BTS made their return to the live stage on March 21 with a live performance streamed on Netflix globally from 7-8 a.m. EST. The group displayed their new album “Arirang”, making this their first group appearance after the military service.
Their title song, “Swim”, immediately caught my attention, making it my favorite song. It was catchy and I thought it was a unique song for BTS. Unlike their usual high energy and heavy choreography, Swim leaned into more American pop. That said, I couldn’t help wishing for Korean lyrics. With an album literally named “Arirang”, a word rooted in Korean tradition and history, using more Korean lyrics would have added more emotion and cultural significance.
After such a long break, I was worried about their live vocals and dance skills. But the moment they stepped on stage, those concerns disappeared. It was clearly well practiced because they had powerful and clear vocals just like before they went to the military. I loved how they performed with their new tracks and with older, fan favorites like “Dynamite” and “Mikrocosmos”. One of the moments that stood out to me was the opening performance, “Body to Body”. They incorporated traditional Korean instruments and voices singing Arirang, creating a collaboration of “Body to Body” with old traditional “Arirang”. However, except for “Body to Body”, the rest of the tracks didn’t have any connection with “Arirang”, making me confused. Moreover, the performance in Gwanghwamun, the symbolic place that represents Korean history, made the entire show feel more meaningful.
As much as I enjoyed the new album, I still gravitate toward their older songs. Their older songs have a reminiscence, youthfulness, aggressiveness and hip-hop that’s hard to beat. Still, the “Arirang” album offers a refreshing direction, and I’m excited to see BTS grow over time. With a world tour coming soon, their live performances felt like a perfect teaser for ARMY because if this is the energy they are bringing into their next era, fans around the world will have an unforgettable memory.