So, I just listened to *Golden*, and wow, what a ride! I’m pretty new to K-pop, but I’ve been getting into BTS members solo work, so I was super hyped for Jung Kook’s solo album. First off, his voice is insane! Like, in songs like “Seven” and “Standing Next to You,” his vocals just hit different—it’s so smooth and effortless. You can totally tell he’s got the range to play around with different styles.
What really surprised me was how the album is all in English, which I wasn’t expecting but actually loved. It feels super accessible, especially for someone who’s still figuring out the K-pop world. Collaborating with huge artists like Jack Harlow and Latto gives it this cool international vibe. The song “3D” was such a bop—it had me wanting to dance every time I heard it.
But then there are songs like “Hate You,” which hit me right in the feels.If you saw my review of RM’s albums you would know i lean toward emotional songs more.The whole theme of heartbreak and letting go was so relatable, and I wasn’t ready for how deep it would get. I found myself just vibing with those sad-boy hours moments, especially in “Too Sad to Dance.” It’s got this raw, almost bittersweet energy that makes you think about past relationships.
That being said, I did feel the album was playing it a bit safe, leaning heavily into trendy pop sounds. Maybe i i feel this way because I listened to it right after listening to MONO by Namjun(yes we are now in first name basis đź’€) since MONO was more deep which i will admit is not fair.
I felt it could’ve shown more of Jung Kook’s personal flavor, but I honestly didn’t mind because the production and vocals were fire. Tracks like “Yes or No” with Ed Sheeran’s influence were catchy AF, even if they weren’t groundbreaking.
Overall, *Golden* impressed me because it gave me a taste of what Jung Kook can do outside of BTS even though I haven’t listened to BTS. It’s packed with bangers and emotional moments, and even though it’s very much in the pop lane, his voice alone makes it stand out. Definitely worth the listen if you’re into smooth, feel-good pop with a bit of soul!
I should also add that I LOVED that Jung Kook and RM(the only BTS members I’ve listened to) have such different personalities and vibes. It makes me even more exited to see what the group is capable.
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May I recommend Layover by V next? I kind of like you jumping from one genre to the next with them, so it would be cool to continue the switch ups so that it feels fresh every time.
I would recommend Layover, then Jack in the Box by JHope, then Muse (Face is also there, but I think Muse is a bigger contrast, both are EPs….or actually you could do Face+Muse cause they feel like a complete album) by Jimin, and finish off with D-Day by Agust D.
I actually just posted the review of Layover.
I agree with you on switching up genres…it keeps the journey extra fun🫶🏾
Jungkook loves pop music and has always wanted to be a pop star!
I think what a lot of native English speakers sometimes take for granted with Golden is that Jungkook is not even close to fluent in English. But he takes the time to practice singing and pronouncing words without accents.
He can do so much with his voice. In Somebody at the beginning that is him- not autotune. There is a clip somewhere on the internet showing him singing the album version, then a live show version, and then him just singing at his house for fun and they all sound the exact same.
He works really hard to try to sing in different ways. Try to use his voice other than how he just normally sings.
Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to all the albums. It’s always fun watching people discover the guys and see how multifaceted they are.
Can’t wait to read more!
Its amazing how he was able to sing in English, as someone that doesn’t speak English as a first language, i know how hard it is🙇🏽