Jimin’s ‘Muse’: Every Song Ranked

A very cool musical moment to introduce the listener to the “Smeraldo Marching Band” (which we’ll officially meet later in the album), the interlude gets the last rank because it’s just over a minute that deprives us of Jimin’s flawless vocals on his solo album. Still, it’s a compelling artistic choice and reminiscent of how Christina Aguilera introduced the second disc on her Back to Basics double album with “Enter the Circus,” a similarly carnival-inspired, spoken-word interlude.

Longtime ARMY fans know the mysterious Smeraldo flowers came into the BTS universe in 2017 around the band’s breakthrough Love Yourself: Her era. Jimin introduced his Muse era with the pre-release buzz track “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” as a simple, feel-good ode to love to set the tone for his forthcoming solo record. The playful rhythmical production with pitched-up vocal samples is a sharp contrast to “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” an ominous opus that introduced Jimin’s first solo record, Face, last year to establish the brighter place the star finds himself today.

With the track’s bright and bouncy nature, Jimin sounds positively excitable, delivering lyrics like, “Mmm I love you, babe…/ I want you, babe/ I wanna hold your hands” — the last line marking just one example of the track taking inspiration from The Beatles and their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Korean rapper Loco seamlessly slides into the second verse to bring a global update to an iconic album and musical era.

Jimin opens Muse with an intimate gospel-inspired ambiance to signify his “Rebirth” on this new record. The intro track’s introspective dialogue (“If I’m trying to be special/ Can I get closer to you?”) ignites the romantic tone that underscores the album’s focus on love and personal growth. Jimin’s yearning for connection, and using it as a means for self-improvement through love, shines to make the introductory track a heartfelt prelude to the album’s deeper themes. The song closes with him singing, “I will be special all for you/ Special just for you…I wanna be with you” over the hums of a choir.

After Jimin released one of 2023’s best and biggest-selling K-pop albums with Face, the superstar closed his remarkable year with this sweet, fan-dedicated song telling listeners: “Anytime you want me, I’ll be/ Right here where you call me, I’ll be/ I can never let you go” just after he enlisted for his mandatory military duties as a heartfelt gift during the time away.

A soothing blend of what sounds like acoustic guitar mixed into a subtle hip-hop beat, “Closer Than This” closes out Muse as its final track by nicely wrapping up the overall sentiments of affection and intimacy across the album for a warm, final message for fans to hold on to as they anticipate Jimin’s return in less than a year.

From the unexpected collaborator in Sofia Carson to a dazzling saxophone flourish at the end, “Slow Dance” is a delightful duet delivering a sweet surprise at the halfway point of Muse. Jimin’s signature feathery high notes intertwine with Carson’s whispery, slightly raspy vocals (which sound as if she recorded them with Jimin in mind) to create a dreamy atmosphere. With soft and sentimental melodies and a refreshing R&B groove, the track showcases new facets of both artists’ music palettes for both a calming and captivating listen.

Another bold, musical departure with Latin and Afrobeat inspirations, “Be Mine” could have easily served as the main single of Muse — or even a BTS track, given the many genre and style shifts throughout it.

With confident and seductive lyrics (like “I know what you want, and baby, I want the same” or “Baby, come/ Show me what, show me what love is”), Jimin embraces a more mature expression of love on the standout track. His vocal performance is undeniably commanding over the sultry, rhythmic production and will undoubtedly be one of the top tracks fans look forward to seeing live one day.

Jimin made Billboard chart history when “Like Crazy” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a first-of-its-kind achievement for Korean-pop artists. With the lead single of Muse, “Who” sees the superstar once again breaking new ground with his first-ever solo English single. From the verses in his lower register to drawn-out falsetto belts, the single pushes Jimin’s vocal limits throughout an emotive performance. It makes for one of the most compelling listens in pop this year.

With clear sonic inspirations from the ’00s productions of the Neptunes and Timbaland, “Who” reminds listeners of the global superstar Jimin has become. Co-produced by and supported with background vocals from Jon Bellion (who is known for crafting successful crossover tracks with other K-pop artists like Jackson Wang, Rosé and BTS’ other Hot 100 chart-topper Jung Kook), “Who” expresses both romantic longing as Jimin sings, “Want to give her the world and so much more,” as well as and confusion, asking: “If I every day I think about her, yeah every day of my life/ Then tell me why I haven’t found her?” Overall, the song best encapsulates the range of romance dissected on Muse while exemplifying how far Jimin has come as an increasingly fuller artist.