After being on hiatus for nearly four years to fulfill military service, the South Korean seven-member K-pop boy group, BTS, has recently released their highly-anticipated fifth album, “ARIRANG”.
This follows the group’s previous project “Be” (2020) and various solo projects from group members.
They initially began recording “ARIRANG” between July and Nov. 2025. The group officially released the album on March 20, which included 14 tracks and a special message to their fans. This marks their first full-group album in nearly six years.
“We made over 120 tracks,” BTS leader and main rapper RM said in an interview with Bloomberg.
The meaning behind “ARIRANG” is that it’s named after Korea’s most iconic traditional folk song, “Gyeonggi Arirang,” which symbolizes resilience, longing and reunion. The album itself is a mix of traditional Korean folk while also incorporating modern genres like pop and hip-hop.
Shifting from their previous pop-focused music, the album mainly focused on their Korean heritage; it combined more complex layers and storytelling, providing a more mature and experimental blend of sounds.
“We thought a lot about how we should define this album, but I would say like a full gift box,” BTS lead rapper Suga said in an interview with Bloomberg.
“Body to Body” – One of the most culturally significant songs in the album, the opening track, “Body to Body”, is highly favorable for its unique sound and sample of “Gyeonggi Arirang.” The sample is used as a tribute to their cultural roots, which many Korean fans adored. The song explores themes of intimate connections between their fans (ARMY) in a concert setting.
Ellery: I believe “Body to Body” is a strong opening track, as the rhythm and meaning are so beautifully expressed throughout. Notably, the ending of the song — featuring the sample — is very musically poignant, which makes it one of my top five tracks throughout the entire album.
An interesting fact is that the American Heart Association (AHA) confirmed in an Instagram post that the song hits the right tempo of 120 beats per minute, which could be used for effective chest compressions.
“This one’s for the BTS ARMY! We’re jamming to ‘Body to Body,’ because it has the right beat for Hands-Only CPR!” AHA said in their post.
“Hooligan” – One of the most criticized songs on the album, “Hooligan” is a high-energy experimental track. The track signifies a long-awaited return. BTS has received a lot of negative feedback due to the “corny” nature of the song, with fans being disappointed in the lyrics and overall production of the song.
The overall meaning of the song is letting go of restrictions and acting like a hooligan.
“Aliens” – “Aliens” embraces an empowering anthem asserting their global power and cultural identities. The song, majorly featuring BTS members V and Jung Kook, uses “aliens” as a metaphor to show how they feel like they’re outsiders from the East, while challenging anti-Asian prejudice.
“FYA” – The song “FYA” is a high-energy experimental track about explosive energy, focusing on a “fierce” atmosphere, with themes of being unstoppable and living in that very moment. The song was produced by popular artists Diplo, Flume and JPEGMAFIA. The lyrics also feature references to Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.
Caiden: For me, “FYA” is probably one of the best songs on the album, due to its catchy beat and lyrics.
“2.0” – The song “2.0” refers to a new chapter in their journey following their military service. It focuses on the members’ growth and symbolizes their maturity. Highlighting their evolution, the lyric “10 years doesn’t even scratch the surface,” emphasizes their long-term impact in the music industry.
“’2.0’ is about who we are today after our solo journey,” BTS vocalist V said in an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“No. 29” – This track is an interlude based on The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, also known as the Emille Bell. It’s recognized as one of the most respected historical artifacts in South Korea. The whole track runs for about one minute and 38 seconds with no vocals, lyrics or beat drops. Interestingly, the only sound is the extensive ringing of the bell after it was struck.
The meaning of this track is to establish an emotional pivot that represents their years of silence from military service and a quiet, meaningful pause throughout the album.
Initially, many listeners were taken aback by the sudden silence that broke the momentum of hip-hop heavy tracks, but the purpose of it was to serve as a shift to the second half of the album, which has a gentler and softer leaning sound, with songs like “SWIM” and “Merry Go Round”.
“SWIM” – “SWIM” is the lead track and anthem about persevering and navigating life’s struggles through self-love. The song could be described as synth-heavy pop and uses lyrics like “water” and “deep” to symbolize trauma and personal obstacles. ARMY’s initial interpretation of the song was of BTS offering their comfort and support to them through difficult times.
“I wrote the lyrics and I tried to express the confusion that we all had before after the military and just saying life is swimming and we just paddle and paddle day by day and hour by hour and we want to just keep swimming,” RM said.
Ellery: After listening to the song, I view it as a comforting song that would benefit me through tough times when I need support. The lyrics and soft nature of the song perfectly encapsulate the feeling of consolation via music.
“Merry Go Round” – A melancholic electro-pop ballad produced by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, “Merry Go Round” explores themes of vulnerability and the inescapable cycle of fame. It compares life to a merry-go-round and a rollercoaster using lyrics like: “My life is like a broken roller coaster.” This addresses being trapped in a cycle and unable to slow down despite the urge to.
“NORMAL” – “Normal” by BTS explores the surreal emotion, mental and physical cost of being a global sensation, with the overall song highlighting loneliness, insecurity and difficulty of finding reality in a life where everything you do is somewhat controlled by the media. It fights the tension of being normal while living an extraordinary life. BTS described the song as a personal, reflective song that gives insights on the realities K-pop idols face behind the scenes.
“Like Animals” – The track, “Like Animals,” is a pop-rock song that explores the theme of desire while having the meaning of raw emotion and living without restraint. The song encourages letting go of inhibitions to embrace reality and reflecting on freedom from social pressures.
“They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us” – Heavily written and composed by BTS member Jimin, the track “They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us” is a promise to fans that they will always stay true to themselves. Furthermore, lyrics like “You say we changed? We feel the same” and “They don’t know ‘bout us” addresses the contrast between the public perception versus their personal lives.
Ellery: When I first heard a snippet of the track, I was fascinated by the rhythm and vocals from the members. I particularly thought BTS member V’s tone of voice perfectly encapsulated the vibe of the overall song. All in all, this track might be one of my personal favorites throughout the album.
“One More Night” – The song “One More Night” is inspired by the 90s and by R&B. The track explores the emotional and stressful experience of getting back into being an idol. This song overall symbolizes their return to the relentless K-pop industry and how overworked most idols are.
“Please” – Written by Tyler Spry, James Essien, Ryan Tedder, RM, SUGA and j-hope, this track is a heartfelt, emotional plea longing for someone to stay. Lyrics that accentuate the song’s meaning are, “If it’s a place where you are, I’ll follow you / Even something like a thorny path, I don’t care, I’ll just stomp right over it.” The overall vibe of the song is an emotional R&B that combines elements of hip-hop and rap to create a unique sound.
“The flow and beat of the track really caught my attention because of its unique sound and word-play,” BTS ARMY member Isabella Rodriguez said.
“Into the Sun” – The meaning behind “Into the Sun” features themes of running towards a brighter future, overcoming hardships and staying together no matter how far you are from one another. The overall genre of the song is uplifting pop-rock, which serves as a heartfelt, anthemic pledge of loyalty and devotion to a loved one, with the song being dedicated to ARMY.
Lastly, BTS left an exclusive Apple Music message directed to ARMY.
“ARMYRANG” – In the video, they expressed their excitement with the album’s release and reflection over their journey and new identities. They aimed to connect with their fans through each unique track.
“This album reflects the combination of our journey to date as BTS,” BTS member Jin said in the message.
To support BTS, stream “ARIRANG” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Youtube.
