Despite the members of BTS being away fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory enlistment, it feels as though they never left with all the new content and music they prepared beforehand. Jimin’s debut solo album came in March of 2023, which led to him becoming the highest-charting Korean solo artist on the Billboard 200 of all time. Operatic and large-scale, FACE is a bold confrontation of pain. While he is surely proud of it, he recently revealed he also looks back with a little bit of embarrassment. In conversation with his bandmate, RM, he said he wonders why he was so upset to begin with. RM then noted that Jimin might only feel that way because he was able to completely release the emotions that drove him to make that music. Who he is now is different, but that doesn’t negate who he was. Where FACE navigates darkness, MUSE, offers a brighter side of himself as he moves forward in love.
This sophomore release is surrounded by lightheartedness and vivid colors, contrasting what Jimin called his peaceful but dry state of mind. The seven songs are not necessarily based on his current existence or recent experiences, but instead are reminiscent of what it was like to feel bigger things. In this neutrality the album is relatable – everyone has been there at some point or another, and some might be there presently. “I’m tryna find a love, good love, real love”, he declares in the sparkling 'Rebirth (Intro)', with supportive echoes from a choir. No longer carrying heaviness, his arms are open to embrace the world.
'Interlude: Showtime', similarly to 'Face-off', starts with a carnival tune. What had previously unraveled into something more sinister is now sweet and playfully segues into the pre-release track, 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band'. Loosely inspired by The Beatles’ 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band', upbeat and innocent energy evokes joy with distant cheers and goofy adlibs. Loco fits right in as he raps about how he could burst should he and his love simply touch.
Smeraldo, a fictional blue flower from BTS’ universe, means a truth untold. “All the things we couldn’t say before / And your hidden feelings too / I’ll tell you everything now (Just for you)”, the pre-chorus mirrors. It seems the garden of Jimin’s unrevealed sincerities that has been slowly blossoming for years is finally in full bloom.
The official music video for 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)' by Jimin
Perhaps one of Jimin’s truths untold is how deep his caring nature goes, though that would be no secret or surprise to fans. He flew to Chicago for j-hope’s Lollapalooza set; he attended SUGA’s D-Day Tour in New Jersey as an audience member, and later was a special guest for one of the last shows in Seoul; he visited V at music broadcast shows and joined him for a fanmeet; the list of ways he shows up for the people in his heart goes on and on. Within his own work, he meaningfully collaborates with a team of in-house producers (Pdogg, GHSTLOOP, and EVAN), and has sung with role model TAEYANG and friend HA SUNGWOON.
There is truth in fantasy, then, as he aims to satisfy his audience with an equal thoughtfulness. When preparing the visuals for the album, he earnestly considered what fans might like to see from him and what their reactions would be. Whether it be ARMY, friends, family, or romantic partners, it’s clear that Jimin’s beloved stays on his mind and he is always moving towards them. It’s rather endearing to think he feels he has even more tenderness to show for himself.
'Slow Dance' is romantic and hopeful as Jimin extends patience – “Don’t rush, just feel our tempo” – and an invitation to a lover to participate in a melody only they can hear. With breathy vocals from Sofia Carson, this duet introduces a slight transition in how Jimin speaks about love and his desire for it. 'Be Mine' is sultry and Afrobeats-inspired, with Latin guitars that sonically seduce as much as Jimin lyrically incorporates the fiery passion love can possess. Both warm up to the climax of unadulterated yearning that he lays out in the main track, 'Who', his first English single. “We never met, but she’s all I see at night / Never met, but she’s always on my mind”, he longs for what he has yet to find and simultaneously reminds listeners of his superstardom.
One of the most notable points of growth found in this project is Jimin’s vocals. Since the beginning of his career he’s had a unique and angelic tone, but there is a je ne sais quoi to it that sounds more relaxed, controlled, and confident than ever before. He has mentioned several times to fans that he had plans to take singing lessons and re-train his skills during BTS' second chapter, and it certainly paid off. It's especially evidenced by the stability in his lower register to the drawn-out falsettos throughout this sixth song. Even while performing live there is no sign of his voice straining, and it’s an exciting sign of what he will be capable of when returns from the military.
The official live television performance of 'Who' by Jimin
'Closer Than This', originally released in December, is true to the saccharine style of fan songs Jimin has shared in the past. “Anytime you want me (I’ll be) / Right here where you call me (I’ll be) / I could never let you go”, he affectionately sings. It warmly ties together the profound understanding Jimin has of love. In a global society that tends to hyper-focus on romance, it is easy to forget that love is multifaceted and everywhere.
MUSE captures the intimacy and nuance of various kinds of devotion, and is ultimately a testament of how scars heal in due time. When heartache is loud and the garden is bare, let this be proof that suffering does not last forever. Love is a boomerang, and if you give it out as willingly as Jimin does, it will always come back.
