The journey of creating Arirang was filled with intense creative discussions, and one of the biggest debates revolved around choosing “Swim” as the title track. According to revelations from their documentary, BTS and even their close collaborators initially struggled to accept the song as the album’s lead single.

BTS reveals why they were hesitant to make Swim the title track

The hesitation stemmed from multiple factors, beginning with the song’s overall tone. “Swim” is a softer, more introspective track, quite different from BTS’ usual high-energy, performance-heavy title songs. Known for delivering powerful anthems that dominate charts and stages, the group found themselves questioning whether a subdued and emotional number would meet the expectations of fans eagerly awaiting their comeback.