Review

Song Review: Jungkook (BTS) – Seven (ft. Latto)

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Jungkook (BTS) - Seven (ft. Latto)Somehow, early-00’s Craig David has emerged as the biggest influence on this week’s K-pop (and K-pop adjacent) releases. We’re hearing a ton of garage-inspired tracks, but none have managed to pair those addictive beats with songs compelling enough to transcend the homage.

To call Seven a much-anticipated release would be putting it lightly. Many of BTS’s members have already debuted solo material, but Jungkook has bided his time. He feels uniquely positioned as a breakout soloist, making Seven‘s sound and style all the more important. When it comes to western pop, boyband-turned-soloists rarely see their earliest success coincide with their very first single (just ask Bobby Brown or Justin Timberlake or even Michael Jackson). Instead, these moments establish groundwork toward bigger and bolder things to come.

Seven‘s glitchy beat shows potential and works well with Jungkook’s airy vocal. I like how the song switches between crooning and more rhythmic segments (which get surprisingly naughty on the explicit version). Freed from the G-rated constraints of “K-pop idol,” he’s crafted a straight-up sex jam. However you feel about that, it’s sure to raise some eyebrows among younger fans.

Little of this libido comes through on the track itself. The chorus is catchy but formulaic. I’m not sure how its lyrical sequence of days will fare in the long run. It’s an obvious conceit, and one we’ve heard many times before. However, this staggered rhythm compliments the skittery percussion and drives the track forward. It may not be especially creative, but it’ll get you humming along. The vocal also sounds crisp and satisfying.

Rapper Latto delivers an entertaining verse late in the track, even if she feels a bit shoehorned into the structure. Some interplay between the two performers could have been fun, and would have given Seven the sense of steamy spontaneity it needs. Even so, Jungkook brings a certain amount of character to the performance and proves his bonafides as a solo star. Seven comes across as a welcome warm-up for a more thrilling series of tracks. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Hooks 8
 Production 9
 Longevity 8
 Bias 8
 RATING 8.25

Grade: B

68 thoughts on “Song Review: Jungkook (BTS) – Seven (ft. Latto)”

  1. i heard that chorus and i busted out laughing… it’s so light and unserious but that’s kind of why i like it… however, i will say this is what almost every lo-fi and laidback music on the radio sounds like.. but i think it does enough to distinguish itself. not enough to astound but enough to make you tap your feet.

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  2. I cannot see myself listening to this song, maybe it’s not that standout-ish to me. Nonetheless, I gave this song a listen because Han So Hee was in the music video. The music video was great and hilarious.

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  4. “Many of BTS’s members have already debuted solo material, but Jungkook has bided his time.” Has he? There was Stay Alive (which I liked), and then that FIFA tune (better forgotten), and that duet with Charlie Puth (which I can’t even remember).

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    • Ha, I guess you’re right. I was thinking more along the lines of an “official” solo debut, which this is kind of billed as even though he’s released other music in the past.

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      • I think you’re right; now that I think about it, Stay Alive didn’t even have an MV. It should have had one, it was a fine song to “debut” with.

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        • … Oops, okay, it *did* have an MV. I never realized that; somehow I never saw it. Oh well, I’m wrong on all counts, I should cut my losses, haha 🙂

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  8. I like Lotto’s verse a lot. She adds a lot of energy to the song. This is one of the rare cases where the edited version is the one I’d rather listen to. Suga and RM are the only 2 that can convincingly swear without it sounding like a teenager yelling “Its not a phase mom!”. This is a lot like Other than that one gripe the song is really good.

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    • I wish this had an edit button. The last sentence is just supposed to be “Other than that one gripe the song is really good.”. There was another thought that wasn’t really important but I didn’t erase it all the way because I’m bad at proofreading.

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  12. This song meets expectations for leading man boy band material, in composition and execution.

    Funny on my drive in this morning, The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” came around, mighty fine days of the week song there.

    The “Friday” song Nick links to ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6n2NcJ7rLc would be an easy DJ mashup with Jungkook’s here, just layering on top and in the interstitials. Almost too well, which means this song might just fall into the pile of “contemporary songs that sound like this” without rising above, only leavened as being “the one that sounds like this by Jungkook of BTS” which gives it a bonus point.

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  13. I don’t want to be negative because maybe this is the music JungKook likes and the direction he wants for his career. If that’s the case, good for him✌🏻

    Having said that, probably my expectations were too high and got disappointed. That’s on me, I guess. 7/10🤷🏻‍♀️

    PS: “Seven” reminded me of a better song I’ve heard before…“Blame Me” by Monsta X

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  14. Although he has a pleasant voice I don’t see myself listening to this again of my own volition (however, I would not skip it on shuffle).
    Goofy sexy lyrics are not my vibe, that’s all.

    After reading some online comments (in kpop websites) about this song I must say: I don’t think the rap part is bad, I can’t understand why some people are saying that he should release the song without it.

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  15. I sooo wanted to love this, but….although Jungkook’s vocals are ever impeccable, the song feels generic, and for me barely merits a couple of replays. The explicit version just sounds crude and adolescent, and the video is rescued only by having Jungkook looking cute in it – sorry but guy stalks girl into submission is an awkward concept in 2023. Next please JK! He has already shown us he can do so much better than this.

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  16. Actually I really like this one. Of course it is a MASSIVE nod to Craig David’s material, even in the vocal delivery, but the production is impeccable and the song hook is at least an 8 in my books. Formulaic? Yeah, it is. The swearing is laughable? Yeah, a little. But the song is catchy and super fun and Jungkook’s vocals carry it. NMIXX tried to reach this level with UK garage/deep house with their couple of releases but failed, although I think “Rollercoaster” is a decent song.
    I have to say I am more impressed by this release than by Jimin’s solo releases, despite I actually prefer Jimin’s unique vocals, but I find that they really didn’t use them at best in his solo material, while here they used Jungkook’s at best.

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  18. I first heard this on Tiktok just a minute ago. That was the explicit version, and it made me burst out laughing because it was so unexpected. It reminds me of that Enrique Iglesias song (Tonight I’m Loving You) and its explicit counterpart (Tonight I’m F*cking You).

    Ridiculousness aside, I can see this getting really big. It’s not really for me, but it’s a solid song and I think it’ll appeal to lots of people, whether they are prior fans of Jungkook or not.

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    • Hah! I had to look up the expli version, and when it came around, yes, I laughed out loud too. It sounds like a a kid saying a bad word like he knows what it means. It just is not authentic to mainstream kpop or Jungkook’s image. And it adds nothing to the song either, just a distraction – “I’ll be lovin you right” is actually better.

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      • I think letting Latto carry the explicit lyrics works so much better. He can get the point across without sounding like a little boy who finally gets to say the naughty word.

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  19. Jungkook was one of the voices that got me into K-pop and though this is reasonable, I still vastly prefer Stay Alive. I think the dealbreaker is the days-of-the-week chorus, I mean come on don’t we all know those already? Still, he sounds great singing anything and it’s good to hear his voice again.

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  20. Jungkook was in his element singing Euphoria and the better known Dynamite on GMA. He is so much better than the trash they are giving him. Why does Hybe/BigHit feel the need to pander to Americans with raunchy degrading female rap in the middle of the song? I’m praying that his solo album has something better to offer than this. Things have gone from Bad Decisions to Worse Decisions. The MV is adorable, Han So Hee is perfect and JK’s voice is beautiful as usual, but these American producers don’t know what to do with his talent. PDogg, RM and SUGA could produce 1000 songs that are better than this.

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  21. Man this is some middling trash.
    I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a single BTS solo release other than J-Hope’s album and Jimin’s crazy.

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  23. Keeping in mind there are 80% of the fandom that are legit minors or very young like born in 2003’s 2004’s i have seen some in 2009’s and 10’s as well having access to his albums on digital platform is easy.. there was no need of explicit version of this song the normal song itself is very catchy and amazing.. ill give 7/10 for normal song and 1/10 for explicit version because.. i feel so bad seeing 13-15 years hear that song and banging their legs on bed seeing the lyrics. For someone who is that influential with now millions of followers that explicit song was absolutely not necessary at all.. hope it makes sense and army dont start to attack here as well unlike twitter and instagram

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      • Well, how else would Jungkook show the world that he is now an adult and ready to delve into more mature themes with his lyrics?

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        • Good example is bob dylan. Never did trashy music. All his songs are a work of art and he is regarded with high esteem among musicians and his work is even studied in literature and music. You don’t have to talk about sex to portray yourself as an adult. Pearl jam make music about some really hardcore serious stuff, and no one ever thought that they were immature. But unfortunately people want meaningless trendy music and that’s what musicians want to make.

          Jungkook is my bias, but I can’t deny that this song didn’t do anything for me. The only thing I enjoyed was the cinematography because it depicted the light-heartedness of the concept better than the song did.

          And maybe JK likes such music, good for him.

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  24. I had my expectations set high when I heard talks of his solo debut a few years ago due to some of his solo works.

    ‘Still with you’ and ‘Euphoria’ are in my top 10 favourite songs of all time and ‘Decalcomania’ was an incredible snippet of what could have been.

    Unfortunately for me, ‘Seven’ doesn’t do much for me. It’s not a bad song but it doesn’t have that spark that his previous solo songs had.

    Latto featuring on this also doesn’t do anything for me.

    Sadly this is a 7/10 for me

    I really hope he releases more music like what he used to.

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    • They were much more cunning linguists back then.
      Like this gem, which has a proper meter, and rhymes.

      It’s at times like this, the great heaven knows
      that we wish we had not so many clothes
      So let’s loosen up with a playful tease
      like all lovers did through the centuries

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        • The song is called “Strip” by Adam Ant, a classic from the tail end of punk rock back when MTV was still young, all Vivienne Westwood pirate cosplay-style styling, featuring Anni-Frid from Abba and produced by Phil Collins (of all people). Hence, lyrics about stripping.

          The inspiration for the Jack Sparrow styling came directly from Adam Ant – moreso his “Stand and Deliver” era than his solo era. “Goody Two Shoes” is the one that was in frequent MTV rotation.

          ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z7fV-wB2z8

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        • In me, too. It’s absolutely not sexy to me.
          I do think, however, that these lyrics are far better written than the explicit line in Seven. I feel like a grandma saying this, but where is the subtlety and nuance “nowadays”?

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  26. JK’s new song is playful and meant for easy listening. Probably good for carrides but not the type you mull over. I prefer him singing in Korean, his vocals sound diff when he enuciates in English. But its a fun song. I dont care for the explicit version, dont thk it was necessary and it seemed to cater to Western music.

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  27. This is utterly generic and as someone whose ult bias is JK, I think this is perfect for him. ARMYs have joked forever about his basic, white girl taste in music, and this is exactly that. It’s safe and calculated to increase his exposure in the West. I’m looking forward to seeing what HYBE America comes up with for the next step in his quest for global pop domination.

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  29. Its not a bad song, I actually like it but I just feel like I’ve heard this song so many times before tho. I love Latto in it tho and the mv is so fun and unserious

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  30. Han So-hee (one of my favorite actresses from one of my favorite dramas “The World of the Married”) is in this music video! But as for the song, the song is pretty good. Nothing that I couldn’t find on the Top Pop Hits or Tiktok but decent nonetheless. Latto was a nice feature too!

    But most of all, I wasn’t expecting an explicit version (which is slightly awkward for me since I do have a bit of a crush….) but go off I guess lol???

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  31. I really wanted to like this song but I just don’t. Generic is the perfect word. Jungkooks vocals are smooth and the production is slick but the overall sound is very much been there, done that. Plus, I’m really over the whole “let me tell you how I’ll do you,” as though it’s the solution to all problems kinda deal. We get it, move on. Ultimately for me this song went from anticipated to forgettable.

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  32. Oh my, this song was so cringeeeee
    I mean “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…”? Is that what Seven refers to? Are we preschoolers? LOLLL

    I was listening to old JK songs like Stay so I am really disappointed by this song. And why, oh why, is he singing in English?? People who like JK like him because of his Korean songs which have deep meanings. When Korean artists sing in English they lose so much depth and instead the song becomes “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…” haha

    I am laughing and crying at the same time listening to this song.
    I couldn’t finish the song, it was just that cringe for me and a waste of his singing abilities. If he was a new artist, this song would have been run through the gutter.

    Hoping to get better songs from him next time.

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  33. Posting later to add: Ah, there it is again, classic Hybe strategy. How to engineer a number 1 song. There are 5 versions of this up all ranking in the top ten of US iTunes: Regular, Explicit, Instrumental, Band, and Summer. All count as the “same song”.

    Since sales count much more in the magic math than any other format (streaming, youtube, radio, etc), it is inevitable that this should be #1 for this week. If it isn’t, Hybe is not working the system well.

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  34. Love this song, both versions. The vocals are magnificent. There is such an understated sensuality about it. Don’t let the lyrics pass you by, because they carry some meaning. The performance video (explicit version) is even better.
    This song is breaking records all over, and it is definitely on my playlist. If anyone has been following JK over the years, they would not be surprised at this song choice. Well done, JK

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  35. This is a legendary song for me. Jungkook is my BTS bias when Seven was revealed , I preordered it first day on Apple Music. My Nana canceled the order though but when it came out , I fall in love with Seven and I added it to my BTS playlists and my liked songs on Spotify . My friend Eljiah Cothran likes the song too and it is in his liked songs on Spotify. Jungkook is number 16 on Eljiah’s Stats.Fm artist ranking.

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  36. I’ll give him this: this is better than whatever Jimin’s Set Me Free was trying to be but the word “generic” is being mentioned a lot and…yeah, the kind of track you could’ve swore you’ve heard already.

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