👤 : One thing that hasn't changed compared to the past
Namjoon : The side of me that I like the most comes out when I'm with the members. It's things like the innocence and childlike wonder of my childhood....... It's not easy to meet friends who are like family.
" We are happy and grateful just for the fact that the seven of us can gather and do something together after such a long time. We have returned having prepared wonderfully, just as much as ARMY has waited for us for so long" 😭😭😭
[📰 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒]
“Excited, nervous, and overwhelmed with emotion” BTS Opening a New Chapter [Q&A]
Q1. How do you feel about your comeback after 3 years and 9 months?
Group: We are excited and nervous, but above all, we are overwhelmed with emotion. We are happy and grateful just for the fact that the seven of us can gather and do something together after such a long time. We have returned with amazing preparations, just as much as ARMY has waited for us for so long. The very fact that we can show you our best selves again is a source of great emotion and happiness. Since it is our first group album in a long while, there is as much fear as excitement, but we have no major worries because the members and ARMY are with us.
(m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/60…)
#BTS_ARIRANG
[NEWS] #BTS Message to ARMY 😭💜
“We sincerely thank ARMY for waiting for us for such a long time. We missed you all a lot too, and the fact that the seven of us can be together again is more precious than anything else. We will come to you through music, performances, the upcoming world tour, and various other activities. Please feel free to enjoy yourselves, and are you ready to enjoy it with us? We have prepared many stages for you to enjoy together, in addition to the album, so let's have fun together. We truly love you”
#BTS_ARIRANG
One thing I love about the way BTS do promo is it never just feels like marketing or hype, but rather a actual celebration of the music and giving joy back to the fans.
[NEWS] #BTS spoke about the album and their activities through Big Hit Music (2)
The following is a Q&A with BTS.
Q. Criteria established when expressing 'Korean elements'
- RM: Rather than bringing Korean elements in exactly as they are within a fixed framework, we wanted to express them naturally in our own way. This is because we believe that emotions are conveyed more broadly when subtle variations and our own unique interpretations are added. We wanted to take 'Arirang,' which can be interpreted in various ways, and try to take it a little differently and reinterpret it in a new way.
- Jin/Suga: We focused on incorporating Korean elements in a way that is true to ourselves rather than forcing them in. We tried to strike a balance so that BTS's color would remain distinct while preserving Korean sentiment.
- J-Hope: I believe balance and restraint are certainly important. However, even within that, showing something bold at key moments can be even cooler. We deliberated on how to make the standard of 'not excessive, but certain when necessary' evident in this album and stage performances.
- Jimin: We contemplated our identity and our unique way of speaking across our music and performances, and as an extension of that, we also reconsidered the fact that all our members are Korean. That is why we made Korean elements a key focal point. In particular, since 'Arirang' is a word and folk song that every Korean has encountered countless times since childhood, choosing it as the album title came with both a sense of burden and responsibility.
Q. Why did you choose 'SWIM' as the title track?
- RM: As it is the title track, we spent the longest time deliberating on it. We tried for a whole month to create a song that surpasses 'SWIM,' but it wasn't easy. When I first heard the song, I felt it had a clean and smooth charm, much like Pyongyang cold noodles. The more I listened to it, the more I felt a desire to "swim along with it."
- Jin: Rather than a song that immediately grabs your attention from the start, it was a song with a power that remains unforgettable the more you listen to it. In particular, the rhythmic point that appears in the middle of the song (sounds like "ddong-tta-da-dang") is memorable. When listening to that part, I lose track of time.
- J-Hope: We strived to create a performance where the song is clearly audible even while watching the stage. There are details such as movements that express waves or points where we quietly sink as if diving. At first, I was worried that it might feel "boring" amidst songs with strong impacts, but as I listened more, I found myself naturally blending into the sound and feeling comfortable. It also matched the theme we wanted to convey the best, so we chose it as the title track.
- V: Amidst the songs with strong sounds, "SWIM" felt the most understated. At first, I didn't think it was a stimulating song, but the more I listened to it, the more I felt that it was something I could cherish and listen to for a long time.
- Jungkook: The more I listened to it, the more I felt, "This is the right fit." The lyrics capture moments that showcase "the current BTS," and the performance features new points different from our previous work, so I hope you will pay attention to them.
Q. How do you hope 'SWIM' will be remembered by people?
- Group: Just a song like life. We hope it is a song for everyone who simply swims day by day, splashing and breathing in and out. It is a song that gets warmer the more you listen to it, so we hope it becomes a source of strength for everyone as they go through their own lives. Also, just like 'Arirang,' which was passed from mouth to mouth and remained by people's side for a long time, we hope 'SWIM' will remain in the hearts of many for a long time.
m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/6…