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Before hiatus to fulfill their military service, BTS was the most successful K-pop artist of all time, achieving unprecedented records. The group dominated the Billboard charts with hits like "Dynamite," "Butter," and "Permission to Dance ." They also held record-breaking album sales in South Korea. Their image as a K-pop idol group was synonymous with their brand. Their interruption at the height of their career is a regrettable loss.
Over the past nearly four years, Kpop's status has continued to rise with social media-buzzing hits like "Cupid" and "Magnetic ." Newjeans and Le Sserafim also contributed to increasing Kpop's recognition in the US-UK market. In particular, the release of Kpop's "Demon Hunters" and their hit song "Golden" in 2025 propelled Hallyu to unprecedented heights, creating an unstoppable global phenomenon. Everyone was playing "Golden ," and everyone was watching "Demon Hunters . " "Golden" even achieved something that neither BTS nor Blackpink had accomplished: winning a prestigious award in the US – the Oscar for Best Original Song.
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After a four-year hiatus, BTS has officially returned with their explosive studio album, Arirang . |
BTS's position is being challenged. Although Jung Kook and Jimin's solo releases have achieved outstanding success, frankly, they haven't reached the same level of widespread mainstream popularity, largely relying on the fervent support of their massive fanbase. This group comeback will be the clear answer to whether they can maintain their former glory. And Arirang is the most certain and solid answer possible.
Rediscovering core values
From the album's title alone, BTS shows they are a group that always draws inspiration from and delves into traditional sounds. Arirang is the name of one of the most famous Korean folk songs, its fame even extending beyond the country's borders. It was also the first song recorded by a Korean man in 1896 with an American ethnographer. The enduring popularity and widespread influence of Arirang is one of the prides of Koreans and a major cultural icon for generations.
Right in the opening track of the album, "Body to Body ," samples of the folk song "Arirang " and traditional Korean percussion are incorporated majestically against a backdrop of powerful hip-hop sounds not seen in a long time from BTS. The song is a blend of two of the group's biggest inspirations, and a confirmation that after nearly four years of inactivity, the group is still here, unchanged from their early days.
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BTS recreated the sounds that have been a source of inspiration for the group since their early days in the first half of Arirang . |
The following four tracks— Hooligan, Aliens, FYA, and 2.0 —all feature a strong hip-hop sound, the kind that defined BTS's early days. The most distinctive is undoubtedly Hooligan , which combines sharp metal samples with old-school string sounds. Aliens is immersed in the familiar bass of Mike Wil Made-It and is the track with the heaviest 808 influence on the album. FYA is intentionally designed as a hip-hop club banger, incorporating trendy Jersey Club elements and heavily electronic vocals. 2.0 continues the legacy of veteran producer Mike Wil Made-It and boasts a thick trap sound, extending the hip-hop vibe of the album.
With such arrangements, the first half of Arirang is an impressive performance by the rappers of BTS. RM, Suga, and J-hope take turns delivering fiery and creative verses. RM still possesses an impressive deep voice, Suga stands out with his rap technique and diverse flow, and J-hope handles the melody confidently.
In particular, No. 29 can be considered one of the most impressive tracks in BTS's discography, featuring only a single bell sound at the beginning, which resonates for 1 minute and 38 seconds. This is known to be the sacred bell of King Seongdeok – the 29th national treasure recognized by South Korea. No. 29 is a perfect conclusion to the first half, a tribute to the core values that BTS has upheld throughout their more than 10 years of musical activity.
The creativity is cleverly refined.
Since No. 29 , the Arirang album has taken a new turn, with more interesting and different creative experiments. The song immediately following it, " Swim ," which is also the album's main single, is immediately slowed down, exploring gentler, softer melodies somewhat similar to "Life Goes on" from the group's previous studio album, "Be ," but with added interesting synth sounds. With its beautiful melody and easy-to-listen sound, the song is expected to become the group's next big hit.
BTS demonstrates how expanding collaborations with diverse producers has resulted in such varied and distinctive music. "Merry Go Round" is one of the most unique tracks in "Arirang," boasting a very distinctive psychedelic element brought to the song by Kevin Parker, the frontman of the renowned psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. " Normal" also bears the strong imprint of Ryan Tedder, with its pop rock style and drums characteristic of this producer's genre. The rock influence continues with "Like Animals ," showing that BTS isn't afraid to step outside their comfort zone and experiment with different styles.
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The latter half of Arirang features exciting creative elements, where BTS experiments with collaborations with various producers, stepping outside their comfort zone. |
Meanwhile, "One More Night" delivers vibrant synth sounds and the influence of 90s house – Diplo's signature dance/electronic sounds. "They Don't Know About Us" is an R&B track focusing on spatial construction and showcasing the group's vocal abilities and playful use of melody. " Into the Sun" can be considered a relatively simple arrangement on the album, but it demonstrates the members' ability to harmonize, affirming the strong bond and closeness of all seven members.
It can be said that Arirang 's musical journey is a fitting representation of the group's comeback: beginning with a tribute to the values that made the group famous, using the sound of the sacred Seongdeok bell as a way to affirm their proud Korean DNA, then continuing and expanding the musical scope to show the solidity of the group's brand in the face of market fluctuations. After nearly four years of BTS's hiatus, the face of K-pop has changed somewhat, but BTS remains, standing tall and strong, constantly innovating, and their aura has never left them.
Source: https://znews.vn/hao-quang-van-thuoc-ve-bts-bat-chap-kpop-thay-doi-post1637555.html
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