After the BTS members left to complete their mandatory military service in 2022, the fandom,“Army,” (that I am also a part of), wondered when the group would make its return to the music industry. When BTS announced it would be making its return with its 10th studio album “ARIRANG,” the fandom was tuned in to see if BTS still had the same influence it did in 2022. BTS announced its album with the 82-stop ARIRANG world tour that sold out nearly instantly, showing the impact was still there. The world tour begins during Vanderbilt’s summer break, so if you’re looking for summer plans as a bored student, try to snag a ticket for a concert.
“ARIRANG” is a 14-track album grounded in the group’s roots as seven Korean men. The name “ARIRANG” originates from 1896, when seven Korean men studying at Howard University produced the first known recording of a Korean voice in the United States with the folk song “ARIRANG,” which BTS took influence from on its album. “ARIRANG” by BTS finds its center in the folk song and uses this as inspiration to make music that is rooted in Korean culture. However, this album makes itself modern by blending hip-hop and R&B tracks to represent their hardships, love for their nation and love for their fandom.
“Body to Body”
“Body to Body” is the most heavily Korean-rooted song on the album as it blends an electric and acoustic style of music about the power of being together, then shifts into a Pansori style of the original “ARIRANG” folk song. The blend of “ARIRANG” to the end of the song showed that BTS heavily acknowledges and appreciates its roots, even making me feel pride for a culture that I am not from. The members described this track as a love song for “Army,” saying that it’s about being together at a concert while also saying the song feels like “a pastry topped with Kimchi” in their studio notes live on the album. “Body to Body” seems to be the most heavily acclaimed song by “Army,” appreciating the mix of hip-hop style pop with Korean folk.
“Hooligan”
In my opinion, “Hooligan” takes the spotlight on the album, as it is the most unique yet infatuating song. It presents itself as a full trap-pop song, honoring the members’ roots as they debuted as a hip-hop group in 2013. The song layers clashing blades as an instrument with the rap adlibs, creating a unique yet perfectly mixed song. The vocals also take the spotlight as they add the pop element to the unique rap beat. This song reminded me of their 2013 and 2014 music, reflecting a nostalgic shift in their music to go back to where they started.
“Aliens”
“Aliens” takes the trap style once more, with Mike WILL Made-It producing this track. The song talks about BTS being unique and their individuality from other artists, while also having bits of Korean culture sprinkled throughout the song. This track reminds you that BTS paved the way and continues to be the biggest Korean acts with the 808-beat and lyrics like “watch and learn from us,” unable to keep you still as you listen to this song.
“FYA”
“FYA” takes the spotlight on the album with the majority of “Army,” as it takes a Jersey club style beat and makes a style of music that “Army” has never heard from BTS before. The lyrics “Everything big, it’s fire” and “she wanna dance on fire” are being quoted by “Army” throughout social media, as the fandom can not believe how catchy the song is. The song is extremely experimental from BTS, but the group successfully uses their style to make a song with JPEGMAFIA, riding the beat with experience that can only come from artists who have been in the game for more than a decade.
“2.0”
“2.0” starts with a flawless transition from “FYA” that made me yell out loud because I could not believe how good it was. The track is once again produced by Mike WILL Made-It, with a trap beat that does not drop for even a second and keeps your attention. The song is about how BTS members have evolved throughout their careers, with an earned ego of how successful they are and the numbers they earn. The lyrics “10 years doesn’t even scratch the surface” and “Now throw away the unusable junk” represent the group’s impact on the industry and acknowledge how peers have failed to reach BTS’ level during the four-year hiatus. This represents BTS 2.0, as this is a new chapter in their career, but the style of the song is something you can find in the older albums.
“No.29”
This track is not a song but rather an intermission to showcase a shift to the second half of the album, which will have a different style of music and lyrics. The intermission is a toll of bells, not just any toll of bells, though. The sound comes from the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok, a national treasure. A sound that has echoed across Korean history for over a millennium, showcasing the group’s Korean roots once more.
“SWIM”
This track is the leading single on the album and serves as a love letter to “Army” with lyrics like “I could spend a lifetime watching you” and “You’re the only place that I wanna be, yeah”. The song is a low-key track that calms you after the upbeat songs that are on the first half of the album, using lo-fi synths to earn its spot as the leading single that reminds “Army” that the love the fans feel for BTS is mutual.
“Merry Go Round”
This track is my favorite from the whole album as it has a more sentimental hold on “Army.” Produced by Tame Impala, the song takes a similar trippy beat that is seen in Tame Impala’s music. The song has emotional lyrics about what it’s like to be an idol and how the pressure of the industry is wearing the members down, but it’s worded in a way where anybody who sees themself struggling in life with constant pressure and an endless depressive loop can relate, which is why this is a personal favorite of mine. The calmer beat of the song with the most hard-hitting lyrics makes the meaning even more impactful.
“NORMAL”
“NORMAL” is a pop track mixed with a slight bit of rock instrumentals that remind you of a style you can find on their previous albums. The song showcases the members as their most vulnerable selves, with lyrics about what being normal means when you’re in the spotlight 24/7, and how they chose this fame, yet the pain and yearning that comes from being famous is something that still deeply affects them. They want to live a normal, ordinary life, but fame and its consequences became their normal instead.
“Like Animals”
This track uses a slower R&B beat but a distorted beat in the chorus to show a sort of restraint that makes you feel. The song has a heavy grunge edge to it that is about wanting to live freely instead of being caged in the idol image the members have been trapped in since they debuted, but they say it in a way that also makes “Army” one with them in this life. It ends with a lingering bass that reflects the meaning.
“they don’t know ’bout us”
“they don’t know ’bout us” is a switch from the previous emotional songs, taking a groovier trap style on the song. This song reminds you that BTS’ success can’t be replicated by any other group as the members sing about how people try to copy them, but they will never be able to reach their level, along with taking a hit on those who hated on BTS from diverging from its “old” style of music, saying, “You said we changed? We feel the same.” This track serves as a reminder that the members are on another level in their industry and how, instead of trying to explain themselves, they’ll just let you witness their impact.
“One More Night”
This track uses synths and a mix of Jazz and house style music to create a groovy, unique sound not previously seen in their music and marks itself as one of my favorites on the album. This song is about inviting “Army” to stay with BTS just for one more night and wanting to indulge in the fantasy that its music makes you feel.
“Please”
“Please” is a very R&B and chill type of song that talks about the members’ desire to stay together with “Army” after their return from being gone for four years. The track is in the style of a love song where they simply ask “Army” to stay with them. It doesn’t make its meaning a metaphor and clearly presents itself, making it a fan favorite on the album.
“Into the Sun”
This is the last track on the album, which takes a very experimental style that we have never heard from BTS before. The lyrics, “I’ll follow you into the sun,” are not just about “Army” with BTS, but with BTS and “Army” right back. “Army” is the reason for BTS’ success, so they show appreciation towards their fans in this vocoder hook that gives it an almost robotic style of vocals. The song shifts to a more upbeat style in the second half, with a passionate surge in the song that makes “Army” members reflect on the meaning and love that BTS feels for them.
For “Army” members who have been with BTS for years, even throughout its hiatus, this album serves as love songs towards them, appreciating the love and support over the years. The albums shift from hip-hop music that flexes their success to a calmer R&B style with more emotional lyrics to show why BTS is a recipe that can not be followed by other idols. As an “Army” who has been with BTS for 9 years, this album felt unique but also exactly like them at the same time. BTS reminds you who it is in this album, and the members show no sign of stopping their impact in the future with their world tour starting in April.