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The Kulture Study: BTS 'SWIM' MV (Patreon)

Published:
2026-03-20 06:20:43
Imported:
2026-03
Tags:
bts

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The Kulture Study: BTS 'SWIM' MV

Want to help keep the channel alive? Support us on patreon @ patreon.com/formoftherapy Want to just make a one time donation? You can donate to the channel via PAYPAL: media@formoftherapy.com Watch the original video here: https://youtu.be/b4iVv91Z6lY?si=rWUyvmbKYBYHV-AY For business & professional inquiries only: media@formoftherapy.com Follow us on social media Instagram & Threads: @formoftherapy #BTS #방탄소년단 #BTS_ARIRANG #SWIM

Comments

ariserenz

you cooked this up in record time

Zswag

OMG ALREADY?!?!!

Maryam Ashraf

I’m so excited for your album reaction, my favourite has to be “merry go round”

josef

THIS EARLY? HELL YEAH

kelly

after listening to the album it's very obvious why they chose swim as the lead single. it's bc the other songs are so experimental and this song is the safest option out of all of them for radioplay and chart success

Jiri

You need to see the commentary, BTS just explained why they choose this song, and once you listen to the album you will also see why.

Jiri

And related to the videos, they mentioned what you say, they did not wanted to focus on then and focus on the song, so that is why they are not performing or in focus in the MV.

ana

So we were counting down on discord before this came out and I was lowkey anxious (lmfao 4 years of anticipation). I love love love the song - I also wanted a hype track for the title and I was a little underwhelmed but only because I don't care about the music video😭 When I heard just the audio.... obsessed. But more than that, I can't wait for the album reaction because it easily skyrocketed to my top bts albums list. And I could kind of see why this is the title? Commercially speaking. But I have my favourites on there and I would have obviously preferred one of the up tempo ones for the main track, I think they've done a crazy good job blending all their styles together (especially after being so focused on figuring out their own solo sounds for the last few years)

JK

RM explained in their arirang studio notes video the reason why they chose Swim as the title track. I can explain it if you would like. I honestly loved the song even more after RM’s explanation. Also, in general, i loved this comeback because to me it doesnt feel like the KINGS are back. It’s humble; it’s not grandiose; it’s emotional; it’s not a party song; the concert and other army based events are FREE; That’s why I like that’s it not very grandiose because then it’d feel like seven multi millionaires but bc it’s more relaxed and simple MV it doesn’t feel like they’re the biggest boy band in the world but seven guys from Korea who have matured and wanted to make music and see their fans again. I know some Armies are disappointed and want/miss the old bts, but they’re in their 30s now (except Jungkook), and this is a new chapter for them. I’m loving this new matured version of themselves already!

bea 🫧

im so excited for your listening party i feel #rebirthed

madi

this music video really confused me cause idk why schizophrenic lili reinhart really had to be there lmao but oh am i soooooo excited for this listening party and a party it WILL BE dont you worry! i shouldve been at the club while listening to it lol it was so fun and new for them i had such a good time listening to it. as of right now my standouts are body to body, one more night, and please

Cato

I think she represents army.. and the ship represents bts. She’s watching the old ship in the museum, a relic from the past and she remembers all the memories she has with bts. Could mean something else though haha 🤷🏻‍♀️

Valeria C

Production on this album is top level. So gooood

CJ

I look forward to the album listening party 🔥💜

Sven Lenders

To me, it is a good song, the storytelling is great, the beat is fire, but there was something that made me feel like it wasn't fully written to it's potential. It never really takes off, some lines are a bit boring so to speak and the delivery could be better. What I can tell you though is that I can hear that they have matured their sound a lot since before the enlistments. They sound more experienced at life and I am curious what that will mean for their future sound. over all I would give this a solid 8.5/10

Alex

For some reason this mv reminds me of Narnia 3 with the ship

Mikkie

I am really conflicted about this Album and Title track tbh, buuuuttt thats my personal problem lol can I just say, please, please, pay attention to Hobi this album! He really shines in a way he hasn't in the previous group stuff to me. You can really tell he found his sound in his solo stuff and brought it to the album!

jennptx

The theories I've seen about the mv that make the most sense to me is that Lili, as someone else said here, represents ARMY, and the members are there always watching, watching her go through all the emotions of life, working hard and always there, even if she can't see them. I think it's an interesting way to show the artist-fan dynamic in the way that there's a care, a watchful eye, an almost yearning for closeness between them--maybe even more on the artist side than we imagine. As fans, we really are passengers on a ship that the artists create and crew. They are there for the long journey, and as fans, we have the ability to dip in and out as we want, as life allows. I think the song and mv were really meant for ARMY, in the form of something digestible for the gp. But the party/hype songs are also on ARIRANG and probably meant to be heard live when we are together!

KZ

PD you should watch the studio notes! the members explain the intention and meaning behind the album!

jade

the album is fucking insane, excited to see you check it out! it simultaneously gives 'going back to bts' roots' and experimental. genuinely a 10/10 album for me.

Chloé

I've been listening to the album on repeat since it came out I'm completely obsessed! Can't wait for you to check it out!!

Hannah

I think they are coming back to their roots. I know the song is in English but the song feels like something they wanted to put out. Not what we wanted. The true fans are listening to the album and getting that satisfaction. I think you’ll love the album! I appreciate their choice in lead single.

Cherry Writes

To me, the music video told a story of Army’s POV when the members were enlisted. We continued to stream their songs, we danced to the music, but we couldn’t see them so we truly felt the loss. Lili (again, to me) represented ARMYs grief process during that time. BTS always watched over us, but because of their circumstances they couldn’t reach out to comfort us so they were forced to stand behind us, watching and mourning along with us. To me, this song represents the members emotions of being away from ARMY, and the MV represents the emotions of ARMY being away from the members. I of course could be completely wrong, but the cool thing about music is it’s always open to interpretation :)

CJ

It's how I interpreted it too.. but also can be for any longing, but pushing oneself to keep on keeping on.

Giu

oh PD you're absolutely not ready for the album

CJ

Im so excited to see PD react to it and which ones he'd like.

Pearl

Wasn't the last title BTS left us with Yet To Come? Lmao. But yeah, everybody expected a hype title track and even Jimin said that they should have went with something like that but that's not what this comeback is about. It's not just blindly celebrating that they're back, it's introspective and emotional. Swim and most importantly the MV are about Army during the military time. We had BTS' music and their solo songs ofc but as a group they weren't there. That's why Lili can't see them. But even through any tough times we went through they were always by our sides. This is a pretty common thing in BTS mvs, though it's usually not for title tracks. Ig for Army's who have watched those videos a lot of times it was more obvious. But ultimately Swim is a title track for Army. It's not supposed to bring in a new international audience. They have the album for that. That's my POV💜

Catherine Ludwig

Why does anyone care who the actor they chose for the role is ? Would another actor make everyone happy? I'm assuming they choose her for a reason.

Kait

Run BTS was actually a B side too. Yet to come was the title track for Proof. This song as the title track has really grown on me the more I listen to it BUT I think that the lacking narrative of the music video hurts it tbh. I LOVE a good music video and the boys have had some really great ones, so I was disappointed that this felt like so much was missing. If the mv was MORE about just aesthetics I would still have been disappointed but liked it more, ironically. But the video hints at a vague narrative of some kind without giving people enough to make sense of it (without deep diving army theories on. twitter at least). The whiplash emotions she experiences and then her smirking at the camera (after jumping??? it's not clear) at the end in particular is confusing. Kinda reminds me of the ON mv, where it was all huge, dramatic set pieces with high budget, visually so stunning, but no clear narrative at all. There's a reason no one recommends reactors check out that one over the kinetic manifesto... It just leaves people confused about what the heck is going on. This is less bloated than that, but I've watched a dozen or so reactions to it now from fans and non fans and everyone is scratching their heads about what's going on. I like the fan theory that she's ARMY dipping into the guy's body of work/journey, experiencing various emotions, missing them etc. while the guys are watching over her and continuing to work to keep the ship going forward across the sea.... That's nice, kinda like a magic shop but in ship form lol, and works really well as a meaningful SECOND reading for the video that fans could make the connection to. But I think the music video really should have established a more clear primary narrative... Like maybe she's a researcher at the museum looking into the legends of a ghost ship of sailors doomed to sail forever in search of their love... or whatever.... and the haunted amulet transports her there. I don't know 😂 but I don't think it would have taken much to establish some reason at the beginning for why she's interested in the ship in the first place and why the guys might be invisible to her. Just a shot of a museum info placard or her reading an article or book about the ship before she goes to the museum and seeing the SWIM compass she happens to own in it could have done the trick. It could be a cool little story and still double as an allegory for the relationship between BTS and army. Also... this is a very nitpicky thing, but it bugs me that the model ship is a different colour from the arirang ship lol.... ^^Anyway despite all that sounding very critical I do love the song (it just took me a couple listens to put aside my frustration with the MV and this is the first I've vented about it). I don't know that there's a better pick for a title track on the album... A case could be made for body to body maybe, but I get that it's a strategic choice for the main track to be all in English. And swim probably has better GP and radio appeal too. Only issue I have with it is the video, and I don't even HATE it. I just think it fell flat.

Vivi Android Cardigan

honestly the MV is just super empty (like the song and the album) so not much would improve it but her being at least Korean woman would make it look a little less US-centric and frankly... colonial. This whole look with western ship, western uniforms and western actress has very uncomfortable racial and historical connotations.

Vivi Android Cardigan

I honestly don't know if I'm ready to hear your album reaction... it's not even that I am deeply disappointed at what they put out, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts if you enjoy it! But the way I SEE reactors faking it just because they do not dare to anger the army and lose profits made me lose respect for so many....

Maya

if the crew of the ship was white while bts were busting their asses working on the ship then maybe it would look colonial but otherwise I don't see it. only thing what's american there is Lily. If bts has international reach and fans everywhere why can't they be in Portugal on a portuguese ship? bts over they years filmed mv in many different counties with many differed people starring in them.