The hiatus in group activities for BTS seems, in retrospect, not to have been regrettable. A decade has flown by since their debut in 2013, and although the break was a practical decision due to the members' military enlistment, it allowed them to shine even brighter as seven solid solo acts, branching out from the massive entity that is BTS. They've proven their potential for solo success beyond the secure title of the world's top group. Starting with J-Hope and the eldest member Jin in mid-2022, the solo endeavors have culminated with the youngest, Jungkook, marking another form of BTS's existence.
Particularly, Jungkook's solo album 'Golden,' released on November 3, serves as the crowning achievement of BTS members' individual activities. The album's release, coming just four months after the single 'Seven,' is impressive enough, but the immediate and explosive reaction from both domestic and international fans to all 11 tracks, including the title track 'Standing Next to You,' is nothing short of astounding.
'Standing Next to You' rocketed to the 2nd place on the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global Chart on the 4th, with 'Seven' holding the 1st position. Jungkook managed to secure both top spots with his own songs.
The reaction to the 'Golden' album itself is also incredibly hot. It climbed to number 1 in the iTunes charts across 77 countries and seized the top spot on Japan's Oricon Chart. In Korea, the album shocked fans with sales of approximately 2.14 million copies within a day of its release. This momentum suggests that it could enter the 'Billboard 200', the main US Billboard album chart, in the top position, potentially making history as the first Korean solo artist to do so.
The buzz around 'Golden' is particularly due to 'Standing Next to You' and another track '3D'. 'Standing Next to You' is a lively disco-funk song that modernizes the currently trending North American old pop. It's so quintessentially American in style that it's almost hard to believe it's sung by a Korean artist, reminiscent of late 1990s or early 2000s old pop, with a rhythm that evokes that era, straightforward lyrics, and an addictive chorus that highlights Jungkook's bright and bouncy color while showing a more mature vibe.
His performance at the iHeartRadio Live show on the 5th serves as solid proof. Dressed in vintage jeans and a jacket, Jungkook exhibited natural movements with a 'casual but not casual' choreography that exuded a romantic atmosphere, perfectly aligning with the song's charming and rhythmic lyrics. Notably, his strengths, such as sweet yet sharp high notes, were highlighted, reminiscent of the legendary pop star Michael Jackson. Jungkook had previously attracted attention for his pop-star-worthy lyric delivery and vocal tone when singing BTS's first English song 'Dynamite'. His nasally high-pitched voice has been compared to Jackson's, and he even subtly showcased Jackson's trademark pelvic dance moves.
K-pop boy band BTS
'3D' presents a different charm, one that is quite provocative. It appears that Jungkook is not concerned with maintaining his cute and lovable youngest member image, at least not in his solo work. He seems to want to project a sexually appealing male persona. If the lyrics of '3D' were to be translated directly into Korean, they might be subject to broadcast censorship, or even stir discontent among the dedicated female fan club, ARMY. Jack Harlow's rap part, in particular, contains explicit jokes and insinuations. However, translating the song into Korean might not be particularly meaningful; it's a track made using the most familiar slangs within the most popular American pop genres, and it wouldn't convey much significance if translated. Sometimes, it's better just to hum along with the English lyrics and rhythm. After all, there's plenty of suggestive and overt pop music around. One need not go back to the 2000s era of Usher and Justin Timberlake, as current artists like Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion have topped the Billboard charts with their provocative styles.
Jungkook seems to have definitively chosen his genre. Dance music with lyrics and rhythms that can stand alongside mainstream hip-hop, rap, disco, and pop. Perhaps, like Michael Jackson, he ultimately aspires to become a pop legend. Everyone agrees that RM is the BTS member most fluent in English. So who's second? It's Jungkook. Even during group tours, Jungkook used to strive to add his bit to English interviews, almost exclusively handled by RM. His sporadic English has now evolved into a natural flow and pronunciation that even foreigners admire.
Although we began this discussion with Jungkook's solo album, it represents the challenge of all BTS members as they pursue individual musical identities. Each member is focused on building a solid foundation for their future, after fulfilling their duties as South Korean citizens. There's no doubt that 'Golden' has set a new standard for K-pop solo projects, and it will be fascinating to see how each member continues to evolve their sound and influence the industry. The 'Bangtan Universe' is expansive, and with each member exploring the farthest reaches, it's clear that their star will continue to shine, both together and individually.
