GOLDEN

When BTS began a group hiatus in 2022 to allow the members to perform mandatory military service, Jung Kook used the opportunity to collaborate with Western artists and producers for his solo album debut, *GOLDEN*. The result is an 11-track English-language LP that is not only perfectly primed for a mainstream American listening audience, but also embraces an exploration of more explicitly sexy subject matter for the Korean superstar. Pre-release tracks “Seven” (featuring Latto), about the power of good sex, and “3D” (featuring Jack Harlow), about the limits of good phone sex, immediately set the tone for *GOLDEN*’s role in showcasing a more adult side of Jung Kook. The latter track was written (alongside BloodPop® and Harlow) by “Dynamite” co-writer David Stewart, who also contributes to *GOLDEN* with breakup tracks “Too Sad to Dance” (“And this Christmas, I got no gifts/Do I really deserve all this?”) and “Shot Glass of Tears” (“She got some dangerous hobbies/Like chasing after the sun and making me fall in love”). Elsewhere on *GOLDEN*, Jung Kook explores other relationship themes. Ed Sheeran has a co-writing credit on the playful, boy-band-esque bop “Yes or No” about maybe falling in love (“Are you feeling the rush?/If so, then I think I know what\'s going on”), while Shawn Mendes was behind the scenes for “Hate You,” a confessional broken-heart ballad (“I’m gonna hate you/Paint you like the villain that you never were/I\'m gonna blame you/For things that you don\'t do”). On “Somebody,” Jung Kook tells the story of a person who is ready to move on from a relationship (“Oh, I hoped you\'d find somebody/I hope you know that somebody ain\'t me”), while “Please Don’t Change” is a plea from one star-crossed lover to another that they stay the same until they can find a way to be together (“Please don’t change/’Cause I love you, yeah, I love you”).

On his debut album 'Golden', BTS's Jungkook lives up to his superstar appeal, even if the record does play things a little safe.

The K-pop group's most rebellious member is still too young for military service, and so instead, he's having a ball making smooth, fluid solo pop

The K-pop boyband star nods to Craig David, Justin Timberlake and more on a solo debut that’s best when his dreamy falsetto soars

The talented BTS singer follows a well-worn path from boyband member to solo star, plunging into competent pop-R&B – including an Ed Sheeran co-write