K-pop boy band BTS finally returned with their tenth studio album, ARIRANG, on Friday, March 20, after their four-year hiatus for each member to complete their mandatory military service. Not only did they come back with a fierce presence, but they also went back to their Korean and hip-hop heritage. 

With the release of their popular English pop tracks, such as “Dynamite” in 2020 and “Butter” in 2022, the Korean boy group garnered popularity globally from international fans, even being nominated for the Grammy awards five times in 2021, 2022 and 2023. However, their newest album deviated from their previously popularized image as pop singers to their more authentic roots of hip-hop.

Starting off with the title, “Arirang” is originally a symbolic Korean folk song that represents their resilience and unity against their history under Japanese colonialism, often regarded as the unofficial national anthem. The boy band decided to derive the name of their newest album from this folk song to embrace their Korean heritage, implicitly straying from their once Western-fusion style. 

Securing their seventh No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album features a total of 14 tracks. All members have said they participated in the creation of the tracks. 

The album begins with “Body to Body,” which fuses hip-hop rap into the pansori (traditional vocal) sample of “Arirang.” The song overall is experimental, but it still sticks to their traditional pop-like melodies. The chorus, “Somebody like you,” followed by the Korean folk song, provides a nostalgic yet renewed tone to the track. The lyrics themselves focus on the physical and emotional connection between the group and their fans, emphasizing togetherness through the phrase, “I need some body to body.” 

The following song, “Hooligan,” comes off as one of the more surprising tracks. Embedding laughs — “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha” — throughout the song alongside the fast-paced rhythm, the first listen was rather unsettling and new. But the second time around, the title, “Hooligan,” which refers to a young, violent man who causes trouble, began making sense as the laughs seemed to mock the strict standards in the music industry. Lyrics like “We pop out, we actin’ a fool again” showed how the group has embraced their “hooligan” persona to go against the standards of their previous images. 

The next few tracks — “Aliens,” “FYA,” and “2.0” — were all very intense rap songs with high beats per minute. These songs offer a more aggressive and rhythmic hip-hop beat, adding to the swagger of the album, creating a well-balanced mix of both traditional and modern music. The lyrics of these songs all commonly express their desire to showcase the evolution of their music. For example, in “2.0,” they included lyrics such as “Yeah, we on that brand new, you know how we do.” 

But the hip-hop style ends with “No. 29,” the interlude, resetting the tone of the album as they shift to their more pop-focused songs. 

The seventh track, “SWIM,” was released with a music video as their lead single. With an upbeat yet laid-back alternative pop melody, the song garnered about 80 million views on YouTube and 116 million streams on Spotify since its release. The lyrics dive into themes of perseverance and embracing life’s challenges, but also moving forward at one’s own pace. The lyrics, “I just want to dive,” serve as a metaphor for the members yearning to learn how to swim with the current of life rather than fighting it. 

Despite the album being an ode to their heritage and their intention to reclaim their identity as Koreans, the title track felt incomplete with the full English lyrics. If the goal was to center the release on “Arirang,” a traditional folk song, the incorporation of traditional Korean lyrics would not only have been more coherent but also more relatable. However, this decision may have been to appeal to their global audience. 

Transitioning seamlessly, “Merry Go Round” provides psychedelic rock vibes with heavy reverb and live instrumentation. This song had a melancholic melody as the group explores the idea of an endless cycle of fame, just like a merry-go-round. Through lyrics like “My life is like a broken roller coaster, but maybe I’m the only one to blame,” BTS addresses the vulnerability of being under the spotlight, highlighting their longing to escape fame. 

Similarly, the tracks “NORMAL” and “Like Animals” convey their message of wanting to live “normal” lives, away from their public persona. Using clean pop-rock guitar and melodic vocals, they authentically deliver their raw emotions. 

But in “NORMAL,” the repetitive mention of “Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced” was especially intriguing. At first listen, the words seemed to be unrelated to the song, but actually symbolize the artificially intense nature of their fame. Kerosene, which is flammable, could be interpreted as their burning desire to maintain their fame; dopamine, on the other hand, may underscore their artificial highs and rewards that fuel their pleasure. But it goes to show how their lifestyles were forced and not organic, depicting their longing for authenticity. 

Then comes “they don’t know ‘bout us,” as they boldly assert how fame hasn’t changed them. The smooth R&B melody and hopeful chorus highlight how the group wants to push against their public perception and reclaim their identity: “You said we changed? We feel the same, s***.” 

Finally, the album closes with “Into the Sun,” which provides a grand, orchestral finish with vocal harmonies from all the members. This track feels reminiscent of a love letter to their fans and a promise to continue their activities, regardless of their future. The optimistic beat also creates a transition into a new era of their reflection on the past and their step forward into the future. 

Overall, BTS truly came back as themselves with their raw, authentic emotions. Though the album fell short of encapsulating the essence of “Arirang” by failing to incorporate more cultural samples and Korean lyrics, the theme undoubtedly succeeds in moving the hearts of the listeners. 

Now stepping into their post-military career, the boy band proves themselves to be unchanged hip-hop artists who will yet again dominate the global music scene.