A faithful Rediscovery of the Pop/Rock/Country Genres Told by the Music of BTS’ Jin

Written by: Giulia Campora

One of BTS’ main vocalists, Jin (full name Kim Seok-Jin), has released his second EP, titled “ECHO.” The songs showcase Jin’s beautiful vocals and prove that his talent is something that new listeners should take into consideration. Furthermore, there is a phenomenal blend of the Pop/Rock/Country genres present in each song of this EP, so fans and casual listeners are in for a rollercoaster ride of emotions during this listen!

The first track of this EP is the English single “Don’t Say You Love Me.” With a pop yet relaxing sound, Jin tells the story of a man who is heartbroken over his girlfriend, as the couple is on the verge of a messy break-up. As read in the first verse (lyrics provided by Genius), Jin explains how the man is always considering to leave this messed-up relationship, but his feelings for this girl bring him back to her: “I really thought I made up my mind/Hopped in the car and put it in drive/I tried to leave like a hundred times/But something's stopping me every time, oh-ho.”

In the pre-chorus, Jin continues to pour his heart out to the girl, telling what is happening between them, not sugarcoating it, as he shares, “Faking a smile while we're breaking apart/Oh, I never, never, never meant to take it this far/Too late to save me, so don't even start/Oh, you never meant to hurt me, but you're making it hard.”

The beat picks up slightly, and Jin’s breathtaking vocals/harmonies shine altogether, creating a catchy yet wonderful chorus, in which the BTS vocalist showcases a more painful side of his singing, stating that, “Don't tell me that you're gonna miss me/Just tell me that you wanna kill me/Don't say that you love me 'cause it hurts the most/You just gotta let me go.” 

In the second verse of the song, Jin continues to give a clear of his thoughts about this love story and how badly it’s currently ending, stating that, “I really thought this was for the best/It never worked last time that I checked//I got this pain stuck inside my chest/And it gets worse the further I get, oh-ho.”

The song progresses into the same pre-chorus and chorus from before, as the harmonies and high notes continue getting higher and more beautiful, creating a soothing feeling in the listener’s heart. The outro is a wonderful blend of high notes that is truly magical, and the music slowly dissolves beautifully.

The EP returns to Korean, with the second song titled “Nothing Without Your Love.” This is a cry of pain and sorrow from a girl after a breakup. Here, Jin begins the song with a powerful pop/ballad background sound and distinct/clear vocals (English translation lyrics provided by Genius) in the first verse, as he states that, “Even the reasons for my existence/I didn't know, but you completed me/When I met you, I realized.” 

In the pre-chorus of the song, Jin shares how he felt when he met the girl by sharing that, “In my empty world/When you, a stranger, approached me/Only then did it feel like I found myself/I'm nothing without your love.”

The powerful and wonderful chorus is seen as a dedication to the girl, but also to the BTS fanbase at the same time. Jin chooses to get more personal in his lyrics, sharing his feelings, by stating that, “I'm thinking 'bout you/I'm thinking 'bout me/In this endless, long night/Be my bright light/I'm nothing without your love/You are my life/You're all of me/In shining memories/Stay with me forever/I'm nothing without your love/I'm nothing without your love.”

The second verse of the song seems to point out more of that concept, his huge love for the BTS fanbase/the girl, as he continues confirming his feelings are true, stating that, “Whenever I wander in еndless darkness/You're likе the sunlight at the end of a tunnel/Brilliantly leading me.” 

The second pre-chorus is continuing the same pattern, as the BTS vocalist shares that the girl/his fans are his everything and reason to continue what he does, by stating that, “You are my everything/You are my reason/Falling deeper, falling on, and on, and on/I promise you, for me the world is only you/I'm nothing without your love.” 

As the last chorus of the song comes, listeners realize the song turns more into a dramatic ballad, as if the BTS vocalist is sending a message of love and support, with a truly wonderful blend of high notes and harmonies that soothe the listener. The outro ensures the song concludes with the statement “I’m Nothing Without Your Love,” as the background music fades away. 

The third song of this EP is the playful pop/rock song “Loser,” which is a collaboration between Jin and solo Korean female artist Yena (English translation lyrics from Genius). In this song, Jin and Yena seem to talk between themselves, telling each other how they feel about one another, how this will-they-won’t-they type of story is going to get tiring, and they will end up regretting losing one another.

The song begins with the second part of the song’s long and playful chorus, as the BTS vocalist explains how he feels towards the girl, stating that, “You love me, you miss me/You tell me/I'm beautiful/Baby, you need me/You don't wanna let me go/Love me, you miss me/You tell me I'm beautiful/Baby, you want me/Don't let me go, let me go.”

The song continues to merge into the first verse, as Jin continues explaining how this story is hurtful yet she will regret losing him, by stating that, “Like a habit, every time you/Spit out words to end things/You'll regret it/You can't leave me easily.” 

This song’s playful chorus comes in, as Jin points out how the love is stupid, and that both of them will end up losing one another for stupid reasons, with a powerful blend of harmonies and high notes that makes sure the listener is surprised and vibes to the catchy beat: “Oh, baby, that's stupid love/You base it all on me/It's all stupid, love/I'm too precious to lose/Like a loser

(Loser, loser, loser)/That's stupid, love/In the end, you'll regret losing me, oh, oh, oh.”

This continues in the second verse, where Yena makes her entrance, explaining her point of view in this story: “No matter what you say/It just sounds like noise, oh/Who was the one who liked me first?/I know that you know.”

The climax of the song culminates in the second chorus, bridge, and last chorus of the song, as it gives the listener the vibes of hearing an actual fight between the couple, as they try to prove who is right and who is wrong in this discussion, playfully pointing that out to one another with a blend of high notes and low once again. 

The outro of the song is Jin, stating once again, “You love me, you miss me/You tell me I'm beautiful/Baby you need me/I don't wanna let you go,” as the background music fades with a sudden jolt, playfully symbolizing Jin might have won this discussion. 

In the fourth song of the EP, Jin introduces himself to the country genre with the playful song “Rope It.” Here, Jin showcases his talent and potential as a country singer (English Translation by Genius). The song has a beginning with a horse neighing, which makes the song hilarious yet fantastic. In the first verse, Jin explains how he feels while dancing to this playful country beat, stating that, “The moment I leaped over with both feet (Oh-oh-oh-oh)/I danced high above the rope (Oh-oh-oh-oh)/My body takes over the goal/Just think of it easily/Alright.”

In the pre-chorus, Jin continues his journey into dancing to this country beat, by stating that, “Knowing when to give up/Is a basic of living/Making a choice/Is a feeling in the heart/The wavering inside me is dancin' in the light.”

The chorus flows playfully with a catchy beat, which wants to make the listener stand up, grab a cowboy hat, and begin dancing around. The BTS singer states that, “(When they go, when they go)/When they go low, we go high/Don't need no mess, we just fly/Because the feeling is good/Go as you feel/And spin the lasso 'round.”

The post-chorus is fantastic, as it plays with words with a catchy beat, ensuring the listener continues vibing with the song, without losing interest. Jin continues stating that, “Rope it, rope rope it, rope it/The time has comе/Rope it, rope rope it, ropе it/Throw it with all your might/Rope it, rope rope it, rope it/Pull it with all your might/Rope it, rope rope it, rope it (Oh-oh-oh-oh).”

In the second verse, Jin blends his vocals with the harmonies and high notes only he can do, stating that, “Among the two paths of life (Oh-oh-oh-oh)/When I step forward and waver (Oh-oh-oh-oh)/There's not any lingering attachment/There's not any regret/It's no help (no help).

After hearing the pre-chorus again, the bridge of the song comes in, as the background music comes to a slower pace, as the singer states, “We go/One, two, three, four/Stop for a moment/Five, six, seven, eight/Raise your voice/We go, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)/Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Hey-hey),” mimicking how a country dance/song begins. 

The last three songs of the EP can be considered ballads, one very similar to the other. Let’s start with the fifth song on the EP, the rock/alternative ballad titled “In The Clouds,” which was able to merge these two genres perfectly (English translation by Genius). Jin begins the song with with a catchy pop beat, as he states, “The clouds today hold all of me/Traveling the endless sky/The sunset's glow, this night where stars gleam/A small fluttering grows more and more/Standing alone at the edge of solitude/To me, who doesn't know where to go/In the cold, frozen silence/Your warm whisper, the voice that held me.”

Jin continues this enlightening discussion in the pre-chorus, stating that, “In the faint clouds/On the traces left behind/Is it what I left?/Or your raindrops?/We two, drifting/In the tranquil sky/Let's promise to drеam of bright days/Together, forevеr.” 

Jin can showcase all the pain and longing in the powerful first chorus, by stating that, “Will you disappear if I touch you clumsily?/I'm a frightened child/Let's create words of a promise/That will never fade/If the tears holding your sadness are rain/I'll gladly soak it all up, take it all/So that your pure white heart doesn't turn black/Just like the day we began.” 

In the second verse, Jin keeps describing how the girl’s touch feels and how he acts around her, stating that, “A soft voice whispering beside me/A gentle and warm touch offered/The trembling of my breath filled with excitement/This cozy flutter spreads more and more.”

In the second pre-chorus, which is treated like a bridge in this song, Jin goes back to that same pain and longing when she is not there, explaining that, “In faint memories/Embracing me/That longing touch/Is coloring me/On the traces left/At the end of the passing breeze/Quietly making me cry/Leading me with a small whisper.”

The rock sound of an electric guitar blends this genre with the ballad as the song becomes more dramatic and strong, with a raw second chorus that picks up the same lyrics as the first one. This song is simply a masterpiece, definitely one of my favorites in the EP.

In the sixth song of the EP, a wonderful ballad titled “Background,” Jin continues to showcase this mellow yet heartbroken feeling of a break-up (English Translation by Genius), showcasing how he suffers and how he tries to move on from the girl, but he simply can’t, not yet, after all. 

In the first verse, with a wonderful piano background music, the BTS singer describes how his life is continuing painfully without the girl he loves, stating that, “I still live there/In the season when your whole world was me/The words I repeat alone/If I could go back, what would I say?/Even if I call you/It echoes back and hurts me again/Even waiting/I try to convince myself it's love, ooh.” 

The song merges into a powerful chorus, which blends Jin’s high notes and soothing vocals, bringing the listener into how he truly feels, the pain, the longing of having that relationship back, but he can’t get back to her again. The BTS singer states that, “This pitch-black night with no stars/Onto the stage with the lights off/Remaining like a late afterimage/I'm still wandering/Maybe in another place, another time/If I could turn it back/Would I be by your side then?/Me, waiting for you, I'll be here in the background.” 

In the second verse, Jin continues explaining how the story of the two of them was beautiful, but it broke down painfully, as now he feels lost without her, stating that, “Painted with different colors/Dreams that mingled as we became stained by each other/The fact that they're gradually being forgotten/Sometimes it feels like I'm going crazy, but I still choose you/Everything to you/My traces that have become the past, all worn out/Even waiting/It's become quite bearable, thinking it's love.” 

The one-word post-chorus (“Here in the background (Oh)”)  brings the music to a slow down for a second, giving the possibility for Jin to hit a high note that gives chills to the listener, as the song goes back to the powerful chorus once again to conclude the song with a slow pop background track, as it fades away slightly. 

In the last song of the EP, titled “To Me, Today,” Jin gives a healthy and wonderful conclusion to the toxicity of that relationship, giving a message to himself (and the listener) to continue living this life in the best way possible, despite all the heartbreak and difficulties life makes people come across (English translation by Genius). 

In the first verse of this song, with a catchy yet resolute pop ballad beat, Jin explains how he feels better than yesterday, and aims to feel fulfilled emotionally once again someday, by stating that, “The sunlit morning/The scorched me of yesterday/Today's mayfly/One day I could fly/Useless thoughts/Don't be afraid/I'll leave it to/The me of tomorrow and go.”

In the pre-chorus, Jin gives a powerful message to the listener by stating that, “Come on, shake off your worries/Live in the present/Spread your shoulders and soar/This very moment.”

He continues that message in the chorus of the song, turning the message into something he tells to himself, to continue living with joy as much as he can, by stating that, “Let's leave, up above the sky/Trusting myself/I fly, to where my heart leads/I fly, throwing myself/This once-in-a-lifetime moment/Open my heart/Today's me (The one), spread my wings (The one)/Now I fly to where my heart beats.” 

In the second verse, Jin brings back the message to himself, sharing how he will “Shine a light under the starlight/Ignite a flame deep in my heart/What a life, what a life/My heart burns brightly.” 

After a reprise of the post-chorus and chorus, the song comes to a slight slower pace that culminates with a high note, showcasing the talent of Jin once again, as he states that, “I will do everything I want/Live the day I most want to live/Remember this very moment that will never come again.”

With the powerful chorus being back, Jin’s high notes and blending of magical harmonies make the song even more beautiful and emotional, as the song concludes softly. 

To conclude, this EP is impeccable, showcasing once again Jin’s talent in delivering powerful emotions with his vocals, as seen in his previous first EP, “Happy.” This EP is highly recommended to listen, since the singer is going on a short world tour throughout the summer, hitting cities such as Anaheim, Newark, or London, for example. So, do yourself a favor, listen to this EP, and go see SeokJin’s live, because he will deliver a great show for sure.