Jung Kook is breaking all kinds of records, wrap your eyes and ears around ‘Golden’
South Korean pop-star Jung Kook – one-seventh of boy-band sensation BTS – has released his debut solo album GOLDEN in conjunction with its third single “Standing Next to You”.
This release follows the considerable success of its lead single “Seven”, which debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July (peaked at number-two on the ARIA Top 100) and reached one-billion streams on Spotify in just one-hundred and eight days – an all-time record.
“Seven”, a UK garage-inspired collaboration with Latto (“Big Energy”), was followed in September by “3D”, a BloodPop production featuring Jack Harlow (“First Class”). With “3D”, Jung Kook became the second Korean soloist in UK chart history to have a second single reach the top five, a feat which was first achieved by Psy with “Gentleman” in 2013. Just ahead of the release of GOLDEN, Jung Kook appeared with Central Cee on the Kid Laroi’s latest single “Too Much”.
Evidently not one to shy away from collaboration, Jung Kook has teamed up with numerous big names on GOLDEN. Tracks “Closer to You” and “Please Don’t Change” were produced by Major Lazer and DJ Snake respectively, while the songs “Yes or No” and “Hate You” credit Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes, respectively, as co-writers.
Brand new single “Standing Next to You” was declared the album’s main track upon its release (K-pop albums and EPs are generally marketed with a particular song as its focal point), and sees Jung Kook showcase his dance skills across a range of up-kept abandoned buildings in its accompanying video, directed by Tanu Muino (of Lil Nas X’s “Montero”). The arrangement is anchored by a funky bassline and coloured with touches of brass.
Jung Kook will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 8 to promote the album. Stream GOLDEN below.
Words By Harrison Jones.
