Single is first from Map of the Soul: 7
Global superstars BTS just dropped their first single from their upcoming fourth album, Map of the Soul: 7, due February 21st Big Hit Entertainment. “Black Swan” is an all-new Emo hip hop track that meshes a touch of Cloud rap, trap drum beats, doleful lo-fi guitar sounds, and a catchy hook.
“Black Swan” dives deep into BTS’ inner selves as artists and faces the shadows they had once hidden. The song is a 360 degree turn from last year’s Map of the Soul: Persona album where the K-pop superstars explored the message of finding joy in love and reaching out to the world, while standing at the beginning of a quest to find one’s true self.
The song lends voice to their fears that one day music will no longer be able to move or touch them. The very moment they come face to face with the “Black Swan” within themselves, however, they are stricken with a paradoxical realization that music is all they have. It is a confession of an artist who has truly learned what music means to himself.
The release of “Black Swan” is accompanied by Art Film performed by MN Dance Company, a collaboration with a Slovenian modern dance troupe called MN Dance Company. The video begins with the words of dancer Martha Graham, from which the song drew its inspiration. Inside a surreal space, seven dancers reinterpret the atmosphere of the song through modern dance moves reminiscent of a “Black Swan” rising from the ashes of trial and hardship. The unique choreography and sensuous visuals create a feeling of grandeur of a full performance piece, captivating the viewers and reinforcing BTS’ unprecedented status as a global artist.
Pre-orders for the new album surpassed 3.42 million copies in just a week, setting an all-time record for the band.