The global ARMY has been waiting for this day. The group BTS breaks a long hiatus of about 3 years and 9 months and finally returns as a full group. Attention is already focused on their unprecedented moves that will rewrite K-pop history.
BTS will simultaneously release their fifth full-length album "ARIRANG" on March 20 at 1 p.m. worldwide. This new record borrows the title of a representative Korean folk song to retrace the team's roots and identity while melting the longing and love felt during the hiatus into 14 tracks.
Fans' reactions have already been proven by the numbers. Preorders surpassed 4.06 million copies within a week of the reservation sales, breaking their own record, and Spotify pre-saves exceeded 2 million, a level that threatens Taylor Swift's record. BigHit Music emphasized the meaning of the album, saying, "'ARIRANG' is a title that encompasses the identity of a group that started in Korea and the longing and deep feelings of love that have taken root in their hearts."
The unveiled title track "SWIM" is an upbeat alternative pop song that conveys the will to move forward calmly at one's own pace amid life's waves. RM took charge of the overall lyrics and musically expressed the members' pledge, "We believe the seven of us can continue walking this path together and keep swimming."
The comeback promotion is truly "national team" level. On the evening of the day after the release, the 21st at 8 p.m., BTS will hold a solo concert, BTS comeback live: ARIRANG, at Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul. BTS is the first artist to hold a solo concert at Gwanghwamun Square.
In particular, this performance will be broadcast live in real time to more than 190 countries and regions worldwide through Netflix. As the first case of a Korean live event being streamed on Netflix, it will be directed by Hamish Hamilton, who choreographed the London Olympic opening ceremony, and is expected to present overwhelming scenes to viewers around the world.
The heat of the performance will expand to stadiums around the world. Starting at Goyang Sports Complex on April 9, they will embark on the BTS world tour "ARIRANG" for a total of 82 shows in 34 cities. This is the largest number of shows in a single K-pop tour. North American and European tour dates have already sold out as soon as tickets went on sale, and they will become the first Korean artist to enter numerous stadiums, including the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, U.S.
As RM's resolve, "BTS is back in business after four years," BTS stands at a new starting point and is ready to carry Korean sentiment, their roots, to the world. At 1 p.m. on March 20, the world's attention is focused on the new "Arirang" melody BTS will create.
[Photo] BigHit Music
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