BTS’ lead vocalist and main dancer Park Jimin has made history as he has become the first ever South Korean solo artist to top Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for his debut single Like Crazy.
This came amid criticism that he had sung “off-key” during his encore performance in M! Countdown after winning his first #1 trophy for Like Crazy.
Jimin’s solo career
Jimin debuted as a solo artist on March 24 with the release of his extended play called Face, which includes songs including Face-off, Interlude: Dive, Like Crazy, Alone, Set Me Free Pt. 2, and Like Crazy (English Version).
During its release, his album entered the Billboard 200 albums chart, occupying the top 2 spot.
Aside from this, the single Like Crazy also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making him the first South Korean solo artist to lead the list and the first solo BTS member to do so.
BTS was the first all-South Korean group to top the Hot 100 chart with its song Dynamite in 2020.
According to Billboard, “Like Crazy” sold 254,000 song downloads and CD singles combined and drew 10 million streams and 64,000 radio airplay audience impressions from March 24 to 30.
FACE also broke several records in South Korea for passing one million sales in its first week.
Performance issues?
Jimin’s Billboard record came amid criticism of his recent live performance in M! Countdown
Traditionally, artists who took home the prize in the show would sing the encore performance.
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However, some netizens were not impressed with Jimin’s singing, accusing him of delivering the song “off-key.”
Due to the heated debate on the BTS member’s vocal capabilities, the TV program deleted Jimin’s video online.
Some netizens said that “he’s been singing for years” and they would have understood his performance had he still been a rookie in the industry.
Others also accused his label, HYBE Entertainment, of paying the TV show to make Jimin win the title.
As the issue raged, Jimin backed out from his scheduled performance in another South Korean television program.
His performance was supposed to be aired on the April 2 broadcast of SBS’ music program Inkigayo, to mark his recent debut as a solo artist.
However, local reports said that only his pre-recorded stage for the track Like Crazy will be televised. He also did not attend the live broadcast.
Meanwhile, the BTS ARMY defended Jimin over the controversy, saying that the singer had problems with his ear piece. Other videos of Jimin singing also resurfaced on the internet.
Jimin debuted in 2013 along with other BTS members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, V, and Jungkook.
BTS is taking a break as a group at the moment as some of its members fulfill their mandatory military service.
