[Review] Running Wild – JIN (BTS)

I only started covering the week’s newest releases yesterday, yet I am now jumping to the end of the week to cover JIN’s official solo comeback, Running Wild. This new song is featured on his first solo studio album, Happy, which makes him the final BTS member to release a solo album. Previously, JIN pre-released the single I’ll Be There and made his solo debut with The Astronaut back in 2022.

I never anticipated a full English track from JIN. So that aspect of Running Wild caught me by surprise. Neither did I expect a Britpop song from the BTS member, but I had no expectations as to what genre we would find JIN delving into for this solo comeback. Running Wild is a pleasant song, breezy and airy for the entirety of its run. The band instrumental is great, and I liked the uptick in its upbeatness during the chorus. Definitely makes for a gratifying track. Running Wild features some inviting and comforting vocals from JIN, which was great in helping Running Wild deliver its message of running towards hope and love. I do prefer his delivery in the verses more than the choruses, as you can hear his vocal colours and tone in those parts of the song. He handles the choruses’ falsettos just fine, but they do hide JIN’s distinct vocals. Also, I wish there was some stronger melodies and hooks, just to give Running Wild some more compelling moments to remember it by. In my mind, this was the primary issue for Running Wild. Pleasant, breezy and airy is all good and nice, but Running Wild is another song that just doesn’t linger around after it ends.

The music video opens up with a meteor shower. While the rest of the world panics and run, JIN is calm and collected. He ends up going in the opposite direction, opting for a roadtrip with his canine companion. He is definitely riding out the apocalyptic event in the way he wants to. He also drives by a family reuniting, indicating the path he is taking is one of hope and love, just like the message he conveys in the song’s lyrics. The whole montage at the end with JIN swerving his car to avoid the meteors as they hit the Earth was the unexpected. It resembled an action movie sequence. Something less intense would have been the expected path towards the end for this video. However, it was definitely cool and fun to watch.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10