Over the past couple of months, BTS member Jung Kook topped the charts and broke several records with the releases of his singles, ‘Seven’ and ‘3D’. Now almost 4 months since the release of his hit single ‘Seven’, Jung Kook debuts his first solo album ‘Golden’.
Announced on October 3, 2023, and globally released on November 3, 2023, Jung Kook’s debut album, ‘Golden,’ unfolds with eleven tracks that explore the universal feeling of love and how that feeling can shape and evolve. The album contains a mix of different genres that further show off Jung Kook’s versatility and musical talents that continue to surprise fans. Overall, ‘Golden’ is an emotional rollercoaster that starts really upbeat, but by the end, we see a more mature an solemn side of the singer. By track 11, the hopeful conclusion will have you shedding a tear in certain songs.
One of the first songs on the album is ‘Seven’ (Feat. Latto). As mentioned earlier, ‘Seven’ released almost four months ago in July and broke the record for the fastest song to reach 1 billion streams in Spotify history. Jung Kook shocked fans with ‘Seven’ with its maturity which takes a look at a more “mature” perspective at love.
Following suit is ‘Standing Next to You,’ a standout track paying homage to Michael Jackson. Jung Kook effortlessly captures the essence of the King of Pop’s vibe, a sentiment further emphasized in the music video’s choreography, serving as a respectful nod to Michael Jackson’s iconic style. Some might interpret the music video as an attempt to copy, but I think it is easy to see that the choreography and style of the song are paying tribute to Michael Jackson.
Jung Kook follows up ‘Standing Next to You’ with ‘Yes or No’. This song is one of the best on the album, not just because it’s catchy, but because of its relatable lyrics. ‘Yes or No’ explores the feeling of just wanting to get your feelings out no matter the consequences. The lyric “All the traffic in my head’s going crazy” expresses the feeling of several emotions fighting in your head, and just wanting to let these emotions out no matter how the other person responds.
As the album nears its conclusion, ‘Shot Glass of Tears’ emerged as a sure favorite. If there’s one song that I ask you to listen to it’s this one. ‘Shot Glass of Tears’ is a beautiful yet devastating song about sadness that just tugs at your emotions. The track is so different from some of the others’ on the album which truly makes it stand out as one of the best. I wish I could go back in time and listen to this song for the first time again because it’s just that good.
All in all, ‘Golden’ is a phenomenal debut album that provides a more mature look at love and emotions. I have been listening to this album on repeat for the last week, so if you have time to spare, I definitely recommend that you tune in!