With the rumours and speculations about the upcoming debut Jungkook solo album rife in media, there’s no way going around the pop singer’s name nowadays. Ever since the BTS members have kick-started the era of their solo releases outside of their pre-existing work with the group, fans of the group have simply been counting down each one of them to complete the septet’s roster. Till now, J-Hope, RM, Jimin and Suga have already dealt out their solo debuts, which leaves the last three members – Jin, V aka Taehyung and Jungkook.

As Jin completes his mandatory military service, it seems that his album would be the last one to drop before the seven rounds are completed for good. Earlier, it appeared as if Taehyung’s album would release before the youngest member’s record. However, things seemed to have taken a surprising turn as Korean media outlets are now spreading the word about Jungkook’s solo debut, also being referred to as JJK1, reportedly launching on July 14, 2023, instead, i.e. preceding V’s solo debut.

While BigHit Music is yet to lay down facts about the musical event of year, no confirmations from the music label have made their way out. So, even though, we’re yet to find out whether JJK1 (and news of the following global promotions) will be revealed this July or not, we can still count on his previously solo songs that got us hooked on the very first listen itself. (This list will not be including any of his cover songs, rather only his original ones)

Jungkook Solo Songs That You Need to Revisit Before JJK1 Drops

Left and Right With Charlie Puth

Among the few dream collaborations that Jungkook had been hoping to participate in, this one with Charlie Puth was not just his own dream come true, but also set the bar high among his fans. The song came out in 2022, but still continues to break its own trailblazing records every day, almost as if the track’s title been plastered on top of the Twitter trends for good. It’s an upbeat pop song, and despite it being a single on Puth’s album, he accords Jungkook with equal respect, command and screen time. The upbeat pop track’s MV features both the singers at par level and it’s more than obvious that it wouldn’t have been the same without Jungkook’s presence.

Begin

It all really did Begin with this track right here. The 2016 BTS album Wings was definitely ahead of its time, and is still remembered as one of the best musical works put out by the South Korean band despite them having released so many other albums, singles and projects in the world in the past few years. That album also officially accorded enough space to each member of the members to spread their wings on their own.

Begin stands in as Jungkook’s solo track on the album, and it chronicles his journey of having left his hometown Busan as a young boy. The lyrics of the track put up a mirror to his thoughts at the time that expressed how vulnerable he felt against the big world around him, yet it all changed as soon as he met the then rookies, now fellow bandmates and brothers. The subsequent lyrics of the pop number unravel how he “discovered emotions” and “became me” upon meeting his brothers, and if they’re ridden by sickness, it hurts him more than his own ailments.

Euphoria

Euphoria almost works it way in as the follow-up chapter to Begin. Featured on the 2018 Love Yourself: Answer, this track allows him to chart out his coming of age story. His raw emotions about how the BTS ARMY had helped him reached this point of success in his life come across in the chorus hook. Described as an art-pop track with future bass inclinations, this is still one of Jungkook’s most popular solo tracks that made the fans sing along with him during his majestic airborne performance at the group’s concerts.

Stay Alive Prod Suga of BTS

As hauntingly comforting this song is, its beauty is the combined result of the musical geniuses of Jungkook and Suga. The former alone participates in performing the track that was featured on the 7 Fates: Chakho webtoon OST. The cinematic sounding slow tempo pop ballad affirms its identity as a soundtrack single, especially due to Jungkook’s airy vocal transitions. Since Suga stepped in as the producer of the track, even he admitted later that he was taken aback (positively) by how well the younger member had done to record to song while emphasising upon it heart-wrenching lyrics.

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My Time

For the 2020 Map of the Soul 7 solo track, the BTS maknae rose up to the occasion and helped composed the track alongside the group’s leader and other crew members. Considering many K-pop artists who start out young and miss out on their innocent share of a personal childhood, Jungkook’s song draws a parallel between his life and a movie. Expressing his struggles about the world racing by, the singer goes on to speak about feeling uncertain, yet he doesn’t forget to articulate his gratitude to the fans either.

Still With You

Released as a solo self-composed surprise as part of the BTS 2020 FESTA celebrations, Jungkook uses Still With You, a song perfect for the romantic rainy season, as a medium to serenade his fans. The lyrics of the song consolidate the give-and-take relationship established between him as an artist and his fans, forging a two-way street of trust and comfort. Despite the varying themes he’s articulated through his songs, Jungkook has never missed a beat in always including something about the fans in his original songs.

Decalcomania Demo

Hopes of this unreleased song being on the Jungkook solo album have been reignited. In 2019, on the occasion of birthday, he rather presented the fans with a gift – the demo version of a full English track. As many BTS songs have previously tackled this subject, Jungkook’s solo song again beautifully dealt with the two different sides of his personality – the perfect persona that he has to put on in order to impress the whole world in front of him, and the more vulnerable flip side that resides within.

Dreamers

Leading the FIFA World Cup is no trivial deal, but BTS Jungkook knows his way around to hold the audience down by his captivating stage presence. As part of the 2022 QATAR FIFA World Cup soundtrack, Dreamers came to the top as a festive track that fit the football fever and energy like a glove. His song serves its purpose as a sports anthem, and gets you instantly pumped up with its optimistic welcoming qualities.

My You

Following the release of the BTS anthology album Proof, Jungkook again presented a love letter to the fans in the form of the BTS FESTA 2022 surprise, much like his older serenade Still With You. Titled as a “song for ARMY”, the Euphoria singer promised through this song that he’d never fret from making added efforts to make his fans feel proud of him.

Are you ready to witness BTS Jungkook take off into the world as a soloist? Let us know your favourite solo track released by the BTS ‘maknae’ in the comments section below.

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