Jung Kook’s Golden: BTS star topped ‘pop king’ by critics due to solo album4 min read

BTS star Jung Kook’s first solo album has been met with reward by critics, with one calling him “a brand new pop king” and one other calling it “pop bliss”.

The South Korean singer, 26, is performing alone whereas a few of the older band members do army service.

His album Golden is sung in English and consists of collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Latto and Shawn Mendes.

She wrote: “Certain, as a member of BTS he had already reached pinnacles of fame most may solely think about. But he was one in all seven in a bunch that, nonetheless gifted, dominated throughout the realm of Okay-pop.

NME’s Rhian Daly declared that Golden “greater than secures him the throne” as this decade’s pop king.

“To date, the 2020s have been missing one big male solo star that reigns over the pop world however, with Golden, BTS’s Jungkook proves he is greater than as much as the duty,” she stated.

“For essentially the most half, Golden works and achieves precisely what its mission seemingly is – seize Jungkook’s multifaceted artistry, charismatic vocals and irresistible pop enchantment in 10 simply palatable songs primed for business success.”

The Related Press’s Maria Sherman additionally praised the album, saying: “The closely Anglophonic Golden, a reference to his nickname of ‘the golden maknae,’ (golden youngest in Korean), is without doubt one of the strongest pop debuts of the 12 months, a direct reflection of his love of retro-pop sounds…

“Throughout this launch, Jung Kook demonstrates a deep understanding of pop efficiency – and the way, within the trendy period, that requires revolutionary collaborations, closely featured all through his solo album,” she added.

“The largest shock is mega-hit Seven,” Energy continued.

“It has smashed information by overtaking Miley Cyrus’s Flowers to turn out to be the quickest launch in historical past to clock up one billion Spotify performs. Recognition apart, its most placing high quality, nonetheless, is the extent to which it worships on the altar of Craig David’s 7 Days.

“‘Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,’ sings Jungkook in his gentle, expressive voice.

“Then, whenever you suppose he’ll croon, ‘we chill on Sunday’, he swerves right into a refrain so impolite, delicate listeners would require a lie-down.”

The Normal’s David Smyth commented that “because the child of the group, vastly well-known for the reason that age of 15, he is in a fantastic place for additional success.” Justin Timberlake, Harry Types and Robbie Williams had been additionally the youngest members of their boy bands, he famous.

There are “a whole lot of packing containers are ticked for pop lovers”, he added. “What elevates it’s his fluid, expressive voice, which constantly raises chart-friendly materials to the next aircraft.”

The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis was extra lukewarm, saying Jung Kook “follows a well-worn path from boyband member to solo star, plunging into competent pop-R&B”.

“It is well-made, hooky – however however, Golden is an album sure to depart extra agnostic listeners pondering what the fuss is about. Should you detach the music from the pop world that spawned it… it simply seems like respectable mainstream pop,” he wrote.

BTS have turn out to be a world sensation since their debut 10 years in the past, and are credited with serving to to spice up the profile of Korean tradition worldwide.

They had been the primary Korean act to attain a chart-topping album within the UK, and had been beforehand named the world’s best-selling artists, beating the likes of Taylor Swift and Adele.

Their administration have stated BTS members count on to reform “round 2025” after fulfilling their army service duties.