BTS on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Interview and "SWIM" 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.

HAPPY SUGA DAY 2026! 🐱

To ARMY's Lil' Meow Meow, Bangtan's most savage rapper, one of the music industry's most talented producers, and my bias wrecker, happy 33rd birthday! Thank you for your words of comfort and wisdom, for always standing up for your rights, for always voicing your opinions, for speaking up on global issues and mental health, for your adorable gummy smiles, for being the ultimate softie even though you don't like showing it, and for writing some of my favourite songs of all time. Happy birthday, Min Yoongi a.k.a. Suga a.k.a. Agust D a.k.a. Min Suga Genius Jjang Jjang Man Boong Boong. I can't wait to see you in August. 💜

BTS The Comeback Live: ARIRANG on Netflix — Official Trailer

"The BTS ARMY will have to wait a while to see their favourite band again."

I can't believe the wait will finally be over in 16 days. I cannot wait for what will undoubtedly be the biggest, most epic, most jaw-dropping comeback in music history.

BTS — ARIRANG Tracklist

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

WE ARE GOING TO BE BLESSED WITH 14 NEW TRACKS!!! 17 MORE DAYS!!!

Dining Out: Chinese New Year 2026 Dinner at NKS Banquet Hall

A Chinese holiday wouldn't be complete without dinner at NKS Banquet Hall with my mom and her bestie:

Thick-cut char siu (BBQ pork)

Stir-fried sirloin beef with broccoli and candied walnuts

Stir-fried gai lan (Chinese broccoli) with garlic

Steamed tilapia with soy sauce, ginger, and scallions

Crispy skin free-range chicken with shrimp chips

Longevity buns

A complete meal of land, sea, and sky! (Okay, chickens don't really fly but it's still a bird, and IT'S SYMBOLIC, OKAY?) Got all of our favourites — including, yes, the best char siu I've ever had in my life — along with the traditional steamed fish in soy sauce and scallions (for prosperity, of course). Finished off with some piping hot longevity buns that the staff gifted us since my mom was born on Chinese New Year in the lunisolar calendar (yes, she is the only person I know that gets to celebrate two birthdays just because of this). Anyway, if you're wondering how the hell the three of us could eat all of this food — we didn't. There was enough food for two more dinners. And, obviously, since I am way too lazy to cook and they take pity on me, I got to take home of all the glorious leftovers!

Happy Year of the Horse!

NKS Banquet Hall

New Kennedy Square

8360 Kennedy Rd., Unit B06

Markham, ON L3R 9W5

(905) 948-8668

HAPPY J-HOPE DAY 2026! 🐿

(Photo source: BTS Official X)
To Bangtan's eternal sunshine, K-pop's King of Dance, and ARMY's Piece of Peace, happy 32nd birthday! Thank you for blessing us with your unparalleled street and freestyle dance skills, your infectious smile, your incredible work ethic, your amazing ability to change cadence and flow in your rap, always choosing to be hopeful, and for being the backbone of BTS. Most of all, thank you for helping us step into our futures with a rhythm of positivity. Your birthday this year falls on the day after Lunar New Year, so on top of wishing you an amazing day full of joy and laughter, I also hope you get to eat tteokguk with all your loved ones. 💜