BTS Wings Concept Book [ENG]

❝ Interview : Jungkook ❞

<Jungkook>

『 Thinking of <WINGS>, I feel like I have a lot in common with Sinclair in <Demian>. He wants to break free from the care of others and be an adult, and so do I. Rather than saying it's a special album, I would say it made me think a lot after hearing the album concept. "I want to be a real adult too." 』

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You graduated from high school.
"If I kept studying and spending time with my friends like an ordinary person, I would think 'So I finally became an adult' when I graduate. But since I started living sort of an adult like since I was 15, I still feel like I'm a kid. I'm 21 but my mental age is like 15 years old. There're a lot of adults around me too."

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Do the other members treat you as an adult?
"Rather than treating me as an adult, they tell me "You're an adult now". Things like 'Be mature', 'You're an adult too, act carefully' (laughs) Especially when my jokes go too far, they tell me to stay still, to not go too far. I tend to have to go through something to know it. If they tell me so, I'll fix myself little by little. I'm gradually learning thanks to the hyungs,"

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What you said earlier is what your solo song "Begin" is about.
"There was a time when Bang Shihyuk Producer-nim and the 7 of us gathered and talked about all the stress, the distress we had been piling up for a long time, and we all cried together. Rap Monster-hyung listened to my story from that time and wrote the lyrics."

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Comparing before and after debut, do you feel you have changed a lot thanks to the members?
"I changed a lot for sure. I gained a lot of confidence too. I couldn't even talk like this before. I kept watching the hyungs doing interviews from the side and as time goes by, I started talking little by little and eventually was able to do interviews. Hyungs really made me. I learn music by watching foreign artists and pick up basically everything else thanks to the hyungs."

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Are you the type to express your feelings well?
"I'm not good at it. I feel embarrassed even from saying thank you so I basically never do it. I'm good at complaining though. (laughs) I can complain easily but when it comes to good talks, it always feels awkward. I can do it through texts since it's somewhat easier, but talking directly is really hard."

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BTS grows up along with each album's story, and Jungkook grows up along with BTS too.
"Thinking of <WINGS>, I feel like I have a lot in common with Sinclair in <Demian>. He wants to break free from the care of others and be an adult, and so do I. Rather than saying it's a special album, I would say it made me think a lot after hearing the album concept. 'I want to be a real adult too'. Looking at the other hyungs, don't they know themselves and do well? They can think and create something by themselves, but I still lack a lot so there's not much I can do by myself. It's not like I'm good at composing or anything. I want to try my best and be able to do something well."

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Are you talking about wanting to compose music?
"On some level, yes. I stayed up until 7 in the morning to try composing with MIDI the day before this interview too. I don't know piano chords since I didn't learn it, so playing the song's very hard. The hyungs were all tired, I didn't want to bother them by asking what I don't know. I want a certain sound to be at this part but finding it is difficult, so I just try pressing every key. I keep telling the company I want to learn piano so I can start composing, and now I'm planning to properly start working with MIDI."

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But is it necessary for every member of the team to make songs?
"Just because 2-3 members of the team will make songs doesn't mean the others don't have to do it. It'll be great if everyone can. Besides, the kind of music and emotions I like are different from what the other members like. I want to make my emotions into a story and hear it in sound. But I'm upset that I still can't do it well. Not long ago I was playing with MIDI before I slept and it make me think I want to get my name on the album credit soon too."

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To what level do you want to make it?
"I haven't considered that. I just plan to do it slowly without thinking too hastily."

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What kind of music and emotions do you like?
"I like quiet songs. The emotional and sad songs, kind of gloomy rather than bright. I really like listening to piano and guitar sounds. When I want to get excited I listen to loud songs such as hip hop or EDM, but usually I listen to quiet songs, like pop ballad."

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You have been nicknamed "Golden Maknae" for being multi-talented since debut, is there any time when you have no confidence?
"Rather than having no confidence, I'm the type to cower inside a little bit. I tend to think I have a long way to go even if I dance well, or think "I can't sing" even if they say I sing well. I would still be like that 10 years later, when I practice and become someone who can really sing well. I would keep this thought even if I'm the ultimate vocalist. I'm originally this type of person."

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Don't idols have to show that they think "I'm the best" on stage?
"It's different on stage. There, I must show everything I can there and then come down. Only after that do I think about myself. It's closer to thinking I have a long way to go than me having no confidence."

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<WINGS> contains the solo songs of each member and it somewhat revealed each person's color a little more in various ways. What do you think is your role in BTS?
"What am I in the team... I'm curious what the hyungs think about me but I have never asked them. Can I ask like 'What do you think about me'? (laughs) I just wish I don't cause harm to the team, that I'm helpful. And, of course the other members are doing very well but, I hope I can become the kind of existence that without me, a part of it will fall apart. I hope I can become a member that shows our synergy when the 7 of us gather."

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To do that, it would be important to find what is of your own.
"I still don't have it yet, my core. I'm thinking so. That's why I have to learn more and work harder so I can step up my game. Finding what only I have is, in some ways, the goal of my life."

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* bold - interviewer
* "..." - Jungkook's answers

★ Photos ★