredibly stressful. Always being in the spotlight means always being watched and talked about. Sometimes, you just want to step away from it all, but with such a large fanbase, it's nearly impossible. It's a subtle but intimate look into the true feelings of pop stars in the real world. Meanwhile, the rhythm is nothing to overlook. The song is wirtten and performed very well. It's a nice cross between emotion and a catchy pop tune. It's definitely one of my favorites.
Like Animals
"Like Animals" is yet another cryptic sounding song on this album. It's hard to tell exactly what the song is conveying, but it could be about a secret or forbidden love. The track describes wanting to be 'like animals' with someone, while also touching on the melancholy side of things. I think what BTS is trying to tell us is that all humans are just animals at heart, untamable, so live in the moment while you can. Overall, the song sounds very passionate, with emotional features to the entire vocal line. It's a really beautiful piece.

11. they don't know 'bout us

"they don't know 'bout us" continues on the theming that fans don't really know the members of BTS like they think they do. It goes into detail about how the band is seen as heroes, but they just feel like seven regular people. With the world's eyes on them, every move they make is studied, but no one really knows them. The track feels honest, like it's trying to tell us to stop being so parasocial, a typical issue that forms in large fandoms like ARMY. To me, this song feels like a genuine plea that says, "Hey, we have grown and changed, and that's normal and okay."

One More Night
Next up is my personal favorite on the album, "One More Night". This one just has such a good beat. It's just so danceable. The lyrics tell the story of having one amazing night, just wanting to repeat it one more time, unable to get the memories out of your head. We've definitely all experienced this feeling at some point in our lives. We've all had unforgettable events that stick with us for days or weeks, and they're always over too quickly. Besides being extremely catchy, I think this song is super relatable, making it one of the most iconic on ARIRANG.

13. Please
"Please" is a song that really embodies that 'BTS 2.0' feeling. It's very grown up, leaning into the more mature feelings we're getting from this era. This track talks about the yearning and heartbreak that comes with being separated from someone you love. The lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever experienced intense longing for someone that they miss. It's really relatable in today's digital world. We can connect with anyone at any time, but nothing takes the place of in-person contact. "Please" also takes on a more R&B feel in contrast to other songs on the album, bringing a deep sensuality to the song, especially following up "One More Night". It's yet another song on this album that reflects deeper, less superficial feelings that we haven't really been exposed to until this era. We're seeing a trend here of BTS being more genuine than ever, and I say that's a win.

14. Into the Sun
Finally, we've reached our final track on the album, "Into the Sun". This one feels really heartfelt. It expresses having found a special person that knows you like nobody else does. It's about seeing the sunlight in them and wanting to protect that with everything you have. The song talks about just wanting to go home to be with that person. At the end of the day, they're all that matters. Because when you love someone, you'll follow them into the sun. It's a loving ending to an album with so much heart, and once again, genuine feelings.

ARIRANG is an album that takes us on a journey through the struggles of fame and show business to deep emotional passion within just fourteen songs. It's clear to see the differences between this era and all those that came before it. Although all of BTS's albums are wonderful, there's something really personal about this one. ARIRANG shows us that we're all just humans with human emotions, and it's perfectly fine to be honest about that. Sometimes things are hard and we hide them. Sometimes we're really confident and it feels awesome, but at the end of the day, we're just ourselves, and I think that's really special.

Written By Shelbi Baker