The group BTS returned as a complete seven-member unit. With a comeback performance that added meaning and depth, they created impressive scenes and proved the presence of the full group. It was a moment to announce BTS's return to the world.
BTS held "BTS comeback live: ARIRANG" around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul from 8 p.m. on the 21st and met 100,000 ARMY (official fandom). It was BTS who completed their first full-group comeback in four years at the most symbolic location with an overwhelming performance.
BTS released their fifth studio album "Arirang (ARIRANG)" at 1 p.m. on the 20th and made their comeback. It is an album released by the seven members, who fulfilled their military service, as a full group for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. This album, which includes 14 tracks including the title track "Swim (SWIM)," raised its level of completion with overall production by HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk.
About 104,000 spectators gathered at the Gwanghwamun concert site, and it was also live-streamed on Netflix for fans around the world.
Opening with the new track "Body to Body," BTS continued with an overwhelming performance. New song stages followed, including "Hooligan," "2.0," "Aliens," "FYA," "Like Animals," and "Normal."
There were also memorable scenes that will be recorded in music history. In particular, the stage for this title track "Swim" was magnificent. They completed media art that made it look as if a stream of water flowed along Gwanghwamun, drawing attention. It visualized the song's message of continuing to swim in the tides of life without stopping.
BTS then raised the heat with performances of signature songs "Butter," "MIC Drop," and "Dynamite." They closed with "Mikrokosmos," leaving a strong afterglow with starlight and the Big Dipper staging. With highly complete stages and performances and impressive production, they filled the void of time away. After a long wait to perform as a full group, BTS gave 100,000 fans an unforgettable special hour.
BTS's Gwanghwamun Square concert was more special because it had meaning beyond a simple "comeback show." "Arirang," taking the title of a representative Korean folk song, encompasses the team's identity and the emotions accumulated over their journey. As they completed military service and announced the prologue of BTS's new chapter "BTS 2.0," they focused on the members themselves.
And they embraced the identity of "Korea," the place that could unite the BTS members and where they started. That was the most BTS-like thing. They naturally expressed "Korean elements" in BTS's own way. Adding BTS's identity and interpretation, they showed Korea's sentiments and colors to the world.
So holding the comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square, one of Korea's symbolic places, had even greater meaning. With this new album and performance, BTS also played a role in imprinting Korea's culture and sentiments on the world.
Suga also said, "I am honored to be able to perform at one of the most historical places in Korea. For this album, we especially wanted to include our identity, so we chose the title 'Arirang,' and with that feeling we performed on the Gwanghwamun stage," emphasizing the meaning.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
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