Normal (BTS song)

On January 4, 2026, BigHit Music announced BTS's comeback after a four-year hiatus during which they completed their mandatory military service and released solo work.^[1][2] The title of the album, Arirang, was revealed on January 15, referencing the Korean folk song of the same name.^[3][4] On March 3, BTS revealed the album's track listing and production credits, with "Normal" revealed as the album's ninth track.^[5][6] The song was included as the B-side of the Target-exclusive tiny vinyl release for the album's lead single "Swim".^[7] A Korean version of "Normal" was included as a bonus track on a special-edition vinyl version of Arirang, released on June 12, 2026, to commemorate the group's 13 year anniversary.^[8]

On July 13, 2026, it was reported by Billboard that "Normal" would be promoted to US pop radio on July 21 as the album's second single.^[9] The group published teasers for the song's single release in the July 13 and 14 issues of San Francisco Chronicle and New York Post, respectively, with the headline "BTS Seen in Bathroom Amid Mysterious Late-Night Gathering" accompanied by an image of the group standing at urinals in a bathroom.^[10] Following these teasers, Big Hit Music announced that the music video for "Normal" would be released on July 17, 2026 exclusively on Spotify, followed by a YouTube release on July 19.^[11] Alongside the music video release, the Korean version of "Normal" was also released for streaming and download the same day.^[12] A live performance clip for the song, filmed at the Seonhyewon traditional Korean architectural estate, was released on July 22.^[13]

"Normal" was written by Sean Foreman, Livvi Franc, Ryan Tedder, Sean Cook, RM, J-Hope, Suga, Kirsten Alyssa Spencer, Derrick Milano and Pdogg, and produced by Tedder and Cook.^[5] It is a contemporary pop^[14] song influenced by "dreamy R&B in the vein of The Weeknd."^[15] It contains a "strong drum line"^[16] and the group's vocals have no reverb, allowing the "physical strain on their voices" to come through.^[17] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said that the song is reminiscent of both late-career Rihanna singles, with "rock influence, but still [having] the structure of big mainstream pop songs", and the work of producer Mk.gee, with guitar lower in the mix which "sounds almost depressed".^[18]

Lyrically, "Normal" is about the clash between the group's public image as celebrities and their private lives,^[16] as the group "[expresses] ambivalence about the cost of celebrity", and having to face criticism while faking happiness.^[19] The first verse discusses the challenge of trying to authentically portray the group's feelings publicly, with the lyrics "Heavy is the head when you chasin' true / Will you color me red? Will you color me blue? / Two sides of a coin, and they both ain't true / Is it different for mе? Is it different for you?" The chorus then reflects on "how surreal it is to normalize A-list fame," which is not at all normal, with the lines "Kerosene, dopamine, chemical-induced / Fantasy and fame, yeah, the things we choose / Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof / Yeah, we call this shit normal."^[20] The chorus also represents their willingness to "embrace the intense, addictive rush of fame" while strengthening themselves against the need for survival in the public eye.^[17]

A music video for "Normal", directed by Tanu Muino, was released on July 17, 2026 exclusively on Spotify.^[21] The video depicts the members of BTS the day after a celebration in a "stately old mansion", showing both the previous night's activities and the "quiet moments the following morning."^[22][21]It captures their raw selves which are normally hidden behind the glamour of fame, with the members singing while soaked in water and lying down, exhausted,^[23] and depicts the members' true personalities, "observing them in their natural state."^[24] The video also show the members standing around urinals in a bathroom, which was shown in the viral teaser images prior to release, and posing and playing with various dogs.^[21] The music video broke Spotify's record for the most streamed K-pop music video in a single day on the platform.^[25]

Credits adapted from Apple Music.^[29]