BTS ignited their U.S. comeback at New York’s iconic Pier 17, a venue that has hosted performances by legendary artists.
The group held a special event, Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE, on the rooftop of Pier 17 on Tuesday, reconnecting with their American fanbase.
This fan-centric celebration, organized in collaboration with global audio and music streaming platform Spotify, marked the release of BTS’s fifth studio album, ARIRANG. It was the first time all seven members had gathered in New York since their 2018 BTS WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ world tour, nearly six years ago.
The pre-show atmosphere was electric. Fans spontaneously belted out “Body to Body,” a track from the new album, while eagerly awaiting BTS’s arrival. The song, which cleverly incorporates the traditional Korean folk melody “Arirang,” had fans naturally joining in on the familiar refrain about crossing Arirang Pass.
BTS stepped out in style, sporting leather jackets and jeans accented with traditional Korean accessories like ornamental pendants, a traditional liquor pouch, and bat-shaped brooches. Addressing the packed crowd, they expressed their honor at kickstarting their U.S. activities at such a storied venue, noting Pier 17’s history of hosting music icons like Jay-Z and Eminem.
The group engaged in a lively Q&A with fans, sharing updates and insights about their new album. Introducing their title track “SWIM,” they explained its empowering message of perseverance in the face of adversity. The subsequent performance of “SWIM” sent the crowd into a frenzy.
BTS kept the energy high with back-to-back performances of “NORMAL” and “2.0.” Reflecting on their return to U.S. stages after a four-year hiatus since their Las Vegas concert, the members expressed their joy at reconnecting with American fans and feeling their passionate support firsthand.
Fans can catch BTS’s group appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Friday at 12:35 p.m. (Korean time).
Meanwhile, BTS’s latest release continues to dominate charts worldwide. “ARIRANG” scored a triple crown on Japan’s Oricon charts, topping the weekly combined album, weekly album, and weekly digital album rankings as of Wednesday. The single “SWIM” has maintained its reign at #1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart for four consecutive days as of Tuesday.