By Kailey Garcia
After almost four full years of waiting, BTS is finally back!
This past Friday was a very special day for ARMYs. After completing their military service in June of last year, BTS has returned with a full-length album titled “ARIRANG.”
The inspiration for the album title comes from Korea’s most recognized traditional folk song, one that speaks to nostalgia and a longing for home, family, lovers, and friends. Many of the members have expressed that these feelings closely reflect their time serving in the military, away from each other and, of course, their beloved ARMY.
However, this is not the first time BTS has paid homage to this traditional song. Back in 2016, the group performed an Arirang medley during their M Countdown stage in France. A time before the group’s rise to global fame.
Through this album, the group aims to honor their roots as Korean artists navigating global fame. By blending traditional sentiment with modern pop and hip-hop influences, ARIRANG presents lyrics and melodies that feel both culturally grounded and universal.
Right from the opening track, “Body to Body,” we hear this fusion take shape. While the chorus is sung in English over electronic rhythms, elements of the original Arirang melody gradually emerge, layered with acoustic percussion and evocative vocals that highlight traditional Korean sounds.
Before the album transitions into its more melodramatic tracks, listeners are introduced to track number 29. While fans have been taken aback by the deliberate silence that follows it, the track still carries an essence of Korea that remains central to the album.
The bell sound featured in the track references the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok, Korea’s 29th national treasure, hence the title. The track’s 1 minute and 38 second length captures a single recorded ring, made unique by the bell’s massive size and asymmetrical design, which produces multiple harmonic overtones.
While there has been ongoing debate about whether ARIRANG fully captures BTS’s Korean roots, especially given its dominant English lyrics and the Western visual style of their music video “Swim”—these subtle incorporations of traditional sound still leave a strong impression. They create a distinct contrast against the album’s more global production, which includes contributions from many Western artists and producers.
At the same time, ARIRANG may not be solely rooted in a fixed idea of Korean identity, but rather in the group’s evolving identity, one shaped by their growth and expansion into Western markets, especially as they introduced K-pop to new global audiences.
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So, have you listened to BTS’s new album? If so, what did you think?
Share your thoughts, let us know your favorite songs, and whether you’ll be attending any stops on their upcoming tour, on our social media.