(translated in 2022)

When I was growing up in Georgia, there was an Autumn Blaze maple tree in the backyard, resplendent with its broad, oval crown. When a sweltering Georgia July night threatened to stifle my older brother and me within the confines of our home, we would bolt outside, shirts tossed aside, and flop down under the maple. We would then just lie there, chatting until the cool green grass had fully absorbed the heat from our skin. Every now and then, wind would sweep through the backyard, stirring the hearty summer maple leaves and pine needles to perform nocturnal songs and dances that complemented the ambiance of our nighttime outdoor retreat. 

If the sky was cloudless, we’d direct our gaze upward at the blackness teeming with tiny white shimmers and marvel, not only at their beauty but also at the realization that observing them was akin to riding a time machine to peer back in time. On particularly clear and dark nights, my older brother and I would even go galaxy hunting, chasing after the faint outline of the Andromeda galaxy. 

To kick off our cosmic hunt, Hyung and I would first cast our eyes high toward the middle of the night sky. We’d then trace with our fingers as if they were mouse cursors to spot the familiar pattern of stars that formed the keystone in our favorite constellation, Hercules. Next, slightly to its left, the Lyra constellation with its beacon star Vega, one of the brightest fixtures in the summer sky. After pinpointing Vega, our fingers would navigate once again to the upper left until we found the Cassiopeia constellation, its quintet of luminous stars sketching a distinctive “W” pattern on the black canvas. 

Tucked near the right-hand half of the W, we’d finally locate our quarry: the faint, fuzzy glimmer of the Andromeda galaxy, the most distant object visible to the naked eye at an inconceivable 2.5 million light-years away. 

When I peruse the complete discography of BTS, it’s evident that the members, especially RM and Jin, must hold a fascination with the sky and stars, much like my brother and I did. As a music lover who has listened to nearly every semi-popular Korean musician’s album, solo or band, released from the 1960s to the present (even now, I make it a point to listen to every new album released on Melon each week), I’ve noticed that no other artist’s oeuvre includes as many songs and lyrics where the universe and celestial objects are as frequently used as metaphors or figurative language as in BTS’s songs. 

From ‘134340,’ ‘Moon,’ ‘Mikrokosmos,’ ‘Moonchild,’ ‘Moonlight’ to ‘My Universe,’ their collaboration with Coldplay, the celestial theme is prevalent. Even in a song like ‘Serendipity,’ where astronomical elements aren’t explicitly mentioned, the word ‘universe’ plays a critical role (e.g., “The whole universe moved in perfect unison/ For the purpose of our union” and “From the first moments of the universe/ All were formulated to bring us together”). 

I think my brother and I were captivated by the heavens because, when we couldn’t find answers to our numerous questions, we would gaze at the infinite, vast sky, realizing it’s okay not to know everything. Perhaps that’s why RM and Jin, known for their introspective nature, have created so many songs with words like ‘universe,’ ‘sky,’ and ‘stars.’

In that vein, it’s no surprise that the last song Jin gifted to ARMY before his military service was titled ‘ The Astronaut.’ In some ways, it’s an extension of ‘Moon,’ which Jin and RM created, metaphorically depicting Jin as the moon and the fandom ARMY as the earth. The lyrics of ‘The Astronaut’ are also filled with his deep affection for ARMY, conveying that they helped him find his once aimless dreams.

In the first verse, Jin likens the relationship between ARMY (you) and himself (me) to an unending history, ‘끝나지 않을 (kkeut-nah-gih ahn-eul) (without end, infinite), same as the ever-expanding universe. In his previous solo effort, ‘Moon,’ the Earth and Moon serve as metaphors for a loving, loyal relationship between ARMY and Jin, symbolizing two adjacent, dependent celestial bodies. In ‘The Astronaut’, Jin is a ‘소행성 (so-haeng-sung) (this word can be either a dwarf planet like Pluto or Eris, or an asteroid) aimlessly flying through the cosmos, ‘목적지 없이 (mohk-juck-jih uhp-yi) (without destination). In this dark universe, he finds a dream that brings him a new story.

In the second verse, he transforms into a star that will never fade, ‘깨지지 않는 별 (ggae-jih-jih ahn-neun byul) (a star that does not break), having found ARMY, whom he compares to the ‘은하수’ (eun-hah-soo) (the Milky Way), illuminating his path through the cosmos. He concludes the verse with my favorite lines: 어둠 (uh-doom) (darkness) 속에 (sohk-eh) (inside of) 찾은 (chaht-eun) (found, detect) 단 (dahn) (only) 하나의 (hah-nah-eui) (one) 빛 (biht) (light)/ 너에게 (nuh-eh-geh) (to you) 향하는 (hyang-hah-neun) (heading to) 나의 (nah-eui) (my) 길 (gihl) (road), translated as “The only light I detected in the darkness/ The way that leads me to you”.

One aspect of this song that I really appreciate is Jin’s sole responsibility for the Korean lyrics and his participation in the music composition, alongside Chris Martin of Coldplay. For his other solo works, like ‘Epiphany,’ Korean music platforms vary in crediting Jin; some include him as a writer, others do not. Regardless, there’s no denying Bang PD’s significant contribution on the writing of the song, but ‘The Astronaut’ is unequivocally Jin’s, no question about it.

A common trait of all great songs is their memorable melody and distinct sounds. With Coldplay’s involvement in the composition, the song features a rich blend of rock, synthesizer, and acoustic elements. However, it’s the tonal color of Jin’s voice that harmoniously unites these varied sounds, rendering the melodies both beautiful and emotive. And his unique emotional depth perfectly complements the song’s atmosphere, which is refreshing yet dreamy, like a fresh autumn breeze. Yet, it’s a song that should warm my heart and soul regardless of the season in which I listen to it.

MV

Live with Coldplay 

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

You and me,

An infinite history.

Oh, how you became my universe,

Our story.

Just as an aimless asteroid,

I was also floating without a purpose.

I detected in the darkness all my dream,

Beginning of a new story.

Chorus:

When I’m with you,

There is no one else.

I get heaven to myself

When I’m with you.

There is no one else.

I feel this way I’ve never felt.

Verse 2:

You and me,

I’m now a star that won’t fade.

I’ve become your dream,

Sailing through the cosmos.

Like the Milky Way that lights darkness,

You shine your lights toward me.

The only light I detected in the darkness,

The way that leads me to you.

Chorus:

When I’m with you,

There is no one else.

I get heaven to myself

When I’m with you.

There is no one else.

I feel this way I’ve never felt.

Bridge:

I feel this way I never felt.

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Chorus:

When I’m with you,

There is no one else.

I get heaven to myself

When I’m with you.

There is no one else.

A life, a sparkle in your eyes,

Heaven coming through.

Outro:

And I love you.

And I love you.

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh