Song Review:: Jin (BTS): Happy- I'll Be There {Pre-Release}

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  • Release date: 2024 October 25/ November 15
  • Album tracklist: Running Wild, I'll Be There, Another Level, Until I Reach You, Heart on the Window, In Longing
  • Album runtime: 4 minutes

 Despite not being an ARMY, I've been curious about this project of his since he was discharged from the military. Ironically, as I write this, my playlist just started playing Seven, so Spotify knows what's up. It'll have to chill a moment because Jungkook is not the BTS vocalist I want to focus on right now; instead, it's the oldest of the goofballs. 

Ah, rock! Okay. I'd love to say I'm surprised given the (very) limited amount that I know of his other music, but he reminds me a lot of Changsub from BTOB, whose favorite music genre is in fact rock. (As a side note, I know that Jin is a year younger, but can there please be content with him, Key, and Changsub doing literally anything? Somehow? Someway? That combination of personalities would result in absolute, sheer, utter chaos and I would live for it.) The song is absolutely infused with audience participation clapping or snapping. I'm not sure precisely which; it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. The song moves along at a pretty steady clip until that lovely slowdown during the bridge when the instrumentals also go quiet and soft and gentle. And then the drumstick clicking heralds a return of the energy, much like they introduced the song at the start. 

I really hope the fans are appreciating him. First he rereleased Super Tuna, a song he has a complicated relationship with if I understand correctly and made it seem like a proper song despite the fact that it's still too short. Then he released this, which is clearly a love letter to the fans, and hits the bare minimum of three minutes, but still hits it. As a side note, this song reminds me a lot of Crocodile Rock, not in topic, but in tone. I think that every time the song restarts. Jin has the perfect voice for trot, which instantly makes me love it even though the instrumentals of this song say it's rock. I want more of that from him, if it's something that he's willing to do. Oh, and his vibrato is gorgeous, the free use of which is both refreshing and endearing. 

That opening shot of him reminds me of Hwang In-Yeop from True Beauty, which remains one of my favorite K-Dramas because they all did such a good job. He in fact did such a good job with his role that he almost won me over from my traditional favorite of Eunwoo's character, who remained my favorite through the entirety of the webtoon. So the visual similarities there? Even if I didn't already like the song, I would have instantly been fond of it. Jin really is just a cutie patootie, isn't he? Message of the music video is even if there's no one there for him, he'll just keep performing for them. 



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