By Alba Galvan 

The internationally renowned K-pop band Bangtan Sonyeondon (BTS), known for top song’s Dynamite and Butter, released Arirang, their first album in four years.

The seven members of BTS have been on a hiatus while they finished their mandatory South Korean military service, which they completed in June 2025. During their time serving, the band members were also working on their own solo projects.  

Arirang released on March 20 — BTS’ comeback was widely celebrated by millions of fans, resulting in the song Swim becoming their seventh number one song on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album has a total of 14 tracks — and let me just say, each song hits. 

Body to Body starts with lyrics telling ‘Army’ — the fandom name — to live in the present and enjoy life.‘Put your phone down, let’s get all the fun.’  

At the end of the song, you feel the blend of hip-hop and Korean folk music in a way that draws the listener in, wanting to hear more of the song. 

Hooligan is the song you go with if you miss their earlier work. This was peak trap-pop, and I think the clashing of knives was interesting and added character to the song. 

Aliens is really interesting, ‘The nerve on you, shameless. Show some respect, we aliens.’ I interpret that as their way of saying they paved the way for other Korean artists in western media. 

2.0 was also neat, you can just feel their well-deserved egos in this song with lyrics like, ‘came back for what’s mine.’ Fun fact: Mike WiLL Made-it produced both songs. 

FYA is a song I hope to listen to in a club. This is a new style for them, it’s definitely unlike anything I have listened to by BTS and it’s very catchy. 

No.29 is not a song, but the sound of the sacred bell of the great King Seongdeok, which is an important part of Korean history.

SWIM — UGHHHHHH, this shit was so good. As someone who was previously a big supporter of the group, this reminds me so much of their older albums when I first fell into the whole fangirl era of my life. 

Merry Go Round was very emotional, with English translated lyrics that brought tears to my eyes, “Feel like I’m grown up now, but my worries are just the same. Every day the same routine, merry-go-round.” 

Normal is beautifully written — it highlights the struggles of how normal looks different for others and how fame has become a challenge when it comes to wanting a normal life. 

Like Animals feels more R&B and is fully in English. This song, once again, is beautifully written, and I have had it on repeat. I won’t be surprised if it’s on my top five Wrapped Spotify songs. 

They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us feels like a message towards critics — they do this in a cool, dark trap and hip-hop style. 

One More Night has an interesting house style music mix with synths, and Into the Sun has a more robotic-rock feel to it. Both songs are experimental for the group and I think they were a good addition to the album. 

Please has an R&B style with intimate lyrics and an easy-going beat, and I know younger me would be squealing like such a fangirl because it’s a love song. 

I truly believe this is a very well-written and beautiful album. It almost makes me wish I had succeeded in getting their concert tickets, as I would call this the comeback of the year. 

Alba, she/her, Lumberjack reporter. Journalism major who loves to read and write. She’s very passionate about sharing and listening to different opinions and loves self-expression. Contact email: agg83@humboldt.edu