Nick Jonas Says BTS’s Freedom As A Group Is Rare

[satoori]

Nick Jonas Says BTS’s Freedom As A Group Is Rare

He thinks both BTS’s individual and group performances are cool.

Nick Jonas recently did an interview with SiriusXM Hits 1, where he remembered BTS performing at the Rose Bowl, as part of the group’s world tour back in 2019.

Since Nick is both a solo artist, and is part of The Jonas Brothers with brothers Joe and Kevin Jonas, he was asked about his writing process, and how he knows whether the song being written is for himself or for the group.

Nick remarked that people find it surprising that he does both, and that individual and group activities can coexist seamlessly. He then recalled watching BTS in California, and complimented the rare freedom that they have as a group. "It was cool to see them kind of doing their individual songs and then coming back as a group and doing their songs together."

BTS receives acknowledgment for many things, but it is interesting to also consider how flawlessly they work as both a group and individual members within that group. CR.

 

[satoori]

 

[satoori]

This is quite interesting. Juggling both group and solo activities is difficult for artists. Perhaps that's why it is rare to see both coexisting. Usually one is safriced for the other. Many Western groups eventually go their separate ways due to individual members doing more solos.

Bighit/BTS strategy of releasing solos on their group albums is actually unique and smart. 

Edited March 6, 2021 by satoori

[starsocks]

I totally get what he means, but "freedom" is kinda a weird choice of wording considering the industry he's talking about

[Dont mind me]

I think it started with rappers doing that because of their desire for hiphop based songs. There is an distinctive difference in their own mixtapes and BTS sounds. Its also a good strategy indeed to keep the members happy. I believe nick ment more that they have creative freedom to do their own things and that is not standard within groups. 

[Xin]

I really enjoy that BTS solo songs have very distinct song and style of that member. When a member contributes heavily to a particular group song, you can see their fingerprint style on those songs as well and I think that's really neat.

[Josaline]

6 hours ago, satoori said:

This is quite interesting. Juggling both group and solo activities is difficult for artists. Perhaps that's why it is rare to see both coexisting. Usually one is safriced for the other. Many Western groups eventually go their separate ways due to individual members doing more solos.

Bighit/BTS strategy of releasing solos on their group albums is actually unique and smart. 

Not exactly. Having solo songs in albums is actually something we always see in Jpop. So it's not a very surprising situation. One of the things that always happens in Kpop. Big Hit just takes things that it deems useful in Jpop. There is actually a difference between what Big Hit does and what Jonas talks about. What Jonas is talking about is a full solo promotion, a complete solo album or single, which so far none of the BTS members have done that. Big Hit has so far not allowed this to create any real competition between members and only allows free mixtapes. So this has had a positive effect on them so far. When real solo careers begin, then we can talk about the effects.

 

[LeggoStar]

4 hours ago, choiyujins said:

I totally get what he means, but "freedom" is kinda a weird choice of wording considering the industry he's talking about

I get him, in Hollywood for some reason when most people go solo it's a sign the group is either ending or won't last very long. Even in destiny child they went solo and maybe only returned for one album. Zayne left the group to go solo, his choice but maybe he felt he wasn't free to pursue solo stuff while still in group due to conflict of interests and the rest only went solo when they split/are on hiatus. Little mix members still no one solo yet. Fifth harmony the minute camilla went solo she left.

For some reason despite how much freedom Hollywood has they still don't feel free enough or think I can go solo and still be In a group and it shouldn't affect my image. Jonas brothers are blood brothers, so it's their advantage they can communicate and get back together despite years passing. Like when justin timberlake was a successful solo nsync coming back in his early years were out of the question. Meanwhile in kpop hyuna BLOWED UP with bubble pop, change, troublemaker, psy's girl in gangnam style and still returned to 4minute, that would not happen in Hollywood cause people think you can't do two things at once being that big*. The only person I think who fought to stay in a group is Hayle Williams from paramore, she kept that title everywhere when having solo songs in the early 2010's.

Edited March 6, 2021 by LeggoStar

[starsocks]

2 minutes ago, LeggoStar said:

I get him, in Hollywood for some reason when most people go solo it's a sign the group is either ending or won't last very long. Even in destiny child they went solo and maybe only returned for one album. Zayne left the group to go solo, his choice but maybe he felt he wasn't free to pursue solo stuff while still in group due to conflict of interests and the rest only went solo when they split/are on hiatus. Little mix members still no one solo yet. Fifth harmony the minute camilla went solo she left.

For some reason despite how much freedom Hollywood has they still don't feel free enough or think I can go solo and still be In a group and it shouldn't affect my image. Jonas brothers are blood brothers, so it's their advantage they can communicate and get back together despite years passing. Like when justin timberlake was a successful solo nsync coming back in his early years were out of the question. Meanwhile in kpop hyuna BLOWED UP with bubble pop, change, troublemaker, psy's girl in gangnam style and still returned to 4minute, that would not happen in Hollywood cause people think you can't do two things at once being that bug. The only person I think who fought to stay in a group is Hayle Williams from paramore, she kept that title everywhere when having solo songs in the early 2010's.

such an interesting point, it's like this weird taboo they can't break out of

[satoori]

3 hours ago, Josaline said:

Not exactly. Having solo songs in albums is actually something we always see in Jpop. So it's not a very surprising situation. One of the things that always happens in Kpop. Big Hit just takes things that it deems useful in Jpop. 

 

There is actually a difference between what Big Hit does and what Jonas talks about. What Jonas is talking about is a full solo promotion, a complete solo album or single, which so far none of the BTS members have done that. Big Hit has so far not allowed this to create any real competition between members and only allows free mixtapes. So this has had a positive effect on them so far. When real solo careers begin, then we can talk about the effects.

That's cool about Jpop. But my comment was talking about the Kpop industry and in general around the world (specifically the Western market). Groups putting solos in their groups album is unique.

 

I don't think that's 100% what Nick was talking about since he  literally praised BTS for their ability to perform their solos and group songs at their concerts. Why even mention BTS if he was only talking about "full solo album". He mention BTS because they're able to make both group and solo "coexist" with the current method their using.

Edited March 6, 2021 by satoori

[Josaline]

2 hours ago, satoori said:

That's cool about Jpop. But my comment was talking about the Kpop industry and in general around the world (specifically the Western market). Groups putting solos in their groups album is unique.

 

I don't think that's 100% what Nick was talking about since he  literally praised BTS for their ability to perform their solos and group songs at their concerts. Why even mention BTS if he was only talking about "full solo album". He mention BTS because they're able to make both group and solo "coexist" with the current method their using.

Like I said, it's not a unique thing at all. And Jonas, how closely does he know BTS? He may have even thought that the solo songs they sang in concerts were their own solo work. Also, as the other user above said, solo working in the west often requires leaving the band. So it's also normal for him to see it surprising. But he doesn't know that the members actually never really worked solo.

[Chimichurri]

They are able to perform solo songs because all of them have one in the albums -aside from intros, where they rotate. And while touring it's better, while one is performing the solo, the others can rest -it's a win-win situation, rest and showcase your own mark as a BTS member. As everyone has mentioned above, Jonas speaks without knowing the k-pop industry and talking from his experience in Hollywood/Western music industry.

[satoori]

11 minutes ago, Josaline said:

Like I said, it's not a unique thing at all. And Jonas, how closely does he know BTS? He may have even thought that the solo songs they sang in concerts were their own solo work. Also, as the other user above said, solo working in the west often requires leaving the band. So it's also normal for him to see it surprising. But he doesn't know that the members actually never really worked solo.

Again, as some people have mentioned here already, Nick is talking from his perspective as a Westerner. The method BTS is using (a method perhaps common in Japan too) is generally unique. From his perspective BTS are able to "express" themselves as a individuals and group well.

 

[NoUsername]

Rare in Hollywood, but not really in Kpop? There have been a lot of groups in which members have released their solos 

[penyair]

"kpop having freedom"

what a clown, they can't even announce their relationship because of clowns aka kpoopies