I've been watching all of the BTS promo interviews on various YouTube shows, but this one is just too cute and wholesome not to re-post. A BTS ear cleaning with a 50-year-old Japanese MMA fighter was not on my bingo card this year but it's, like, outrageously adorable?
As I said, this one of my Top 5 tracks from ARIRANG. As understated and lo-fi as "SWIM" is, "2.0" is bad-ass and anthemic, a melodramatic play on rhythm and repetition — it's this album's true comeback song in every sense of the word. A middle finger to the haters, the doubters, all those little fuckers that thought BTS wouldn't survive a hiatus and spouted so much shit about them in the last four years, saying their faves have surpassed them, that BTS will never rise again — when they should've shut up and acknowledged that their faves are just riding on BTS' coattails. BTS and ARMY know their power. For context, BTS wrote this song last summer after a four-year hiatus, but they were all over the news just yesterday, making headlines for being the best-selling group in the last DECADE, of having a 7th #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Basically: Bangtan's back, and don't you fucking forget it.
"Yeah, just like BTS," sure sounds easy
We're like a vault, who's gonna jump over us
It's kinda funny, but not really
10 years, man, not even close
Stop, ride
Yuh, yuh, yuh, yuh, yeah
Pull up at your block
We gonna knock, knock, knock, knock, yeah
Had your little fun, fella?
Pop, pop, pop, pop, yeah
Came back for what's mine, we don't
Stop, ride
You know how I do, do, do, do, do, do
You know how I do, do, do, do, do
Set a fire, brand new
On fire, brand new
Yeah, we on that brand new
You know how we do
Ay, ay, ay
Yeah, the feeling's kinda brand new
Spectacular step, no runnin' step two
2, 2.0, when the update's through
Stirrin' things up here and there again
10 out of 10, 10
Now throw out that useless old junk
Go pick it up
Get nice and easy again and kick it up
Stop, ride
Yuh, yuh, yuh, yuh, yeah
Pull up at your block
We gonna knock, knock, knock, knock, yeah
Had your little fun, fella?
Pop, pop, pop, pop, yeah
Came back for what's mine, we don't
Stop, ride
You know how I do, do, do, do, do, do
You know how I do, do, do, do, do
Set a fire, brand new
On fire, brand new
Yeah, we on that brand new
You know how we do
Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop
Baby gettin' too lit, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah
Hit 'em up like pop
Hit 'em with the truth like rah
Time to pay your debt
Fear me or fear me not
Let it be
Let it bleed
Hit a lick
In a split
Stop, ride
Yuh, yuh, yuh, yuh, yeah
Pull up at your block
We gonna knock, knock, knock, knock, yeah
Had your little fun, fella?
Pop, pop, pop, pop, yeah
Came back for what's mine, we don't
Stop, ride
You know how I do, do, do, do, do, do
You know how I do, do, do, do, do
Set a fire, brand new
On fire, brand new
Yeah, we on that brand new
You know how we do
You know how I do, do, do, do, do, do
You know how I do, do, do, do, do
Set a fire, brand new
On fire, brand new
Yeah, we on that brand new
You know how we do
Definitely the most random and unhinged MV they've ever released and I'm obsessed with it. Only BTS could make an ode to Oldboy with synchronized choreography. And include an elevator wardrobe change intermission in an official MV. I'm not sure what the hell I just watched, actually.This video explains the parallels of Oldboy to BTS, and it's actually quite genius. I'm impressed. And mildly turned on. And holy shit, this choreography is wild. Like, almost "Run BTS" level wild. I can see why a whole load of gangsters would be intimidated by it. God, I hope they release the dance practice.
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!
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!!!
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!
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.
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."
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.)
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.
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!
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. 💜
Denise, '86 liner. Chinese-Canadian, born, raised, and still living in the Greater Toronto Area. Professional make-up artist turned office manager. Introvert with brilliant extrovert skills. BTS ARMY since 2016, OT7, Jungkook and Jimin biased. BTS and BT21 merch collector, amateur foodie, skincare fiend, mascara connoisseur, shopaholic, teetotaler, Scorpio, avid The Sims 4 player, K-drama addict, and Potterhead since 1997. Penchant for live concerts, collecting figures, dining out, building LEGO, and food photography.
About the Site
Circuits of Fever is a personal blog and a hobby only. It mainly features my interests in BTS, food, beauty, music, photography, travel, lifestyle, and culture. The name "Circuits of Fever" is a song by Thursday from their 2009 album, Common Existence. The title of this blog has no relevance to the actual purpose of or topics discussed within the blog.
All photos since November 2023 have been taken with an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. All photos are taken by me, unless otherwise noted. Please do not use my photos or blog content without permission. Photos are edited by me using Adobe Photoshop 2024. This blog is written and edited by me using Blogger through Google Chrome, on an Apple MacBook Pro.
Note: None of these posts are sponsored. All products reviewed or shown on this blog are purchased by me for personal use only.
Playlist (March 2026)
BTS - 2.0
BTS - Aliens
BTS - Body to Body
BTS - FYA
BTS - Hooligan
BTS - Into the Sun
BTS - Like Animals
BTS - Merry Go Round
BTS - NORMAL
BTS - One More Night
BTS - Please
BTS - SWIM
BTS - They Don't Know 'Bout Us
