The new B-side surprises fans with a louder, rebellious sound far from their usual polished comeback vibe. At a New York fan event, RM revealed how Jungkook struggled to nail the now-viral laugh in the track.
Screengrab from the music video
Just when everyone thought they had already decoded the comeback vibe, BTS dropped a rebellious surprise. The group has just unveiled the music video for Hooligan, an ARMY-favourite B-side from their comeback album ARIRANG. And let’s just say, this one is not calm, dreamy, or soft like their title track SWIM. This one is pure chaos… in the best way.
“Hooligan” is exactly what the name suggests. Loud, defiant, unapologetically wild. The track was co-written by group members RM, j-hope and Suga, and it leans into a rebellious energy that celebrates not fitting in.
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The word “hooligan” usually describes a young person acting rowdy or chaotic, especially in a group. And BTS lean fully into that spirit. The beat is punchy, the chorus is loud, the lyrics feel like the group is proudly refusing to follow anyone else’s rules.
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j-hope kicks things off with a playful chant about the beat “going hooligan,” setting the tone immediately. Then Suga jumps in with a mix of English and Korean, referencing “El Cucuy,” a mythical creature similar to the boogeyman.
Behind the scenes, the song also boasts a long list of collaborators including producers El Guincho, Fakeguido and Jasper Harris, alongside multiple writers, including BTS members themselves.
The real gossip, though, came days later at a fan event in New York. During the Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE gathering at The Rooftop at Pier 17, RM revealed a funny behind-the-scenes story that instantly went viral.
According to him, the signature “hahahahahaha” laugh that echoes throughout “Hooligan” wasn’t randomly added.
But it wasn’t easy. RM explained that the laugh had to follow rhythmic triplets, meaning the timing had to match the beat perfectly. When Jungkook first tried it in the studio, he struggled to get the rhythm right. But the result? A messy attempt that had everyone bursting into laughter.
Eventually, Jungkook nailed it. And that imperfect-to-perfect journey became one of the track’s most memorable elements.
“Hooligan” is part of ARIRANG, released March 20, marking BTS’ first major comeback after completing mandatory military enlistment.
The return has already been massive. Both “SWIM” and “Hooligan” climbed global streaming charts.
Between rebellious lyrics, viral laughs, and candid backstage stories, BTS are louder, funnier, more unpredictable than ever.
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