There is no other K-Pop artist who has the global impact of BTS. Not only are they the most popular K-Pop group of all time in Korea, but they are also the number one artist that has introduced the rest of the world to the genre/industry as well. Do not get me wrong, artists like BlackPink, TWICE, and NCT have done their part to advance the genre on a worldwide scale as well, but the proof is in the pudding when it comes to BTS. They have broken many boundaries and set many records, and they are one of the main reasons K-Pop has become so popular. A couple of years ago, after almost a decade of dominance, the group decided to go on a hiatus to fulfill their duties of military service in Korea. While the group has been on hiatus, the various members have released solo projects to highlight what they can do when they are not in the comfort of the group. Ironically, Jin was the first to embark on his military endeavors and was the last to release any solo music. After letting every other group member show what they can do with their solo endeavors, Jin now released a solo EP of his own, titled Happy. Below, I wanted to give some thoughts on this new solo project from Jin and see how it compares to the music released by his fellow BTS members. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from Jin’s Happy, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole!
Jin gets the EP going on a very fun and triumphant note with ‘Running Wild.’ This song is heavily inspired by the joyous Pop-Rock that was big in the early 2000s, and I have to say that I am here for it. If one were to tell me that this was a random song made by The Killers or maybe even Panic At The Disco! back in the day, I would be inclined to believe them. The melody for this track is so bright and sweet. The guitar riff and other various synths and instruments that provide this melody have a super positive and welcoming tone; this track has the kind of melody that could put a smile on anyone’s face. The beat for ‘Running Wild’ is quick and lively, adding to the positive feeling that this song provides. As nice as the instrumental is to listen to, Jin’s vocals on ‘Running Wild take it over the top. His range on this song is excellent; the high notes he hits take the fun nature of the track over the top, making this song feel like a bubble of favorableness ready to pop. Jin sings in only English on this track, a departure from what one may expect from him. In ‘Running Wild,’ Jin sings about trying to rekindle a flame with a past partner and having one more carefree night with this person. ‘I’ll Be There’ is another track with a very bright and vibrant Pop-Rock sound. This song feels a bit more old-school than the one that precedes it, though. Whereas the opening track makes me think of the early 2000s, this one actually makes me think of the late 1960s or early 1970s. When I hear this melody, I immediately think of music from artists like The Beach Boys or The Beatles. Even the beat, which has a clapping sort of tempo that will get anyone bobbing their head when it comes on, is reminiscent of the Rock music from that era Of course, there are elements of the mix and various sound effects that give it a modern appeal, but that retro Surf Rock overall theme definitely reigns supreme. Jin’s vocals on ‘I’ll Be There’ are very nice; I especially dig the little quirky vocal effects he delivers throughout the song, as they add to its zany nature. In ‘I’ll Be There,’ Jin insists to his partner that he is not going anywhere and that he will always do whatever he can to make their life better. ‘Another Level’ departs from the positive Pop-Rock we got on the first two tracks. Instead, this one has more of a Chamber Electro-Pop sound to it. The melody for this one is driven by huge and distorted synths with a very melancholy tone to them. An underlying guitar riff does come in to help progress the melody along, but the focus of the melody is mainly in these crashing synths. On the bridge of the song, a gritty guitar riff comes in that gives the track attitude and emphasis. ‘Another Life’ has a deliberate, pounding beat that totally matches the energy of the melody. This beat gives the song a looming quality that takes it over the top. Jin’s vocals on ‘Another Level’ are great. The high notes he hits add to the emotion of the track, and the power with which he sings with leans into the heaviness that ‘Another Level’ has.’ In ‘Another Leve,’ Jins sings about never giving up and not letting the pitfalls of life get in the way of what he wants and deserves.
‘Falling’ returns to the Rock theme we got on the first two tracks, albeit in a different style. There is something about this one that has a bit more of a Pop-Punk feeling to it. This is because of the melody. The tone of this melody makes me think of early 2000s Emo–Pop music; this slight switch-up in tone is something I am completely into, as it shows a slightly darker side to Jin. I really like how full and intricate this melody is. The main basis of the melody is provided by that Emo guitar riff, and it is complemented by various synths that give it so much life and power. Jin’s vocals on ‘Falling’ are just as strong and despondent as the instrumental. Jin does a good job of matching the energy of the instrumental on ‘Falling,’ which adds to the gloomy feeling this track has. In ‘Falling,’ Jin sings about ‘Falling’ head over heels for someone; he tries to resist this temptation but is not able to. ‘Heart on the Window,’ which features WENDY, sees Jin depart from the Rock theme once again, leaning more into a trend that has become pretty big in Pop music these days. This track has a sleek, ethereal Synth-Pop theme that sounds like it came right out of the 1980s. When I hear this one, I immediately think of the retro-tinted New Wave music made popular by artists like The Weeknd or Dua Lipa over the last couple of years. The melody for this track is so sheeny, light, and uplifting. When paired with this quick and energetic beat, it just makes me want to party the night away. ‘Heart On The Window’ is a track that is impossible to not want to dance to when it comes on. The vocals from Jin and Wendy on this track are great. The way that their tones mesh fits the energy and melody of this song so nicely. ‘Heart On The Window’ feels so all-encompassing because of the excellent vocals. In ‘Heart On The Window,’ Jin and Wendy sing about falling more and more in love with their new partner. Jin slows and calms things down a significant amount on ‘I will come to you.’ This is actually a truly acoustic song. The melody literally only consists of the piano riff that drives it. This piano riff has a sweet and dainty tone to it, but also feels a bit downtrodden. Even though its tone is pretty sunny, there is something about this track that is also a bit glum. This might also be due to the tone of the vocals. Jin’s performance on this song is just great. He sings with a balance of delicacy and emphasis that makes this song feel impactful and bold, but also lets it feel soft. On ‘I will come to you,’ Jin sings about regretting leaving his former partner, and longs for the chance to be with them again. This feels like a statement track for sure, and is a very sentimental way to end the project.
Going into Happy, I really did have no idea what to expect. Admittedly, out of all BTS members, Jin is the one I probably know and bout and even noticed the least. I have seen him hit some pretty big notes in some of their songs over the years, but I feel like I just always have paid attention to some of the other members more. I am glad to say that I was pretty pleasantly surprised by Happy. The musical diversity on this project is cool, and some of the instrumental choices stood out. I appreciated that he went with a Rock theme on a good portion of this record. Not only does this stand out among what the other BTS members have put out, but the actual styles of Rock he chose on a couple of these songs are not utilized much these days and set this EP apart. As one would imagine who knows about Jin or BTS, the vocals on Happy are great. He shows off his range on pretty much every track, proving how dynamic a vocalist he is. Overall, Happy is a solid project where Jin shows his individuality. I am glad I checked this one out, as it makes me understand even more how important Jin is to BTS and how talented he is.
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