In 2022, South Korean boy band and global sensation BTS began their mandatory service to the South Korean military. The group continues to dominate in the music industry despite their hiatus, as well as to explore their individual musical endeavors. While each member does their military service on different dates, there have been incredible feats in keeping current in the music world. SUGA's 2023 solo album, D-DAY, led to his sold-out UBS Arena tour. Group leader RM dropped two solo LPs of his own: Indigo (2022) and Right Place Wrong Person (2024). Even amidst their conscriptions, the BTS members have earned their continued success by staying true to their emboldened, musically versatile natures, exploring increasingly taboo and mature concepts such as corruption, sex, healing from trauma, and rediscovering oneself as a result of flawed relationship dynamics.
One group member, in particular, has exemplified this growth. Despite his mandatory South Korean military service, which commenced December 2023, BTS's Jimin has made what I believe to be a flawless musical transition from his previous solo release album (FACE) in 2023, to his newest album, MUSE, which released on July 19, 2024. Reaching No. 1 on the iTunes charts worldwide just a day after it came out, it can confidently be said that MUSE is one of the best solo projects of the members from the past year. Coming from FACE, Jimin's hit 2023 album that explored hurt, betrayal, and his inability to escape toxicity, 2024 Jimin brings listeners a sweet, fun-loving summer album and celebrates a blossoming new love between Jimin and his crush-turned-soulmate. The album has seven tracks and a running time of 19 minutes and 55 seconds, all with a flawless flow of one song into the next.
Jimin starts us off with "Rebirth: Intro" as his introductory track, a song that reflects the first signs of what it's like to have a crush. A rhythmic heartbeat layers with a twinkling instrumental that mimics the innocence of a first-time attraction to someone and an eagerness to be around them and to get closer to them. This first song encapsulates the innocence and playful nature of being young.
The song ends with a beautiful chorus and a slight crescendo of the instrumental before transitioning to "Interlude: Showtime", which mimics the ambiance of a carnival or fair. A trumpet, a unicycle, and people enjoying themselves are some of the sounds you'll hear before a marching band begins playing. Jimin presents himself as the host for the evening, welcoming his audience to the show, or the following track, "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band" (featuring Korean rapper Loco).
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my show, Smeraldo Garden Marching Band!"
This song came with Jimin's first official music video for the album, which dropped before the full album was released. The song is lively, romantic, and youthful, offering a continuation of the puppy love energy that was introduced in "Rebirth: Intro". Loco's verse is particularly captivating, as he conveys an incredibly romantic and heartfelt energy while switching between Korean and English in his verse, similarly to how Jimin does in this song when using English as chorus and ad-libs.
"Fade away with the old, every day is brand new / I'll call out your name, all you have to do is blossom"
Up next is a song that lives up to its name. Perfect for a dance with your loved one, we have "Slow Dance", feat. Sofia Carson. This song is reminiscent of artists like Shawn Mendes, combining classical guitar with various pop genre sounds. Sofia Carson picks up the chorus in the middle of the song, which is then beautifully layered with her adlibs alongside Jimin's. This leads to them sharing an English chorus. Both male and female voices melt beautifully together, perfectly replicating the energy between two people falling in love as they dance together like no one else is watching.
Switching from acoustic and pop, the following track is a Caribbean and Latin influenced track: "Be Mine". The song is sexy, seductive, and dance-worthy, making it my personal favorite from the entire album. It will, without a doubt, get you on that dance floor. This song is one of the many tracks within the K-pop industry right now being heavily attributed to Latin and Caribbean genres, including afrobeat. "Be Mine" opens with a sensual Spanish guitar and Jimin's roughness as he recites his hook. Jimin has always done Latin pop justice within the Korean pop world, even in his 2020 solo track "Filter", which is part of BTS's 2020 album, Map of the Soul: 7. Even that song pays a phenomenal tribute to Latin acoustic sounds and executes the same sultry, flirtatious vibe as "Be Mine". Out of the all the album's songs, this one dwells on the spicier side of attraction.
Continuing with a similar sounding guitar is "Who". Jimin's second official music video release for MUSE, this music video gives off a rogue vibe. The song itself is about his desperation and deep desire to find his one true love. "Who" is performed entirely in English, dreaming of a woman the artist has never actually met craves to love. The accompanying video takes place in a similar setting as fellow BTS member Jungkook's music video "3D" (feat. Jack Harlow). They share a very 90s to early 2000s setting, taking place in the middle of a plaza on the road while the surrounding environment is hyped and hectic. "Who" is another personal favorite track of mine, fusing Latin sounds with classical pop.
"We've never met but she's all I see at night / Never met but she's always on my mind"
Last but not least is by far the most heart-warming song on the album: "Closer Than This". This tune was originally released as a single a few days before the commencement of Jimin's service, which began in December of last year. The song is a soft and romantic pop tribute to BTS's fanbase, ARMY, and was dropped as a proclamation for the idol's love and deep appreciation for his fans upon the beginning of his mandatory military service. "Closer Than This" depicts Jimin's evolution from a young kid into an adult throughout his years in BTS, as well as the ARMY that has stuck beside and grown with them. Although it is not too similar to the theme of undiscovered love and the yearning for a soulmate found in the album's other tracks, it is a wonderful way to conclude a project dedicated to love in the first place.
"Cause anytime you want me (I'll be) / Right here where you call me (I'll be) / I could never let you go / Never let you go"
It's safe to say that Jimin's MUSE is an incredible homage to the pop, Latin, and Caribbean genres, as well as to the concept of summer love. There is never a dull moment in the album. The energy is consistently high and shows the different phases of falling in love with someone special. While the songs do have their unique musical cliches in describing a man being in love with a woman, their executions are all individually exceptional, and they continue to earn Jimin's deserved success amidst his military hiatus.
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I love this, super interesting!