Hi fiction lover! I hope you are enjoying my weekly dives into fiction. This time, we’re going to be exploring the Jimin MUSE album. We will be talking about the idea of a muse, and how it can seem impossible to find such a love that we yearn for. In particular, I will explore how this can expand into a full storyline. Are you a sucker for romances? I love a good romance novel. And I love everything that Jimin explores in his new album!
The Jimin MUSE Album — Looking for the One
So, Jimin’s album begins with the lovely and bright “Rebirth (Intro).” The hopeful and bright track starts off the album on a cheerful note. After all, aren’t we all like that when we begin to search for love? We all believe “the one” is close to us, and we become lost in a dream of what love will be like. After the marching-band flavor of “Interlude: Showtime,” we have a serenade from Jimin and Loco. “I love you, babe” might echo throughout your mind here. “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” leads to “Slow Dance” with Sofia Carson. Jimin’s and Sofia’s vocals mix together beautifully, perhaps proclaiming that the evasive love has been found.
But in “Be Mine,” Jimin sings out to “show me what love is.” He’s ready to arrive face to face with his muse. And in “Who,” the penultimate song, Jimin explodes with emotion, coming to terms with the fact that his love could still be miles away. He sang sweet lyrics up to this point, but now he asks a question: “Who is my heart waiting for?” Finally, we have “Closer Than This,” a love letter to ARMY and a promise that he’ll always be close to his fans.
If you feel as if you’ve read a romance novel, then I’m totally with you! I have so many ideas. First, the idea of a muse. Now, soulmate stories are all the rage especially on AO3, but what about a twist on the classic soulmate story? Say the main character, like Jimin, could be searching for what his heart desires. At the same time, his lover could be an elusive, ghostlike person who is both a thousand miles away and right next to him. Maybe this muse had met the main character before they were turned into a wanderer. I am bursting with ideas about a new sort of romance novel thanks to the Jimin MUSE album.
The ARMY Factor
As much as MUSE is about finding your muse, it’s also about ARMY! There are references everywhere, such as the date of BTS’ debut showcase, June 12, in “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band.” “Closer Than This” is a definite promise and anthem for ARMY. All in all, Jimin has already found his muse through the fans that promise to remain by his side. I’m interested to hear—do you consider yourself ARMY? I found BTS later on, during 2019, so I consider myself a late bloomer.
Like Jimin in this album, we are constantly yearning. Maybe it is a lover that we’re looking for. We ask the same question: who are we waiting for? Where are they in this world? Sometimes, it may feel like there is no hope for true romance. Jimin reminds us that there is hope, and that we have found love in many ways—for him, it’s his relationship with ARMY.
Do you have ideas coursing through you now? As a writer or creator, maybe you take inspiration from albums like these, concepts that run through the entirety of the tracklist to form a cohesive story. If you’ve found the one already, perhaps MUSE reminds you of your younger self.
Looking for a deeper dive into MUSE? Look here for the behind-the-scenes recordings. This is also a really fun one, featuring the shoot for the “Who” music video.
I absolutely loved exploring the Jimin MUSE album with you. If you’d like, check out my blog for more posts. I am committed to sparking the creativity within you.