For many K-pop fans, the past few years have been leading up to this moment. After a long hiatus, BTS have made their much-anticipated return with album Arirang and title track Swim. I can certainly relate to the excitement of a beloved artist returning after a long time away, and if I catapult my mind back to the period between 2014 and 2016 I can also remember how exciting a new BTS comeback can feel. It’s been quite awhile since their music has hit me in that way, but as an avid observer of K-pop history I recognize the importance of this moment and — like everyone else — am beyond curious how new BTS music will sound and what they decide to promote as their big comeback.
Swim‘s almost nonexistent teasers didn’t offer much information about what we were in for. As its release neared, I became more and more convinced the group would opt for a gentle nudge of a return rather than hit listeners over the head. This hunch was largely based on the way pop music works at the moment. Artists – both K-pop and otherwise – don’t really do “grand returns” anymore. Just ask Bruno, Harry or Taylor. The idea of an epic, lay-it-all-on-the-line comeback is just not in style at the moment, which is a huge loss for those of us who love a big statement single. Instead, we’ve got vibes and sentiment, configured as a minimalist ripple that gradually builds over time to enjoy the maximum streaming life possible. This approach can work wonders, but it takes a very special song to do it. BTS know a thing or two about this with their evergreen 2017 classic Spring Day. No doubt they would love to recapture that magic in a bottle, but there’s a reason these songs don’t come around all that often.
Swim is “fine” in the way I’m getting so tired of describing K-pop tracks this year. We’ve got a whole bunch of “fine” already. I’ve got enough “fine” to last me several (very boring) years. What I’d absolutely kill to hear is a piece of music that actively tries to knock our collective socks into the stratosphere. Swim is not attempting to do that, which is… again… “fine.” The song is not obligated to offer anything transcendently new and exciting. But if the biggest K-pop group of our era isn’t going to do that, who will?
At a scant two-and-a-half minutes, Swim doesn’t allow itself much time to expand upon its ideas. Its minimalist chorus forms the backbone. This hook is simple, repetitive and monotone — but not unenjoyable. The verses employ the kind of sung hip-hop that’s become completely inescapable in modern pop music. For a group who was so transformative during their early years, Swim feels overly indebted to trends not of BTS’s own making. What we’re missing is some shot of drama that might give the song’s storyline a sense of rising action. The entire track is quite flat, painting mood without much purpose. I suppose this makes it ideal for looped streaming in the background, but it doesn’t make for a very compelling return. I suspect (and hope) there’s more interesting music on the album, which makes me wonder why the group chose to herald their long-awaited return with something as safe as Swim.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
Grade: C+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
is is the only place I can share my opinion without getting slaughtered by rabbid bts fans😝 so here it goesI have no energy to even write a long review but all I have to say is boring, uninteresting, generic, threadbare, mainstream, and a waste of my damn time. I genuinely can’t fathom why this is the song they chose to promote and No way bts fans waited 4 years for them to come back with the most generic sleepy ass lobotomy music ever. And if you thought this was bad don’t even check out the album…And you know those bts glazers gonna be like “soty guys, bts outdoing all your favs, omg rm breathed he’s so eco friendly! junkookies my husband he only loves me!” One thing I’ll say is that you can hear Kevin parkers( Tame Impala) influence all over merry go round! Anyways, thank you for coming to my Ted talk everyone! ❤️❤️❤️
No fucks/10❤️🫶
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Guess I did have the energy☠️🤡🫥😶🌫️
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tbh this whole album just feels like a cash crab working with famous western producers
completely lost the bts sound and im kinda disappointed
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Absolutely!
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I can already see my bts glazer comment was true to its word😂
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In response to looking at the reviews on reddit
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ew bts slander ewwwwwww no taste Stan bts forever or else you are a meanie forever
oh but seriously, I’m genuinely saddened about what happened to their music. Like wtf happened since ON?
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it’s so boring? i’m not even a mega bts stan but i was expecting a grand return for what has to be the most anticipated comebacks ever and i’m so severely whelmed
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Yeah that’s definitely one of the pop songs of all time
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As an ARMY, I’ll be honest, I don’t really know how to feel about Swim. Yes, it’s so nice to hear the boys’ vocals (and raps) again but also, I feel it’s kinda underwhelming for a big comeback title track.
Some of the b-sides could’ve been better choices given some tweaks ngl; I really enjoyed FYA from the new album.
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saying this as an army but this song boring as fuck
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Same problem I have with most music right now. It might be ok, if they finished it. This whole album sounds like nothing to me including a minute and a half song that is literally nothing. Its just boring Tiktok songs. They’re inoffensive for the 20 seconds its meant to be played for. I just wish they made something that was meant to be played as a full finished album.
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all i can say is that they definitely picked the safest song to be the title track
there are better songs on the album tho, it might not be for everyone but i enjoyed it
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the fact that this is the album that was advertised as a “deeply reflective body of work” that “explores the group’s identity and roots”…….i need a cigar
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This made me laugh❤️
You a baddie🙌
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I’m so confused why they did this + Arirang as the album name… then work with Western producers with predominantly English lyrics.
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What happened… I was really hoping for either a more melodic song or another hype song banger that BTS is known for and we got this boring material as the track to represent and show how much time we have waited for this moment? The only song on the album I actually kind of enjoy is One More Night which is nearing the end of the album. BTS, please let your work be your work going on (not some westernized shit even if it is just the producers) let your ideas flourish throughout the songs and be the greatest as you are painted to be. 7.5/10 unfortunately.
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listened to the entire album. It’s safe and it’s nice but I don’t think I will be revisiting this often anytime soon
59.6/100, one more night is the best track there
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naming your album after the most famous traditional folk song of your country and then coming back with a generic English pop song for the lead single 🥴 this has to be one of the worst baits I’ve ever seen. I really thought they’d go back to their roots but I guess we’re still Grammy-baiting.
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I’ve never been a huge BTS fan, but I acknowledge their massive impact and I can also say I’ve enjoyed a lot of their most iconic works. This song is just ok, but it falls short for a main single, especially after this being branded as their grand comeback. On the bright side, promotions will be very strong and these guys are probably going to be everywhere. It just makes me frustrated that this is the type of music they’re going to be delivering.
And it doesn’t get better on the rest of album, because ARIRANG ranges from “okay-sounding” listenable songs to overproduced tracks that lack a hook or even a nice melody. I would say the second half has better songs, but it also has the most boring ones unfortunately.
I know this is a BTS review but this comment can perfectly extend to most big third gen groups this year. It is such a sad state to be, with BLACKPINK, EXO and now BTS releasing their worst material in 2026, and BY FAR. All of them have had mid or bad songs in the past, but they all outdid that this year.
Regardless, I still see BTS’ impact and legacy but it’s sad to see a day like this coming, where their just massively huge despite releasing their worst material so far.
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Swim is definitely not the comeback banger I was expecting from BTS, and listening to the whole album, I am totally convinced they went with the safest option for a title track. For me personally, I loved body to body and FYA, gave me glimpses of the BTS that was.
Also, they absolutely used Arirang and its history as a cover for if people come at them for being too westernised, there is little trace of it on the album.
I love BTS and they are the ones who brought me into Kpop tbh, but nah, if this is the fare i am getting, I better leave the scene.
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comeback bangers are for groups who have something to prove, a has-been artist trying to reclaim some glory… Not BTS. So honestly I’m never surprised by their releases. I’m more interested in their solo work as each member very much are thirsty for a successful career
7/10 – extremely forgettable.
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actually who gaf abt bts we got the REAL main event today right here
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also at least to me the only notable thing abt this new bts album is that jpegmafia of all artists is a coproducer on it like how tf did hybe manage to score some1 with as batshit n mainstream adverse of a production style as his
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The whole album sounds like a J-Hope solo work, with Like Animals and One More Night as the only notable songs. Swim is not bad at all but it’s oh so meh, as long as I am one of the “Boy With Love/Dynamite/Butter/Permission To Dance Era” Army.
I was definitely expecting a banger, I understand why they chose to comeback with such a subdued stuff, but I don’t think it’s going to leave any real footprint in their discography apart from the historical event itself.
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