BTS' Jungkook drops 'meaningful' debut solo album 'Golden'
The wait is over, ARMYs and Jungkookies, as BTS star Jungkook has finally released his highly anticipated debut solo album Golden today, Nov. 3.
The record's launch comes with the release of Jungkook's music video for Standing Next To You, the lead track of his newly launched record.
In a video shared with Korean media outlets hours before the release, Jungkook expressed his excitement for his new album and noted that its motif is "golden moment," which is in part inspired by the nickname given to him by their group's leader, RM.
"I began my solo activities with 'Seven' and '3D', but this is my first solo album under my own name, so it's meaningful. I'm very excited to see how people will react to it," Jungkook said.
He continued, "The 'Golden' album uses the phrase 'golden moment'. It feels like a combination of the present moment and the nickname that Namjoon (RM) gave me, along with the talents I possess. It also has a vibe of proving something. I have ambitions to demonstrate it."
Golden features 11 tracks that were all written in Enlish for the Korean star and the global music market. All of which were personally picked by Jungkook to showcase the diverse range of his voice.
"Including the lead track, 'Standing Next to You,' I filled the album with 11 songs of diverse genres," the said the 26-year-old singer. "You can feel the changing emotions if you listen to the entire album in order."
Apart from Standing Next to You, Golden features his previously released tracks, namely Seven featuring American rapper Latto and 3D featuring Jack Harlow.
Following the album's launch, Jungkook will hold his first-ever solo concert, titled "GOLDEN Live On Stage," on Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. KST (7 p.m. PHT), in Jangchung Arena in Seoul. It will be live-streamed for ARMYs who couldn't attend the event in person.
The upcoming concert is part of Jungkook's dream to perform in many stages as possible as a solo artist.
"Some may say that's too much but I'm going to run until I'm satisfied with myself, since I still have many things that I haven't done," Jungkook said in the video sent to local outlets. "I want to be an artist who can fill three or more hours of a concert alone."
In addition to concert stages, BTS' "golden maknae" is conquering late-night shows, with his first solo appearances this month. He is set to make his first-ever guesting as a solo artist on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on November 6 and The Today Show on Nov. 8.
Jungkook is the sixth member of BTS to debut solo after the K-pop supergroup went into a hiatus to pursue solo activities in June 2022. The group is set to reunite in 2025 after all members have completed South Korea's compulsory military service.