BTS 101: A guide for new fans just in time for 'Arirang'

The BTS comeback is just around the corner, and given that virtually the entire world is yelling about it, you've no doubt heard the news.

If you're wondering, "Who is BTS?" and "What's the big deal about BTS?", or if you're a new fan who wants to know more and where to go next, here's everything you need to know.

BTS — full name Bangtan Sonyeondan in Korean, which stands for Bulletproof Boy Scouts — debuted in 2013 under BigHit Entertainment, and they have taken the world by storm ever since.

Often dubbed "the biggest band in the world," the group is known for their synchronized dance moves, insane harmonies, and lyrics that range from rebellion, to self-love, to just wanting to dance. They had rough beginnings, but over the past 12 years climbed their way up, growing their fandom, ARMY, into the global force it is today.

BTS is set to make a grand comeback this week with "Arirang," their first release as a group in four years. Before the comeback hits us all, brush up on your facts!

Who's who

BTS is composed of seven members.

RM is the leader and main rapper of the group. Also called by his real name Namjoon, RM has a love and passion for the arts.

Jin, the oldest member, is the main visual and one of the group's four vocalist. He is also called "Worldwide Handsome" for his stunning facial features.

Suga is the lead rapper. He also uses the name Agust D for his solo work, with songs that have honest lyrics about mental health and his past.

J-Hope is the main dancer and rapper. Also called by his nickname Hobi, J-Hope stays true to his name as he is very cheerful and is the sunshine of the group.

Jimin is a main dancer and vocalist. Often called "It Boy," he is known for his charm and unique high voice.

V is the other striking visual of the group and is part of the vocal line. Born Kim Taehyung, V is also passionate about the visual arts and is known for his deep voice, perfect for ballads.

Finally, Jungkook is the main vocalist, dancer, and maknae (youngest member). Also called JK, he was given the title "Golden Maknae" because of his many superb talents.

ARMYs often have a bias, or a favorite member of the group. However, every ARMY is OT7, or One True 7, meaning they support all seven members as a group.

BTS' musical eras

Since their debut in 2013, BTS has offered a wide range of musical styles, genres, and lyrics. But what truly won over fans' hearts is the group's authenticity and honesty in their stories. RM, Suga, and J-Hope have been a big contributor to BTS' discography, and over time, the rest of the members followed suit in songwriting.

BTS started their career with the School Trilogy with the albums "2 Cool 4 Skool," "O!RUL8,2?," and "Skool Luv Affair." These albums discussed themes of being a teen, and the growth and rebellion that come with it.

"Dark and Wild" followed the trilogy, providing an edgier take on the themes of growth and love with songs like "Danger," "BTS Cypher Pt. 3: Killer," and "Embarrassed."

Next up is The Most Beautiful Moment in Life (also known as HYYH), where BTS took a softer turn exploring what it's like to be young. Songs from this era include "I Need U," "Dope," "Run," "Whalien 52," and "Butterfly."

The "Wings" era is all about temptation, good, and evil. This era also featured awesome solo songs by the members that flexed their individual talents, like J-Hope's "Intro: Boy Meets Evil," Jimin's "Lie," and Suga's "First Love." The "Wings" era is also home to the iconic BTS song "Spring Day," a track about how no darkness lasts forever.

The "Love Yourself" trilogy from 2017 to 2018 then catapulted BTS into international stardom. Following themes of learning to love themselves, the Bangtan Boys dropped the now-classic songs "DNA," "Mic Drop," "Fake Love," and "Magic Shop." This era also featured new solo songs by the members, including Jungkook's "Euphoria," RM's "Trivia: Love," V's "Singularity," and Jin's "Epiphany."

Following this is the "Map of the Soul" era, which also marks the seven members being together for seven years. Some notable songs from the era are the danceable "Boy with Luv (featuring Halsey)," the empowering "On," and the sensual "Black Swan."

BTS was set to go on a massive world tour for the "Map of the Soul" era, but the pandemic happened, which led to the "Dynamite" era. "Dynamite" is BTS' first full-English song, which was meant to give hope during the trying times. It is part of the album "BE," which goes into the group's mind during the pandemic with songs like "Life Goes On" and "Blue and Grey."

After the explosive global success of "Dynamite," BTS released their second full-English song, "Butter," a danceable pop song that dropped in 2021. Both "Dynamite" and "Butter" earned BTS Grammy nominations. Not long after, BTS released another hopeful track called "Permission to Dance," the last one in this trilogy.

In 2022, BTS released their first anthology album "Proof," which holds all their hit songs, unreleased tracks, and new songs like "Yet to Come" and "Run BTS."

It was also the same year that BTS announced their hiatus, marking the beginning of their "Chapter 2" era. During their break, the members released solo work, and held concerts on their own. It was also the same year that they announced that they will be undergoing mandatory military service, and will be away from ARMY and the public eye for a while.

Now, the "Arirang" era is here. BTS is back after years of being away, and it looks like they've got surprises up their sleeve given that they've kept mum about most of everything about the album. However, they did announce that the album's title track is called "Swim," and they have released a couple of video teasers for it.

Join the platforms

BTS is on Weverse for direct updates and announcements. They also have a group X (formerly Twitter) account for this purpose.

The group has an Instagram account, as well as individual accounts. The members' IG handles are as follows: @rkive, @jin, @agustd, @uarmyhope, @j.m, @thv, and @mnijungkook.

BTS also has a TikTok account, but recently, a few members opened personal accounts. J-Hope's handle is @uarmyhope, Jungkook's handle is @mnijungkook, and V's handle is @tete_kimv.

ARMY is a massive fandom known for its unity and loyalty, and they are present in every social media platform available. Join the spaces, make friends, and have fun in the community!

Merch time

Get that merchandise, ARMY!

Original merchandise is available via Weverse, but pop-ups also open in Metro Manila every so often.

Fans also make their own high-quality merchandise ranging from stickers to apparel. These are available on Shopee and Instagram.

The BTS official lightstick is called the ARMY Bomb. The newly announced fourth version will feature a clear circular top with the BTS logo inside of it. The logo will light up in different colors during concerts or other events. The lightstick is in sync with songs and can be controlled using the BTS Official Lightstick mobile app.

Also available on Weverse are BTS' albums. They come with a lot of fun stuff, like posters, photobooks, and ARMYs' favorite, photocards. Many fans love collecting photocards and displaying them on their phone cases or bag tags.

Comeback day

"Arirang" is almost here. The album will have 14 songs, and the lead track is "Swim."

What's exciting about this comeback, aside from the fact that BTS has been pulling out all the stops, is that not much is known about what the group has cooked up. While promotions have been on an unprecedented scale, official teasers have been stingy with information.

On comeback day on March 20, watch the music video, listen on streaming platforms, and enjoy the comeback. Spread the word to your family and friends, too.

And don't forget to stream the comeback concert on Netflix on March 21! —MPG/JCB, GMA Integrated News