(ATTN: UPDATES with 12 more songs from album entering Hot 100 in paras 5-7, minor edit in 8th para)
By Shim Sun-ah
BTS’s new track “Swim,” the lead single from their fifth studio album “Arirang,” has soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of April 4. The upbeat alternative pop song surpassed Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” securing the No. 1 spot, according to a Billboard preview released Monday (U.S. time).
This achievement adds “Swim” to BTS’s impressive list of Billboard successes, including previous hits like “Dynamite,” “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” (BTS Remix), “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “My Universe.”
The success of “Swim” reflects the overall dominance of “Arirang.” Billboard announced on Sunday that the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking the group’s seventh chart-topping album. The momentum extended to the U.K. on Friday, with “Arirang” debuting at No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart Top 100 and “Swim” entering the Official Singles Chart Top 100 at No. 2.
Later on Monday, Billboard revealed that 13 of the new album’s 14 tracks, including “Swim,” entered the Hot 100 chart this week. This achievement sets a new record for a K-pop act, with the most songs from a single album charting on the Hot 100.
The album tracks made the following entries on the chart: “Body to Body” debuted at No. 25, “Hooligan” at No. 35, “Fya” at No. 36, “Normal” at No. 41, “Aliens” at No. 47, “2.0” at No. 50, “Merry Go Round” at No. 52, “Like Animals” at No. 53, “They Don’t Know ’bout Us” at No. 56, “One More Night” at No. 61, “Please” at No. 63 and “Into the Sun” at No. 68.
The only track that did not enter the chart was “No. 29,” which solely features the sound of the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok and contains no lyrics. Billboard did not specify the reason for its exclusion.
“BTS has the most No. 1s among groups in nearly half a century — since the Bee Gees banked its nine career chart-toppers in 1971-79,” Billboard said in the chart preview. “As for the most No. 1s among groups since the chart began in August 1958, the Beatles lead all acts with 20, followed in the category by the Supremes (12), Bee Gees, the Rolling Stones (eight) and BTS.”
Among Korean artists, only BTS and its members Jimin and Jungkook have achieved a No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart.
In the K-pop genre, “Golden” from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” also reached No. 1 last year.
The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States across all genres, using a combination of streaming data, radio airplay, and sales figures.
Released on March 20 as part of “Arirang,” “Swim” garnered 15.3 million streams, 25.8 million radio airplay audience impressions, and sold 154,000 copies in the U.S. during the week ending March 26, according to Billboard.
The release marked the end of a nearly four-year hiatus from group activities. The group celebrated their highly anticipated comeback the following day by holding a free concert for tens of thousands of fans at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul.
Produced under the direction of Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, “Arirang” explores BTS’s identity as a group that originated in Korea and the universal emotions its members have experienced throughout their journey. “Swim” serves as an anthem for overcoming life’s challenges, with lyrics co-written by the band’s frontman, RM.
