Golden by Jungkook

 I don't remember what I was doing when I first listened to “Golden” by Jungkook of BTS; probably either drawing or lying in bed getting ready to fall asleep. I do remember being surprised when I first heard the songs, though. Being notoriously terrible at picking up lyrics before at least the twelfth listen, I didn't at first realize that all of the lyrics were in English, but this is only one aspect of the album that came as a shock. From the flow to the subject matter to the fact that my Spotify settings skipped over two of the songs because they were explicit, none of it was quite what I'd expected. Of course, I'm not saying all of this as a bad thing; the Korean singer has never had a reputation for doing exactly what was expected of him (besides consistently impressing fans), and the album itself is a testament to Jungkook’s growth as an artist. 

 The first four tracks–“3D (feat. Jack Harlow)”, “Closer to You (feat. Major Lazer)”, “Seven (feat. Latto)(Explicit Version)”, and “Standing Next to You”–all describe a deep love. Both “3D” and “Seven” are explicit. The former is a smooth electronic song that describes the desire to, “See it in motion, in 3D”. “It” is implied to be romantic love. The latter song is fast-paced, written about loving someone seven days a week. “Closer to You”, the second track, has an eerie sound, with the message that differences can bring people closer. This song, too, has an intimate undertone. Finally, “Standing Next to You” sings of an unending love that is, “Deeper than the rain, deeper than the pain”. The song has a constantly changing flow, with a beautiful pre-chorus and sections that just about prove that Micheal Jackson has awoken from the dead. None of these first four songs have a particularly deep message; they make meaningful points, yes, but overall they're very lighthearted. Though I have issues with a few aspects (Jungkook's colorful and less than clean word choice and Jack Harlow’s rap about being with multiple different girls, namely), I can appreciate the artistry behind these four songs. They're catchy, and they prove that everything doesn't always have to be deep and philosophical. 

 The two songs at the center of the album, “Yes or No” and “Please Don't Change (feat. DJ Snake)”, are slightly more serious than the first four. “Yes or No” is a fun and catchy song that asks the question, “Are we falling in love?” While the beginning of the album was confident in the love between both parties, this song shows uncertainty and questions. “Please Don't Change” begs someone else not to change, through fame or anything else, because, “oh I love you, love the way you are.” This song has an up-and-down, Afro-style beat. These songs consider the real, imperfect side of love, but they're still light and happy.

 The next four songs are less joyful. “Hate You”, “Somebody”, “Too Sad To Dance”, and “Shot Glass of Tears” show the harder side of love. “Hate You” takes place after a breakup, a ballad about “Blame[ing] you for things that you don't do,” because, “Hating you’s the only way that it doesn't hurt.” “Somebody” has an instrumental that sounds echoey and feels like floating through space. The song is about knowing you aren't right for somebody, hoping they'll find somebody who is. “Too Sad To Dance” and “Shot Glass of Tears” both mention the act of drinking sorrow away, with the lines, “So, I head straight down to the liquor store,” and “Drink, drink, drink, say cheers,” respectively. The latter song is particularly raw and emotional, describing an empty feeling after a breakup, and such depression and hopelessness that you can hardly feel at all. The only ray of hope throughout these four songs is at the end of “Too Sad To Dance”, which says, “You don't need no one to dance.”

 The last track off of “Golden” is “Seven (feat. Latto)(Clean Version)”. Whether this song was placed at the end to bring the album full circle, to reaffirm the love at the beginning despite all of the heartache described, to end on a brighter note, or just to appease younger listeners, I don't know, but it works no matter what. Similarly, there's no way to know if the album was written in English to gain more Western attention, to help a wider audience sing along, to give the songs a different feel, or to flaunt the language Jungkook has worked so hard to learn. It could very well have been for all of these reasons. Whatever the case, though, the English songs are both impressive and enjoyable, unexpected as they were.

 My only complaints are against the explicit nature, and that, were it a story, “Golden” would have no ending. Granted, not every album needs to be a story, and they don't always have to have endings, but it's my personal preference to have some sort of closure after such sad songs as the last four tracks. There seems to be an overarching theme of avoidance: avoiding the darker side of love with intimacy, avoiding pain by hating the other person, and avoiding hurt by drinking it away. It would've been nice to see some feelings faced, if the album eventually came around to the conclusion that avoidance really isn't the answer. It's possible that Jungkook will release another album on these themes later in his career, but it doesn't seem likely, especially given his recent enlistment in the South Korean military.

 Overall, “Golden” is an interesting combination of fun and feelings, with every emotion described in acute detail. Like nearly everything that has to do with Jungkook, the album is full of surprises. There are somewhat carefree love songs, because not everything has to be deep and insightful, and more serious tunes with acutely described emotions. All of it is catchy and masterfully made. Whatever else you have to say, there's no denying Jungkook’s talent.