Swim (BTS song)

On January 4, 2026, Big Hit 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 the seventh track "Swim" highlighted in black, indicating the song is the lead single from the album.^[5][6] Before the release of the album, Hybe's official YouTube channel released two teasers for the song and its music video.^[7][8]

"Swim" was released as the lead single from Arirang on March 20, 2026.^[9] On March 23, BTS released the instrumental version.^[10] On March 27, the remix album for "Swim", titled Keep Swimming, was released. The nine-track album includes the original and instrumental versions of "Swim", as well as seven remixes reflecting each member's musical taste.^[11] In the United States, "Swim" was also sold by Target as a four-inch "tiny vinyl" with the song "Normal" as the b-side.^[12][13]

"Swim" has been described as alternative pop^[14][15] and synth-pop.^[16][17] The song is in ⁴
₄ common time in the key of C-sharp major with a tempo of 92 to 96 beats per minute. BTS' vocal range span from C♯₄ to E₅.^[18] The lyrics are entirely in English.^[17][19] BTS member RM, who is the main songwriter of "Swim",^[20] said: "I wrote the lyrics and I tried to express the confusion that we all had before [and] after the military... and we want to just keep swimming."^[21] RM said the track has a "clean and smooth allure", and has compared it to Pyongyang naengmyeon.^[22]

In a statement, BTS wrote:

"[It's] a song that mirrors life itself. [We] hope it resonates with many people as they move through each day, taking each moment as it comes, splashing along and continuing to swim forward. The more you listen, the warmer it feels, so [we] hope it becomes a source of strength as people go through their lives. Also, just like the folk song 'Arirang,' which has been passed from mouth to mouth and stayed with people through generations, [we] hope 'Swim' will remain close to people's hearts for a long time to come."^[23]

BTS partnered with Spotify for fan immersive event inspired by the nautical theme of the track "Swim".^[25] The group released a short-form mini documentary titled "Keep Swimming". The project shows the life and philosophy of prominent individuals in different fields such as director Park Chan-wook and fashion designer Nora Noh.^[26]

"Swim" was part of the setlist of the Spotify x BTS: Swimside held at Pier 17 in the New York City ^[27] For its television debut, BTS performed the song at the Guggenheim Museum for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 25, 2026.^[28][29] A live performance video at Sunhyewon, a historic hanok, was published on BTS official YouTube channel.^[30] "Swim" was included in the setlist of BTS's Arirang World Tour (2026–2027) which began on April 9.^[31]

The music video for "Swim" was released on YouTube on March 20, 2026. Directed by Tanu Muiño and featuring actress Lili Reinhart alongside BTS, it was filmed against the ocean backdrop of Lisbon and sees the group working on a sailing ship.^[32][33][34] The music video surpassed 5 million views within an hour, while trending at #1 in 70 countries.^[35][17]

Synopsis

The music video begins with Lili Reinhart strolling through a display of ship models in a museum while examining her compass. When the music starts, the scene transitions to the members steering a massive ship across the ocean. Reinhart later wakes up and explores different areas of the ship. The video concludes with Reinhart overlooking the ocean with a smile before ripping off her necklace engraved with the word "swim". ^[33]

"Swim" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, marking BTS's sixth song to debut at the top, and their seventh song to top the chart, the most number ones on the chart among groups in nearly half a century.^[53] It debuted with 15.3 million streams, 25.8 million in airplay audience, and 154,000 sales, and also debuted at number two on the Streaming Songs, number 18 on the Radio Songs, and number one on the Digital Song Sales chart, making it the group's highest entries on the former two, while becoming its 13th number one on the sales chart.^[54]

"Swim" was streamed over 14 million times on Spotify on its first day of release, surpassing 100 million streams on the platform in eight days, being the fastest song of the year to do so.^[55][56] "Swim" also reached number one on the Top 100 chart on Melon an hour after its release, overtaking "Bang Bang" by Ive.^[57] The song also debuted at number two on the Official Singles Charts in the UK, marking the group's fifth top 10 hit and highest-ever position on the chart.^[58]

"Swim" earned BTS their first number one song in Germany. They also became the first group in German chart history to simultaneously hold the number one position on both the German album and singles charts with two new entries, "Swim" and Arirang.^[59] In Brazil, "Swim" debuted at number one on the Brasil Hot 100, becoming the first foreign song to top the chart since the relaunch of Billboard Brasil in August 2023.^[60][61]

CD and cassette

1. "Swim" – 2:39

CD and digital single – instrumental

1. "Swim" – 2:39
2. "Swim" (instrumental) – 2:37

Digital remix album – Keep Swimming

1. "Swim" – 2:39
2. "Swim" with RM (chill hip hop remix) – 2:43
3. "Swim" with Jin (alternative rock remix) – 3:13
4. "Swim" with Suga (melodic techno remix) – 3:39
5. "Swim" with J-Hope (Afrobeat remix) – 2:33
6. "Swim" with Jimin (slow jam R&B remix) – 2:29
7. "Swim" with V (electronic remix) – 2:20
8. "Swim" with Jung Kook (acoustic lofi remix) – 2:38
9. "Swim" (instrumental) – 2:37

4-inch vinyl

1. "Swim" – 2:39
2. "Normal" – 3:01

7-inch vinyl and digital single – Underwater remix

1. "Swim" – 2:39
2. "Swim" (Underwater remix) – 2:44
3. "Swim" (instrumental)^[a] – 2:37

Digital single – Spring Waves remix

1. "Swim" – 2:39
2. "Swim" (Spring Waves remix) – 2:44
3. "Swim" (instrumental) – 2:37

Credits adapted from Apple Music.^[62]

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