IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 7 BTS songs that show off Jungkook’s voice power
Jungkook of BTS. Image: Twitter/@bts_bighit
The singing style of Jeon Jung-kook, also known as BTS’ Jungkook, seems effortless to outsiders but as soon as one attempts to cover his parts or solo tracks, many would realize that it’s hard to shift from a low to high tone without getting completely off tune.
“Seven,” which was initially speculated to be Jungkook’s tribute to BTS — as they have seven members — turned out to be a seductive glimpse into the direction he’s planning to take as a solo artist.
Without replacing the original “I’ll be loving you right seven days a week” to the more explicit version, the song’s meaning is quite clear without the need of theories. But it’s a refreshing introduction to Jungkook, not just as a BTS member, but as an artist who’s making a path of his own.
Here are seven BTS’ songs that showcase the best of Jungkook’s voice, in honor of his solo debut last July 14. Take note: this list doesn’t include his solo releases prior to “Seven.”
‘00:00 (Zero O’Clock)’
“00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” is a reminder to find hope amid darkness. Jungkook, V, Jin, and Jimin express their longing for better days ahead. With RM as one of the songwriters, the song starts off with Jungkook intentionally not taking a moment to breathe, as if he’s mirroring what it feels to be “heavy.” The track then ends with BTS’ vocal line slowing down, with him ending in an almost-whisper-like tune.
‘Mikrokosmos’
Alluding to Greek philosophy, “Mikrokosmos” talks about finding your own little world in a journey to self discovery. Jungkook also takes a more subdued approach with this track, where he focuses on the delivery of his emotions rather than charging into a powerful belt.
‘Dope’
Perhaps, one of the songs that describes BTS as determined artists who want to rebel against the older generation — “Dope” is an intentional clash of the vocal and rap line, which is some sort of a reminder of the group’s purpose. The brash song, which talks about not wanting to “say yes” all the time, shows Jungkook’s voice as the much-needed glue that binds a song together.
‘Just One Day’
K-pop groups take on the “first love” concept at some point in their careers, and BTS was no different.
But “Just One Day” is a display of Jungkook’s ability as a vocal chameleon, where his pop-infused voice was transformed into a lovesick teen who wants to win the heart of someone special. The moment he sings the lines “Just one day, if I can hold your hands. Just one day, if I can be with you” in the chorus, you can almost imagine him as a man launching into a harana.
‘ON’
In case some doubts Jungkook’s power as BTS’ main vocalist, “ON” is one of the songs that show braggadocio to its fullest, with him taking full rein of the song’s bridge. It’s normal for K-pop songs to have two or three vocalists sharing lines in the bridge, but this powerful banger is proof that he’s one of the industry’s greats who’s large and in charge — and is confident to pull it off in live performances too.
‘Airplane pt.2’
“Airplane pt.2” is a foreboding peek into Jungkook’s talent to seduce with his voice, as the latin pop-inspired track — where RM, Suga, and J-Hope were credited as songwriters — show the group’s frustration with idol life. The track shows the group’s main vocalist swaying from airy register, low notes, to the final “hoo-oohs,” as if he’s giving listeners time to take his vocals all in.
‘Answer: Love Myself’
The song acts as some sort of solution with the group’s desperation to love themselves, which is said to be the focus of their 2018 album “Love Yourself: Answer.” Once again, Jungkook takes center stage in delivering the song’s sole purpose with his voice, all while acting as the much-needed support behind his bandmates’ journey to self-love. EDV
