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Now that the year of BTS is underway and the new album ARIRANG is due in just a couple of months, Kayla and Bethany put on their researchers’ hats to uncover the history and cultural significance of the beloved Korean folk song that inspired the album title.
Kayla and Bethany are no strangers to deep dives, and in this episode they’re sharing everything they’ve learned about “Arirang,” the centuries-old folk song sometimes referred to as the collective memory of the Korean people. The song can be traced all the way back to the 1700s; though the legend of its origin is disputed, multiple versions of the song have been passed down across centuries. Today, there are over 3,600 known variations and counting.
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In fact, BTS performed a version of “Arirang” as far back as 2016, even contributing their own new verse with original lyrics!
But the history of “Arirang” runs much deeper than that. The first recording of “Arirang” originated from a different group of seven Korean men – not singers, but bank robbers! And the recording didn’t happen in Korea, but in Washington D.C. So how did a group of outlaws end up recording the unofficial Korean national anthem in the United States? And why did the U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division adopt “Arirang” as its official march song decades later? Kayla and Bethany will tell you all about it!
Also in this episode, we’re dissecting this week’s Weverse live for the latest reveals about what to expect when ARIRANG finally releases on March 20th. Kayla and Bethany react to the news that we’re getting three versions of the album, and grapple with which version to buy if each member ends up getting their own vinyl release.
BTS is also going on tour, and though pre-sale tickets sold out, you can still get tickets by checking here.
Check out the latest episode of Stanning BTS and be sure to subscribe and review wherever you listen. ARMY faithful can also pick up the Stanning BTS T-shirt, now available in two colors at the Consequence Shop. And as always, check out all the great shows on the Consequence Podcast Network!
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