#Jimin_FACE_MUSE

[jimin-bangtan]

Jimin’s FACE & MUSE or FACE vs. MUSE

I’ve been reading different comments about how people feel about FACE and MUSE or FACE versus MUSE and a few thoughts came to me. First, I am not countering the way anyone feels about them because art exists so that people can interpret it through their own lenses and feel or see what it means to them, even if no one else shares that viewpoint.  I am only thinking through my thoughts about the albums and some comments I’ve seen.

I will always be disappointed that FACE (and Jimin) didn’t get a fair shot at a clean debut. Some readers may have moved on right after reading that line, and that’s okay.  We can agree to disagree. Or not.  With those people now gone, I hope anyone who continues hears me out. There is a reason for bringing that up here, but I’m not bashing or blaming other members. In fact, I don’t even plan to mention other members about that at all because it’s not about them or that. Trust me. It matters to the topic, and I hope you’ll understand better as we go.

The situation for solo work was rather new to BigHit and Hybe, especially regarding BTS.  The companies had to learn just like the members did.  They seemed to have made a promotion plan that didn’t quite work out as well as it should have, but they ultimately made adjustments, and circumstances improved in some ways. There is still room for growth but at least changes were seen.  They also made a plan about how strongly they would support each artist, and I feel they did that wrong too.  Well, overall, we can’t turn back time to see how things would have gone differently had they managed the first debuts better.  We can only live life forward, as I always say.  MUSE did get better promotional support than FACE and received the streams, radio play, and achievements accordingly.  It is just worth it to explain one reason the 2 albums’ results look significantly different as I’m discussing both albums. The difference in their achievements is not due to one album being better than the other. I feel their results may have been more equal, or possibly even reversed, had the promotions been equally done.

Many say FACE was the better album because of its honest, gritty revelations. I also prefer FACE to MUSE - but not by much - and NOT because I feel it is more intense or honest than MUSE.  That was one of my problems about some of the comments I’ve read.  I feel being miserable is not Jimin’s only way to show intense and honest emotions. 

FACE and MUSE were written at the same time.  Both of them were important to Jimin and both of them were honest and intense, in my opinion.  They were supposed to be on the same LP album but were only separated due to how contrasting the moods were for each set of songs. One was dark and about unhappy, heavier circumstances, while the other was lighter and about happier, charming themes. I feel Jimin shared intense, important feelings in FACE, and I feel he shared intense and important feelings in MUSE.  He co-wrote most of the music and lyrics for both albums.  

I also feel in both situations Jimin was talking about things that were real and important to him but was being artistic in how much information he chose to share and in the tone of how he wanted or needed to share it. For example, if you read my Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (SGMB) post, I explained my view that the video was intended to be light, and even comedic, but was actually filled with a serious message. Like with BTS, information can be written in a poetic and artistic way so that it creates a mood that is intended. BTS could be singing about something dark and serious, but the music is danceable and catchy. As an only English speaker, I didn’t find out what the deeper meaning of songs were until I got the translations, and I was sometimes surprised about how intense or deep the sentiments were based on the melody and rhythm of the music.  That is why I feel some people miss the message Jimin was expressing through MUSE and dismiss it as a silly, unimportant album, especially when compared to FACE.  I venture to say that many awards committees and media venues will overlook MUSE for the same reason. FACE was often overlooked due to the promotion issue mentioned early.

If you read my Man of Messaging post, you will see that I have already expressed that I feel Jimin is saying a lot through his clothes, tattoos, dance, lyrics, melodies, etc. He is not someone who takes emotions or communications lightly.  He is consistent with what he has shared and is sharing, and those who get it, do, and those who don’t either will enjoy it as simply performance or will dismiss it as meaningless. Do so at your own peril. Jimin has things to say, and as an artist he can choose many ways to say them.  He said in one of his photoshoot sketches for MUSE (linked to the mark) that he hoped people would misunderstand some of the messages, and it appears he was successful for those people who don’t realize how significant the meanings were for MUSE in the same way they were for FACE.  

Mission accomplished, Jimin -  for those people complaining about MUSE’s lack of sincerity or depth. The rest of us got it. Interpretations are still in progress, but we know Jimin puts a lot of time, attention, and meaning into his work, regardless. 

Jimin always surprises the public and even those who know him personally.  He likes revealing different looks, singing in different tones, creating different sounding songs, and doing different styles of dances and performances. I love that he isn’t afraid to experiment, and he writes what he wants to write and how he wants to write it. He creates the stages and choreography that he envisions in order to delight and entertain.  He’s. Your. Fil. Ter.😉 (If interested, see my indirect Filter post.)

Jimin is always growing and trying new things as Tae said during Festa 2020 (linked to the mark). He said that Jimin was basically “in charge” of bringing surprises to the group as well. In other words, even those close to him aren’t always sure what to expect with his next move.

In his behind the scenes video for the making of MUSE songs, when Jimin was recording Closer Than This, he said to the engineer that he knew when he sang “My Love, My Baby” it sounded a little cringy (linked to the mark). He laughed and said but he was okay with that and liked it, and it was left in the song, which is partially a fan song. (Yes, I said partially. Read my CTT post if you care to know why I said that.) If Jimin has a message, he will include it, regardless of what others may feel. 

MUSE had a different tone and feeling than FACE.  Jimin had explained that for neither album was he going for charts and awards. He shared that he initially wanted to release FACE for free, just to express himself through song and perhaps reach someone who’d understand or who needed to hear the message. I feel the songs for MUSE were written for the same reasons: He wanted to express himself and perhaps if someone else needed to hear the message that would be great too.

As producer PDogg said (linked to mark) in the same making of MUSE songs video, SGMB team was a band that was created  “for those who aren’t able to express their love themselves”.  PDogg was sharing Jimin’s vision of the song with Loco. It wasn’t an empty album. Jimin had things to say, for himself and for others, and, in my opinion, he expressed himself as loudly in MUSE as he did in FACE. IYKYK.

Anyway, I wanted to think through that in my writing. Whether you agree or disagree, I hope it inspired some thoughts about Jimin and his work.  That is always a wish and hope for my writing about BTS and Jimin. I think they hope their art and lives serve as inspiration of some kind. For anyone who still wants to know my thoughts about what I feel MUSE may mean, see my MUSE post, where I share why I think it is a more complex album than it may appear.  (If interested, my FACE post too.)

Borahae!

💜

[jimin-bangtan]

Jimin’s Daesang Win → SMF, Pt 2 Connection

Image originally posted by Ask-Serendipity-Sky

Jimin recently won the Fans' Choice of the Year daesang (grand prize) award at the 2024 MAMA ceremony. This award, formerly known as the Worldwide Icon of the Year award, has only previously been won by a group and has been won by his own group (BTS) for the past 6 years. Jimin is the first soloist to win this prestigious award.

The last soloist to win a daesang award of any category, a decade ago, was Taeyang of Big Bang, who fans know is an idol that Jimin admired and eventually got to work with on the successful collaboration song, Vibe, in early 2023.  It was Taeyang's first entry at all on the Billboard Hot100 chart, and it was Jimin's first as a soloist - but it was not Jimin’s last solo appearance.  He went on to have at least 5 more entries up to this point, including the very first #1 by a K-soloist in history. Since then, Jimin has earned countless other historic and record-breaking achievements as a soloist and is continuing to do so at the time of this writing. 

It is impressive, and a bit sad, that Jimin earned this fan-voted award while away, serving his mandatory military duty for his country, so he was not able to accept the award in person. He was also not present to promote his extremely successful, current solo album, MUSE, although he worked very hard to leave promotional material behind to be used in his absence. It is also worth noting that all of these Billboard solo achievements were done with very little opportunity for Jimin to promote his work fully - for a variety of reasons. 

I have often said not to count out a determined Park Jimin.  If Jimin makes a plan, envisions a dream, or states a vow, he is one who has shown that he will do whatever he can to try to make sure it comes to pass. With all this said, I think it is a good time to remind everyone of the lyrics of Jimin’s favorite song from his debut solo album, FACE - Set Me Free, Part 2.   (As an aside: I think it should already have gotten 1 billion streams.) 

While you read the lyrics and rewatch the video, think of all that Jimin has been through and how hard he has worked, which inspired him to make the declarations in this song. Then consider the daesang award he has just received.  Jimin truly set himself free and lit his path as a soloist on fire.🔥🔥🔥

Written by GHSTLOOP, Pdogg, Jimin, Supreme Boi Translation by DoolsetBangtan

SET ME FREE, PART 2

PDogg called it. IYKYK.

**If you're up for a long read and want a reminder of Jimin's journey up to this point, feel free to read my Chameleon Park Jimin Series, parts 1-4.