Look at this: a 2018 song — Anpanman — just climbed to #1 on the US iTunes Songs chart in 2025. Seven years after its release. Seven years. And still charting like it’s fresh. That’s not nostalgia. That’s pure, unfiltered influence.
This isn’t some remix or new version. It’s the original track, quietly surviving, waiting… and then BOOM — it happens. The reason? Simple and messy: fandom + timing + love. Fans rallied. Streams went up. Downloads went up. Pop culture memory got a nudge. Suddenly, out of the current-song noise, a 7-year-old track stands tall.
What does this say about BTS — and about us fans? First: good songs don’t expire. They hang around, collecting weight. They sneak back into lives when least expected. Anpanman’s climb means that something about it still resonates. Maybe the melody. Maybe the lyrics. Maybe pure vibe. But more than that: the fact we, the fandom, can still make a 7-year-old song relevant to the US market — that speaks volumes about reach, legacy, and loyalty.
Second: if there’s pressure building around a new BTS comeback (and let’s be honest — there always is), this shows that even without a new drop, their catalogue can still light up charts. It’s not desperation. It’s quiet power. A proof that BTS doesn’t need hype cycles every other month. They need moments, connection, and long-term faith.
And third: this moment highlights what “the power of ARMY” really means. It’s not just streaming a new release on loop. It’s about keeping history alive. It’s about making those older tracks live again. It’s about showing that if the song is solid — time doesn’t matter. Fans make sure of that.
So yes — today, Anpanman is #1 in US iTunes. Tomorrow… who knows? Maybe another deep-cut from 2019 or 2020 makes the charts. That’s the magic. That’s the legacy. And that — more than any new release — is the kind of milestone worth celebrating.
Because sometimes, charts don’t just follow hype. They follow heart.
