BTS Drop Intoxicating New Comeback Trailer ‘Singularity’

Soon after confirming the release date of their much-anticipated third LP Love Yourself 轉 ”˜Tear’, South Korean group BTS have released the comeback trailer titled “Singularity.” Unveiled on May 6th, 8:30 p.m. (IST), “Singularity” began trending globally on social media minutes after its release and has already crossed over 10 million views on YouTube.

The septet continue their tradition of taking turns to feature solo on comeback trailers with vocalist V taking the wheel on “Singularity.” Dancer and vocalist Jimin had introduced their previous mini-album Love Yourself 承 ”˜Her’ last year with the solo track “Serendipity.”

With its heady R&B and V’s deep, rippling vocals, “Singularity” teases a darker soundscape for BTS’ upcoming album. Touches of neo-soul and jazz add an elegance not unlike V’s previous solo track “Stigma” from the group’s 2016 LP WINGS. Written by BTS’ leader RM, “Singularity” expresses regret, sacrifice and the helplessness of losing oneself; “In the dream I shortly went into/My agonizing phantom pain is still the same/Have I lost myself/Or have I gained you.”

In the video, V dances with a faceless coat rack before he is joined by background dancers for sequences of smooth, detailed choreography. The clip then alternates between scenes of him surrounded by flowers and water and floating white masks before ending with the singer covering his own face with a mask as a single black tear falls from his eye.

“Singularity” perpetuates the ominousness around V’s role in the group’s fictional universe and is packed with references and symbolism surrounding Greek mythology, Shakespearean tragedy and more via its lyrical and visual composition. According to fans on social media, there are possible parallels to the story of Narcissus, the character Ophelia from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray as well as a conflict between fantasy and reality.

“Singularity” follows the video for “Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself Wonder,” a solo track by the group’s main vocalist Jungkook which outlines BTS’ storyline so far. Their third LP Love Yourself 轉 ”˜Tear’ is set for a May 18th release.

Watch the video for BTS’ “Singularity” below: