Few knew what to expect from Jimin’s FACE, his first solo album exploring his artistry outside of BTS.
The BTS rap line (RM, SUGA, and J-Hope) already had 2–3 mixtapes/albums and several singles/collabs released by this point, so people had a general idea of what could come next.
The rap line also actively participates in writing, composing, and producing BTS songs so they had an established sound and fanbase.
Things were different for Jimin who neither has as many credits in BTS projects nor singles and external collaborations. So when he announced his first solo project, fans were curious about what he would create.
With FACE, Jimin not only expressed his individual creativity but also broke record after record, establishing his position as one of the most successful artists worldwide.
But what makes Jimin’s FACE so worthy of all the love and attention?
Jimin’s FACE album analyzed
Like the rap line, Jimin went the personal route with his album. The songs are raw and intimate with Jimin beautifully capturing the kaleidoscope of feelings and experiences he went through during the pandemic when his world, as a performer, came to a standstill.
On Suchwita, SUGA’s show, Jimin revealed he felt lost and confused during this period and turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. That’s why the initial songs feature themes of wanting to take the pressure off and escape problems by drinking.
Like Crazy, one of the most well-received tracks on the album, dives deep into this concept with lyrics and a music video showing his desperation to drink the pain away and hold on to the hazy, alcohol-fueled fantasy.
As the lyrics say:
I’d rather be
Lost in the lights
I’m outta my mind
Can you help me numb the pain?
No, don’t you wake me
I wanna stay in this dream, don’t save me
Don’t you try to save me
I need a way we can dream on
While Like Crazy explores the upbeat, “high” feeling masking the pain, the next track, Alone, is an honest look into the inner strife you start feeling again once the alcohol wears off.
It’s the most personal yet relatable song with Jimin finally addressing everything he’d rather not talk about. It’s like maybe the alcohol helped you open up or you realize you can’t keep drinking your problems away so you’re eventually ready to FACE them.
An interesting element here is that the song starts with an alarm clock, signaling it’s time to finally wake up from the fantasy and open your eyes to the issues awaiting you.
This is followed by vulnerable lyrics. “I tried to run away,” he sings, adding painful revelations like:
- Why am I the only one like this?
- I pretend to be okay.
- How long do I have to endure this?
- I’m gradually losing myself.
- Mayday, get me out of here.
As Jimin finally works up the courage to confront his problems, he begins freeing himself from the need to escape and pretend everything’s okay. This is reflected powerfully in the next track, aptly titled Set Me Free Pt.2.
This is an anthem-like song calling you to break the shackles, to stop letting your own pain and other people’s opinions hold you back.
In the first half, Jimin sings, “Look at me now, even if it hurts, I don’t hide anymore.” In the second half, he says, “Look at me now, even if they ridicule me, I don’t stop.”
To drive the point home, he sings the phrase “set me free” over and over, which backed by the dramatic choir music and fierce choreography feels like an intense movie. We not only listen to, but also watch him rise above everything that was holding him down for so long.
While the digital album ends on this empowered note, Jimin goes a step further with the physical version, offering a hidden track, Letter.
This, as the name suggests, is a letter from him, created as a gift, specially for the fans as:
i) You can only find it in the physical album so only those supporting his work can access it.
ii) It references several past songs that only fans can understand.
Whichever song you end the album on, Jimin completes the narrative arc showing how he’s come out healed, feeling more at peace with himself and his life.
Like Agust D (BTS SUGA), Jimin found processing his feelings through music quite cathartic, and watching his journey unfold, we as listeners, can also find comfort and inspiration to FACE our demons.
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