BTS ARMY Is Fighting Over a Hidden Track—Here’s Why It Matters

The BTS ARMY is clamoring for the release of a special hidden track from the band’s newest record-breaking album ARIRANG. The track, titled “Come Over,” is only available on the deluxe vinyl edition of ARIRANG. 

The Hidden Track

While ARIRANG is full of great music, BTS fans always want more, and the group delivered, teasing a bonus track on the album prior to its release. Fans who bought the deluxe vinyl edition of the album have had the opportunity to hear this special song, but many fans online are hoping for a wider release on streaming platforms, some even suggesting a petition to do so. 

The track is produced by group member Suga and features writing credits from both RM and J-Hope. In a livestream on Weverse, Suga teased the song, saying, “A song that I produced is coming out soon — it’s finally coming out, a special song on the LP.” RM added, “For those coming to the Goyang concert next week, you might be able to hear it.”

Snippets of the song have been posted online, inciting the uproar for the band to release the track on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Despite the call, many fans feel the track should stay exclusive to the deluxe vinyl so only the truly dedicated ARMY can experience the song.

The track is said to feature a stadium anthem sound with heavy percussion, melodic guitar, and grand synths. The lyrics feature the line “I’m lost, can I come over?” emphasizing a personal and intimate feel.

A History of Hidden Tracks

This isn’t the first time BTS has released a hidden track. Longtime fans know that BTS has been dropping hidden songs since their inception. Some of these tracks are physical-album exclusives, like “Come Over.” These include “Sea,” which is only available on the physical Love Yourself: Her album from 2017, and “Path” from their debut album 2 Cool 4 Skool from way back in 2013. 

The group also released a special song titled “Born Singer” written by RM, Suga and J-Hope using the instrumental for “Born Sinner” by J.Cole. Originally released as a hidden track in 2013, shortly after their debut, the track got an official release in 2022 on the album Proof. This particular track is often considered one of the boy band’s most important songs as its autobiographical nature captures the group’s early struggles, emotions, and aspirations in the music industry. 

In addition to these physical-album hidden tracks, BTS was also known for releasing rare songs and covers on their SoundCloud back in the day. These include “4 O’CLOCK,” which was produced by members RM and V, and “Ddaeng,” a fan-favorite rap-line track. 

The BTS ARMY

BTS fans are known for being quite passionate about everything the group does, and the most die-hard fans usually find a way to listen to every corner of BTS’s discography, hidden or not. Having such a passionate legion of fans comes with pros and cons. On the one hand, ARMY will support BTS through thick and thin, no matter what. On the other hand, fans on the internet can be extremely demanding and feel entitled to tracks like “Come Over.”

It makes for an interesting dilemma: should all BTS tracks eventually be available for everyone? Or is it beneficial to have hidden tracks on the album to encourage listeners to purchase the physical album? Is the scarcity model working in BTS’s favor? Is it ethical for fans to post snippets or even whole hidden tracks on the internet for others to listen to? “Born Singer,” for example, had been unofficially available to listen to for years before its official release. 

It’s certainly an interesting conundrum that BTS has been navigating since the very beginning. With the upcoming world tour kicking off, fans may yet get an opportunity to hear this new hidden track and generate more buzz for an already buzzworthy album.