On March 29, a video titled “Title Track ‘SWIM’ First Reaction | BTS: The Return” was released via Netflix Korea’s YouTube channel. The clip captured the members listening to and evaluating the track from their upcoming full-length album “ARIRANG” (아리랑), marking their first full-group release in nearly four years.
During the session, leader RM encouraged an honest review, saying, “Let’s listen to it objectively.” After hearing the track, he admitted, “It feels a bit slow… definitely.”
Jimin echoed the sentiment, noting that “the track itself does feel a bit dragging,” while V added that the song seemed to go “in the opposite direction of expectations.”
Perhaps the most striking comment came from J-Hope, who confessed, “When I play it for acquaintances, I hesitate a bit… especially saying, ‘BTS is back after four years,’ and then showing this.” His remark highlighted concerns about how the track might be received by listeners.
Despite the mixed reactions, Suga expressed support for the song’s direction, stating that he liked the concept. Other members also clarified that while they had concerns, they did not dislike the track, describing it as “a bit scary, but still good.”
The group also reflected on their past hit Dynamite, revealing that initial reactions to that track had also been lukewarm internally. “Back then, we thought, ‘This isn’t our usual style,’ and more than half of us didn’t really want to do it at first,” they shared, hinting that experimentation has often been part of their journey.
RM ultimately described “SWIM” as “a mature and cool song” that represents a clear evolution in their sound, suggesting that the group is aiming to showcase a more grown-up image through this comeback.
BTS released their 5th full album “ARIRANG” on March 20, achieving over 4 million sales within just three days and topping charts both domestically and internationally. As anticipation builds, fans are now eager to see how “SWIM” will be received by the global audience.
Sources: Daum | OSEN