Music Review

 

BTS Members: Solo Music

In June 2022, BTS celebrated their 9-year anniversary since their debut in 2013. Over the course of their career, the group has broken records, dominated global music charts, and transformed the genre of K-POP music. The celebration, which featured an anthology album and three new original songs, was bittersweet for fans as the group made an announcement that captured the world's attention.

BTS announced they will be taking a hiatus to allow each member to focus on individual projects, as well as begin their enlistment in the South Korean military. As the group explores their individual music style, BTS still remains one of the most popular groups in the music industry. Over the past few months, six out of seven of the members have released their own solo music, charting in the Hot 100 list, upholding their successful reputation in the American and global music industry. 

J-Hope: Jack in the Box

On July 15, J-Hope released his new solo album "Jack in the Box", featuring 10 tracks total. The album reflects J-Hope's "aspirations to break the mold and grow further" in his career. The two main tracks on the album "MORE" and "ARSON" represent the major themes of passion, humanity, insecurity, and anxiety about the future. The concept album is categorized as an "old-school hip-hop album" but features a blend of genres. 

The album was released exclusively as a digital album and charted in seventeen territories. The album is officially certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association and reached number 17 on the Billboard 200 in America. 

JIN: "The Astronaut"

The oldest member of the group, Jin, released his final solo project in late October before departing for his mandatory service in the South Korean military. "The Astronaut" is JIN's debut solo single, this song is composed as a love letter and gift to BTS fans worldwide, saying "see you later", in reference to his military enlistment. The astronomical references allude to Jin's gratitude and love for his fans. The ballad was co-written with Coldplay's Chris Martin, a friend, and previous collaborator with BTS. "The Astronaut" was ranked on the Billboard 100 list and the music video has received over 60 million views. 

Jungkook: "Left and Right" (Charlie Puth) and "Dreamers" (World Cup)

The youngest member of the group is well-known for his ambition and natural talent, which is evident in his most recent success as a solo artist. In December, Jungkook was ranked as the artist with the "#1 Fastest Growing on Spotify". Jungkook now has over 18 million monthly listeners on Spotify. This summer, Jungkook released a song with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Charlie Puth. The single, "Left and Right" peaked at number twenty-two on the Billboard 100 list, and number five on the Billboard Global 200. Jungkook also released the single "Dreamers" (a part of the FIFA World Cup soundtrack) which he performed at the World Cup Opening Ceremony and smashed records on Spotify on the day of release. 

Conclusion

In my review, I only mentioned three out of seven of the members, but each idol has released exceptional music that has been well-received on global music charts. Even though we won't hear new music from the group until 2025, this hiatus is a chance to experience each member's individual music style and allow them to reach new demographics before their return.