BTS: The Return (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[Jimin] I think we need to
turn a bit this way.

Right. With the sun on this side.

- [Jung Kook] Like this?
- [SUGA] You sure it's working?

- [Jimin] 'Kay--
- [Jin] Hello!

[Jimin] Wait!
Wait, I don't think we're live yet.

[j-hope] You sure?

[Jin] Come on!

- [j-hope] Don't get carried away, hyung.
- [Jin] What? Aw, c'mon, man!

UP TO THREE PEOPLE!

[waves lapping]

[SUGA] Aw.

[Jung Kook] I think the Internet's bad.
I don't see any…

- Oh!
- [Jin] Hey, there's a comment!

- Yay, we have a comment!
- Hey!

- [keyboard tapping]
- [beeping]

[RM] Let's go.
They can play it back later.

- Hello!
- [SUGA] You're right, let's go.

- [Jin] Ah! Ugh, come on!
- [RM] It's complete chaos already.

- [Jimin] Jung Kook, turn the camera a bit.
- [Jung Kook] 'Kay.

- [SUGA] We've been working hard.
- [RM] On the album.

- Yeah.
- Yeah, it's our day off.

- [RM] Back to work tomorrow.
- [SUGA] Here for a break.

[Jimin] Taking one day off a week
seems excessive.

- [RM] Nothing we can do about it.
- No, the signal.

[RM] Let's put
our military experience to use.

- [Jung Kook] It's working.
- [Jimin] Comments are popping.

- Nice.
- [RM] What's that?

[V] Probably an old reference.

- [RM] What're they saying?
- "Miss you, my husband."

[RM] Miss you, Wife.

- Oh God.
- [RM] Oh God.

- [Jin] Oh God.
- [Jimin] Oh God.

- 'Kay. All right, guys.
- [SUGA] Time to go.

- Say goodbye. What do we do?
- [Jimin] Sign off like we always do.

Okay, okay. This has been BTS. Two, three.

Thank you!

- Bye-bye.
- [RM] Peace!

[exciting, rousing music playing]

[crowd roaring]

[man 1] International music phenomenon…

[man 2] One of the biggest groups
on the planet.

[cheering intensifies]

[man 1] They have made
TIME Magazine's Most Influential list.

[crowd cheering]

[inaudible]

And they just became
the first group since the Beatles

to earn three number-one albums
in less than a year.

The biggest band in the world.

[RM] Make some noise!

- [man 2] BTS!
- [crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting] BTS! BTS!
BTS! BTS! BTS! BTS! BTS! BTS!

[reporter] Despite being
at the height of their popularity,

BTS has announced a sudden hiatus.

[presenter 1] A tough day.
A heartbreaking day.

[presenter 2] They're actually going
on a hiatus.

[reporter 2] The BTS ARMY
will have to wait

to see their favorite band again
because of mandatory military duty.

[buzzing]

[presenter 3] It usually means
they're breaking up.

[reporter 3] A cry of distress from fans.

[fan 1] I was in denial. [chuckles]
Complete denial.

[fan 2] I also cried a lot.

[fan 3] Genuinely feel like
part of my soul just died.

[heavy, brooding music playing]

[rapid string music playing]

[reporter 4] "Dynamite" news!

For the first time in nearly three years,
all seven members are together again

after completing mandatory
military service in South Korea.

WWH ELITE SOLDIER, SEOK-JIN!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DISCHARGE!

[fans screaming]

[reporter 5] Princes of pop
could soon be reunited.

[reporter 6] It's official. BTS is back.

[reporter 7] They're heading
to the US this month

to begin working on new music,
slated for a spring 2026 release.

[moody synth music playing]

[music fades]

Hello.

[j-hope] "Hello"?

- [Jung Kook] Hello?
- Those for me?

- [j-hope] Welcome back, Jin!
- [Jung Kook] Hey!

[j-hope] And congratulations, Jin.

Aw, thanks guys.
You didn't have to do that.

What? "Worldwide handsome"?

It's a cute shirt.
Here, check out the back.

Man, you guys all bulked-up,
didn't you? I did too. Look.

[j-hope] Yeah,
we've been working out a lot

- Dude, there's nothing here.
- What are you talking about?

- I trained hard!
- Look at it.

You did well
despite the sore throat, you know.

- I took a lot of meds.
- Ah.

I mean, you kinda need
the meds to push through.

No. I had to get an IV, like, five times.

- [Jimin] Well, whatever works right?
- Thanks, man.

[chuckling]

I mean, I'm kind of
underselling it a little bit.

I'm so tired.

Like, I wrapped last night.

I finished my last show
and came straight here.

- [j-hope] Uh-huh. Yeah.
- Yeah.

That's why I asked if we could
move the dates up a bit. You know?

[Jin] So, right now,
are we still planning on a March release?

[RM] We've got the framework.

But it's possible
that we… might get inspired

and create some new, better songs.

So that's why we're continuing
with the sessions.

[SUGA] The album's almost done.

We just need to write the lead single
and another song for tour.

But nothing's been confirmed yet,

so, right now, I think we should test out
the first two things they've approved

and see if we like 'em.

To be honest, we've been stalled
for about a week now.

[Jin] Right. So we're in a rut.

[V] At least the view from here
is amazing, right?

- [j-hope] Here? It's nice.
- [RM] We've got a perfect view.

[RM] Life of BTS,
for 12 years, it was blessed.

Normally, life of K-pop artist
is really short.

But luckily, our life has ex… extended.

The pressure is that we still…

I mean, we have to decide

what to keep and what to change.

But for those kind of questions,
no one knows.

- [car horn blaring]
- Bang is the Chairman of HYBE.

Even he doesn't know,
because he's never been there.

There's no references.

So we're doing a lot of experiments.

Just trying to find out, like,

what makes us… special
and what makes us BTS.

[sighing] Okay.

[claps hands]

Time to work.

[car door opening]

Thank you!

- [beep, click]
- [buzzing]

[beep]

- [V] Yes.
- [j-hope] Yes.

[V] Nice to see ya!

[j-hope] Whose eyes are whose?

[V] Welcome to
the BTS documentary. [chuckles]

- ["Intro." playing]
- [BTS members rapping]

All right, let's show you the studio.

Oh! They're in there working right now.

["Intro." continues]

I'm hungry.

[V] In terms of having
a space to be creative,

LA's kind of like an amusement park.

[RM] We've been in LA all summer
to find the sound for the album.

[energetic music continues]

[RM] I think that's good.
I love it, actually.

LA gives us space to experiment.

Different energy
from what we've done before.

After this,
straight to Korea to mix the album.

And spring 2026 is the big comeback.

We promised our fans that we'd be back.

- [music stops]
- [zipper closing]

[members vocalizing]

- Two weeks?
- [woman] Yeah.

[SUGA] Wow, that soon?

[groans]

Well, sh**t…

[woman] So,
the official recording sessions

are currently scheduled
for the majority of September.

We understand
that you're very tired, but--

- [Jung Kook] No, we're fine.
- [snickering]

- No risk, no reward.
- [SUGA] Yeah.

[woman] In that case,
we're looking forward to it.

The higher we go, the farther we fall.

Hey, hyung, how 'bout we try this?

Let's set up the mic,
and not listen to anything.

- Just go for it?
- [Jung Kook] Yeah, let's just go for it.

I do that anyway.
So let's start as soon as we go in.

[harmonizing]

[singing in English]

[man] No, it's more like…
[sings line in English]

- Punch it up.
- [sings line in punchier fashion]

[man] And make the tone more…
[sings in nasally voice] …more annoying.

- [singing in nasally voice]
- [BTS laughing]

- [Pdogg] You're throwing it out there.
- Throwing it out there? Okay, let's try it.

- [Pdogg] Let's go.
- [singing in nasally tone]

[recording plays back]

But now I feel like the vibe is off.
This is hard.

- [Pdogg] Yeah, I do think it's a bit tame.
- Right.

[Pdogg] There's needs to be
that "swag", right?

[RM] It's a little slow.

[vocalizing]

It's like…

[vocalizing]

[recording of singing in English playing]

[SUGA] What about…

[RM] Let's, like, move on
to another melody, maybe.

- Yeah.
- Yeah. Because, we got, like, tons… yeah.

[man singing melody] Yeah.

[RM] Yeah. We can arrange it
once we get a solid topline.

[Pdogg] Tae-hyung, you wanna try?

[V] Nah, I'm good. It's too hard.

[RM] Could we try it with a 130 bpm?

[beat playing back in 130 bpm]

[singing in English]

[RM] It's upbeat,

but it sounds like what I'd listen to
in my early twenties.

It doesn't feel "cool."

[Pdogg] At this point,
should we k*ll it, or keep working on it?

[recording of demo playing back]

[Pdogg] There's something subtle
we're missing.

[sighs]

Trying to make music sound "trendy"
is harder than you'd think it'd be.

- Let's go up half a key.
- Okay.

[Jimin sighs]

I think it might be my vocal range.
That's the issue.

- [Jimin vocalizes half a key higher]
- [RM] We're in a slump here, aren't we?

[Pdogg] "Slump" would make a great song.

What if we made
something super depressing?

[giggling]

Maybe we need to stop writing
the "lead single" and just have fun.

- [man] I think that's the right way to go.
- Should we just have fun with it?

- [SUGA] Sure, let's see what happens.
- f*ck it, to hell with the "lead single."

[SUGA] Let's stay in G.

[powerful music intro playing]

[upbeat music playing]

[playing subtle riff]

I mean,

we'll write one eventually. [chuckles]

[Jin] I'm not even sure
where I am right now.

[V] C'mon, don't be like that, hyung.
Snap out of it. We got this.

[vocalizing melodically
to rhythm of Jin's guitar]

- Get it together.
- Stop trying to kiss me and go.

- Hyung.
- [chuckling] Stop it!

- You gotta snap out of it.
- All right, all right.

Are you okay?

[chuckling] I honestly
don't even know anymore.

- Hyung, it's gonna be okay.
- [giggling]

[rock music playing]

- [thudding]
- [vocalizing in background]

- [grunts]
- [ball thuds]

[grunts]

[groans]

It doesn't go far if I throw too hard.

What if I can't throw it that far
at the stadium?

[grunts]

Got it!

[V] I haven't been out
of the military for long.

[laughter]

[V] But I think
I've always had this desire

to spend some time living abroad,
like what we're doing right now.

[intriguing music playing]

[V] We've been living in LA
for about two months.

It's great.

[grunts]

But I do miss Korea.

- [V grunts]
- [ball thuds]

[music fades]

[meat sizzling]

[j-hope] It's pork belly time, baby!

- [Jin] My stomach…
- [Jimin] It's good.

What is this?

[Jin] Oh! Now I'm hungry.
You want another drink?

- [j-hope] All right, cheers!
- [all] Cheers!

- [j-hope] I really don't like soju.
- [Jin] Great job today.

- [V] Thanks.
- [Jimin] It's not about drinking it.

[j-hope and Jimin]
It's about accepting it.

- [all laughing]
- I knew it.

- I knew you were gonna say that.
- [all giggling]

Soju isn't something
you drink with your mouth.

You drink soju with your soul, man.
Open your heart to it!

- [chuckling]
- [j-hope] Ah.

You know, that's kinda beautiful
when you think about it.

[Jin] Oh man…

[SUGA] All right, I'm done for the day.
Enjoy, guys.

- [Jimin] Hyung, come eat with us.
- [RM] Eat what? It's all gone.

It's been, what, an hour,
an hour and a half since we ate?

[RM] Oh, really?

[V] This is a challenging album.
And that's the point, right?

We're trying to push ourselves
and experiment more.

But I don't feel like we've changed much.

- You're wrong.
- It's the same.

Listening to what we've made already,
it's really different.

[j-hope] Well for me, I'm honestly
not too stressed about that

but what does
kinda stress me out a little bit,

I mean, speaking for only me,

is that I just wanna have fun
making music.

But I feel like
we're all restraining ourselves.

We're kind of operating like a factory.

[Jimin] Well, here's what I think.

Obviously, this album is special to us
because it's been so long.

But that's the issue.

We wanted to avoid taking a long break
after being discharged,

so now we're rushing,

when it's a special project.

And we're a little short on time.

We've got the album sh**t
as soon as we get back.

[RM] It's a lot of pressure.

Look, we don't want people to think,
"What was that?"

- "Guess they're past their prime."
- Exactly.

"It's not as good as we thought."

We want them to think,
"We always knew BTS was next-level."

That's the goal, right?

[Jung Kook] I'm confident
that's how they'll react.

- We're good then, right?
- Yeah, we're good.

- No pressure.
- Pressure's off.

[RM] Yeah

- I don't feel any pressure.
- [RM] Really?

It's like, I know
there's a lot to consider,

but if we can just be happy
making the album,

and if we can make our fans happy,

and all of us
are happy together in the end,

then I'm pleased with that outcome.
And I feel strongly about that.

I just wish
you could've been here the whole time.

Especially because it's been
such a good experience.

- Like, I enjoyed making it.
- We've learned a lot too.

[saxophone plays a scale]

- [RM] Okay.
- [Jimin] Oh, RM.

[RM] All right, begin!

[saxophone plays anthemic melody]

[Jung Kook] Ugh, I hate this.

[Jin] Okay, hold up.

[members humming along to saxophone]

- [giggling]
- [Jin] Man, you k*lled it, Nam-joon.

["For Youth" by BTS playing]

You so look good.

[singing in Korean]

[j-hope] Tae-hyung,
you still look exactly the same!

- Really?
- [j-hope] Yeah.

[RM] But you've become a man now.

[in Korean] How do I look on camera?

- [man] What's that?
- Right, we made…

[poignant music playing]

Hello! I'm V, I'm 19 years old,
and I'm a vocalist in BTS.

- [Jin] It's our youngest--
- It's hot, right?

Is this good?

[laughing]

My name's Jung Kook, I'm 17 years old,

and I'm a vocalist
and dancer for the group.

I wish I were an adult.

I can't wait to grow up.

Then all BTS members
can get together and throw a party.

[laughter]

[Jung Kook in English]
What's wrong with me?

Why am I drinking somaek
while watching this?

[j-hope] Hey, look,
you're in this video too!

[in Korean] Hello. My name's Jimin,
and I'm a dancer and vocalist.

Nope, too scared.

- [group] Whoa!
- [chuckling]

[Jin] I didn't see. Do it again.

- We recorded it.
- Do it again.

- C'mon, I didn't see it!
- Then you can watch it later.

[laughing]

Hello! I'm Jin, the eldest member of BTS.

Hi there!

I'm gonna film a lot of content,
so please keep watching.

- Hello there.
- Hey.

- [Jin] What'cha doing?
- Uh, I am currently "standing by."

[RM] Yoon-gi, we're all so young.

Hey there, I'm SUGA,
and I'm a rapper for the group.

- [Jin] "It's your hope, j-hope!"
- I love you, BTS.

My name's j-hope,
and I'm a rapper, dancer, and singer.

[RM in English] Holy sh*t, j-hope. Whoo!

- Love you, j-hope!
- I love you!

[in Korean] Hello. I am Rap Monster,
and as the name suggests, I'm a rapper.

Right, signing out, this has been BTS.

- Two, three, Bang…
- [all] Tan!

Thank you! We'll do our best.

["No More Dream" playing]

- [in English] Okay. Stop!
- [Jung Kook] No, keep going!

- [RM in Korean] Busan, make some noise!
- [crowd cheering]

[poignant music playing]

[Jin in English] It's been
three years already.

- [no audible singing]
- [poignant music continues]

[RM] I started making music

because there was something
I wanted to say to the world.

But being a K-pop idol means
you're always producing something,

'cause you need to be doing something.

So there was a point
where I didn't know who we were.

If I say, "I need a break…"

[sighs] …it almost feels like
I'm committing a crime.

Aw man.
Seeing Nam-joon cry is making me cry too.

[Jin] Hey!

I want us to be together for a long time.

[SUGA] Then we have to do this.

I don't think
I really need to say anything.

I think you all know how I feel right now.

[crowd shouting]

[RM] Uh, all seven members of BTS

feel the same.

And if you're able to trust in us,

then, no matter what the future holds,

we're determined
to overcome any challenge.

So please, have faith in us.

[j-hope] All right, cheers!

- [Jin] Well done!
- [RM] Great job, guys.

- [Jin] Drink up, everyone.
- [V] Watching that…

and now seeing all of this

- [crowd cheering]
- ["EPILOGUE: Young Forever" playing]

[singing in Korean]

[in English] ♪ Forever, we are young ♪

[Jung Kook] Damn.

Aw, look at them.

- [Jung Kook] Aw, I really miss them.
- [fans] ♪Forever, we are young ♪

♪ Forever, ever, ever
We are young ♪

[fans cheering, whistling]

[Jimin] Time for a comeback.

[fans chanting] BTS! BTS! BTS!

[singing sweetly]

[j-hope] I think Jimin
briefly mentioned it to me yesterday.

We were talking about how
there always seems to be this

wave of poignancy that creeps up
whenever we're talking to one another.

But after we all got together last night,

and after re-watching those old videos,

and looking back on all the experiences
we've shared together,

I think I get what he's saying.

It resonates with me a lot.

And I wonder if

that collective sense of longing
that all of us seem to share,

and the thought of being together again,

and being BTS again,

was the thing that got us through
these past few years.

[SUGA] Is this it?

I think it's been 11 years now.

Yeah, this is it. I remember.

{\an8}["We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2" playing]

[music fades]

[SUGA] For me, creating music
is a way of documenting myself,

or the version of myself in that moment.

But I want my music to be intentional.

I want the art I create
to have a distinct message.

So, you know,

it's a pretty interesting conflict.

It requires a little more consideration
to solve.

[leaves rustling]

[RM] I feel like
we keep missing the forest,

and now we're starting
to hack away at the trees.

It's almost like
we just keep running in circles

trying to finish these last two songs.

And right now, I don't have any real sense
of what this album's supposed to be.

[woman] When we were thinking
about the album,

and the kinds of ideas that we needed

to keep building on
the legacy we've created,

we thought, "What if we took inspiration
from a legendary story in history?"

Now, you may have heard this story before,

but… in the year 1896,

a group of young men
from the Joseon Kingdom

arrived in America.

They traveled to Washington, D.C.
in hopes of receiving an education.

Alice Fletcher, an ethnologist
whose work paved the way

for music production as we know it today
met these young men.

{\an8}Since they didn't speak the same language,
they had to communicate through music,

{\an8}and that's how they shared
their cultures with one another.

These men were trailblazers.

They put everything on the line
to go to the US.

And so, this was the first Korean song
to be recorded in America.

This song holds deep cultural significance
for our people.

- What song?
- So then….

- It's "Arirang," right? It was "Arirang"!
- [RM] That's what I thought.

[folk music playing]

[Boyoung] It's a very old song,

one that dates all the way back
to the 13th century.

And like most folk songs,

it was spread orally
by members of the working class

as they crossed mountains and rivers.

The origin
of the word "arirang" isn't clear,

but according to linguists and scholars,

"ari-" means "charming" and "beautiful,"

and "-rang" means "longing."

Roughly translated, "The longing
for the beautiful people we love."

And with your passion for Army and music,

we felt that "Arirang" really resonated
with BTS as a whole.

I love that. It's an incredible reference.

[man] I really like the phrase
"Legacy in motion."

This represents BTS very well.

So, I think this is an excellent framework

{\an8}for you to try and guide
your creative decisions.

But, ultimately, you need to try
and show everyone

that… this is who you are.

[RM] Well, is this who we are?

[laughter]

Like, logically, I get it.

But personally, comparing ourselves
to heroes and legends

gives me an icky feeling.

- Yeah.
- [Boyoung] I understand.

I mean, yeah, at our core, I think…

{\an8}Here, how 'bout this,

{\an8}"We're not global heroes.
We're simply humble Koreans."

- I can't get a feel for it.
- [Jung Kook] Wow, look at all of these.

[Si-Hyuk] What specifically
aren't you feeling?

I just can't wrap my head around it now.

We need to feel it out ourselves.

"Ari, ari, ari… Arirang!"

[sophisticated beat playing]

- [performing "Arirang" on guitar]
- [singing in Korean]

Yeah, and then the riff can come in.

[music stops]

[SUGA] We're losing our minds.

[Jimin] I guess you'll get sick
of anything if you hear it for five hours.

[Pdogg] Oh, sh**t.

- [Jimin] Hyung?
- What?

- [Jimin] How screwed are we?
- Only a little.

At least we got something out of it.

- What exactly did we get?
- We got a starter, right?

And we had fun.

Besides, this is how we figure out
what not to do, right?

[SUGA] Exactly.

[Jimin] "Failure" doesn't exist.
It's all a part of the process.

[pensive music playing]

[no audible singing]

[singing sweetly along with guitar melody]

[music stops]

[Jimin] Straighten your back.
And reach… Yep.

I should go work out with them,
but… [groans softly]

Man, why are they working so hard?

- [RM] Damn it.
- Eight.

- Nine… Ten.
- [RM groans]

[lightly energetic music playing]

[Jung Kook] Here, like this.
Like your pushing them.

- [V] All while you're holding this?
- [Jung Kook] Yep.

- [breathing measuredly]
- [grunting in background]

- Just close your eyes.
- [Jimin] Three.

[Jung Kook] The first one's a warm-up.

[breathing measuredly, grunts]

[music stops]

[V] Oh, I see. That's what these are.

"Off" and "Play…"

[dreamy music playing]

[V] Maybe it's just me,
but… between the streets…

the recording spaces,

and even the restaurants I visited,

everything started to feel the same.

"Am I the only one
who hasn't changed that much?"

"Has time stopped for anyone else?"

For the first time in…
four, maybe five years,

we're going to see ARMY again as BTS.

And I can't help but think

about how much ARMY may have changed
since the last time we were together.

[fans cheering, whooping]

[inaudible]

Dave Roberts. Nice to meet you.

Welcome to Dodger Stadium.
Good to have you.

[rousing, upbeat music playing]

[announcer] Fans, please join us
in welcoming a special guest now

for tonight's ceremonial first pitch.

Throwing out for tonight is V!

{\an8}V is set to return
with his fellow members of BTS

for a highly-anticipated reunion

that the world has been waiting for.

We're all waiting now, V.

The mound is yours.

[man] And throw.

[crowd cheering loudly]

{\an8}[commentator] That's V
throwing out the first pitch.

{\an8}The place is going nuts behind us.

["Mic Drop" playing]

[fans cheering wildly]

It's time for Dodgers baseball!

[fans cheering]

[mouthing]

{\an8}[music fades]

[RM] So, right now,
how many songs have we confirmed?

- [woman] Confirmed?
- [RM] How many have we decided on?

- [woman] We have 14 songs confirmed.
- [RM] Fourteen?

[woman] Yeah.
And that includes "Body to Body."

Oh, of course.

[woman] Speaking of "Body to Body,"

you were gonna sample
that first recording of "Arirang" right?

- [RM] Yeah.
- [woman] Did you end up going with that?

Well, we tried it,

but no matter what we did
with the track in-studio,

we couldn't really hear the vocals.

{\an8}[woman] Got it. Since we're still working
on it, let's get some feedback

{\an8}and we can go from there, okay?

We might be able to use "NORMAL"
if we need to.

- [j-hope] So "NORMAL" is good?
- [RM] We got it.

I think there's too many English lyrics.

I wanna go back in
and add some more Korean.

- Especially in those rap verses.
- [woman] Yeah.

I agree. There's a level
of authenticity we need to have here.

So, if there's too much English…

[Nicole] I agree
that authenticity is important here.

But I think there's a way to do that

while still appealing
to the global market.

We just need to figure out how.

[RM] And how to do it
within the timeframe.

[SUGA] Right.

Because the reality is, at this point,

we don't have the time
to check for the English pronunciations.

[V] "Kerosene," "melatonin…"

[RM] I mean, I can still send you
a voice note of the pronunciations.

- "Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced…"
- [RM] Yeah, don't worry.

[singing melodically]

[upbeat pop music playing]

[singing in English]

Ah, sorry. What did you want again?

[Pdogg] No, that was good!
I like the vibe.

[singing, then stops] Sorry! I'm sorry.

[singing in English]

[Jimin] Oh! The pronunciation.

[singing in falsetto in English]

[Pdogg] Oh, that's tough.

[recording playing back]

"They thought that we would."
Does that fit?

'Cause it's only three syllables
in Korean.

Are we able to say all that
in just three syllables?

- [upbeat backing track playing]
- [singing in English]

[rapping in English and Korean]

[singing in English]

[Pdogg] Let's play it back.

[recording playing back]

[Jung Kook sighs] Today's soju.

That hits the spot.

- It's good.
- It's sweet.

- That means we had a good day.
- [laughter]

- [Jin] Did you write new lyrics, Nam-joon?
- [RM] Yeah.

But I'm a little worried about
how they might sound.

I don't want them to come across as
awkward or off-putting or something like--

- [V] Pronunciation?
- Yeah, that too.

- [V] It's really hard.
- [j-hope] That's why we practice.

We practice the English lyrics
more than the Korean ones.

But if the lyrics are a little clunky,
they'll sound bad, even if we practice.

[Jung Kook] Don't worry, Jimin.
You'll get there.

[j-hope] It has to be more… evolved.

- [SUGA] Yeah, especially in our lyrics.
- [RM] Mm-hmm.

[SUGA] They gotta be a bit more mature
than they were before.

[upbeat music playing]

[singing softly]

- Till the dawn.
- [woman] Hm?

[RM] Or like… Like something like,
"I could hear they come. " Stuff…

- Well, then, that's… that should be said.
- Um…

[RM sighs]

Like "they" could be, like…
the bad dreams or, like, insomnia,

or like… I literally just don't know
what I want.

Like, after work, I just, like,
you know, after the session,

we go… we go home at, like, eight.

And, like, we have, like, I don't know,
like, five, six hours before I sleep.

I just don't know what I want to do.

[A.Chic] So, then, that's the line, then.
Because that's your real emotion.

- You don't know what to do with yourself.
- This is normal.

[A.Chic] That is normal.

"Kerosene, dopamine, anything you want."
It could be that.

Or, like, "Chase it to…
Chase it till we know."

Like, or it could be, like,

"They don't even help to turn me off."

But doesn't it sound awkward?

Like… [hesitates] Like, m…

Like, melody-wise?

[A.Chic] Not to me.

- I'm not a native, so I don't know, so…
- [A.Chic chuckles]

[scatting softly under breath]

[gentle, pensive music playing]

[RM sighs]

[grunts]

Personally, I really hate
to be stuck in a routine.

But, funny thing is, we spent
a year and a half in the military.

And now, it all feels like a dream.

It feels like we were never there.

In old Greece, there were two ways
of thinking about time.

One is Chronos, and one is Kairos.

In the military, we had to do
the same thing over and over again.

Time just passed by.

That was Chronos.

But here in LA…

time with the members…

my second family…

this feels like Kairos.

Time really stretches.

And you really feel…

I don't know how to say it in English.

The "impermanence" of time.

[j-hope] JK, swim for us!

- [gasps]
- [both chuckling]

[V] Hey. [grunts]

- What was that?
- [laughter]

[uplifting music playing]

[V] All right, ready?

Let's see who can
hold their breath the longest.

[laughter]

♪ Acres ♪

♪ A visible horizon… ♪

[giggling]

♪ Right where it starts and ends ♪

♪ Oh, and then we start the end… ♪

[laughing hysterically]

♪ Acres ♪

♪A visible illusion… ♪

[playful laughter]

♪Oh, where it starts, it ends ♪

♪ Love like a sunset ♪

[music fades]

[V] I think this needs to change a bit
in 2.0 as well.

The audience won't like these lyrics
'cause they only matter to us.

[Nicole] But if you look back
at some of your previous songs,

like "ON" or "Black Swan,"

those didn't initially seem
to be relatable either.

- Yeah, that's fair.
- [Nicole] Mm-hmm.

So let's use "SWIM" as an example.

Let's say we decide
that's gonna be our single.

But when it comes to singles,

we want to push the songs
that we feel are more inclusive, right?

At least, I think
that's what they're saying.

[RM] Well, single or not,
it's still an important song.

I think we should at least try
some different things.

We just have to make sure
we don't lose focus.

- [RM] Yeah.
- [j-hope] I agree.

[RM] The energy's different.
It's just a more "mellow" song, you know?

Which is… Honestly,
it's just not our typical vibe.

It's different.

But there's nothing stopping us
from picking that.

And I think we're at a point
where we can at least consider it.

"2.0."

[sweet music playing]

{\an8}There's nothing to it. Like, right here?

{\an8}[Pdogg] Yes, exactly. Exactly.

{\an8}At the… [sings melody]

{\an8}…it'll be fine
once it's been edited and mixed. You know?

{\an8}- So, like here?
- [Pdogg] Or something like…

{\an8}- No, that's not it.
- It keeps going after that.

{\an8}[Pdogg] I meant we can add effects
on top of the vocals.

{\an8}We need to make room for the rap verse.

{\an8}We'll just have to work out
the structure later.

- For now, though, let's fix the hook.
- [man] Right.

Got it.

[Jin singing softly in English]

[GHSTLOOP] Just let me know
when you're ready in there.

- I'm ready.
- [GHSTLOOP] Okay, let's go for it.

- [metronome clicking]
- [Jin singing sweetly in English]

- [GHSTLOOP] Nice, one more.
- Okay.

[sings lines again]

- Sorry.
- [GHSTLOOP] No worries.

- [sings lines again]
- [metronome clicking]

[RM] When the song keeps,
like, singing "swim,"

it's, like, just, like,
it's not, like, a command.

It's not, like, recommending.

It's just, like… "Swim." "Swim."

It could be, like,
just describing, you know,

somebody like, or myself

almost give up
but not give up, like, 100%.

[j-hope singing in English]

I'll try again.

I'm not sure if we're making it work.

[singing in English]

Damn, where was I? This is hard.

Of course it is.
Otherwise, everyone would do it.

- [Jimin] You sure I should sing it?
- [RM] Just try it.

[music stops]

[RM] The idea of waking up every day
freaks me out a bit.

Not the actual waking up,

but the idea of days repeating themselves,
like in the military.

Nowadays, everything changes all the time.

Trends shift every quarter.

A bunch of talented new artists
are breaking into the industry.

And we have to change too.

How are we supposed to evolve
if we keep pushing against the tide?

That's just existing.

[singing in English]

- [GHSTLOOP] That's good.
- [click plays, then stops]

[Jin] The guys have made
a great album so far. I love the songs.

But I got here

really late in the process.

So coming in late,
not really knowing where everyone's at,

is extremely stressful,

because you have to figure out
how you fit into everything.

But having spent
the last 12 years together,

I've kind of figured out what to do
without being told.

I just have to catch their eye.

Ooh! We're at the beach!

[energetic music playing]

[grunts playfully, giggles]

Oh sh**t!

Sorry!

Here we go.

- Ah…
- [others] Whoa!

[RM] Damn it.

Sorry. We just broke it.

[j-hope] Can we walk on the beach?

- [Jung Kook] I think so.
- [RM] Yeah, let's go! C'mon!

[waves lapping gently]

Vocalists versus rappers.

- [Jung Kook] Is that what we're doing?
- [j-hope] Yeah, one of us can sub in.

[all] Oh. Oh-oh!

[playful chatter, laughter]

That was all you, Jimin.

[Jimin] Aw, come on, hyung. It's hard!

[Jin] You can do it.

[playful gasps, laughter]

- [Jung Kook] Very impressive.
- [Jin] What a man!

[laughing gleefully]

- [RM] Come on! One more time!
- [all giggling]

[Jin] That was fun.

Wow, look at him go.
LA suits him, doesn't it?

- You guys aren't gonna come in?
- [others giggling]

Jimin, LA suits you.
Doesn't this make you happy?

[laughter]

- [Jimin] Wow.
- [j-hope] Look at that!

[Jin] Beautiful…

[RM] Think we've done good?

[SUGA] I hope so.

[Jung Kook] We've been working hard.

[Jimin singing in English]

[Jimin] j-hope?

- [j-hope] Huh?
- [Jimin] Did you hear me?

[j-hope] Sorry, I was distracted.

- [Jimin] Come on!
- [j-hope] Someone's taking wedding photos!

[all laughing]

- [j-hope] Killin' it, girl.
- [laughter]

[Jung Kook] Man, look at that view.

[dreamy music playing]

[Jung Kook] Whoa!
What was that? A dolphin?

[V] Yeah! It is!

[j-hope] Where is it?

[RM] Over there! Over there!
There it is! Right there!

- [V] You sure that's a dolphin?
- [Jung Kook] Yeah.

- [RM] See? Look! There it is again!
- [Jimin] Dolphin!

- [j-hope] Should we do a live stream?
- [SUGA] Let's do it.

- [Jin] Nam-joon, you got this.
- [RM] Thanks.

[Jin] I'm rooting for you.

- Good luck, Nam-joon!
- [RM] You too!

[Jin] I'm off, j-hope.

- Goodbye, Jin.
- Okay, bye-bye.

Work hard. Do your best. Don't give up.
Don't cry 'cause you miss me.

Don't cry.

Hey, Yoon-gi, I'm leaving.

- See ya, man.
- [Jin] Bye. Great job!

- [Jung Kook] Hungry?
- [Jin] Bye, Jung Kook!

- Are you leaving right now?
- [Jin] Yeah, I'm the first one out.

I'm so jealous.
I wish I could leave in the morning.

[laughing]

Oh, oh, oh. Hey, let go!

Let go of me! [giggling]

[Jung Kook] Isn't Jimin coming?

Yeah, he'll be here in five.

[Jung Kook] Then stay for five.

- Or longer.
- [groaning]

I swear,
I used to be more flexible. [groans]

You know how you wanna go home?

Even though you're already home?
Ever feel like that? You know what I mean?

No? You're home, but wanna go home?

[Jin] Yeah, you get it, right?

- Once we get back, can I come over?
- Of course.

- [Jin] When you're not there?
- Oh. No.

[Jin] Come on, we're family!
You can use my place when I'm not there.

- Give me your house code.
- [Jung Kook] No way.

[chuckling] I can do fingerprints.

[Jung Kook] No, we're not doing that.

- Register my fingerprints!
- [Jung Kook] No.

[Jin] Jimin's here let's go!

[singing in Korean]

Jimin! I'm leaving now!

[Jimin] Wait. Why are you still here?

[Jin] I wanted to wait for you.

Ah, thanks, man.

[Jin] Also, I know it's not much,
but here are the PJs I mentioned

- All right, I'll wear 'em.
- Here you go.

- I'll send a photo as proof.
- I've actually had these in my room.

This whole time?

Yeah, I waited a week,
but at least you get them now.

- All right, I'll see you.
- [Jin] See you in Korea.

- Keep working hard, okay?
- All right.

- [Jin] You've got this.
- Thanks.

[Jin] Of course! You're welcome.

- [Jimin] Safe travels.
- [Jin] Bye-bye!

[Jung Kook singing]
♪ Ari, ari, arirang, sari, sarirang ♪

[RM] "Arirang" would be
a f*cking awesome title.

Because… whenever you think of "Arirang,"

we all get this visual
of what that looks like, right?

We just gotta channel that
into our concept.

That's right. "Arirang" is "arirang"
because we do what we want.

That's the new "Arirang." That's the idea.

- [Jung Kook] It's our version.
- It's our "Arirang."

That's K-pop. [blowing in bottle]

The pitch dropped.

- [RM blowing in bottle]
- [Jimin tunefully blowing in bottle]

I used to play the danso.

[blowing in bottle]

[blowing weakly]

[RM and Jung Kook chuckle]

[Jimin] Okay, I think it's time to go.

[singing softly in English]

[laughter]

Maybe we could do that,
or something like, uh…

[RM] All right. Think about it.

[Jung Kook] I think I'm gonna feel
a little numb once we're back in Korea.

I was talking to Jimin about that.

[RM] I'm gonna miss this place.

I mean, it's not really the place itself.
I think I'd hate being alone here.

But I'm gonna miss being with you guys
'cause it's been so long.

Like, waking up to grab a glass of water,
and seeing you up, playing Pokémon…

- It's like how it used to be.
- [Jung Kook] Wanna share dorms again?

[laughter]

[Jung Kook] I've had a lot of fun.

[Jimin] Let's do it again sometime.
I'd be down.

[laughter]

- Weren't you just saying that?
- [Jung Kook] Let's do it!

- [Jimin] This is for you!
- Yes, yes, yes, yes!

But in all seriousness,

I'm gonna miss this place.

[humming softly]

We're always talking among ourselves,

especially when
we're drinking together at night.

I mean, it's nice to chat
about the music we're working on,

but it's also nice when we get
to chat about meaningless things too.

Look, obviously I'm a member of BTS.

It's part of the job.
The seven of us have to get together.

We create music as a group.
We perform as a group. That's who we are.

So a part of me's like, "Yeah."

"Now that we're together again,

I can go back to doing
what I'm supposed to do."

[whistling]

[Jung Kook] I hope we've done a good job.

Ultimately,

I do think the concept
should be "Arirang," no matter what.

But there are a lot of different ways
to express "Arirang" and its meaning,

and how it's expressed
is ultimately up to us as the artists,

so yeah, I'm keeping that in mind.

I have a lot
of different thoughts about it.

It's tough.

I wish we were able to finish everything.

But we're leaving in two days, so…

No, wait, we leave tomorrow.

{\an8}[sensual K-pop music playing]

[Jimin] RM!

[Jimin] I'm hungry!

I am hungry.

- [V] Seriously?
- [Jimin] Jung Kook!

[V] They're gonna k*ll us.

[clears throat]

[Jimin] Jung Kook!

So, are we starting a new thing?

[Pdogg] No, no.
We're adding to "Body to Body."

- [j-hope] Nice, like that?
- [Pdogg] Yeah, just like that.

[j-hope] I really like adding it there.

I think it's good.
It's like we built it off the sample.

[powerful track playing]

- [rapping]
- [melody becomes thumping beat]

Yeah!

- [Jimin] I think it's good!
- I like it!

- Yeah! I got chills, man.
- [Jimin] Me too.

- It hit us both at the same time.
- Yeah, that was freaky.

[V] What did you feel?

[j-hope] It's like a bolt of energy
surging through you.

- It like creeps up on you!
- You can feel it all over your body.

- [V] Oh yeah?
- Yeah.

- [j-hope] Has Nam-joon heard it?
- [Jimin] Don't think so.

["Arirang" playing over heavy beat]

[inaudible]

What? I think it's good!

[RM] The rapping, the music, the singing,
it's like three songs mashed together.

[j-hope] You don't like it?
I think it's amazing.

It's like you made bibimbap,

but you added sliced bread
and pork cutlet and kimchi.

[Jimin] I mean,
that sounds f*cking delicious to me.

[laughter]

- Doesn't it though?
- Not if you mix it.

[laughter]

It's too much.

[singing happily]

It's kind of…
It pounds in your ear, you know?

[Pdogg] To be fair, Si-Hyuk did suggest

that we hire an actual
traditional folk singer

to record that part of the song.

[RM] Maybe it's 'cause we're Korean?
That's why it kinda sounds off?

[j-hope] I thought it was f*cking awesome.

'Cause if we're already calling
the album Arirang…

[SUGA] It does sound like an event song.

[V] So, from a Korean perspective,
they might think,

"Oh, wow, these f*ck went all in
on the patriotism, didn't they?"

- [Jimin] "They went full Korean."
- [RM] Exactly.

- [Jimin] But, like, that's why it's cool!
- Would that make people uncomfortable?

[j-hope] So I'm not a foreigner,
but, I think, usually

when people from other cultures
hear something like this,

they think, "Oh! That's so cool!"

- But it's way too direct.
- [j-hope] It's not.

- [Jimin] I don't think so.
- "Arirang" is…

- Can I just say--
- [SUGA] You should do this part.

- [RM] Wait, wait.
- [V] Hold on, one at a time.

Okay. So, I really do get
what you're saying here.

- [Jimin] Me too.
- I get your critiques.

But when I heard it, I f*cking loved it.

Maybe it's 'cause I'm Korean,
but it gets me pumped!

- [Jimin] Absolutely.
- Look, I'm not against it.

It's just…
Well, "Arirang" does fit thematically.

"Body to Body." Bodies against bodies.

Let's f*ck' jump around and celebrate.
That's the song.

- [Jimin] Exactly.
- [RM] I think we can do it.

I think we can make a version
we all agree on.

[RM] Half of us agree.

The album's gonna be called Arirang,
so why not go all in on the sample?

- [j-hope] That's what I'm saying.
- [RM] Let's listen one more time.

- Okay. I don't know the song.
- [V] Okay.

Brand-new BTS album.
Let's start at the top! Let's go!

[j-hope] Ooh, goosebumps.

["Body to Body" playing]

[crowd cheering]

["Body to Body" continues,
echoing from car]

[j-hope] We still have
a good amount of work to wrap up

now that we're back in Korea.

[rapping]

Lots of stuff hasn't been finalized.
It's gonna be tough.

The older we get, the harder it is
for us to be on the same page.

[singing in English]

[singing in Korean]

[RM in English] This album marks
the start of our second chapter.

["Arirang" playing over upbeat music]

[RM] No matter how much
BTS might evolve with our sound,

at our core, we're still
just a group of kids from Korea.

And that's never gonna change.

[singing in English]

[metronome clicking]

[indistinct chatter]

[suspenseful music playing]

[camera clicking]

[indistinct chatter continues]

[hip-hop music playing]

[camera clicking]

It's been years since our last album.

Sorry, I keep looking over.

[sighs]

Okay.

[interviewer] While you were working
on this album,

did you get the sense you were creating
something completely new? Or no?

As an artist, what would you say
has been the biggest change?

Do you feel like you've gone back
to something familiar?

[V] Okay, cheers. [chuckles]

Man, it's been so long.

[PEAKBOY] Way too long. Cheers.

{\an8}[man] Do you ever dream about
being back in the military?

[V] For sure.

I dreamt I was discharged and woke up
as a Private Fourth Class or something.

[laughing]

[PEAKBOY] You were already dreaming
of leaving, huh?

[laughter]

It must've been really tough.

[V] I feel like there's nothing to do
when I'm home.

I thought about selling it
and just moving in with you.

- [Min Sik] I've got a spare mattress.
- [laughter]

- With Tae-hyung's separation anxiety?
- [laughter]

[sizzling]

- [man] Sorry, sorry, I'm late.
- [V] Hey.

- [Seo Jun] You're here!
- [Hyung Sik] Congrats!

- [Seo Jun] You wrapped today, right?
- Aw, thank you.

- Hyung! Congrats on wrapping today.
- Thanks.

- [PEAKBOY] C'mon, sit.
- [Seo Jun] Great job, man.

- Thanks.
- Sherbet?

- How've you been?
- Good.

So, Tae-hyung, what are you working on?
What's next?

- The album's releasing soon.
- Oh yeah? When?

Before the tour.

- It'll be March.
- Of next year?

[server] Excuse me. Here you go

[Woo] Right around my birthday.
Oh, thank you.

[V] To be honest I'm a little worried.

I wasn't sure we could pull it off.
I mean, a three-year hiatus is a long time.

[Seo Jun] Yeah, that's a lot of pressure.
How many songs are on the album?

Fourteen.

- [Seo Jun] Fourteen? That's a huge flex.
- Wow! Full-length?

- Mm-hmm. Full length.
- You got a lead single?

- [V] Yeah.
- Ooh.

- I can't wait.
- [Woo] Mm!

The songs have lots of personality.

They're very… "Hello! This is me."
That energy.

- Yeah, I can see that.
- [Min Sik] Yeah.

Like, "Hip-hop! Let's go!"

- It's intense.
- You need that bam!

- Strong impact.
- They've got spice. They're provocative.

But it's the more mild track,
the one that's more subtle.

That's the lead single.
It's a little more--

More soft in tone?

Yeah. We picked the one that
we could listen to over and over again.

[Hyung Sik] I can't wait
to see how you stage it.

- [V] Yeah.
- [Woo] Mm.

- [Seo Jun] I'm really intrigued.
- [Hyung Sik] Me too.

[indistinct background chatter]

WILD

[Jung Kook] Hello.

- [woman] Hello, guys!
- [RM] Hello!

- [Jin] Hello!
- [Jung Kook] Hello, everyone!

- [woman] Hi!
- [woman 2] Hello.

[woman] So, today,
we're listening to the recording

of the song we're considering
for the lead single,

which is called "SWIM."

[Jimin] All right.

[woman] This isn't the final version
of the song.

There's a few parts that Nam-joon
and Yoon-gi will need to edit today,

so just keep that in mind.

- [RM] Copy, copy.
- [SUGA] Ready?

- Go.
- [RM] Let's go.

["SWIM" playing]

[singing in English]

So… [sighs]

…I think it drags a bit. Tonally.

[Jung Kook] It's just a little too heavy

[V] I feel like we're going in
the opposite direction of what we wanted.

[RM] I agree.

[j-hope] Yeah,
I'd hesitate to lead with this.

It'd be like "Here's BTS!
Back again after four years!"

- [meekly] "SWIM."
- [laughter]

[j-hope] That's totally gonna be
the reaction when they hear it.

I mean, I kind of like that reaction.

[j-hope] Do you?
Honestly, I don't mind it either.

[Jimin] I don't dislike it.
I really like the song itself.

I'm just… not sure it's the right fit.

But that's how we felt
about "Dynamite." Right?

- Even though we liked it.
- [RM] We weren't thrilled with "Dynamite."

We thought it didn't suit us.

[Jimin] Yeah, more than half of us
didn't want to do it

- The point I'm trying to make is--
- [RM] It is weirdly similar to "Dynamite."

I think people would be impressed by this.
"What, they make music like this? Cool!"

[j-hope] I agree. It's relaxed,
and I like that it's different.

It's a cool, mature song,
and it shows a lot of change.

[V] That's true.

[RM] And right now,
I think we need that kind of vibe.

ANGLE

[woman] So, we agreed to go forward

with the "Arirang" version
of "Body to Body" at our last meeting.

So, if you haven't heard it yet,
we'd love to play it now.

All right, let's hear it, then!

- Okay. Get ready! Body!
- [Jin] Yeah! "Body to Body."

[j-hope] "Body to…" [chuckles]

["Body to Body" playing]

It's the New Millennium Exercise!

[laughter]

[clapping]

- [both] Ha!
- [laughter]

[both] Ha!

[chuckling] Is that
where those moves are from?

- [Jung Kook] Yeah.
- Ha!

[j-hope] This one's longer.

This is the part I'm on the fence about.
The "Arirang" specifically.

[j-hope] I think it's gotten too long.
It's really long.

[woman] Mr. Si-Hyuk wanted to emphasize
that it's a folk song.

- What?
- He wants the sample to be more obvious.

- [woman] Right. If you're gonna do it.
- [j-hope] Got it.

- [V] Something missing?
- [Jung Kook] There's more at the end.

[RM] Hold on a second.
First off, I think that--

- Could I share my opinion?
- [RM] Yeah.

- [woman] Of course.
- I don't think this is the right choice.

[SUGA] I think the extended length of it
would be fine for a live performance.

- But if you're just listening to it…
- [j-hope] It's too much.

Personally, the longer it goes on,
the more embarrassed I get.

[RM] I'd also like to hear
the "somebody like" part

with the guys' voices switched around.

Right now, it feels like I'm eating
kimchi fried rice at Paris Baguette.

[Jimin] How do you feel
about the original version?

- [woman] I think that version…
- [Jimin] The original's a lot better.

- ARMY'll find it hilarious!
- [V] Can you play the mix?

[woman] Let's play the original.

[original version playing]

This is the version we heard in LA!

Yeah! That's it! That's it!

Yeah, I like that!

- Okay.
- [SUGA] I like this version more too.

I like this length more.

- I need the whole… [hums]
- [Jimin] Yeah, we need that part there.

[j-hope] This one's more… It's like
going towards a third or fourth verse.

[singing indistinctly]

[door closes]

Wait, where is it? Oh, there.

Ah!

Man, it's short.

- [Pdogg] Seok-jin set the mic.
- [grunts] That would explain it.

Oh man, the latency is…
Is it 'cause we've loaded that track?

Yeah, we loaded it on the master track.
I'll take it off.

- [RM] Right.
- Give me a sec…

[RM clears throat]

[backing track playing]

So you know how we were talking about it
for three hours straight?

[Jimin] They really liked
"Hooligan" and "NORMAL."

[Jung Kook] Oh, they did?

[Jimin] But "SWIM" is just…

When people think of BTS,
they think strong, intense music.

- [Jung Kook] Uh-huh.
- Music you can dance to.

So they were like, "Where's that music?"
You know? That's where their focus was.

Jung Kook] I think
it's good to branch out.

No, I agree. I think it's good.

That's why I'm fighting as hard as I can
to convince them.

And I told them, "I think that this is
the only chance we're going to get

to experiment creatively."

And they said,
"We get that, but we don't agree."

- [Jung Kook] Oh, yeah?
- [Jimin] Yeah.

It all feels so tense right now.

I just wish everyone else
was on board with it,

but they're not convinced.

They did try to be understanding, though.
Of our perspective, I mean.

["SWIM" playing]

[rapping in English]

Let's play it back.

["SWIM" recording playing back]

[woman] Oh, that's good!

- [Pdogg] The diction?
- [woman] Mm-hmm.

- [Pdogg] Nice.
- [woman] Wow.

[Pdogg] One moment…
Yeah, I think we're good.

[SUGA] I mean, at this point,
we might as well edit everything.

Yeah. If we're putting it together.

[recording playing back]

- Ya know, I think this might be a little…
- [Pdogg] Little forced?

Yeah. I think punching it
makes it sound kinda disjointed.

Or at least that's how it sounds
to my ear, anyway.

- [Pdogg] One sec…
- Great, thanks.

- [playback resumes]
- [SUGA] Because it's the lead single,

we're still busy recording stuff
and working on it in studio.

There's a wide variety
of songs on this album.

But on the whole, I think the lyrics
are… a lot more mature now.

- I mean, all of us are older now.
- [pensive music playing]

I'll be 34 when the album drops.

I think the stories
that we're trying to tell

are more grown-up.

We used to spend
so much time in the studio.

We wanted to get it right.

It was a lot of suffering
through the creative process.

But now, if it doesn't work out,
it doesn't work out.

We just move on,

and, uh… direct our energy elsewhere.

We don't feel the same desperation
that we used to.

At the end of the day,

we never know if it'll be a hit.

We like what we like, you know?
[chuckling] That's how it goes.

[music fades]

[woman] Ay, ay, aya.

[Jimin] The pizza place is still around.

- [stylist] Oh really?
- [Jimin] Yeah.

When we were trainees,

all seven of us,

we'd all get together and order from here.

The pizzas were big and pretty cheap,

so we'd order one and eat it together.

I miss that.

Ah!

[singing in Korean] ♪ I'm hungry ♪

[humming]

[man on computer] I guess we should
default to "aliens exist," then.

[laughter]

I'm your host, Jeong Yeong-jin,

here to bring you interesting
and mysterious stories

about science and ancient history
in an easy and fun way.

And I'm Professor Kang In-uk,

a specialist in Eurasian
and Northeast Asian archeology

at Kyung Hee University.

- Delicious.
- [man] Nice, we're at Yonsei University.

You've talked a lot about this.

Seeing Science
and Seeing History are both so fun.

[Jimin] Yeah, these are
the types of videos I like to watch

when I'm eating or trying to sleep.

They talk about science.

It's interesting.

[Yeong-jin] It's like an alien
carved into a stone or something.

[faucet running]

[Jimin] Yeah, you hear that sound?

Squeaky clean.

[singing to himself]

I had a really great time in the US,

but nothing beats home.

There's no place like home.

My mom gave this to me.

All done!

Now I can game.

Nam-joon always tells me
he doesn't understand it,

but, personally,

I like lazy days
when I don't go and work out

and… I sit here for, like, ten-ish hours?

I wasn't always an introverted person,

but as I've gotten older,
I have fewer people around me,

so I end up spending more time alone.

It just kind of happened organically.

A lot of my hobbies tend to be
more introverted than extroverted.

I mean, I can only speak for myself.
I can't speak for any other celebrities.

But a lot of them might feel the same way.

Well, I guess
I only really know how I feel, ya know?

This is just who I am. [chuckles]

Yeah.

Some people see this
as a positive environment,

and some people will disagree.

But everyone lives
a little differently, right?

To be honest,
all I've wanted since I was little

was to have this life.

It was less imagining
and more manifesting.

I think I only got this far
because I was confident I'd get there.

Picturing myself performing on\stage,

dressed in a cool outfit,

doing these awesome dances
and singing great songs.

I think investing in my own imagination
is what got me this far.

[coach] It's been a while
since you played.

- Your aim's a little off.
- [Jin] Oh man.

[coach] But your swing's still good,
so let's just get you back into the habit.

Ready? Nice.

[dogs barking]

- [dog whining]
- [chuckling] Oh!

Go get it. [chuckles]

Bam's so cute.

[woman] Now, genetically,

Dobermans are already high-risk,
since they're prone to fatal diseases.

[Jung Kook] Right.

[woman] But even considering
that aspect of the breed,

Bam's even more vulnerable than average.

I guess that's why I love him so much.

[woman chuckles] Exactly.

[coach] Nice, you got it.

[grunts, frustrated yell, chuckles]

Having the opportunity to grow and change

makes us stronger.

We've worked so hard

to get everything ready
for this album release,

and it's time to show our fans.

It's a really exciting moment.

I'm honestly really happy.

But at the same time,
I'm really overwhelmed,

because I'm just

not the kind of person
who can handle this level of popularity.

I've been too successful for my own good.

[Jung Kook] I think that,

as much as we appreciate
having a large, global fan base…

that intense level of fame
can be a lot to carry.

And when I look at myself,

I really don't think I'm that special.

I think there's a part of me

that just wants to be seen as a singer,
and nothing else.

Hi. Hi.

[Jin] Why haven't you guys
been working out?

Nam-joon and I have trained every day.

Seriously.

Look how much weight you've lost.

You guys were all so buff in LA.
When did everyone get scrawny?

- [j-hope] What do you mean?
- [man] Hello.

- [j-hope] Hello there.
- Hi.

[woman] Tae-hyung's sick today.
He's calling in.

[man] Ah, okay.

Having, what, 60 to 70,000 people
in one venue,

and half of them being foreigners,

and hearing them sing along to "Arirang,"

that's an iconic moment waiting to happen.

So, even though it's your decision,

I think, from our perspective,

not even having the discussion
feels like we're ignoring something huge.

[j-hope] This is just me, but I felt like
the original was just so good.

And, if you asked me to choose,
I'd actually go with--

- [Si-Hyuk] That one?
- Yes.

Personally, I would go
with the shorter sample.

Mostly because I worry
that we'll be overdoing it.

I'm afraid it's gonna be overkill.

[Jung Kook] Also, not everyone's gonna get
what "Arirang" is.

- At least outside our Korean audience.
- [Si-Hyuk] Right, right.

[Jung Kook] So,
looking at it more globally,

we should prioritize making it sound good.

Even if it sounds "better,"
you lose so little musically,

and gain something far bigger
with the longer sample.

So, to me, whether
something's "better" doesn't matter.

[RM] Personally, I understand both sides.

And if I was told, "You need to listen
to 'Body to Body' two or three times,

which version do you choose?"

I'd pick the original.

But the first time you hear it,
for some people,

it'll be like the first time we heard
African or Brazilian music, right?

And we thought,
"What's this? It's really cool."

And now non-Korean listeners
might react that way to our music.

- That's all.
- [Si-Hyuk] Right.

Look, we all know,

that an act like BTS
only comes around once every few decades.

And there's also no denying you're Korean.

So now we find ourselves in a situation

where your target audience
is extending far beyond just Korea

and is increasingly more global.

Like I said before,
ultimately, it's your decision here.

[RM] Making this album,
the question I kept asking myself

was, "How far do you wanna go?"

"How much are you gonna change,

and how much
are you gonna assert yourself?"

And that's the most important thing.

[pensive music playing]

[RM] Coming into it,
we were determined to push ourselves.

But now that we have the chance
to do that, we're scared.

[doing vocal warm-ups]

[RM] If you, like, spit
everything inside yourself out,

then you have to fill it again,
so… you need something from the outside.

[j-hope] Even though it's spinning,

you just need to focus on
one singular point.

[SUGA] I'm not sure
what the result will be.

You never know how
people will receive your work.

We just want it to feel authentic.

What matters most
is that we tried our best,

and that we got to enjoy ourselves.

Done!

Done, done, diggy done, done.

[RM] "Arirang" is a song
that expresses "han,"

deep sorrow and longing.

For many years,
our people would sing "Arirang"

in an attempt to overcome
great pain and suffering with joy.

I think that, as a Korean person,

the thought of sampling
this famous, traditional song

felt too on-the-nose.

That was my reaction at first.

But when I realized
the weight that "Arirang" carries,

and the message we wanna convey
with that album name,

the sample felt almost organic.

And once we decided to lean into it,

I thought, "Why hold back?"

"Let's commit.
Let's go all the way with it."

And we realized

that it may be a song only we can create.

[indistinct chatter]

Yes! That's it! That's it,
that's it, that's it, that's it!

Everybody move. [laughs]

[Jin] When I was finally reunited
with everyone in Los Angeles,

it didn't feel like
I was seeing my colleagues.

It just felt like
I was seeing my family again.

[laughter]

[V] Well, if I compare who we were then
to who we are now…

I feel like
everything about us has changed,

at least a little bit.

Like, "We're really growing up, huh?"

[uplifting music building]

[laughter]

[RM] I've been spending
half of my life with them.

My second family.

- [high-pitched shrill tone]
- [laughter]

[Jung Kook] We did it, guys.
The seven of us are back together again.

Wow.

It's incredible.

It feels like a dream.

[SUGA] I used to think,
"It'll end eventually."

And occasionally, I'll think,

"I'll probably have to stop
if my body can't keep up."

But if this is what we really want,
then it might be possible.

Well, you know, my motto's just,
"Go with the flow."

Wherever it might take me.

[SUGA chuckles softly]

[Jimin] Right now?

Well, it feels like I've come back
to the place where I'm meant to be.

[RM] I think that's the essence
of BTS as a whole.

I mean, we get to wear
this big, incredible crown.

At times, the crown is heavy,
almost unbearable.

And it's scary to wear.

[j-hope] There's gonna be pain
along the way,

and lots of different emotions,

but in the end,

it'll all unfold with a smile.

[RM] Even separated,
none of us are ever alone.

And if the seven of us can continue
down this path together,

we can swim wherever the tide takes us.

- [music fades]
- [indistinct singing in background]

- [j-hope raps in English]
- [V] Wow…

- Okay.
- [j-hope] Cool.

[Jimin singing softly in English]

Nice to meet you.

[guys vocalizing]

[doing vocal warm-ups]

[Jimin] All right, let's do this.
Everyone ready?

[V] Man, it's been a while
since we sang together live.

- [j-hope] Yeah.
- [V] Seriously.

It's been three? Four years?
Oh! Nice to meet you.

- [Jimin] Yeah.
- [laughter]

[Jung-kook] Wait. What was he saying?

- [RM] Okay.
- [j-hope] Okay.

Let's "SWIM." Give us some music.

"SWIM." Let's "SWIM."

["SWIM" by BTS playing]

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ Water falling off your skin ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I could spend a lifetime watching you ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ This is how it all begins ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

♪ Bad world ♪

♪ Gone away
And I still wake up in this mad world ♪

♪ Name a place that I could breathe
On this map, world ♪

♪ Lookin' like a goody-goody
In this bad world, bad world ♪

♪ Don't know how to act, girl ♪

♪ I'm in the deep
Tell me where the hell you at, girl? ♪

♪ Oh you ain't even
Gotta love me bad, girl ♪

♪ You know
That I'm never holdin' back, girl ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ So easy
Don't make it so hard ♪

♪ Nights like these
I just wanna get lost ♪

♪ Right here
With the moon and the sharks ♪

♪ I ain't gotta think
'Bout a thing, baby, I just ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ Water falling off your skin ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I could spend a lifetime watching you ♪

[V] ♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ This is how it all begins ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

♪ Water, water so deep
Water so deep ♪

♪ Take it off the ground
I ain't never gettin' cold feet ♪

♪ Yeah, you know me, yeah, you know me ♪

♪ Sittin' on the shore
I am ready for the… ♪

[Jung Kook] ♪ Whole sea ♪

[V, SUGA] ♪ I can feel
The high waves comin', yeah ♪

♪ Why you run away?
You can run in ♪

[SUGA, Jimin] ♪ Salt on my tongue
She's stunnin' ♪

- [V] ♪ Yeah ♪
- ♪ You're the only place that I wanna be ♪

[all] ♪ Yeah ♪

[Jung Kook] ♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ Water falling off your skin ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I could spend a lifetime watching you ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ This is how it all begins ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

- ♪ Splash, drift ♪
- [all] ♪ Splash, drift ♪

- ♪ I make waves with my two fins ♪
- [all] ♪ Two fins ♪

- ♪ Splash, drip ♪
- [all] ♪ Splash, drip ♪

♪ I just wanna take it across the line ♪

♪ Under here, we don't chase the time ♪

♪ Baby, everything can't be so sad ♪

♪ Turn my face from the land ♪

♪ I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ Water falling off your skin ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I could spend a lifetime watching you ♪

- [Jin] ♪ Swim, swim ♪
- [Jung Kook] ♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ Let it all begin ♪

♪ Swim, swim ♪

♪ I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

[RM] And…

[all] Cut!

[laughter]

♪I just wanna dive
I just wanna dive ♪

- [man] Done?
- [Jung Kook] Cut. Cut. Cut.

[Jin] Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut!

["Body to Body" by BTS playing]

[music fades]