Jin of BTS has finally made his solo debut with “The Astronaut!” But with the happiness, also comes the tears, as we realize that this will mark the beginning of the end of Jin’s promotions this year as he gears up for enlistment for South Korea’s mandatory military service.

The track serves as the second collaboration between Coldplay and the BTS member, the first being “My Universe”. It is said that Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, gifted the track to Jin, who then participated in writing the lyrics.

Defying expectations, “The Astronaut” is an indie, post-Britpop era rock song with pop-rock influences. Many had expected a ballad, as it’s the norm for male Korean idols to leave their fans with one before enlistment. In fact, the best way to describe this track is simply “Coldplay-ish;” the British rock band’s musical signature shines so prominently that it’s impossible to miss.

The song makes clever use of modern production technology by creating a soundscape with synths, reverb, and panning, creating a three-dimensional listening experience. Gang vocals by Chris Martin, his son Moses Martin, and James Keys also help to create this sense of the unending vastness of the universe, where things are both close and far away.

Looking closer at the lyrics, “the Astronaut” seems to be written about both the other BTS members and ARMY (BTS’s fanbase). This is a part of the first verse of the song.

You and me
끝나지 않을 history
Oh, 나의 우주가 돼 준
우리의 이야기
목적지 없이 흘러가는 저 소행성처럼
나도 그저 떠내려가고 있었어

Trans: You and me. An unendin' history
Oh, you became my universe. The story of us
Like that asteroid driftin' by without a destination.
I, too, was just driftin' along

Jin here could be paying tribute to the members who found each other and created unimaginable success and happiness for him. Similarly, as someone who has always expressed his love for ARMY, the lyrics no doubt are a gift of gratitude to his fans who have supported him for the past 9 years and going.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6ASQOwKkhk

The music video was shot in the United States, and, true to its filming location, also closely resembles a Western production. I personally found the running-down-the-lane scene hilarious for how much it appears in western music video productions, especially the angsty ones.

Jin himself has explained the intentions behind the video in an interview:

We filmed it in the US. You can see me making a crash landing on Earth. And it’s about me from another planet wandering in space and making a crash landing on Earth. Now I have to go back to my home planet. It’s a music video about the journey of an astronaut who decided to stay on Earth with loved ones and precious things.

Fans have further interpreted the video and found a few easter eggs along the way. The other main character in the video is the little girl, presumably the daughter of the family that took Jin in after getting stranded on earth.

Because of her purple accessories, and Jin’s nurturing nature towards her, many immediately made the connection that the girl must be a symbol for ARMY. One fan also reminded us that the girl could also double as a stand-in for the other BTS members since Jin is the oldest in the group.

One fan found easter eggs in the room that Jin resides in that allude to the other BTS members. One other found similarities in how the only truck that stopped for Jin was a pickup truck; which, surprise, surprise, is none other than the vehicle that Jin drove the members around in in the HYYH trilogy.

One last easter egg, Chris Martin also makes a cameo in the video, under the disguise of a newscaster. A poster of Coldplay also appears to be hanging on the wall.

Let us wish Jin all the best to come, and show him that we’ll be here for him when he returns by giving his solo debut all the love and support it deserves!

Check out “The Astronaut” on all streaming platforms and read the lyrics and translations for Jin’s discography here on Genius.

Follow Jin on Instagram for regular updates about his music. For other platforms, follow BTS’s official Twitter, and HYBE’s YouTube accounts.

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