BTS Makes a Triumphant Return with 'Arirang' Album
Ending a hiatus that began in 2022 for mandatory military service in South Korea, the septet BTS has released their highly anticipated album, 'Arirang.' This comeback marks a significant effort to recapture the distinctiveness that had been threatening to ebb away during their global ascent.
Reclaiming Korean Identity in a Global Context
As BTS's commercial success soared to stratospheric heights, with over 500 million units sold worldwide and more than 104 billion streams, critics argued that their music had become increasingly irrelevant. Prior to their hiatus, English-language hits like 'Dynamite' and 'Butter' dominated the charts, but they smothered the K-pop-specific idiosyncrasies that defined their earlier work. By 2020, with albums such as 'Map of the Soul: 7' and 'Be,' the band's roots as a hip-hop-focused collective seemed a distant memory, and their identity as a Korean act was diluted by a more westernised sound and studio collaborations.
On 'Arirang,' named after a traditional Korean folk song dating back to 1896 and tagged with the slogan "born in Korea, playing for the world," BTS strives to rectify these perceived missteps. The album successfully captures the spirit of K-pop experimentation while integrating memorable hooks that appeal to a global audience.
Innovative Collaborations and Musical Experimentation
The album is split into two distinct moods, with the opening trio of songs immediately reinstating rapper RM as the band's guiding creative force. Over an elastic beat assisted by Diplo, which recalls Timbaland's work on Nelly Furtado's 'Loose,' tracks like 'Body to Body' feature RM, Suga, and J-Hope navigating tempo changes, echo-laden drums, and processed vocals with evident enjoyment. Western collaborators are chosen for their off-kilter appeal, including outsider rapper-producer Jpegmafia and producer El Guincho, known for his work with Björk and Rosalía.
On 'Hooligan,' El Guincho constructs a beat from sounds resembling swords sharpening on steel, offering a metallic experimentation that answers the question of what BTS might sound like if produced by Sophie. Even contributions from US rap production titan Mike Will Made-It fit seamlessly on the crunchy 'Aliens,' while the braggadocious '2.0' serves as a warning to K-pop boybands that attempted to fill BTS's void during their hiatus.
Balancing Softness and Depth in Pop Music
BTS and their label, Big Hit Music, understand that a softer side is essential for any boyband. The lead single, 'Swim,' sung entirely in English, plays it relatively straight with featherlight synth-pop reminiscent of Troye Sivan. Despite its rudimentary lyrics about watching a hot girl in the sea, the song has been reinterpreted in accompanying materials as focusing on the "resolve to keep swimming onward through life's many tides." This intellectual retrofitting, similar to past claims about philosophical concepts in their albums, does them a disservice, as much of 'Arirang' thrives on big, dumb pop fun.
When the band does delve deeper, as on the Kevin Parker-produced 'Merry Go Round,' which reflects on fame's repetitive treadmill, the lyrical lightness of touch allows for genuine emotion. Tracks like 'Like Animals,' sounding like Diplo producing the Pixies, continue the second half's more reflective mood, with Jung Kook's soft croon balanced by a chunky processed guitar solo.
Album Highlights and Minor Shortcomings
At 14 songs, 'Arirang' occasionally sees themes duplicate, such as the underwritten 'They Don’t Know 'Bout Us,' which repeats the posturing of '2.0' to less interesting effect. However, the album concludes with a surprising closer, 'Into the Sun.' Slathered in vocal effects and stripped back to replicate a live band jam session, this track offers an intriguing edge with its slurred style and robotic sound, adding a curious, almost fatalistic tone. The mantra "I'll follow you into the sun" could be interpreted as a nod to loyal fans or bandmates, while the line "Nobody knows me" underscores BTS's desire to protect their inner lives amidst global fame.
Ultimately, 'Arirang' makes good on BTS's status as the planet's biggest pop phenomenon. They have crafted an album that balances Korean roots with global appeal, proving they are too big to fail and big enough to innovate while staying true to their essence.
