BTS ARMY are in a frenzy: a collaboration between BTS's Jungkook and Charlie Puth is happening. We repeat: a collaboration between Jungkook and Charlie Puth is happening! Eagle-eyed fans started picking up on numerous clues that the duo were preparing to team up on Puth's upcoming single for weeks. Titled "Left And Right," the track marks the third offering - following lead single "Light Switch" and its follow-up "That's Hilarious" - off Puth's self-titled third studio album, "Charlie" (which is set to drop sometime this year).
The American singer-songwriter first dropped hints his new release would feature another artist, and the cryptic and not-so-subtle Easter eggs from both sides had fans on high alert for confirmation - confirmation that came on June 16. In a TikTok posted to Puth's profile, Puth calls Jungkook and asks him to sing the chorus of "Left and Right," which he does into a studio mic. Puth then meshes their voices together and plays a snippet of the song featuring Jungkook's vocals. Check out the video ahead:
@charlieputh Pre-save Left and Right (with Jungkook) !! Link in bio. (If we get 500,000 pre saves I’ll drop it on June 24.)
♬ original sound - Charlie Puth
Puth revealed that if "Left and Right" reaches 500,000 pre-saves on streaming services, he would drop the song on June 24. Considering 500,000 anything isn't much of a challenge for a fandom as big as the BTS ARMY, you can probably expect the song to drop as planned.
So, how did we get here? Check out all the clues that led us to this moment.
Clue #1: Charlie Puth's Social Media Hints About BTS and "Left and Right"
Puth had been sharing snippets of "Left And Right" on his TikTok account for months, as he does in the leadup to all his new singles.
@charlieputh I think I'll call this one Left and Right?
He first teased the possibility of a collab with BTS on April 28, when he tweeted out, "I had a dream BTS was on Left & Right………." He also shared a clip in a now-deleted TikTok confirming that the track will have a guest feature. "Somebody is singing 'Left And Right' with me. But I can't tell you who it is yet," he captioned the video.
To add fuel to the fire, Puth shared a video on his Instagram feed on May 26 of himself working out to Jungkook's "Stay Alive." Puth also showed his support to the group by reposting an Instagram Story about BTS's May 31 visit to the White House to discuss Asian inclusion and representation and address the recent spike in anti-APIA hate crimes.
Meanwhile, Jungkook, who recently wiped his Instagram feed clean, revamped his feed with a collection of six aesthetically pleasing pictures. Fans pointed to one black-and-white photo in particular, which features taxis on a busy road in a panned-out shot. Puth, who liked Jungkook's photo, also posted a similar pic on his Instagram Story that same day. Fans quickly connected the photos and wondered if it was a visual from a possible music video of their potential collab.
Clue #2: Jungkook's Recent Visit to New York
For BTS's historic visit to the White House, the group reportedly flew together to Washington DC on May 29 - except for Jungkook, who left for the US a day earlier and met up with the group later. According to some K-media outlets, Jungkook flew to NYC before arriving in DC. In the airport snaps, Jungkook can be seen holding a bag containing drum sticks. Fans began theorizing about whether Jungkook's early departure had something to do with a secret project.
Interestingly enough, Puth revealed his whereabouts that same day, sending fans into a tizzy. "NYC is so quiet I love it," he wrote.
Nyc is so quiet I love it
- Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) May 28, 2022
On June 16, following Puth's confirmation that the collab was happening, Matthew Siskin, the director behind Puth's "That's Hilarious" music video, shared that he was with Jungkook and Puth in New York City. "Jungkook x Puth coming soon," he wrote on his Instagram stories. "It's been so hard to keep this secret. And yes, I'm speaking to the several thousand of you who joined this account while I was in NYC with them." Siskin's message seems to suggest Jungkook filmed a music video with Puth while he was in the big city.
Clue #3: Jungkook and Charlie Puth's History of Collaborating
Diehard fans know Jungkook and Puth share a mutual admiration for one another's musical talent. Jungkook first posted a mesmerizing cover of Puth's popular number "We Don't Talk Anymore" in 2017 and later dropped a full-length rendition of the single with bandmate Jimin.
The two pop artists went on to share the stage at the 2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards on Nov. 6, 2018, where they performed "We Don't Talk Anymore" together before Puth joined BTS for a performance of their megahit "Fake Love."
Jungkook was also seen bopping along to Puth's "Light Switch" on his Instagram Story following the song's release. The BTS member also shouted out Puth's latest song, "That's Hilarious," in an Instagram Q&A, even singing part of the single.
Now, "Left and Right" officially drops on Friday, June 24. Look how far we've come!
Comments