On turning 30 and 'The Astronaut': BTS Jin's new single is a sign of growth and a new mission
As a fellow 30-year-old, this single hits me hard the most
(BigHit Music)
At BTS’s concert in Busan earlier this month, member Jin dropped a bombshell.
“And here’s something to share with you. I have a new album coming out. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just a single,” he told fans while on stage.
The news came just two days before the group announced all members of BTS would enlist in mandatory military service, with Jin being the first.
That’s why Jin’s new single “The Astronaut” feels extremely meaningful to fans at this moment.
I've always felt a deep connection to Jin, being that we were both born in 1992 and we turn 30 years old this year. Despite our wildly different lives, I can’t help but feel we are in a similar stage in life. It's also not lost on me that we both lost the final years of our 20s during the pandemic.
He could have had a world tour with fans before enlisting in the military. In my late 20s, I had personally hoped to finally travel the world and explore my roots further in Hong Kong after years and years of precarious work.
It seems strange to say this, but in my period of loneliness during the pandemic, I found myself growing up with Jin. As many millennials often feel, we always want more time and more experience.
Entering our 30s means it's time to take on more grown up responsibilities. It hits harder knowing us ‘92 liners will be older, wiser and a little different when BTS reconvenes group activities in 2025.
My affinity for Jin goes beyond the fact that we’re the same age. I’ve always been taken by his drive to be perfect and work hard for things he’s achieved.
In 2011, Jin was last to be scouted as a BigHit trainee while walking on the street. At the time, he was studying acting, with no background in music whatsoever.
In interviews, Jin is always first to admit that choreography does not come naturally to him, practicing into the wee hours of the night just to get it right. Some have described him as the “weakest voice of BTS”. But actually, BTS’s former vocal coach Kim Seung Eun said Jin was the easiest member to train. “I swear I knew it,” she said of his voice.
(BigHit Music)
The truth is, it takes a lot of natural talent, determination and dedication to be a K-pop idol. And yet, people don’t nearly give Jin the same amount of attention as his other members. There are a number of Reddit threads dedicated to how he is a “weak singer” “and the most untalented member of BTS.” It does nothing to highlight all the other things Jin has to offer.
Though he is by no means underrated due to BTS’s worldwide popularity, I think Jin is the most under-appreciated member of the band. When I first became a fan of the group, he was one of the first who caught my eye due to his handsome looks. Personality wise, he is by far one of the funniest and outgoing members of the group. He’s also a very good actor (as seen on variety shows), but has not had the opportunity to perform in a drama or movie.
Now with “The Astronaut”, Jin is finally getting the pop boy treatment he deserves.
The song is a single co-written by Jin and Coldplay, the British band who also collaborated with BTS on “My Universe.”
“The Astronaut” is also produced by Max Martin and Kygo, rounding out the mega talent involved in making the song. Martin has produced major hits for the likes of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera and Usher. Kygo on the other hand, has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including Selena Gomez, Diplo and Coldplay.
The song has been described as a “gift to ARMY”, but I can’t help but think it’s also a gift to his BTS members and himself.
“When I’m with you, there is no one else. I get heaven to myself,” Jin sings.
The music video is full of subtle references of his love for ARMY and the members of BTS. For instance, a tattoo on his neck says “ARMY” in Braille.
Throughout the video, he’s seen helping a little girl learn how to ride a bike. I can’t help but wonder if this is a reference to him raising his BTS members as the eldest “hyung” of the group. I also see it as a shout-out to growing older with his fans, as he debuted at the age of 20.
The video ends with Jin heading off to an unknown place in the distance, but then ends up back home, which is where he started at the beginning of the music video. It’s a metaphor of his next mission in life as he heads off to the military. But also a promise that he’ll always return.
Jin is known for his emotion and musicality in his solo songs, which often deal with themes of self-love and feeling lost. “The Astronaut” is no different. It’s like a send off to his next mission in life.
When it’s time for him to come back from military, I hope he gets more opportunities to shine in whatever he wants to do next. Until then, it’s not a goodbye, but a “See you later!”
Bbyong!
Sam
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I love this release and everything it symbolizes. As he closes this chapter and starts anew, I can't help but also think of the Magic Shop lyrics - "you gave me the best of me... so you'll give you the best of you." We'll always be cheering you on, Jin!