BTS’ Jungkook Revealed Why He Had a ‘Hard Time’ Recording ‘Euphoria’
During an interview, BTS’ Jungkook revealed he had a special fondness for the band’s hit “Euphoria.” However, he also said he had a difficult time singing the song at first. Here’s what Jungkook said about the emotions behind the song – and how the public reacted to it in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Why Jungkook felt he ‘didn’t really know how to sing’ while recording BTS’ ‘Euphoria’
Jungkook gave Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt a wide-ranging interview. During the interview, Hiatt said “Euphoria” was one of BTS’ best moments. Afterward, Hiatt asked Jongkook if he had any memories of crafting the song.
“I specifically like ‘Euphoria’ among many BTS songs because it has a voice that’s between a very young boy and a very mature man,” Jungkook replied. “And that’s why I had a tough time recording it. I had to translate those emotions into the recording, and I went into it thinking that I have lost my original voice and I really didn’t know how to sing. And I think those emotions I felt translated well into the recording. After listening to the whole thing, I was like, ‘Wow, I really did a good job.’”
How ‘Euphoria’ was tailored for BTS
Jungkook’s initial issues with the song are notable given that songwriter Melanie Fontana told Directlyrics that she tried to work specifically for BTS. “Above all, I’m a massive fan of BTS and am honored they and their team took a listen to the song I co-wrote & gave it a loving home,” she said. “I was brought into the writing session where we birthed “Euphoria” by a successful producer who’s worked closely with The Chainsmokers, Beyoncé and many more.” The producer in question is DJ Swivel, who worked on The Chainsmoker’s “Closer” and Queen B’s “I Care.” “Together, we pieced together all our fave ideas to make a song we thought might work for BTS,” she recalled.
How did the world react to BTS’ ‘Euphoria?’
This raises an interesting question: How did “Euphoria” perform in the United States? The track did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. On the other hand, the song’s parent album, Love Yourself: Answer, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart for weeks.
While the reception to “Euphoria’ in the United States wasn’t particularly strong — and it didn’t fare any better in the United Kingdom. The Official Chart Company reports the track didn’t chart there either. However, Love Yourself: Answer was also a hit in the region, reaching No. 14 on the charts and remaining there for 13 weeks. In addition, the song was met with critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone ranking it the 83rd best song of BTS’ career in 2020. Even though “Euphoria” is one of Jungkook’s favorite BTS songs, American and British audiences didn’t turn it into a hit.
