MUSIC
BTS Dominates Billboard Hot 100 with 10 Tracks from 'ARIRANG'
According to the latest Billboard chart released on April 11, BTS's fifth studio album 'ARIRANG' has seen its title track 'SWIM' soar to the No. 2 spot on the Hot 100. Out of the 14 tracks on the album, 10 have successfully entered the chart. Following 'SWIM', tracks like 'Body to Body' (42nd), 'Hooligan' (64th), 'NORMAL' (73rd), 'FYA' (74th), '2.0' (75th), 'Aliens' (84th), 'Like Animals' (90th), 'they don't know 'bout us' (94th), and 'Merry Go Round' (96th) have also made their mark.
In Japan, BTS's momentum is equally impressive. According to Oricon on April 8, 'ARIRANG' topped the 'Weekly Streaming Ranking' (April 13 issue, covering March 30 to April 5) with approximately 8.55 million weekly streams, maintaining the No. 1 position for two consecutive weeks. This marks the first time since November 2024 that a foreign artist has held the top spot for two weeks, following 'APT. (ROSÉ & Bruno Mars)'. Previously, BTS has topped this chart with hits like 'Dynamite', 'Film out', 'Butter', 'Permission to Dance', and 'Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)'.
'ARIRANG', BTS's fifth studio album, is their first release in three years and nine months. The title track 'SWIM' conveys a message of perseverance through life's challenges, with RM contributing to the lyrics, offering a candid narrative.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr