Song Review:: BTS: Arirang: Normal

• Release date: 2026 March 20

• Album tracklist: Body to Body, Hooligan, Aliens, FYA, 2.0, No. 29, SWIM, Merry Go Round, NORMAL, Like Animals, they don't know 'bout us, One More Night, Please, Into the Sun, Come Over

• Album runtime: 41 minutes

 We're just going to toss another of the BTS music videos in right now so I can finish getting all of them covered. This one was actually the first song of the album that I learned the lyrics to, even with the Korean later, so bear in mind that I already love it. 

There is a heavy weight to this song that doesn't change too much. There are spots where the song smooths out a little and the heavy thump turns into a smoother glide, though no less heavy, but generally the instrumental is largely the same from beginning to end. And it's a heavy instrumental.

The contrast between how low the instrumental is and the vocals is the best part of the song. The second best part is that everyone is singing, or at minimum doing the melodic rap that I actually prefer hearing, during this song and with the three minutes of song, that's enough for everyone to have their time. Also, I'm a huge fan of when songs have a sudden, single note that's a lot higher. I love singing them. I love hearing them because being able to do that well requires skill. Also, I watched a couple of videos breaking down the difference between the Korean version and the English version, and I'm very pleased that the language and connotations and topics are different between the two versions, almost like they're addressing two different groups of people.

Every time I watch this music video, I'm reminded of the parties Freddy Mercury used to throw when he was in the depths. And I'm just sad. And then I'm reminded of the time that Taemin from SHINee went home and found a sasaeng in his bed. And then I get sadder. Or the fact that Elvis literally couldn't go anywhere because of his fans and how things went missing from his house by the EMTs when he died, even though he'd literally give people the rings off his fingers if they asked. And now I think about when RM posted to ask that they be given some privacy at their hotel so that they can rest. And then I get angry because that's not something he should need to ask for. It's a tragically, beautifully done music video though.