BTS has ranked as one of the bestselling musical acts in the world for years now – and even during periods when the seven members were on a musical break, the outfit remained hugely successful. The group recently returned with its first full-length in more than half a decade, Arirang. During that time, the vocalists served their country of South Korea in the military, and they all released solo efforts. While they were each hugely successful, the world was waiting patiently for a new group set, and the masses have been showing the septet love for weeks now.
Arirang was introduced with lead single “Swim,” which was not made available until the album dropped in full. Almost a month later, both Arirang and “Swim” continue to perform very well on multiple tallies in the United Kingdom, and the single manages to reach one tally in a lofty position as it debuts. BTS scores its first hit on a roster the boy band has never appeared on before, despite a career built around huge sales figures.
BTS’s “Swim” Debuts on the Vinyl Singles Chart
“Swim” glides in at No. 3 on the Official Vinyl Singles chart. As its name says, the tally looks at the bestselling tunes throughout the U.K. – but only those on wax, which can limit which compositions are eligible. BTS has sold better than many contemporary Western stars for years, but vinyl has never been a major focus for the K-pop artists. That has changed more recently, as the format has become a must-have for the top sellers in the business, and “Swim” earns the group its first placement on the roster.
BTS’s “Swim” Trails Raye on the Vinyl Chart
BTS is beaten by two tracks on the Official Vinyl Singles chart, and both are fronted by Raye. She earns another ruler as “Click Clack Symphony,” which also credits Hans Zimmer, arrives at the summit. Her former leader “Where Is My Husband!” bolts to No. 2 after sitting in sixth place just last week.
Several other tracks launch just behind BTS. Jack White’s latest “G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs” is new at No. 4, while “Rough and Twisted” by Cockroaches comes in at No. 6.
BTS’s “Swim” Returns to Another U.K. Sales Tally
Purchases of “Swim” on vinyl help turn the track into a general bestseller as well as a format-specific one. “Swim” breaks back onto the Official Physical Singles chart at No. 3, exactly where it starts on the vinyl-only roster. CD singles of “Swim” were offered on sale and shipped before the wax copies, so “Swim” is not new to the physical tally.
BTS’s Latest Single Falls From No. 1 on Another Ranking
Thanks in part to its vinyl release, “Swim” is once again one of the top-selling tracks in the U.K., though BTS does cede control over the highest spot on the Official Singles Sales chart, the most important and most competitive ranking for individual song purchases. Last frame, “Swim” ruled, but nothing could beat “Click Clack Symphony,” which rockets from number 40 all the way to the peak. “Swim” does keep in first place on the Official Singles Downloads roster, where it has held as a smash ever since its arrival.
“Swim” Declines on the Streaming Chart
Nearly a month into its time on two additional U.K.-based rankings, “Swim” is on the decline. On the Official Singles chart, which details the most-consumed cuts in the nation, the Arirang focus track declines from No. 18 to No. 25. BTS nearly scored its first No. 1 with the hit, but missed out by one space when “Swim” arrived in the runner-up spot.
The BTS track performs worst on the Official Streaming chart, which is the only tally where “Swim” can no longer be found inside the top 40. This time around, the composition falls from No. 44 to No. 51.
“Body to Body,” Also From Arirang, Charts as Well
Just one other tune taken from Arirang, “Body to Body,” manages to appear on one list, though when the album was new, several other cuts from the boy band performed well enough to debut on various rankings. That BTS song falls to No. 90 on the Official Singles chart.
For its part, Arirang occupies a space inside the top 10 on four of the half dozen rosters on which it can be found.
