BTS' "SWIM" Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

(Image source: Billboard Official X)

(Image source: Billboard Official X)

As per usual, only BTS breaks their own records. ARMY said we'd wait for them and we never renege on our promises. They gave the rest of the music industry a nearly four-year reprieve and now they're back with a vengeance. Congratulations, BTS!

Run BTS! 2.0 Teaser

I had been watching Run BTS! since 2017 (RIP Naver V Live) and for many years, it had been the one thing I looked forward to every single week. When they finally enlisted, I had mourned the end of it in 2023. We didn't know if and when it would ever come back. BUT IT HAS FINALLY BEEN RESURRECTED!!! 

BTS is single-handedly saving 2026, y'all.

BTS — "SWIM" Live Clip I. (Sunhyewon ver.)

I have been listening to nothing but ARIRANG on repeat since its release, both in order and on shuffle, and I don't give a shit what critics or select ARMYs (some of which are whining about how this album doesn't sound like "the old BTS" as if artists can't grow or change — as if experimenting with sound is not the entire fucking point of being a musician) or GP are saying — this album is genuinely fucking spectacular. For me, there's not a skippable song on ARIRANG, with the exception of "No. 29," which is really just the sound of a gong fading into silence, acting as a sort of meditation moment or a small intermission between the first high-energy half of the record and the softer, more understated second half of the record (and is miraculously charting on Spotify regardless of containing no music and no lyrics).

I said this at its release, but I'm so glad they chose "SWIM" to be the title track despite it being a gentler, more low-key song, because even listening to it — and the 7 other remixes (I might be biased because it's so Denise-coded, but Jin's "Alternative Rock" remix is INSANELY GOOD) — constantly, I'm not sick of it. Every single new song they performed during their live comeback on Netflix and all the consequent new live performances we've seen so far (which includes their appearances on Jimmy Fallon and this clip here) sound and look incredible. God, I can't wait to see them in person. 5 months to go!

BTS — "SWIM" Dance Practice

I don't know what the setlist will be on their tour, but "SWIM" is going to be the best transition performance of the show.

Epikase: Episode 72 — Epik High with RM and SUGA

Namjoon: "I'm just watching to see how far they'll take this."

Yoongi: "You seriously sound like a grandfather, what do we do?!"

Namjoon: "Your YouTube is seriously…"

Epikase is the one YouTube show that I have watched weekly since its inception (especially since Run BTS and Run Jin ended), and I have been waiting patiently for the day BTS would guest on it. And my god, they did not disappoint. The very best "interviews" are the ones with friends, and only Tablo could ask these kinds of unhinged questions and actually get honest answers. I only wish this was, like, three hours longer.

BTS on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview, "SWIM" Live Performance, and "2.0" Live Performance

Jimmy: "I gotta ask you, what was the moment like when the seven of you were together in a room for the first time after all these years?"

Tae: "Wow, finally!"

Other members, nodding: "Finally!"

Namjoon: "In military, time stops… And after, time just flows by. We just can't believe that it's been nine months that we were all discharged."

Jimmy: "Did it get emotional? Did you know what to say? Did it get quiet?"

Jin: "I felt like I had reunited with family."

To see them all together again like this is just… magical. Also, just as Grand Central Station was the perfect place to perform "ON," the spiral structure of the Guggenheim is such a perfect venue to perform "SWIM."

BTS — "SWIM" MV Behind the Scenes

Director: "You cannot help her."

Tae: ☹️

Jimin, pointing at arm: "I've got goosebumps all over. It's freezing."

Jin: "It's too cold!"

Jimin: "Want me to hug you?"

Jin: "No, your clothes will get dirty."

Jimin, hugging Jin: " It's okay."

[Namjoon in a room full of maps]

Namjoon, nodding: "I liked geography when I was younger so I guess that's why I got this role."

Namjoon, waving vigorously: "Mom! I'm off to make money!"

My god, I don't think I realized just how much I missed them.

BTS — "SWIM" Official Performance Video

This choreography is low-key and incredibly simple by all BTS standards, but it will work so perfectly on a 360° stage. I can't fucking wait to see this live on tour. (Also they all look SO DEVASTATINGLY HANDSOME, it's almost upsetting.)

BTS — ARIRANG Album Photoshoot: Behind the Scenes

Goddamn. Like, I know they're Asian, but... they really be aging like fine wine.

BTS on Apple Music with Zane Lowe: The ARIRANG Interview

"For this album, we didn't care about any 'templates,' we just did what we wanted. We just worked freely, exploring what we wanted to say."

As usual, Zane Lowe is impeccable. Frankly, this will be the only interview that matters in this comeback. 

BTS ARIRANG: Studio Notes

We used to have to wait for RM's comeback livestream to hear about what went behind the melodies, the lyrics, the production, and the why they made the decisions they did, so I really love that they decided to hold this type of conference with the whole group to talk about the album and what went into each song. God, I can't wait to cycle through this album again and again and again.

Also, serious props to the live translator. To have to think about not just the direct translation, but the nuances of the words and meanings, and then having to type it all out in real time? The translators are the real MVPs here.

BTS — "SWIM" Official MV

I was expecting an English language song to be their title track, but I wasn't expecting it to sound so… lo-fi, mature, low-key sexy. The vibe kind of reminds me of "Black Swan," where there are undercurrents of darkness to it, a hint of sexiness, and a splash of melancholy… It's catchy, of course, but it's not flashy, it's not anthemic, and it's not overly poppy or energetic. It's understated, in the best, most beautiful way. It's the kind of pop song that I can listen to on repeat and not get sick of, which is honestly the best kind of title track. I cannot freaking wait to play Arirang on repeat for the next, like, six months.

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim, swim

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive

I just wanna dive

Bad world

Gone away and I still wake up in this mad world

Name a place that I could breathe on this map, world

Lookin' like a goody-goody in this bad world, bad world

Don't know how to act, girl

I'm in the deep, tell me where the hell you at, girl?

Oh, you ain't even gotta love me bad, girl

You know that I'm never holdin' back, girl

So easy

Don't make it so hard

Nights like these

I just wanna get lost

Right here, with the moon and the sharks

I ain't gotta think 'bout a thing, baby, I just

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim, swim

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive

I just wanna dive

Water, water, so deep

Water so deep

Take it off the ground

I ain't never gettin' cold feet

Yeah, you know me

Yeah, you know me

Sittin' on the shore

Now I'm ready for the whole sea

I can feel the high waves comin'

Why you run away, you can run in

Salt on my tongue, she's stunnin'

You're the only place that I wanna be

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim, swim

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive

I just wanna dive

Splash, drift

I make waves with my two fins

Splash, drip

I just wanna take it across the line

Under here we don't chase the time

Baby, everything can't be so sad

Turn my face from the land

I just wanna dive

I just wanna dive

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim, swim

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive

I just wanna dive

And ahoy, matey! Shiver me timbers! Avast ye, scallywag! Dead men tell no tales! That is all the pirate speak I know, and I'm not even sure if BTS are supposed to be (really sleek, sexy) pirates here, or if they're just like, (unrealistically beautiful) sailors, but either way, they've got captain chic down pat. (Also, took me a full minute to recognize her, but it's Betty Cooper!) I am so freaking excited for their comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square this Saturday!

BTS — "SWIM" Official Teaser #2

TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!! (Man, we haven't had an OT7 comeback in over 5 years and I forgot how exciting it is!)

BTS — "SWIM" Official Teaser #1

THREE MORE DAYS!!!!!!!

BTS ARIRANG Animation Trailer: What is your love song?

Why Arirang is the perfect name for BTS' upcoming album.