AFTER I listened to BTS’s new album “Arirang”, I’m not gonna lie… I was kinda disappointed. Like, I really tried to like it because it’s BTS and I’ve loved their music for years, but it just didn’t hit the same level as their older songs. I went into it expecting something emotional and memorable, but instead it felt more like something I would just play once and not come back to as much.

The biggest thing for me is the emotion. When you listen to Spring Day, it actually makes you feel something. It’s the type of song you can sit there and think about, and the lyrics really stay with you. But then you go to something like “SWIM” on “Arirang”, and it’s just… there. It sounds nice and catchy, but it feels more like background music than something meaningful. It does not give you that same emotional connection that their older songs had.

Same with “Fake Love” compared to “One More Night.” “Fake Love” is dramatic and emotional, and you can hear the pain in it. The vocals and lyrics make it feel real and powerful. “One More Night” isn’t bad, but it’s way simpler and doesn’t hit nearly as hard. It feels like it was made to sound good, not to actually say anything, and that makes a big difference when you compare it to their older music.

Then, when I think about “Black Swan”, that song is deep. It talks about losing passion, and it’s really artistic and unique. But songs like “FYA” on the new album feel more about the beat and production than the meaning. It’s giving more vibe than message, which is fine for some people, but it is not what I personally look for in BTS music. I feel like their older songs balanced both sound and meaning better.

Another thing I noticed is how mainstream the album feels. BTS used to have a sound that felt very original and different from other artists. Now, some songs on “Arirang” sound like they could be on any pop playlist, and you would not even realize they are by BTS right away. That kind of takes away from what made them stand out before. It feels more like they are trying to fit into current trends rather than set their own.

I’m not saying the album is horrible, because it’s not. Some parts are good. But compared to their old music, it just feels like something is missing. And I feel like that’s why so many people are hating on it too.

I still love BTS, but yeah… this album just wasn’t it for me.