Fan Article: Song Review: BTS’ Jin Exudes Wistful Warmth In The Coldplay-co-Written 'The Astronaut'

STORY BY
Ria Chakraborty

On October 28th, 2022, BTS’ Jin released his first ever solo single titled, 'The Astronaut'. Following the announcement about the Korean-pop supergroup’s momentary break from group musical ventures, the members have shifted their focus to their individual projects, with J-Hope releasing his debut studio album, "Jack in the Box" in July 2022, and fellow bandmates JungKook and RM featuring on collaborative endeavours such as 'Left and Right' (with Charlie Puth) and 'Sexy Nukim' (with Balming Tiger) respectively.

BTS has previously collaborated with British rock-band, Coldplay on the 2021 electropop track, 'My Universe', which also became the K-Pop juggernaut’s fifth song to debut in first place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 'My Universe' was co-written by members from both the bands, formulating a distinct dance-pop concoction of Korean and English sentimentalities which enabled the song to transcend linguistic and sonic boundaries, ultimately crafting a fluid realm overflowing with the intensity of a seemingly forbidden love that seeks to overcome all the narrow-minded hindrances obstructing its pathway. The song resonates with the colossal trove of BTS’ interwoven musical messaging and legacy by advocating for boundless love and acceptance, made prominent through an intergalactic backdrop in the music video as the songsters pranced around in their hologram avatars, and jovial aliens twirled along; 'My Universe' is a part of Coldplay’s ninth studio album, "Music of the Spheres" which consists of an overarching celestial theme. The collaboration between BTS and Coldplay is hardly an artistic anomaly, given their shared proclivity for introspective lyricism and thoughtful, inward-looking musical philosophies.

The Mellow Heartache of Jin’s Voice in 'The Astronaut'

The concept photographs leading up to the release of 'The Astronaut' seem to capture the trajectory of his extraterrestrial voyage as they have featured Jin against a starry background, and another set of pictures has stylised him as a moodily pensive and sexy grunge icon, hinting at the phenomena of Lunar Eclipse; ultimately, a contrasting slew of images showcase a freckled Jin clad in vivid attire, surrounded by bubbles and sporadic bursts of vibrant hues, thereby announcing his arrival on planet Earth. Fan theories have ranged from connections to Jin’s Map of the Soul: 7 solo track, 'Moon' to speculations about the song’s linkage to the fictional planet, Supersolis, created by Coldplay for their album "Music of the Spheres" and the song’s symbolic ode to BTS’ globe-spanning ARMY fandom. The song attained the first position on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 97 regions across the world within 24 hours of its release. On 28th October local time, Jin performed 'The Astronaut' with Coldplay at their Buenos Aires, Argentina concert for the first time.

BTS Jin for 'The Astronaut' “Lunar Eclipse” Concept Photos from bts.bighitofficial on Instagram

BTS Jin for 'The Astronaut' “Land on Earth” Concept Photos from bts.bighitofficial on Instagram

'The Astronaut' is a very quintessential Jin track because it bears the softer, rose-tinted afterimage that he is often associated with and although Coldplay’s influence is nearly palpable in the song, it never overpowers the wonder-drenched, clear-eyed innocence of Jin’s presence. The heart-touching instrumental arrangement of the dynamically pop-rock ballad upraises the gentle cadence of Jin’s voice. His voice possesses an expansive emotive range, and is coloured with nostalgia; Jin’s lower register is accompanied by the familiar synth-based sound of Coldplay and both the elements seamlessly slither into each other in 'The Astronaut'.

Laced with simplistic romanticism, the lyrics of the song, such as the lines, “When I'm with you/ There is no one else/ I get heaven to myself” hint at an inexorable bond between the singer and the muse and this fervent declaration is reminiscent of his Map of the Soul: 7 solo track, 'Moon', as both the pieces of music are dedicated to BTS’ ARMY fandom. In the BTS inventory of musical lore and storytelling, Jin has exhibited his prowess in melodic mythmaking by associating himself with the 'Moon', and downplaying his stature by deeming himself as a mere satellite whilst the ARMY fandom has been designated as his Earth, the focal point of his existence and the sole recipient of his attention; the song depicts Jin as a faraway guardian, always watching over his loved ones and is almost paternal in his protectiveness and affection for the ARMY, with a promise for an everlasting bond, through the lyrics, “I will be by your side/ More brightly in the dark night.”

'The Astronaut' retains the stellar tradition of writing space-coded, love-filled postcards to the ARMY, especially tangible in parts like, “You and me/ a history that will never end /Oh, the story of ‘us’ that became my universe” and “Just as the Milky Way shines upon the darkest roads/ you were shining towards me.” The track has been co-written with Coldplay, with the specific goal to say goodbye to the fandom ceremoniously and in the most delicate manner: with his looming military enlistment, the track is showcased and perceived as an intimate moment of vow renewal between Jin and the ARMY; for 'The Astronaut', unmistakably, is meant to caress and comfort the fans and most importantly, shed light on the all-conquering relationship between the muse (the ARMY fandom) and the singer before the temporary, albeit inevitable separation, occurs.

The classic Coldplay-ish spacious rock foreground allows Jin’s crescendos to soar monumentally when he lucidly declares, “I love you” in the emotion-heavy concluding part of the tune, complemented by Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin’s sporadic backing vocalisations. The soundscapes of 'The Astronaut' swell with vibrations and are laden with bass; the chorus becomes increasingly heart-wrenching with each listen. The tear-inducing, bittersweet aura of the song is overwhelmingly indelible because of the vulnerability of Jin’s yearning-stained voice as it makes the fleetingness of the moment resound through each and every verse.

진 (Jin) 'The Astronaut' Official MV on YouTube

'The Astronaut' is a testament to Jin’s ever-sharpening skills, both as a vocalist and as a songwriter; there is a smooth liquidity to his cascading voice in the song, and a momentum is built, line by line, that he can maintain without sounding excessively breathy. In a post-release live session, Jin revealed that, originally, both the first and second verses of 'The Astronaut' were supposed to be in English, however, upon Martin’s insistence, Jin meticulously wrote the second verse in Korean as well. The bustle induced by Jin’s official solo debut has reignited interest in his previous solo album and standalone tracks, nudging them to the top of music charts across the world such as 'Epiphany', 'Awake' and even the viral, trot song 'Super Tuna', which are the paradigms of his cross-genre vocal and range versatility.

'The Astronaut': A Music Video with Visual Cues Lovingly Tucked In

In the music video for 'The Astronaut', the fans got to witness the much-desired actor persona of Jin and his enamouring visuals as he plays an alien who has been stranded on planet Earth and despite all its unfamiliarity, he finds himself firmly rooted in a sense of belongingness which is derived from his endearing friendship with a little girl next door, who is supposedly a visual motif for the ARMY and his recurring presence in her life crafts the imagery of a sincere promise and a token of reassurance for all those who would wait for him. The overflowing gratitude in his voice is perfectly encased in a dreamlike environment and the crossword puzzle that he is observed solving contains the words, “ARMY,” “FAMILY”, “MOON,” “STAR,” “COZY,” and “ASTRONAUT”, one of the many references to his ever-burgeoning fondness for the fandom.

진 (Jin) 'The Astronaut' Official MV on YouTube

Despite the poignant throb of an impending farewell swirling within the ballad, Jin’s voice gently cradles the listeners and lulls them into a homely milieu of safety in 'The Astronaut'.

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