“Swim” Slows BTS Down After Their Four-Year Hiatus

BTS × About group BTS BTS (방탄소년단) is a South Korean K-pop group formed by BigHit Music and debuted on June 13, 2013. The group consists of seven members: RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Known for their powerful performances, meaningful lyrics, and strong connection with fans, BTS has become one of the most successful and influential music groups in the world. Their music explores themes such as youth, self-discovery, mental health, love, and personal growth, helping them build a dedicated global fanbase known as ARMY. Since their debut, BTS has achieved record-breaking success across the global music industry with hit songs such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Spring Day,” “Boy With Luv,” and “Fake Love.” The group has earned numerous awards, topped charts in multiple countries, sold millions of albums, and helped introduce K-pop to a broader international audience. Through their artistry, cultural Tap again to view profile → Close have been running their whole career. Since their debut, “No More Dream,” was released in 2013, the seven members have always been go, go, go. Even one of their last performances — “Run BTS” from their “ in BUSAN” concert — was all about how being bulletproof, or being BTS, meant needing to keep running forward. 

“Swim” slows BTS down — both in a positive way and a detrimental way. There are some redeeming qualities about the underwhelming title track from their new album Arirang: It’s easy to listen to, as it relies on a swaying melody and smooth vocals. There’s also a simple hook (“Swim, swim / Water falling off your skin”) for the all-English track, which makes it a simple song to digest and start to hum at random times throughout the day. 

BTS beg an unknown person to come back to them, but time isn’t an issue. As J-Hope × Artist bio J-Hope Real name: Jung Ho-seokPosition: Main Dancer, Rapper, Sub VocalistNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1994-02-18Birthplace: Gwangju, South Korea Main dancer and rapper of BTS. J-Hope is the bright mood maker of BTS, full of energy and encouragement. He takes dance and performance very seriously while keeping members’ spirits up. Tap again to view profile → Close raps in his verse, “Under here, we don’t chase the time.” For a group that took off globally six years into their career, no longer needing to charge full force ahead may come as a relief. If we also want to go the metaphor route, swimming works the whole body while allowing you to shut out the world, focus on the motions, and just breathe.

But the shortcomings of “Swim” outweigh the limited positives. The most commonly seen critique is how the track is sung totally in English. Some say this is disappointing since the band touted how Arirang is a return to their roots, which many interpreted as a return to more Korean lyrics. However, it’s only when this all-English is combined with other issues that it becomes more worrying. (After all, who are we to judge which language an artist wants to express themselves? Especially when it’s a language they’re not fluent in, and they’re making an effort.) 

BTS created their comeback album during a songwriting camp in Los Angeles. During the two-month period, the seven members joined up with veteran songwriters and producers like Ryan Tedder, Diplo, Tyler Spry, El Guincho, and JPEGMAFIA. For an album that was touted as bringing the group’s Korean heritage to the forefront, there were a lot of white people and western pop music styles in the room. This begs the question: Who is BTS and Hybe hoping to reach with this lead single? 

In “Swim” alone, nine people were involved in creating the track. RM × Artist bio RM Real name: Kim Nam-joonPosition: Leader, Main RapperNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1994-09-12Birthplace: Ilsan-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Leader and main rapper of BTS. RM is a thoughtful, introspective leader known for calm guidance, honesty, and a strong sense of responsibility for BTS’s music and message. Tap again to view profile → Close was the only BTS member, though apparently he was quite involved in the lyric writing. Just like when we reviewed Map of the Soul: 7, were there too many cooks in the kitchen? 

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Production-wise, “Swim” is one of BTS’ less impressive title tracks. There are some faint strings in the final chorus, which add a different texture. But the sharp percussive element repeating throughout takes the attention away from softness of the vocals, besides the harsh vocal processing which also dampens their distinct vocal colors. Maybe you could argue this is intentional contrast; yet, this sharpness appears frequently throughout the album and the band’s last few albums. Nothing in “Swim” really sparks “BTS” in the first (or second or even third) listen. 

Even more issues permeate in the MV. Directed by Tanu Muiño, “Swim” was reportedly filmed off the coast of Portugal. It’s shot beautifully, adding a film-like quality, which is fitting for the sea adventure the members have embarked on in this narrative. This impression is fleeting, just like the first listen of the track itself. Some fans have likened it to an extended perfume commercial, an unfortunately apt description. 

The larger question is why they seem to center whiteness in the MV. In the second teaser, a woman stares at a ship model in a museum. BTS fans guessed it was Lili Reinhart — of “Riverdale” fame — and they were correct. The actress opens and concludes the MV, as she time travels to BTS’ ship-bound adventure and then back to the present day. Reinhart ends up being the main character in the anticipated comeback that has been nealry four years in the making. 

We could argue that BTS wanted an outsider of Korean history to help viewers to enter this new(er) world. But choosing a white person to be that bridge points to who exactly Big Hit Music/BTS want to target through this MV. 

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Reinhart’s character explores below deck and above deck with both a sense of wonder and a sense of familiarity. She’s caught simultaneously in the past — echoes of what happened on that ship appear during her suggestive dance break — and the ghost of the present. She feels BTS as she bumps into V × Artist bio V Real name: Kim Tae-hyungPosition: Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, VisualNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1995-12-30Birthplace: Daegu, raised in Geochang, South Korea Vocalist and visual of BTS. V has a unique, artistic personality, mixing playful goofiness with a deep, introspective side and strong interest in art, film, and vintage aesthetics. Tap again to view profile → Close in the hallway and catches a glimpse of Jin × Artist bio Jin Real name: Kim Seok-jinPosition: Sub Vocalist, VisualNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1992-12-04Birthplace: Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Vocalist and visual of BTS. Jin is playful and outgoing, famous for his dad jokes and “Worldwide Handsome” image, but also shows a very caring, big-brother side toward younger members. Tap again to view profile → Close in the mirror, but she isn’t privy to their complete story. 

Looking, listening, and reflecting a little longer on the “Swim” MV reveals details that perhaps redeem the title track choice — but only to a certain degree. Ahead of the release, Hybe published an animated trailer for Arirang. The video drew inspiration from the seven Korean students who attended Howard University, one of the United States’ historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and became the voices behind the first-known recording of “Arirang” in 1896. (It’s worth noting that this recording is not the standard version that appears in BTS’ “Body to Body,” according to a Korean ethnomusicologist.)

While the song’s production doesn’t inspire much more than “sounds nice,” there is one lyric that stands out. There’s a sadness in how BTS — namely V and his low timbre, Jungkook × Artist bio Jungkook Real name: Jeon Jung-kookPosition: Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Center, MaknaeNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1997-09-01Birthplace: Busan, South Korea Main vocalist and maknae of BTS. Jungkook is the Golden Maknae, gifted in many areas and naturally competitive, but also shy, loyal, and affectionate toward the group and fans. Tap again to view profile → Close , and Jin — deliver “I could spend my lifetime watching you.” There’s also a deep sense of longing as the note coinciding with “watching” extends further than the others. BTS point to an uncrossable distance, maybe a nod to their distance from making music as seven or spending nearly four years apart from their beloved Army. They can only watch; they themselves cannot be seen. And that means no, or very little, acknowledgement or human-to-human connection. 

The members leave sporadic clues in “Swim,” which touch on this idea and tradition of “Arirang.” Jungkook steers the ship, his eyes firmly locked on the horizon ahead. He spins the wheel, perhaps leading a redirection the band needed, and pulls the interior gadget along the full length of the “voraus” command. In German, “voraus” means “ahead.” When the quick shot is paired with Jimin × Artist bio Jimin Real name: Park Ji-minPosition: Main Dancer, Lead VocalistNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 1995-10-13Birthplace: Busan, South Korea Main dancer and lead vocalist of BTS. Jimin is gentle, polite, and emotionally sensitive. He is known for his warm heart, thoughtful gestures, and graceful stage presence. Tap again to view profile → Close ’s delivery of “I just wanna dive,” BTS emphasize their preparedness to go full steam ahead. 

One detail that’s classic BTS is the note in Morse code. Jin hands RM the slip of paper in the captain’s cabin, and RM gets right to work. For those who did some detective work, the note says “NORMAL,” which is one of their new tracks with lyrics that question the pressure they face every day. BTS challenge listeners to think about what is normal. Are their experiences “normal?” 

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They continue to lightly question what you see and what you don’t. The camera follows Reinhart in a one shot as she runs in between the frozen members. They’re there, but also not. They can be better likened to memories that remain on the ship. While Reinhart does return to her present — soaking wet and with a cheeky grin on her face — perhaps BTS’ story can be carried even further now.

In the opening of the MV, the members prepare the S.S. Arirang, hoist sails, and set their direction. Around halfway, they brace for strong wind and rough waves (together, of course) as they put their backs into running the ship. The last shot of BTS focuses on how they’re all of one mind and body as to where they’re headed next. They stand on the starboard side of the ship and look beyond the frame towards that next adventure. 

“Arirang” is a folk song that has endured. It’s a piece of culture and connection carried through time and throughout generations. There are touches of this in “Swim,” but not enough to be a worthy herald of BTS’ long-awaited comeback. 

In the title track they sing, “I just wanna to dive / I just wanna dive,” but where is that depth they hint at? Where is the risk that comes with diving right in? There are intriguing ideas in “Swim,” and especially in its MV, but they’re never built upon each other to make something particularly meaningful beyond surface-level observations.

The MV also doesn’t make up its mind on what its central thesis is. Is it telling BTS’ story or is it telling their story through the limited lens of this stranger? Perhaps that caution and desire to catch the eyes — and ears — of everyone might have the opposite effect in the end. 

(YouTube. Lyrics via Genius[1][2]. Images via Big Hit Music.)