The record-breaking South Korean pop group BTS announced their return with the release of a first single from their highly anticipated album, Map of the Soul: 7. Surpassing 4 million pre orders as of February 8, the continuation of the album series Map of the Soul already proves itself to be one of the biggest comebacks in the group’s history. The release of a single before album-drop day is an unprecedented move for the group. But if there is a way to describe BTS in one word, predictable is not one of them.
BTS released “Black Swan” on January 17th along with a self-described Art Film. The film highlights a contemporary dance choreography performed by MN Dance Company. The video opens with a quote from modern dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, appearing on screen:
“A dancer dies twice— once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.”
Next, the dancers, dressed in black suits, file on screen into the stark landscape of an abandoned shopping mall. It is empty except for the ensemble and patches of silver light which filter down from above. The dancers travel through the levels of building, combining fluid and chaotic movements, over a string arrangement of “Black Swan”.
Like the art film contrasts the dynamic motion of the dancers with their stark environment, the official release version of Black Swan combines two main components: a modern trap beat and a delicate, lilting melody played by synths and electric guitar. BTS’s layered vocals float above this synergy, layered so that the voice of each member is only distinguishable from the others for fleeting moments, weaving in and out in a sonic dance.
Lyrically, “Black Swan” Rapper SUGA opens the first verse with the lyrics: The heart does not beat / anymore, when listening to music / It feels like time has stopped / Oh that would be my first death I been always afraid of, a callback to the Martha Graham quote featured in the art film. In the chorus, the group’s vocalists describe a chilling nightmare of powerlessness: As if I’m bewitched, I slowly sink down, nah nah nah / Though I try struggling, I’m at the bottom of the sea, nah nah / Every moment becomes eternity, yeah yeah yeah. The lyrical and melodic motif, “Do your thang, do your thang with me now” appears throughout the song as its intro, interlude, and outro.At the end of the second verse, SUGA raps about waking up from this nightmare and concludes, Even if harsh waves brush against me in the darkness, I will never get dragged away again.
According to the official description of Black Swan released to streaming sites, “through the mature, self-reflecting lyrics, BTS conveys its confession as an artist who learned what music means to self.” Black Swan is as personal as it gets. It not only communicates a message from the world-dominating artist BTS but also (and perhaps more importantly) it is a unique window into the fears and doubts of seven young men who, through unprecedented circumstances, find themselves under a spotlight which rivals the sun.
Lyric translation courtesy of blog doolsetbangtan.
Amanda Bingham 