It’s not a secret that we’re huge fans of Jackson Wang here at THP, and one album that will forever have a special place in our hearts is his sophomore solo release, Magic Man. What started as a project about self-reflection became a comfort album for many, including us. As he’s stated on various occasions, Magic Man is more than just the name of his album, it’s a feeling, a result of all the fighting and learning he went through, and that we must go through as well in order to grow. The lyrics, the makeup, the dark clothes, all of that helps create a unique experience as we listen through the album and watch the MV’s, in a way only Jackson could do.
Magic Man shows Jackson Wang’s growth as both an artist and a person. Gone were the days when he pretended to be okay for everyone around him, he’s talked about how he was in a dark place and only got out of it after opening up to people close to him and letting them help, and how important that was for him. He was committed to showing himself as honestly as possible from then on, and we think it’s safe to say he’s been very successful in that regard, which is part of what makes us admire him so much.
On the artistic side, the different tracks explore the insane range of Jackson’s voice and it makes for an amazing listening experience from start to finish. From the lower tones we love all the way up to falsettos that sound like heaven, these ten songs have something for everyone. Pulling references and influences from different genres and artists, Jackson did what he does best, he created an album that could only be his.
The Tracklist
As we’ve established before, Jackson is, among many things, an amazing storyteller, and the track list for this album definitely shows that, in our opinion. ‘Blow’ and ‘Cruel‘ open the album with heavy guitars and percussion, raspy vocals, and heavy inspiration from 90s rock. It’s chaotic and intense and it sets the narrative tone of Magic Man.
Moving on, we have one of our faves, ‘Champagne Cool.’ Its description of the industry using champagne as the central metaphor? *Chef’s kiss.* Following that, there’s ‘Go Ghost,’ where Jackson narrates the moment one realizes it’s time to leave a toxic relationship behind. ‘Drive Like You Stole It’ is the road trip song off this album, just saying, those R&B-inspired beats are perfect for long drives where you scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs.
The second half of Magic Man starts with ‘Come Alive’ and all we can say is that no matter how much time passes, we will forever be obsessed with the adoration expressed in the lyrics as well as the jazz and rock-inspired instrumentals. Still on the theme of love songs, comes ‘Just Like Magic,’ slowing down and using the imagery of a magic show in order to express what being with the other person feels like. Afterward, comes the mandatory “we want to cry our eyes out” song, ‘All The Way,’ which is essentially a cry for help after losing someone who was always there.
On the other end of the album, we close with ‘Dopamine’ and ‘Blue,’ both of which we have a soft spot for (which may or may not be because we’ve seen them live.) ‘Dopamine’ dives into the need for happiness in the midst of chaos and is followed by ‘Blue,’ which is the perfect ending for the album, where despite the evident sadness, there’s still an unshakeable level of confidence that inspires us to keep going even in the worst moments.
The Visuals
Whenever we talk about Jackson Wang we could spend hours just talking about the visuals he brings with each of his works, and Magic Man was no exception. Each MV looks like a movie, the attention to detail is out of this world and there’s a story being told in every corner you look at.
From the vibrant reds of the ‘Blow’ MV to the cool tones of blue and grey in ‘Blue,’ there is a clear path that goes from chaos and uncertainty to the calm after the clouds of fire have passed. But we do have to admit our favorite MV of this era is ‘Cruel.’ The choreography throughout the video makes it impossible to tear our eyes from the screen and it tells us so much of the story without ever needing spoken lines. The song and the dance do all the talking, and that’s how you know how much of a masterpiece it is.
Between different influences, anxieties that we can all relate to, and the constant drive to do better in his work, Jackson Wang showed us a tremendous amount of growth with Magic Man in 2022, and he continues to do so with every other project. It’s always great to be able to tell how much love and dedication was put into our faves’ work, and Jackson is definitely one of those who shows it for all to see.
We also cannot leave without mentioning how much Magic Man has been important to us since 2022. It was many people’s first introduction to Jackson’s music as well as a showcase of his growth for those of us who have been around for years. Either way, it holds a special place in fans’ hearts and that’s one of our favorite things about this album (and artist.)
Now we’re dying to know what your favorite song from Magic Man is. Tell us at @TheHoneyPOP on Twitter, or come find us on Instagram and/or Facebook. We’d love to have a chat!
Want more K-Pop in your life? We got you, honey!
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