Edited by Yoon
Translated by Hana Lee
BTS recently announced their enlistment plans. HYBE announced that the group members would enlist in the military, starting with Jin, hoping to resume their activities as a whole group in 2025. Set to fulfill their military duties, the members will now focus on their solo projects. Expectations are high on what BTS members have in store for us before their enlistment as they haven’t shown us much as individuals.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the solo songs that highlight the charms of each member.
RM – Reflection (2016)
“Reflection” is a song from BTS’ second studio album WINGS, produced by RM. Although he has been known for his strong rap lines since his debut, he calmly expresses his emotions in this song. The ambiance he recorded with his phone and simple melodies effectively created a vintage vibe. It’s a song that clearly shows he has an outstanding producing talent.
JIN – SUPERTUNA (2021)
“SUPERTUNA” is a song Jin playfully made to celebrate his birthday. As you can tell from the title, this non-mainstream track is made purely for entertainment purposes. As the song became popular, a fun performance video of him and the ‘Super Tuna Challenge’ meme went viral. Although his solo songs can also be found on BTS’ studio albums and SoundCloud, “SUPERTUNA” was like a pleasant gift for fans who knew his personality well. Meanwhile, Jin dropped a new solo album called The Astronaut, becoming the second BTS member to have collaborated with Coldplay.
SUGA – Intro: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life (2015)
Slow Rabbit and Suga, who worked on many BTS songs, collaborated on the intro track of The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1. As Suga wrote it himself, the song is about his hobby: basketball. The confusion experienced during adolescence is expressed in the lyrics where he sings, ‘Throwing a ball alone,’ ‘The court is my playground,’ and ‘Dribbling getting faster.’ Suga also drew attention for his producing talent by working with IU on “eight” and PSY on “That That.”
j-hope – MORE (2022)
J-Hope became the first BTS member to make a solo debut this July. “MORE” is a pre-release song from his debut album Jack In The Box, and it showcases the artist’s ambitions and passion for music. Even though it was his first solo debut, he successfully brought a 90s-old hip-hop vibe to his album by completely differentiating himself from the group. He gently raps over a slow-down, soulful track in the first part. Then he suddenly shouts and brings up the word ‘Grammy’ in the lyrics. It is a song that effectively shows the music and message that J-Hope wants to deliver as an artist.
Jimin – Filter (2020)
Jimin has garnered attention for his unique voice since his debut. His voice is attractive enough to be chosen as the main vocalist of BTS along with Jungkook. “Filter” is one of his solo tracks that best shows his charm. The song from the MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 album is a Latin pop genre rarely produced in the South Korean K-pop scene. The characteristic of this particular genre goes well with Jimin’s distinctive high-pitched voice.
V – Christmas Tree (2021)
V previously worked on creating the soundtracks of Hwarang and Itaewon Class. “Christmas Tree” is the main theme song of Our Beloved Summer, which starred Choi Woo Shik and Kim Dami. With the drama’s huge success, the song received favorable responses and topped various music charts upon its release. Just as “Scenery” (literal translation) and “Winter Bear” had featured V’s husky and deep voice, “Christmas Tree” also mesmerized listeners with his low, soulful voice that goes well with its minimal composition.
Jung Kook – Euphoria (2018)
As an opening track of Answer, the final installment of the Love Yourself series, “Euphoria” is the most well-known solo song on the BTS album. Along with its trendy sound, Jung Kook’s delicate and clear voice perfectly delivers the emotions of falling in love. Several singers, including Kang Min Kyung, April’s Jinsol, Eric Nam and CIX, have covered this song.
Editor Yoon: I love music, especially K-POP, and I dream of becoming an A&R person, lyricist, artist, etc. I will cover various articles, including song reviews, artist reviews, and K-pop market analysis.
