(NOTE: This reaction post is a little shorter than normal due to lack of time and personal circumstances.) Jay B is the latest member of GOT7 to drop some new tracks, releasing his first mini album as a soloist under his new label H1GHR Music. Though I love GOT7 as a group and I’ve watched a LOT of their content, I actually don’t know much about the members as individual singers and artists. So I think it’s exciting to watch them release music that suits their own personal styles and tastes, and I was particularly curious about Jay B.
I like most of the songs that Jay B has written and composed for GOT7, so it’s not really a surprise that I enjoy his latest single “B.T.W.” It’s a chill R&B track with a nice beat and an appealing melody, and it’s just so darn pleasant to listen to. My one small issue is that I wish it was just a touch livelier in some places, but I think that’s just because of my natural preference for more upbeat and fast-paced music. “B.T.W” isn’t necessarily something I’d frequently play, but I’d definitely put it on when I wanted to relax or mellow out. And while I’m not super familiar with featuring artist Jay Park, “B.T.W” makes me think he and Jay B are the perfect match for a collaboration. They have good synergy, and they both fit really well with the song’s style.
Though I’m still feeling bittersweet about seeing GOT7 pursue their own solo endeavors for now, the nice thing about it is that we get to learn more about them as individuals. And I have to say, I think R&B really suits Jay B. As one of the main vocals of GOT7, I generally think of him as a power belter who sings the more energetic parts of their songs. But as I listened to “B.T.W” (and the rest of his album), I realized that his voice is quite versatile. So not only can he crush high notes, but he excels at more gentle and soothing stuff too.
There’s a similar situation with the choreography – I’m used to seeing Jay B dance with big and powerful movements, so it’s cool to see him working with something a little more relaxed and light-hearted. And I love the part at the end when he shows off some breakdancing moves, which is a nod to his past as a B-boy. But I have to admit, it does lowkey remind me of that Dream High 2 dance battle he did with Jinyoung all those years ago (and the subsequent remake on a variety show). But even if that flashback keeps popping up and making me giggle, Jay B’s moves are still smooth enough to make a cool final impression.
MY OVERALL INTEREST LEVEL
(NOTE: My options for each category are “Love,” “Like,” “Neutral,” “Not My Style,” or “Dislike.” But I rarely dislike anything, so I’ll mostly be using the other four.)
| Category | My Opinion |
|---|---|
| Song | Like |
| Dance | Like |
| Music Video | Neutral |
I’m always a little anxious about how GOT7 is faring these days, but I’m so glad to see that Jay B is doing just fine. Though I don’t usually talk about albums in these posts, I wanted to give SOMO: FUME a shoutout because I think it flows really well from song to song and it’s a clear indication of what his signature sound will most likely be. Though “B.T.W” is more mood music for me (as chill R&B often is), it’s a great solo debut that suits Jay B well. I can’t wait to see how he continues from here.
(“Knee Jerk Reaction” is a column I created to talk about comebacks or debuts when I don’t have a lot of time to write in-depth reviews. A knee jerk reaction is like an automatic response, so it’s a post about my initial thoughts on the song, the music video, and the performance if it’s available. Compared to my reviews, everything is more stream of consciousness and less analytical. And everything is 100% my own opinion!)
SOURCES: Music video belongs to H1GHR Music. The featured image is from H1GHR Music’s Twitter account – the original photo and tweet can be see here.
Katherine Does K-POP 