taemin has credited MJ as one of his major influences in his dance and music style, so you're totally on the mark! hes earned himself the nickname of the michael jackson of kpop bc of it :3
The way you paused for a moment “those are real people”…you were shook lmao Edit - forgot to say Taemin is the solo KING. No one like him! He debuted with Shinee 15 years ago! He was 14 years old. One of the youngest idols to ever debut. Shinee just released “Hard” which you should absolutely check out!
Replying to myself because it wouldn’t be one of my comments on your videos without it… Taemin’s idol is Michael Jackson! A LOT of his dance is heavily inspired by him.
Taemin is extremely unique as both an individual and artist for many reasons: 1) You instantly recognized the MJ influence on Taemin's style. This is because MJ was an early idol of Taemin's, along with Usher and Rain (Korean artist). Due to MJ's "Smooth Criminal", at the age of 9/10, Taemin started to teach himself how to dance by copying his idols' moves in front of his mirror. By the time he was 11, he was already street dancing and participated in one of SM's famous open Saturday auditions. Taemin was one of only 8 artists to be chosen during these massive auditions of thousands of hopefuls. As you can see from his audition video, he was quite a bit more advanced than his peers: ua-cam.com/video/ivxYp4nZ3aY/v-deo.html . 2) He became one of the youngest idols to ever debut in a group. Taemin was just 14 when he debuted with SHINee as their main dancer. 3) Taemin couldn't sing when he debuted due to immature vocal cords. In fact, his nickname was "Tone Deaf". One vocal coach told him he would never be able to sing, so give up and just stick with dancing. Taemin doesn't understand the word "CAN'T", so with diligent practice to the point of getting daily nosebleeds and falling asleep during practice because of staying up all night practicing alternately with singing then dancing, he succeeded in achieving his dream of now being one of the best vocalists in Korea. His fellow brother members, Jonghyun and Onew, two of the best vocalists in the industry, also tutored him. 4) Taemin's famous work ethic. Taemin is known throughout the industry as the hardest working idol. He will practice insane amounts of time (up to 18 hours at a time) to get his choreos perfect or just the right singing cadence to enrich his songs' meanings -- to the point of stressing the enunciation of certain lyrics to create just the right atmosphere as you noticed in "Criminal". This is even more evident in his song, "Impressionable" which you can check here: ua-cam.com/video/S4a0s0Y1ltI/v-deo.html . It's one of my favorites because of how artfully he uses his vocals to "play" with the music. There are many more reasons why he is so special, but this is getting quite long already. Most in the Kpop world (producers, directors, lyricists, and music critics) agree that he has the most Avant Garde MVs and music in the industry. You can see this discussion in the mini-doc, "The Artist: Taemin" which is excellent and will provide you with a lot of information about how Taemin is viewed within the industry as well as some of his inner thoughts: ua-cam.com/video/m2_MVBxmdyc/v-deo.html He's a master storyteller and his MVs come directly from the concepts within his mind and are oftentimes personal revelations of his inner thoughts. Therefore, he works very diligently on making sure those thoughts and stories are interpreted correctly within the MVs, even acting as co-producer/co-director of the album and MVs as he did with 2020's, full-length, 2-pt., album "Never Gonna Dance Again" (NGDA). For instance, "Want" is a retelling of the Genesis 3 story with a sprinkling of the salvation message at the end, as in choose one: 1) either continue to pursue the lies of the serpent by choosing sin; or 2) choose not the enter Rodin's Gates of Hell (the huge sculpture at the end) or be washed clean in the pure water of Life in Christ. As a Catholic, this type of religious imagery and symbolism is present in many of his MVs and song lyrics. "Criminal" employs the very unique concept of "Stockholm Syndrome" where Taemin is both the "criminal" and victim within his own mind. It depicts several struggles Taemin has gone through during his 15 years as an idol. One being his younger self and how shy, introverted, and doing whatever he was told to do (including being dressed as a girl and told how pretty he was) vs. his older self who wants to shed such stereotypes and just be himself--someone who, as a man, wants to be more manly, but has a more feminine build and more refined and beautiful appearance -- "Pretty Boy" is another song written by brother Jonghyun that talks about this. Another constant challenge is the struggle between following his faith and yet worried about the temptations of fame clashing with that faith. Who is the real Taemin, the artist or the everyday guy? These are the questions plaguing his mind and the resolution plays out with this song, and continues the storyline through the entire NGDA album and it's sister title track, "IDEA". The MV for "IDEA" is the climactic battle between Taemin's two egos, the "criminal" and the "victim through the concept of Plato's Theory of Forms" and visions of hell and heaven to represent the two sides. The epilogue of this story is found in his MV "Advice" (Yes, that is him playing the piano and layered vocals.) from his mini-album he dropped 2 weeks prior to enlisting in the military. This is where he tells us he is going to ditch the collective "one" advice from naysayers, saesangs, and company and stick to his own advice for the second half of his career going forward once he returns. Sorry for the length of this, and thank you for your reaction.
Taemin said he was inspired an influenced by MJ. When Taemin was 10 years old he seen MJ doing the "move" lead forward after seeing it, Taemin said knew he wanted to dance. Taemin started dancing at age 10. Taemin Danger video was inspired by MJ, Dangerous video. Taemin, criminal video was inspired by MJ, Smooth Criminal video. Taemin style of clothing inspired by MJ's style of clothing. You will see Taemine wearing sequin jacket, glove, band on pants or sleeve and short length pants. Some of Taemin movements are movements MJ did, Taemin adds his owen flow in his movement influenced by MJ.
Well, first of all, thank you for reacting to our baby Taemin♡ He's a member of the group SHINee (who debuted 15 years ago, when he was 14 y.o.) He's 30 this year! He made his solo debut in 2014 with his 1st mini album called ACE. That was AN EXPERIENCE. Literally. He's an absolute icon, the epitome of hard work, talent and a gift from the heavens to humanity at this point lol He can dance, sing, do that kind of rap-singing, he's beautiful, dedicated to his art but humble.. he's smart and a very very loving person. He's a very religious boy, so maybe you caught some snippets of religious references in his lyrics or the mv scenarios. He's a HUGE, MASSIVE, Michael Jackson fan. He began dancing when he was like 8 or 9 watching MJ's mvs and trying to copy him. That's how he got to audition for SM Entertainment back in the day. Taemin was categorized as "tone deaf" and could not sing much in earliest SHINee's discography, but he worked so so so hard to train his voice, bc voice is an instrument that you can learn to use as any other, and.. He's an amazing vocalist, so stable and powerful. He's a hardworking human being, so please keep reacting to him. He's amazingly talented. No regrets and not going back from staning him or SHINee for me♡
Taemin is just the best // love this guy so much. Thanks for the Taemin appreciation. Yes, that is Taemin playing the piano -- Check out Juice by SHINee (which Taemin is a member of) and hard by SHINee.
Fun fact: That's not just any female dancer in Taemin's "Want" MV. The girl you see highlighted in the shadows is Yoo JiMin (Karina) who is the leader and main dancer of aespa. She participated in this song as a rookie trainee even before aespa's debut. ("Want" was released in February 2019 and aespa didn't debut until November 2020.) She also participated in some of his live comeback stage performances and you can see her in his "Want" dance practice video. "Want" is one of those songs that the lyrics take the song and performance up to the next level. :D The lyrics give everything a whole other feel and it helps to explain the images and story you see being told in the MV. Many people think that "Want" has a vampire vibe, and I can see where some might get the vampire feel from this MV. After all, one of Taemin's nicknames is SHINee's eternal vampire because in some performances and MVs, the way he looks and the aesthetic of the performance gives him a vampire image. However, in "Want" Taemin is supposed to be portraying Lucifer. That's why he seems to have a love affair with those snakes. (The ones he is holding are real snakes.) And, like Lucifer, he is supposed to be seducing the audience and the girl using his devilish powers, which is why the choreography looks like he is slithering like a snake. The gate you see him standing in front of is supposed to be a representation of "The Gates of Hell " from French artist Auguste Rodin. Taemin is Catholic, and most of his MVs showcase his faith as it tells the story using numerous Biblical references.
The style and aesthetic in "Want" is just the kind of vibe we have all come to expect from Taemin. He has a very sensual/sexy way of moving and, as a soloist, it's kind of his signature thing.That is why all his songs are titles such as "Danger," "Soldier" "Sexuality," "Tiger," "Press Your Number," "Guess Who," "Mystery Lover," "Hypnosis," "Crazy 4 U," "Flame of Love," " Under My Skin," "Thirsty," "Want," "Criminal," etc. or "Ace," "Already", "Door, "Pretty Boy," "Move" "Artistic Groove," "Famous," "Idea," etc. Each song is meant to show you exactly why he is one of the best in the industry even just by their titles. I find it interesting that all of his songs, with the titles alone, tell you exactly what Taemin is all about. If you look at all the titles of his songs, you will see that the titles convey one of two things about him, either painting a picture of his sexy and sensual onstage personality, or they explain his dedication and passion as an artist. If you like his dancing in the MV, you have to see his "Want" dance practice video to really understand how intricate and breathtaking Taemin is with this choreography. No one moves the way Taemin does. Taemin is very unique and never does the same thing twice, he is constantly switching up his sound and dance style. However, you will see that it will always be very Taemin-like. Many choreographers who have worked with him over the years have said that, with Taemin you can't help but allow him to move in whatever way his body takes him. Taemin is art in every sense of the word. :D Taemin started when he was a child by copying dancers that he saw on TV such as Michael Jackson and Kpop star Bi Rain. And he didn't have any formal training until he joined SM. As trainees, SM originally planned to make SHINee a hip-hop group, so Taemin's dance training started out focusing on hip-hop dance styles like popping and locking. However, over the years, he has devoted himself to learning every style of dance. Now he is considered one of the top two best dancers. (EXO's Kai -- who happens to be Taemin's best friend since trainee days and is a fellow member of SuperM -- is the other top dancer.) Taemin is literally the artist that everyone within the Kpop industry looks up to and respects. He debuted as a member of SHINee in 2008 at the age of 14, and he became one of the very first SM idols who is part of a active group to start a solo career way back in 2014 when he was only 21 years old. Now he is one of the most popular male solo artist, who is considered the blueprint for what it takes to be a successful solo artist, as well as a member of the legendary group SHINee. Taemin has released at least one song or album -- most of the time way more than just one -- as part of SHINee, as a member of a project group, as a solo artist or as a member of SuperM every year since SHINee's debut. (Except for the past two years because he was on hiatus while he carried out his public service duties as part of his military requirements.) He is one of the only idols who has debuted in 3 Kpop generations -- second gen. with SHINee, third gen. as a solo artist and 4th gen. in 2019 as a member of SuperM -- and yet he is the same age or younger than most 3rd and even some 4th gen idols.
I LOVE that you checked out Taemin!!! He's my ultimate bias! His dancing and singing skills are next level--he's considered one of the very best dancers in KPOP. Here are some other ones you should check out if you want! ~Think of You ~Move ~Press Your Number ~Danger ~Drip Drop
Love your reactions to Taemin's art. He began as SHINee's main dancer and center at age 14 (trainee at 11) and worked hard to become the amazing solo artist and beloved group member we appreciate today. There are videos where Taemin explanis his process, as well as documentaries (like Taemin the Artist) where others describe working with him. For example, he introduced the concept of Stockholm Syndrome to the Criminal lyricists. And piano is a big part of Taemin's artistic persona. (He's either dancing on one or playing it.) I love all of his discography, and some of my favorites: Heaven, Black Rose, Thirsty, Famous, Stone Heart, Just Me and You (iconic choreography), Under My Skin, Soldier, Rise, Mars, Nemo, and his debut songs, Danger and Ace. Taemin dropped Advice before he left for the military, showing off his hip tattoo for the first time (S. Korea is very conservative about things like this) and work genderless outfits, including the awesome Supreme crop top that broke the internet. If you warch his practice videos, you can see why he's known as an exceptional dancer across any genre. He's a creative genius, and we're looking forward to his next chapter which is imminent 💜 On IDEA, that's the queen BoA singing "Killing Me Softly." Enjoy your Taemin journey! Also, he uses alot of religious symbolism in his concepts, hence Messiah. (I think Enhyphen has a vampre concept. Fun fact, Ni-Ki is close with SHINee, especially Key, and performed with them when he was a child dancer).
HE IS ONE OF THE TOP IDOL IN THE BUSINESS AND HE JUST CAME BACK FROM HIS MILTARY DUTY AND REUNITED WITH HIS GROUP SHINee. they are one of the best since 2008
"Criminal" and "Idea" are part of Taemin's 3rd Korean solo album called Never Gonna Dance Again. It is part of a trilogy, which started with his prologue "2 Kids," and continued with "Criminal" which is part of Act 1 of the album. "Idea" is part of Act 2 of the album and it brings the whole concept full circle. As Taemin said in an interview: "The two acts put together tell a story. '2 Kids’ is about growing pains and depicts the story prior to the story in the album. You can think of '2 Kids' as a teaser before the movie called 'Never Gonna Dance Again.' Act 1 shows a new side of me. I think it’ll be something you’ve never seen in K-pop before. And Act 2 is the end-all-be-all. It’s the ultimate level of intensity. Never Gonna Dance Again’ was originally the name of the concept. Because it doesn’t make sense for me to stop dancing. But I wanted to give a sense of rebellion with the irony of the title.” Just so you know, the Taemin you see in the "Criminal" MV isn't really the criminal in the song. He is the victim who is being held captive by the criminal. I see the "criminal" as represented by the lover (i.e the other side of him) that he is singing about, which is a metaphor for the pressure he feels under as a Kpop idol. The song is about living in a toxic relationship and being brainwashed by a lover. He has now fallen in love with the person (or thing -- i.e. his career) who is inflicting all the pain and suffering on him, so now he accepts the abuse as a normal part of the relationship. Even though he is being abused by that person -- possibly a metaphor for the pressure he is creating for himself with the need to always be the best in everything he does -- he can't help but love them and allow them to continue to hurt him, etc. All the abuse is happening to him, he is not hurting anyone else or doing anything criminal himself. Therefore, the story isn't about Taemin being a criminal. Notice, the S.W.A.T. team isn't arresting him. They pretty much walk right past Taemin and ignore him as they search for the criminal. The "boss" vibe is a facade he puts on to make people believe he is in control, but as you see in the "Criminal" choreography, he is being manipulated by all the outside forces around him. For example, we see him lying across the backup dancers backs and they pick him up and manipulate him to do what they want him to do at that moment. A lot of his dance moves in "Criminal" are designed to make him look like a marionette puppet that is being pulled around by strings and being told what to do. Which is what you see when he is crouched down and he creates that wiggly, wave movement in the dance, etc. As part of the story, he has been held captive for so long that, as it says in the lyrics of "Criminal", he is now suffering from stockholm syndrome, so he is no longer fighting the abuse and that is why you see him throw his bindings away. The criminal -- which is a metaphor for the pressure he has felt in his career -- no longer has to tie him up to keep him there. (Because he has fallen in love with the pain and suffering he inflicts on himself as a artist, etc.) The backup dancers represent the forces he is struggling against as he fights with his mind over whether to stay or go, etc. Fun fact: It was Taemin's idea to include the police blotter/news clips in "Criminal". If you notice, the sound bites are from all over the world and they are speaking multiple languages. All of Taemin's dances tell a story. As he has said, he specifically designs his choreography to be a part of the story within the song and MV. So, "Criminal" is supposed to be slightly creepy, as well as sexy. He is literally being abused and asking you to please "destroy me more." Taemin pronounces Idea the way you hear him saying it in "Idea" because he is pronouncing it like the Greek word idéa, and not like the English pronunciation. The song is based on the Greek philosopher Plato’s theory of Ideas. Plato believed that an "Idea" is an ultimate reality. Every form has an idea, an image, or standard set for it and Plato believed that these ideas were eternal. For example, when talking about a human, everyone has an image, an ideal type of human according to Plato and once defined that description or thought is constant and never changing. In "Idea" Taemin is disagreeing with Plato's theory and he is saying that the world is not ruled by one ultimate definition of something or that there isn't only one voice. Taemin is saying he has many voices and thoughts influencing him. If he were to conform to only one way of doing something -- i.e., if he listened to everyone who told him there was only one way to be a Kpop Idol and he needed to do everything the traditional cookiecutter way -- then that would be like killing his spirit and everything that makes him who he is. Hence the lines in the song that say, "Killing me softly." Fun fact No. 2: The female voice you hear saying "Killing me softly" is BoA. She is a solo artist also under SM Entertainment, and she is Taemin's highly respected senior, who debuted with SM in 2000 at the age of 13 and, now after more than 23 years, she is known as one of the senior-most members of the industry. BoA is legend. Some have said, and I have to agree, that "Idea" is a metaphor for the way Taemin sees his career. He loves what he does, almost to the point of obsession -- like "my messiah" he is drawn to it and can't help worship it -- he practically needs to dance and perform to survive. But, at the same time, it pretty much controls his life. Living as an Idol means everything he does is done in the public eye, and he will never be able to live a normal life -- his "dangerous dream" that is engulfing him and "swallowing him" up. The stress and constant demand for perfection he feels may be slowly "Killing me softly," etc. I particularly like the verse in "Idea" that says: "The blue light, When you and I face each other, Stained in it, All one's feelings, It's an infinite range, In my world, Most dazzling,The absolute value of you, My my IDEA." These lines seem to be talking about Taemin's fans. SHINee's fan color is pearl aqua blue, so the blue light you see in the MV and the blue light he talks about in the lyrics of "Idea," makes me think he is referring to the impact and influence the fans have had on everything he has done in his career. And although he loves and appreciates us, it has not come without a few sacrifices and negative aspects as well. The mutual love and respect between Taemin and the fans also has added a lot of extra pressure on him because he always wants to give people his absolute best and he is constantly trying to live up to an impossible standard of self-imposed flawlessness. This album's whole concept is a metaphor for his life and career. With every release from this album, the concept was designed to be darker then the last. In "2 Kids" he was emotionally and physically beating himself up with regrets. In "Criminal" he was living in a toxic relationship. In "Idea" he takes the theme one step further, and says that even though it was my idea and my plan to live this life, nothing comes without a price, and because of that need for perfection, any chance of being average or living a regular life is pretty much dead. Taemin has sacrificed everything to become the magnificent and unique performer and person that we know him as today. But there really is no one that pushes him or holds him to a higher standard then himself. Taemin has said that he really has never taken a true vacation since he was a trainee -- he started with SM Entertainment when he was around 11 years old -- and he doesn't know what to do if he isn't constantly working and training. As he has said, there has never been anything that has come easy to him and he has only gotten to where he is today because he has worked hard to accomplish everything. He is constantly pushing himself to become the best of the best in everything he does. If you are impressed with Taemin's dancing in these MVs, not only should you see his dance practice videos for "Criminal" and "Idea", but just wait until you see a live performance. You will be even more blown away. Taemin's style of dance can't be defined. As he has said, he has worked his entire career to create a style of dance that is unlike anything in the Kpop industry. And I would argue that that now extends to the entire industry of dance. Taemin started out as a self-taught popper and locker without any dance training, and, even then, as a trainee it was clear his skills as a dancer went far beyond the average dancer. Over the years, as you see with "Criminal" and "Idea," he has infused those popping and locking skills into his now more contemporary style of dance. But, when it comes to dancing, he can do it all and there is no one better at it than him. As a member of SHINee, Taemin has trained his entire career to be able to pull off this type of intense and intricate dancing while singing live and always sounding flawless the whole time. That is what SHINee are known for. So not only is Taemin an amazing dancer, but he is also one of the best singers in the industry, and the 5 members of SHINee make up one of the top groups, that everyone looks up to and dreams of even coming close to being as good as.
Another soloist you should check out is Baekhyun. He is from EXO which is under SM ent. just like Shinee. Some of Baekhyun's songs you should check out is UN Village, Candy and Bambi. Keep up the content you are great!
Taemin is my Ult of Ults. He is such an amazing artist. I'm so glad you reacted to his work. Taemin has an allure unlike anyone else that draws you in and any desire to leave disappears. MOVE is iconic and I suggest you watch the MV and dance practice. Your outro was fine!😊
TAEMIN ES ÚNICO EN LA INDUSTRIA .EL REY DE REYES DEL PERFORMER .El ACE de SM ENTERTAEMTN .HACE BRILLAR A LA INDUSTRIA CON CADA ALBUN .ESPERANDO SU NUEVO ALBUN A VER CON QUE NOS SORPRENDE 🤗❤🎇
That's such a valid point with Taemin's vocals, especially in Criminal! I couldn't pinpoint what is different about his vocals in this one but he does sound even more calm and soothing than usual, which does wonders with delivery in terms of the lyrics. It's such a great, paradoxical way to emphasise the message of the song. Thanks for reacting, excited to hear more!
Taemin has been my favorite idol for so many years, I got into K-pop around 14, I was super into Got7 and then SHINee was another group I got really into, Taemin had always caught my eye since day one. I love who he's grown into and how successful he is. He's a beautiful man, and his voice is so soothing and calming. If you want here's a few songs I'm sure you'll enjoy: Press Your Number, Thirsty, Waiting For, Just Me and You, Pansy
I see "Advice" as a continuation of the themes within Taemin's previous Never Gonna Dance Again album trilogy -- "2 Kids," "Criminal" and "Idea." With "Criminal" and "Idea," Taemin talks about being involved in a toxic relationship -- not necessarily a romantic relationship, but a metaphor for his relationship with fame -- in which he agrees to be manipulated almost to the point of being destroyed in order to become the artist we see today. But in the end of "Idea" we see him become free from the box everyone wants to put him in and he comes to terms with his role as an idol. He has now formed his own "Idea" about himself and what it means to be an idol, etc. As Taemin explained during his VLive event for "Advice", "Advice" is like the end to the first chapter in his life, and it marks the beginning of the second chapter. The song seems to be his way of saying I am done caring to everyone who judged him and all those haters who spread rumors and misinformation about him. "Advice" is showing that he is now free and confident to be himself, breaking stereotypes and now only listening to himself. Taemin is just one of those performers that leaves you speechless every time he steps on stage. He was born to be a performer and that is one of the reasons why he has become known as the Korean Michael Jackson. That is also why, as one of the top two performers in the industry, he was made a member of SuperM. Taemin is an Idol of Idols and a legend of legends. And the title of the industry's BEST dancer isn't just a fan's opinion, but it's a widely agreed upon title bestowed on Taemin by his peers and the industry as a whole. (If you ask any of your favorite Kpop dancers who was their inspiration, they will most likely name Taemin as one of them.) In "Advice" he's basically saying, "Stop trying to put me in a box, in which I'll never fit in." He is also speaking to everyone that says he's getting old, that he's just a Michael Jackson wannabe that doesn't sell a lot of albums because he tries too hard to be edgy, etc. He's rebelling against all those people who are constantly advising him to make more mainstream music, or to follow the traditional Kpop idol style, in order to boost his sales and his popularity. However, as Taemin is making clear in "Advice," that is not who he is and he will never be "normal" or "mainstream" and he is OK with that. In the scenes where you see him covered in ink, I think that is supposed to be him showing everyone how he is no longer the "unstained," cute maknae everyone wants to think of him as. The diamond you see painted on his hand when he is playing the piano, and you see drawn on his bicep, etc is SHINee's symbol and, once again, all the pearl aqua blue/green colors you see in the MV is SHINee's official color. (The large tattoo on his hip is real. Hence why in the lyrics he says, "I destroy the torso that you were chasing after." He's tired of people thinking they even have a say in what he does with his body.) This song was specifically designed to not be like anything he has ever done before. He plays the piano, he raps, he shows off his falsetto notes, etc., which is different than what we often hear and see from him. He intentionally used this song to prove that he isn't one type of singer. People often think of Taemin as a sultry vocalist that sings in a breathy comfortable, less dynamic style. So, with this song he wants to prove to everyone that he can be unpredictable and try new things. Yet again, you can't put him in a box or tell him who to be. Everything you see in this MV is 100% Taemin, including the piano playing. Everything that Taemin's haters like to point out about him and say are reasons why he shouldn't be held to such high esteem, I find completely ridiculous. I don't think that anyone who actually knows him would ever say he has played it safe at anytime in his career. If you think he is only one dimensional, and that he is trying to be anything other than himself, then you really don't know Taemin. Everything he does is different, out there and definitely not safe. It's always uniquely Taemin, and he couldn't do it any other way. Also, because Taemin is a member of SHINee, none of his songs are ever like anything you have every heard or seen before from him. It will always have a new beat, style and sound. As SM Entertainment's experimental boy group, SHINee is meant to be the first and they are expected to set the trend, and that includes the members' solo work. With every new song Taemin produces it's expected to be different than the last, so you will never hear the same style or sound from him in any of his songs, even on the same album, and yet, it still will be uniquely Taemin-like. Which is another example of how you can never put him in a box or expect anything from him. :D Another theme in "Advice" is about how Taemin is embracing his androgynous side -- but on his own terms -- which I think is a continuation of the message in his "Move" MV. Early in his career when Taemin was growing up in SHINee, he was known for his delicate feminine features. It took him a long time to accept that he was recognized for his looks and to come to terms with the fact that everyone thought of him as a "pretty boy," etc. So, at this point in his career -- he is now 27 years old in this MV -- he is making a statement about how he has decided to be himself and no longer care what people think. Music is art and art has no gender. So, that is why in "Advice" you see him wearing hair extensions, fishnets and women's Supreme sports wear, etc. But if you notice, his choreography is very fast paced and sharp, which is hyper masculine -- a complete contrast to the "feminine" image people want to give him. You also see him wearing makeup, but it's smeared on his face, as if to say, "people may think of me as a 'Pretty Boy,' but I don't care about looking pretty." In the lyrics he is saying, "It's creepy how people are always looking to cause drama, so stop trying to create scandals in my life that don't really exist. It's all just stories you make up." He's tired of all those people who seem to look for reasons to cause drama, where none really exists.
Where he says "floppy" in the lyrics, I think he's talking about knowing about or hearing firsthand the things people are saying about him, but he is choosing not to pay attention to them because what they're saying is flopping or doesn't hold any weight or have any substance, etc. "Advice" just proves that everytime people try to put Taemin in a box, he destroys it and keeps coming back with something more unique and never seen before. Hence, why in the choreography he puts his hands in front of his face and creates a movement that looks like an animated mouth talking. It represents how everyone keeps talking about him and what they are saying is nonsense, which makes them look and sound ridiculous, etc. Which is why in the lyrics he says, "You will never get the keys to my lock" because he doesn't ever plan to give people what they want and allow them access to his secrets and personal life, etc. (Those people who like to gossip about him will never truly know the real him.) I interpret the "One (piece of ) Advice" he is talking about in the lyrics as a reference to the advice he keeps being given about being more mainstream, but he's saying, "stop trying to make me conform to the image you have in your head of who I should be and what I should do." In other words, take all that time and effort you have been using to come up with ways to talk about how he don't fit in, etc. and put it to better use. "Follow my own advice" and do something original for once. The crucifixion pose at the end of "Advice" is sort of a signature pose for him. I interpret it to be like he is saying, "And that is the end, this is my final word, take it or leave it, but don't doubt me. I have gave it my all and laid everything I had out there for you," etc. If you are impressed with Taemin's dancing in this MV, just wait until you see him perform live. Also, check out his dance practice video on SM's SMP Floor channel. As I said, Taemin is on a whole other level.
please react to kai next!!!! he’s also a talented soloist like taemin, in fact they were in a group together at one point!! he has three title tracks as of right now; “mmmh”, “peaches”, and “rover”. since you seem to do four mvs per video u could also check out “film : kai” which gives u a little preview of his sound :)
Taemin loves Michael Jackson's dancing and you will a lot of MJ-inspired moves in Taemin's choreography. Edit: In Advice, yes that is actually him playing the piano. And his voice is always calm and delivered smoothly.
I seen taemin and hit that subscribe button so fast!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING THE GOD OF KPOP TAEMIN THE LOVE. You have got a new friend in me. Pleeeeease keep taemin coming I can't wait for more.
Taemin/Shinee are the only kpop artists I listened to. They seem to me as the only authentic group within kpop. And Taemin is a genre himself. His artistry and musicality is unique and unmatched
Oh my god I'm really glad you decided to react to Taemin he's literally the g.o.a.t!! Also because you asked, in idea the 'killing me softly' line is sang by another kpop legend her name BoA
Thank you for reacting to the KING🙌👑 Check out more of Taemin's songs especially his live performances. He is living legend and my ultimate bias ever!!!
Taemin is actually the korean MJ because of how he was so influenced by MJ since he was very young. The thing about Taemin is that he isn't just dancing like MJ in some parts of the choreo but he also added his own color making his own style. I grew up looking up to MJ as well. So, it's no mystery Taemin is my first SHINee bias. (I bias all 5 of them now)
In Advice, yes, it's Taemin playing piano 🙂 he is a good piano player. Taemin, besides being an amazing dancer, great solo singer and being an iconic reference for younger idols, is the youngest member of SHINee (a 2nd generation kpop group). SHINee debuted in 2008 as a 5 members' experimental contemporary r&b group. After 15 years of activity, they are still highly respected in the industry and considered as trendsetters. Still. They have a huge discography (studio albums in Korean, in Japanese, mini-albums, solo works of the members). Besides that, please note they are even better in live performances than in recorded studio versions🙂: watch a few live performances (they actually sing live, no lip syncing. They trained for that) and you'll see. As I said, they debuted in 2008 as five members; unfortunately in 2017 one of the members - Jonghyun - passed away... but they still consider themselves as 5, as Jonghyun shall never be forgotten and is still with them. There are a few good guides to SHINee which will help you through the group activities and the members.
TaeMin is who brang me into the world of Kpop, along with SHINee, in 2010. I then found Infinite, VIXX, and finally BTS. TaeMin is an amazing artist who can do it all and I’d like to thank you for reacting to his videos and bring me back to where it all began.
taemin is such an artist. he's heavily inspired by michael jackson, so you were not wrong with saying that it looked like a michael move. with a lot of people in the music industry, there is a lack of creativity and artistry. however, taemin always comes with something different and creative with every comeback. for someone who has been in the industry since he was 14, he is has such a strong sense of self and personality with his releases. i can hear a song and immediately recognize that it was something he did. hes just so taemin lol. hopefully you are able to check out the group he is apart of, which is shinee, along with some other artists under SM.
Saying he is “just so taemin” is the perfect way to describe it because he’s literally so different from everyone else. The only other artist I could think to even closely connect him to is MJ!
One of the reasons I love Taemin so much is because he worked his ASS off to get where he is, especially vocally. When SHINee first debuted, he wasn't given many lines, next to none of them solo, because, and I quote SM (their agency), "Taemin doesn't have the kind of voice that should be heard." 15 years later and he has the most successful solo career from the whole group (Jonghyun was very, very successful as well. I really miss him).
Want is my favorite. He's the devil tempting Eve (IMO) and wow, that'd do it. He's amazing. Also, he adores MJ and has been performing since he was a kid, so he's very, very good, among the best dancers in Kpop for sure.
I dare you to find one song you don't like by Taemin ;) He's soooooo good! He's amazing solo but I love his groupwork as well. I could listen to him for the rest of my life and never get bored
I get what your saying, his voice is very gentle and soothing. His voice is very suductive in a way. Taemin is definitely one of my fav solo artists, his voice is extremely pretty and he’s an amazing dancer
I enjoyed your reaction a lot! IDEA is actually not about love (Criminal technically either), but Taemin's songs very often have multiple meanings, and he enjoys when fans interpret them freely. IDEA, is about Taemin finding his ideal self. His pronunciation is different, because this is a Greek word (I think it would stand for 'ideal' in English). This song has been inspired by Plato's 'Theory of Forms'. Criminal on the other hand was based on Stockholm Syndrome, and it represents Taemin's inner struggle. It would be great to see you react to his Move, Sayonara Hitori (Japanese release), Under my Skin (Japanese release).
@@avotia Oh wow, thank you! It's difficult to figure out without knowing how to read Greek alphabet 😭 and it seems that I had a limited understanding of the English usage of this word too (it's not my first language). You helped me here more than just with the Greek meaning.
@@shadow_sigyn don't worry)))for me, English is also not the first language and not even the second, but I'm glad I helped, it's just that in Greek this theory is called The theory of ideas which says that All moral values are Ideas: virtue, justice, valor, prudence, piety, and all others corresponding to them. Ideas are even mathematical concepts and entities: equality, unity, multiplicity, number, point, line, geometric figure, solid
@@avotia Ah it's called Theory of idea in my language, but we also don't use the word idea the same way it can be used in English, I think this is what got me confused. We have a different word that we use in more mundane situations like for example in a simple "I have an idea" sentence.
OMGGG🎉❤ thankss for reaction a TAEMIN Thanksss Greetings from Argentina Sorry english😅😢 PLEASE 🙌🙌reaction: > Taemin press your number dance perf 2 and > KEY Killer
Taemin is from the group SHINee. You should check out the songs Replay (their debut from 2008) Ring Ding Dong ( one of their most popular songs) Dont call me and Hard ( some more recent music) . I will say SHINee is a 5 member group but one member passed away in 2017 so you will only see 4 members in their more recent music. ❤
I got to see Teamin live in front of my face with my actual eyeballs at Kcon LA last month and it was a religious experience. Absolutely amazing. He performed Move, Advice, and Criminal
Thank y so so much for reacting to ma boy ❤ 23:24 it wasn't Taemin's voice; that was BoA's voice. Just the queen of kpop, 1st gen Idol, debuted in 2000 at 14 years old. You should check her songs too she is amazing and also has a smooth voice: Better , Forgive me and Woman (the begging of the choreography is a must). Also why not Shinee? They are amazing, not just Taemin is a soloist, all of them are. They are a 5 member group with great vocals and a flavor of R&B. They just had a comeback actually. Some suggestions: 1 of 1 (on the MV Onew is not dancing because he was injured) Replay (their debut) Don't call me Atlantis
Taemin said the song criminal is about falling in love being like stockholm syndrome and the choreography is from the view of a corpse. Hense all the fluid iver pronounced movements
Thank y’all for being patient with me ❤️❤️❤️
It's no problem. I hope your voice gets better
taemin has credited MJ as one of his major influences in his dance and music style, so you're totally on the mark! hes earned himself the nickname of the michael jackson of kpop bc of it :3
The way you paused for a moment “those are real people”…you were shook lmao
Edit - forgot to say Taemin is the solo KING. No one like him! He debuted with Shinee 15 years ago! He was 14 years old. One of the youngest idols to ever debut.
Shinee just released “Hard” which you should absolutely check out!
Replying to myself because it wouldn’t be one of my comments on your videos without it…
Taemin’s idol is Michael Jackson! A LOT of his dance is heavily inspired by him.
@@vixiecat 😆
Taemin is actually known as the MJ of Korea and is one of the best dancers in K-pop
actually, for me Taemin is the best solo male artist .. he got everything .. he is legend.. yes he is the IDOL of idols
the “killing me softly” in IDEA is sung by the artist BoA, who is also under SM entertainment! taemin asked her to do it and so she did
not only does Taemin have a killer vocal style, his movement/dance is captivating...he is one of the kings of Kpop dance.
Taemin is extremely unique as both an individual and artist for many reasons:
1) You instantly recognized the MJ influence on Taemin's style. This is because MJ was an early idol of Taemin's, along with Usher and Rain (Korean artist). Due to MJ's "Smooth Criminal", at the age of 9/10, Taemin started to teach himself how to dance by copying his idols' moves in front of his mirror. By the time he was 11, he was already street dancing and participated in one of SM's famous open Saturday auditions. Taemin was one of only 8 artists to be chosen during these massive auditions of thousands of hopefuls. As you can see from his audition video, he was quite a bit more advanced than his peers: ua-cam.com/video/ivxYp4nZ3aY/v-deo.html .
2) He became one of the youngest idols to ever debut in a group. Taemin was just 14 when he debuted with SHINee as their main dancer.
3) Taemin couldn't sing when he debuted due to immature vocal cords. In fact, his nickname was "Tone Deaf". One vocal coach told him he would never be able to sing, so give up and just stick with dancing. Taemin doesn't understand the word "CAN'T", so with diligent practice to the point of getting daily nosebleeds and falling asleep during practice because of staying up all night practicing alternately with singing then dancing, he succeeded in achieving his dream of now being one of the best vocalists in Korea. His fellow brother members, Jonghyun and Onew, two of the best vocalists in the industry, also tutored him.
4) Taemin's famous work ethic. Taemin is known throughout the industry as the hardest working idol. He will practice insane amounts of time (up to 18 hours at a time) to get his choreos perfect or just the right singing cadence to enrich his songs' meanings -- to the point of stressing the enunciation of certain lyrics to create just the right atmosphere as you noticed in "Criminal". This is even more evident in his song, "Impressionable" which you can check here: ua-cam.com/video/S4a0s0Y1ltI/v-deo.html . It's one of my favorites because of how artfully he uses his vocals to "play" with the music.
There are many more reasons why he is so special, but this is getting quite long already.
Most in the Kpop world (producers, directors, lyricists, and music critics) agree that he has the most Avant Garde MVs and music in the industry. You can see this discussion in the mini-doc, "The Artist: Taemin" which is excellent and will provide you with a lot of information about how Taemin is viewed within the industry as well as some of his inner thoughts: ua-cam.com/video/m2_MVBxmdyc/v-deo.html He's a master storyteller and his MVs come directly from the concepts within his mind and are oftentimes personal revelations of his inner thoughts. Therefore, he works very diligently on making sure those thoughts and stories are interpreted correctly within the MVs, even acting as co-producer/co-director of the album and MVs as he did with 2020's, full-length, 2-pt., album "Never Gonna Dance Again" (NGDA).
For instance, "Want" is a retelling of the Genesis 3 story with a sprinkling of the salvation message at the end, as in choose one: 1) either continue to pursue the lies of the serpent by choosing sin; or 2) choose not the enter Rodin's Gates of Hell (the huge sculpture at the end) or be washed clean in the pure water of Life in Christ. As a Catholic, this type of religious imagery and symbolism is present in many of his MVs and song lyrics.
"Criminal" employs the very unique concept of "Stockholm Syndrome" where Taemin is both the "criminal" and victim within his own mind. It depicts several struggles Taemin has gone through during his 15 years as an idol. One being his younger self and how shy, introverted, and doing whatever he was told to do (including being dressed as a girl and told how pretty he was) vs. his older self who wants to shed such stereotypes and just be himself--someone who, as a man, wants to be more manly, but has a more feminine build and more refined and beautiful appearance -- "Pretty Boy" is another song written by brother Jonghyun that talks about this. Another constant challenge is the struggle between following his faith and yet worried about the temptations of fame clashing with that faith. Who is the real Taemin, the artist or the everyday guy? These are the questions plaguing his mind and the resolution plays out with this song, and continues the storyline through the entire NGDA album and it's sister title track, "IDEA".
The MV for "IDEA" is the climactic battle between Taemin's two egos, the "criminal" and the "victim through the concept of Plato's Theory of Forms" and visions of hell and heaven to represent the two sides. The epilogue of this story is found in his MV "Advice" (Yes, that is him playing the piano and layered vocals.) from his mini-album he dropped 2 weeks prior to enlisting in the military. This is where he tells us he is going to ditch the collective "one" advice from naysayers, saesangs, and company and stick to his own advice for the second half of his career going forward once he returns.
Sorry for the length of this, and thank you for your reaction.
I LOVE your dedication in this comment, some new information for me even as a Taemint! Thank u
TAEMIN's live stages and dance practices are always awsome
TAEMIN is the different level. THE KING of kings
The “Killing me” part is sung by THE Queen of Kpop BoA.
And there’s a reason almost every idol names Taemin as their inspiration to become an idol.
HOLY MOLY !! TAEMIN !! He is a phenomenal dancer.
Taemin said he was inspired an influenced by MJ. When Taemin was 10 years old he seen MJ doing the "move" lead forward after seeing it, Taemin said knew he wanted to dance. Taemin started dancing at age 10. Taemin Danger video was inspired by MJ, Dangerous video. Taemin, criminal video was inspired by MJ, Smooth Criminal video. Taemin style of clothing inspired by MJ's style of clothing. You will see Taemine wearing sequin jacket, glove, band on pants or sleeve and short length pants. Some of Taemin movements are movements MJ did, Taemin adds his owen flow in his movement influenced by MJ.
Taemin songs just always be feeling soft and smooth but slaps so hard
Well, first of all, thank you for reacting to our baby Taemin♡
He's a member of the group SHINee (who debuted 15 years ago, when he was 14 y.o.)
He's 30 this year!
He made his solo debut in 2014 with his 1st mini album called ACE. That was AN EXPERIENCE. Literally. He's an absolute icon, the epitome of hard work, talent and a gift from the heavens to humanity at this point lol
He can dance, sing, do that kind of rap-singing, he's beautiful, dedicated to his art but humble.. he's smart and a very very loving person. He's a very religious boy, so maybe you caught some snippets of religious references in his lyrics or the mv scenarios. He's a HUGE, MASSIVE, Michael Jackson fan. He began dancing when he was like 8 or 9 watching MJ's mvs and trying to copy him. That's how he got to audition for SM Entertainment back in the day.
Taemin was categorized as "tone deaf" and could not sing much in earliest SHINee's discography, but he worked so so so hard to train his voice, bc voice is an instrument that you can learn to use as any other, and.. He's an amazing vocalist, so stable and powerful.
He's a hardworking human being, so please keep reacting to him. He's amazingly talented. No regrets and not going back from staning him or SHINee for me♡
Taemin is just the best // love this guy so much. Thanks for the Taemin appreciation. Yes, that is Taemin playing the piano -- Check out Juice by SHINee (which Taemin is a member of) and hard by SHINee.
And don’t call me. That’s a bop
@@VigorousYouth. For sure!!
Fun fact: That's not just any female dancer in Taemin's "Want" MV. The girl you see highlighted in the shadows is Yoo JiMin (Karina) who is the leader and main dancer of aespa. She participated in this song as a rookie trainee even before aespa's debut. ("Want" was released in February 2019 and aespa didn't debut until November 2020.) She also participated in some of his live comeback stage performances and you can see her in his "Want" dance practice video.
"Want" is one of those songs that the lyrics take the song and performance up to the next level. :D The lyrics give everything a whole other feel and it helps to explain the images and story you see being told in the MV.
Many people think that "Want" has a vampire vibe, and I can see where some might get the vampire feel from this MV. After all, one of Taemin's nicknames is SHINee's eternal vampire because in some performances and MVs, the way he looks and the aesthetic of the performance gives him a vampire image.
However, in "Want" Taemin is supposed to be portraying Lucifer. That's why he seems to have a love affair with those snakes. (The ones he is holding are real snakes.) And, like Lucifer, he is supposed to be seducing the audience and the girl using his devilish powers, which is why the choreography looks like he is slithering like a snake. The gate you see him standing in front of is supposed to be a representation of "The Gates of Hell " from French artist Auguste Rodin. Taemin is Catholic, and most of his MVs showcase his faith as it tells the story using numerous Biblical references.
The style and aesthetic in "Want" is just the kind of vibe we have all come to expect from Taemin. He has a very sensual/sexy way of moving and, as a soloist, it's kind of his signature thing.That is why all his songs are titles such as "Danger," "Soldier" "Sexuality," "Tiger," "Press Your Number," "Guess Who," "Mystery Lover," "Hypnosis," "Crazy 4 U," "Flame of Love," " Under My Skin," "Thirsty," "Want," "Criminal," etc. or "Ace," "Already", "Door, "Pretty Boy," "Move" "Artistic Groove," "Famous," "Idea," etc. Each song is meant to show you exactly why he is one of the best in the industry even just by their titles. I find it interesting that all of his songs, with the titles alone, tell you exactly what Taemin is all about. If you look at all the titles of his songs, you will see that the titles convey one of two things about him, either painting a picture of his sexy and sensual onstage personality, or they explain his dedication and passion as an artist.
If you like his dancing in the MV, you have to see his "Want" dance practice video to really understand how intricate and breathtaking Taemin is with this choreography. No one moves the way Taemin does.
Taemin is very unique and never does the same thing twice, he is constantly switching up his sound and dance style. However, you will see that it will always be very Taemin-like. Many choreographers who have worked with him over the years have said that, with Taemin you can't help but allow him to move in whatever way his body takes him. Taemin is art in every sense of the word. :D
Taemin started when he was a child by copying dancers that he saw on TV such as Michael Jackson and Kpop star Bi Rain. And he didn't have any formal training until he joined SM. As trainees, SM originally planned to make SHINee a hip-hop group, so Taemin's dance training started out focusing on hip-hop dance styles like popping and locking. However, over the years, he has devoted himself to learning every style of dance. Now he is considered one of the top two best dancers. (EXO's Kai -- who happens to be Taemin's best friend since trainee days and is a fellow member of SuperM -- is the other top dancer.) Taemin is literally the artist that everyone within the Kpop industry looks up to and respects.
He debuted as a member of SHINee in 2008 at the age of 14, and he became one of the very first SM idols who is part of a active group to start a solo career way back in 2014 when he was only 21 years old. Now he is one of the most popular male solo artist, who is considered the blueprint for what it takes to be a successful solo artist, as well as a member of the legendary group SHINee.
Taemin has released at least one song or album -- most of the time way more than just one -- as part of SHINee, as a member of a project group, as a solo artist or as a member of SuperM every year since SHINee's debut. (Except for the past two years because he was on hiatus while he carried out his public service duties as part of his military requirements.) He is one of the only idols who has debuted in 3 Kpop generations -- second gen. with SHINee, third gen. as a solo artist and 4th gen. in 2019 as a member of SuperM -- and yet he is the same age or younger than most 3rd and even some 4th gen idols.
Taemin is the king of kpop
I LOVE that you checked out Taemin!!! He's my ultimate bias! His dancing and singing skills are next level--he's considered one of the very best dancers in KPOP. Here are some other ones you should check out if you want!
~Think of You
~Move
~Press Your Number
~Danger
~Drip Drop
Advice is one of my favourite songs. It's an earworm😂😂
Taemin ♥️🇵🇪💎
TAEMIN: THE IDOL OF IDOLS
Love your reactions to Taemin's art. He began as SHINee's main dancer and center at age 14 (trainee at 11) and worked hard to become the amazing solo artist and beloved group member we appreciate today. There are videos where Taemin explanis his process, as well as documentaries (like Taemin the Artist) where others describe working with him. For example, he introduced the concept of Stockholm Syndrome to the Criminal lyricists. And piano is a big part of Taemin's artistic persona. (He's either dancing on one or playing it.) I love all of his discography, and some of my favorites: Heaven, Black Rose, Thirsty, Famous, Stone Heart, Just Me and You (iconic choreography), Under My Skin, Soldier, Rise, Mars, Nemo, and his debut songs, Danger and Ace. Taemin dropped Advice before he left for the military, showing off his hip tattoo for the first time (S. Korea is very conservative about things like this) and work genderless outfits, including the awesome Supreme crop top that broke the internet. If you warch his practice videos, you can see why he's known as an exceptional dancer across any genre. He's a creative genius, and we're looking forward to his next chapter which is imminent 💜 On IDEA, that's the queen BoA singing "Killing Me Softly." Enjoy your Taemin journey! Also, he uses alot of religious symbolism in his concepts, hence Messiah. (I think Enhyphen has a vampre concept. Fun fact, Ni-Ki is close with SHINee, especially Key, and performed with them when he was a child dancer).
Taemin is the king!
HE IS ONE OF THE TOP IDOL IN THE BUSINESS AND HE JUST CAME BACK FROM HIS MILTARY DUTY AND REUNITED WITH HIS GROUP SHINee. they are one of the best since 2008
"Criminal" and "Idea" are part of Taemin's 3rd Korean solo album called Never Gonna Dance Again. It is part of a trilogy, which started with his prologue "2 Kids," and continued with "Criminal" which is part of Act 1 of the album. "Idea" is part of Act 2 of the album and it brings the whole concept full circle.
As Taemin said in an interview: "The two acts put together tell a story. '2 Kids’ is about growing pains and depicts the story prior to the story in the album. You can think of '2 Kids' as a teaser before the movie called 'Never Gonna Dance Again.' Act 1 shows a new side of me. I think it’ll be something you’ve never seen in K-pop before. And Act 2 is the end-all-be-all. It’s the ultimate level of intensity. Never Gonna Dance Again’ was originally the name of the concept. Because it doesn’t make sense for me to stop dancing. But I wanted to give a sense of rebellion with the irony of the title.”
Just so you know, the Taemin you see in the "Criminal" MV isn't really the criminal in the song. He is the victim who is being held captive by the criminal. I see the "criminal" as represented by the lover (i.e the other side of him) that he is singing about, which is a metaphor for the pressure he feels under as a Kpop idol. The song is about living in a toxic relationship and being brainwashed by a lover. He has now fallen in love with the person (or thing -- i.e. his career) who is inflicting all the pain and suffering on him, so now he accepts the abuse as a normal part of the relationship. Even though he is being abused by that person -- possibly a metaphor for the pressure he is creating for himself with the need to always be the best in everything he does -- he can't help but love them and allow them to continue to hurt him, etc.
All the abuse is happening to him, he is not hurting anyone else or doing anything criminal himself. Therefore, the story isn't about Taemin being a criminal. Notice, the S.W.A.T. team isn't arresting him. They pretty much walk right past Taemin and ignore him as they search for the criminal.
The "boss" vibe is a facade he puts on to make people believe he is in control, but as you see in the "Criminal" choreography, he is being manipulated by all the outside forces around him. For example, we see him lying across the backup dancers backs and they pick him up and manipulate him to do what they want him to do at that moment. A lot of his dance moves in "Criminal" are designed to make him look like a marionette puppet that is being pulled around by strings and being told what to do. Which is what you see when he is crouched down and he creates that wiggly, wave movement in the dance, etc.
As part of the story, he has been held captive for so long that, as it says in the lyrics of "Criminal", he is now suffering from stockholm syndrome, so he is no longer fighting the abuse and that is why you see him throw his bindings away. The criminal -- which is a metaphor for the pressure he has felt in his career -- no longer has to tie him up to keep him there. (Because he has fallen in love with the pain and suffering he inflicts on himself as a artist, etc.) The backup dancers represent the forces he is struggling against as he fights with his mind over whether to stay or go, etc.
Fun fact: It was Taemin's idea to include the police blotter/news clips in "Criminal". If you notice, the sound bites are from all over the world and they are speaking multiple languages.
All of Taemin's dances tell a story. As he has said, he specifically designs his choreography to be a part of the story within the song and MV. So, "Criminal" is supposed to be slightly creepy, as well as sexy. He is literally being abused and asking you to please "destroy me more."
Taemin pronounces Idea the way you hear him saying it in "Idea" because he is pronouncing it like the Greek word idéa, and not like the English pronunciation. The song is based on the Greek philosopher Plato’s theory of Ideas. Plato believed that an "Idea" is an ultimate reality. Every form has an idea, an image, or standard set for it and Plato believed that these ideas were eternal. For example, when talking about a human, everyone has an image, an ideal type of human according to Plato and once defined that description or thought is constant and never changing.
In "Idea" Taemin is disagreeing with Plato's theory and he is saying that the world is not ruled by one ultimate definition of something or that there isn't only one voice. Taemin is saying he has many voices and thoughts influencing him. If he were to conform to only one way of doing something -- i.e., if he listened to everyone who told him there was only one way to be a Kpop Idol and he needed to do everything the traditional cookiecutter way -- then that would be like killing his spirit and everything that makes him who he is. Hence the lines in the song that say, "Killing me softly."
Fun fact No. 2: The female voice you hear saying "Killing me softly" is BoA. She is a solo artist also under SM Entertainment, and she is Taemin's highly respected senior, who debuted with SM in 2000 at the age of 13 and, now after more than 23 years, she is known as one of the senior-most members of the industry. BoA is legend.
Some have said, and I have to agree, that "Idea" is a metaphor for the way Taemin sees his career. He loves what he does, almost to the point of obsession -- like "my messiah" he is drawn to it and can't help worship it -- he practically needs to dance and perform to survive. But, at the same time, it pretty much controls his life. Living as an Idol means everything he does is done in the public eye, and he will never be able to live a normal life -- his "dangerous dream" that is engulfing him and "swallowing him" up. The stress and constant demand for perfection he feels may be slowly "Killing me softly," etc.
I particularly like the verse in "Idea" that says: "The blue light, When you and I face each other, Stained in it, All one's feelings, It's an infinite range, In my world, Most dazzling,The absolute value of you, My my IDEA." These lines seem to be talking about Taemin's fans. SHINee's fan color is pearl aqua blue, so the blue light you see in the MV and the blue light he talks about in the lyrics of "Idea," makes me think he is referring to the impact and influence the fans have had on everything he has done in his career. And although he loves and appreciates us, it has not come without a few sacrifices and negative aspects as well. The mutual love and respect between Taemin and the fans also has added a lot of extra pressure on him because he always wants to give people his absolute best and he is constantly trying to live up to an impossible standard of self-imposed flawlessness.
This album's whole concept is a metaphor for his life and career. With every release from this album, the concept was designed to be darker then the last. In "2 Kids" he was emotionally and physically beating himself up with regrets. In "Criminal" he was living in a toxic relationship. In "Idea" he takes the theme one step further, and says that even though it was my idea and my plan to live this life, nothing comes without a price, and because of that need for perfection, any chance of being average or living a regular life is pretty much dead. Taemin has sacrificed everything to become the magnificent and unique performer and person that we know him as today.
But there really is no one that pushes him or holds him to a higher standard then himself. Taemin has said that he really has never taken a true vacation since he was a trainee -- he started with SM Entertainment when he was around 11 years old -- and he doesn't know what to do if he isn't constantly working and training. As he has said, there has never been anything that has come easy to him and he has only gotten to where he is today because he has worked hard to accomplish everything. He is constantly pushing himself to become the best of the best in everything he does.
If you are impressed with Taemin's dancing in these MVs, not only should you see his dance practice videos for "Criminal" and "Idea", but just wait until you see a live performance. You will be even more blown away.
Taemin's style of dance can't be defined. As he has said, he has worked his entire career to create a style of dance that is unlike anything in the Kpop industry. And I would argue that that now extends to the entire industry of dance. Taemin started out as a self-taught popper and locker without any dance training, and, even then, as a trainee it was clear his skills as a dancer went far beyond the average dancer. Over the years, as you see with "Criminal" and "Idea," he has infused those popping and locking skills into his now more contemporary style of dance. But, when it comes to dancing, he can do it all and there is no one better at it than him.
As a member of SHINee, Taemin has trained his entire career to be able to pull off this type of intense and intricate dancing while singing live and always sounding flawless the whole time. That is what SHINee are known for. So not only is Taemin an amazing dancer, but he is also one of the best singers in the industry, and the 5 members of SHINee make up one of the top groups, that everyone looks up to and dreams of even coming close to being as good as.
KING TAEMIN
Taemin💯💖
Taemin is called the king of kpop for a reason. he really is teh best solo male artist. subscribed. keep reacting to taemin.
Another soloist you should check out is Baekhyun. He is from EXO which is under SM ent. just like Shinee. Some of Baekhyun's songs you should check out is UN Village, Candy and Bambi. Keep up the content you are great!
Taemin ❤
6:25 they dont call him the mj of kpop for nothing
THANK YOU !! TAEMIN is a real one right there.. i love him so much and you are awesome🤩
Taemin does also have a lot of japanese stuff for example Sayonara Hitori, Famous, flame of love
Taemin is my Ult of Ults. He is such an amazing artist. I'm so glad you reacted to his work. Taemin has an allure unlike anyone else that draws you in and any desire to leave disappears. MOVE is iconic and I suggest you watch the MV and dance practice. Your outro was fine!😊
Taemin is an art❤
All mv is master piece...
You're right, there are a lot of Mj metaphors in his series of solo, and so does his dancing style.
TAEMIN ES ÚNICO EN LA INDUSTRIA .EL REY DE REYES DEL PERFORMER .El ACE de SM ENTERTAEMTN .HACE BRILLAR A LA INDUSTRIA CON CADA ALBUN .ESPERANDO SU NUEVO ALBUN A VER CON QUE NOS SORPRENDE 🤗❤🎇
One and only TAEMIN - MJ of kpop
TAEMIN is the different level. THE KING of kings
That's such a valid point with Taemin's vocals, especially in Criminal! I couldn't pinpoint what is different about his vocals in this one but he does sound even more calm and soothing than usual, which does wonders with delivery in terms of the lyrics. It's such a great, paradoxical way to emphasise the message of the song. Thanks for reacting, excited to hear more!
Taemin has been my favorite idol for so many years, I got into K-pop around 14, I was super into Got7 and then SHINee was another group I got really into, Taemin had always caught my eye since day one. I love who he's grown into and how successful he is. He's a beautiful man, and his voice is so soothing and calming. If you want here's a few songs I'm sure you'll enjoy: Press Your Number, Thirsty, Waiting For, Just Me and You, Pansy
If I'm not wrong, the female voice in Idea is from BoA, a soloist kpop singer and one of the most influencial
Oh my god yesss. I love taemin so much
if you have interest in dancing i recommend you to watch his dance practices he’s just the best !!
I see "Advice" as a continuation of the themes within Taemin's previous Never Gonna Dance Again album trilogy -- "2 Kids," "Criminal" and "Idea." With "Criminal" and "Idea," Taemin talks about being involved in a toxic relationship -- not necessarily a romantic relationship, but a metaphor for his relationship with fame -- in which he agrees to be manipulated almost to the point of being destroyed in order to become the artist we see today. But in the end of "Idea" we see him become free from the box everyone wants to put him in and he comes to terms with his role as an idol. He has now formed his own "Idea" about himself and what it means to be an idol, etc.
As Taemin explained during his VLive event for "Advice", "Advice" is like the end to the first chapter in his life, and it marks the beginning of the second chapter. The song seems to be his way of saying I am done caring to everyone who judged him and all those haters who spread rumors and misinformation about him. "Advice" is showing that he is now free and confident to be himself, breaking stereotypes and now only listening to himself.
Taemin is just one of those performers that leaves you speechless every time he steps on stage. He was born to be a performer and that is one of the reasons why he has become known as the Korean Michael Jackson. That is also why, as one of the top two performers in the industry, he was made a member of SuperM. Taemin is an Idol of Idols and a legend of legends.
And the title of the industry's BEST dancer isn't just a fan's opinion, but it's a widely agreed upon title bestowed on Taemin by his peers and the industry as a whole. (If you ask any of your favorite Kpop dancers who was their inspiration, they will most likely name Taemin as one of them.)
In "Advice" he's basically saying, "Stop trying to put me in a box, in which I'll never fit in." He is also speaking to everyone that says he's getting old, that he's just a Michael Jackson wannabe that doesn't sell a lot of albums because he tries too hard to be edgy, etc. He's rebelling against all those people who are constantly advising him to make more mainstream music, or to follow the traditional Kpop idol style, in order to boost his sales and his popularity. However, as Taemin is making clear in "Advice," that is not who he is and he will never be "normal" or "mainstream" and he is OK with that.
In the scenes where you see him covered in ink, I think that is supposed to be him showing everyone how he is no longer the "unstained," cute maknae everyone wants to think of him as. The diamond you see painted on his hand when he is playing the piano, and you see drawn on his bicep, etc is SHINee's symbol and, once again, all the pearl aqua blue/green colors you see in the MV is SHINee's official color. (The large tattoo on his hip is real. Hence why in the lyrics he says, "I destroy the torso that you were chasing after." He's tired of people thinking they even have a say in what he does with his body.)
This song was specifically designed to not be like anything he has ever done before. He plays the piano, he raps, he shows off his falsetto notes, etc., which is different than what we often hear and see from him. He intentionally used this song to prove that he isn't one type of singer. People often think of Taemin as a sultry vocalist that sings in a breathy comfortable, less dynamic style. So, with this song he wants to prove to everyone that he can be unpredictable and try new things. Yet again, you can't put him in a box or tell him who to be. Everything you see in this MV is 100% Taemin, including the piano playing.
Everything that Taemin's haters like to point out about him and say are reasons why he shouldn't be held to such high esteem, I find completely ridiculous. I don't think that anyone who actually knows him would ever say he has played it safe at anytime in his career. If you think he is only one dimensional, and that he is trying to be anything other than himself, then you really don't know Taemin. Everything he does is different, out there and definitely not safe. It's always uniquely Taemin, and he couldn't do it any other way.
Also, because Taemin is a member of SHINee, none of his songs are ever like anything you have every heard or seen before from him. It will always have a new beat, style and sound. As SM Entertainment's experimental boy group, SHINee is meant to be the first and they are expected to set the trend, and that includes the members' solo work. With every new song Taemin produces it's expected to be different than the last, so you will never hear the same style or sound from him in any of his songs, even on the same album, and yet, it still will be uniquely Taemin-like. Which is another example of how you can never put him in a box or expect anything from him. :D
Another theme in "Advice" is about how Taemin is embracing his androgynous side -- but on his own terms -- which I think is a continuation of the message in his "Move" MV. Early in his career when Taemin was growing up in SHINee, he was known for his delicate feminine features. It took him a long time to accept that he was recognized for his looks and to come to terms with the fact that everyone thought of him as a "pretty boy," etc. So, at this point in his career -- he is now 27 years old in this MV -- he is making a statement about how he has decided to be himself and no longer care what people think. Music is art and art has no gender. So, that is why in "Advice" you see him wearing hair extensions, fishnets and women's Supreme sports wear, etc. But if you notice, his choreography is very fast paced and sharp, which is hyper masculine -- a complete contrast to the "feminine" image people want to give him. You also see him wearing makeup, but it's smeared on his face, as if to say, "people may think of me as a 'Pretty Boy,' but I don't care about looking pretty."
In the lyrics he is saying, "It's creepy how people are always looking to cause drama, so stop trying to create scandals in my life that don't really exist. It's all just stories you make up." He's tired of all those people who seem to look for reasons to cause drama, where none really exists.
Where he says "floppy" in the lyrics, I think he's talking about knowing about or hearing firsthand the things people are saying about him, but he is choosing not to pay attention to them because what they're saying is flopping or doesn't hold any weight or have any substance, etc. "Advice" just proves that everytime people try to put Taemin in a box, he destroys it and keeps coming back with something more unique and never seen before.
Hence, why in the choreography he puts his hands in front of his face and creates a movement that looks like an animated mouth talking. It represents how everyone keeps talking about him and what they are saying is nonsense, which makes them look and sound ridiculous, etc. Which is why in the lyrics he says, "You will never get the keys to my lock" because he doesn't ever plan to give people what they want and allow them access to his secrets and personal life, etc. (Those people who like to gossip about him will never truly know the real him.)
I interpret the "One (piece of ) Advice" he is talking about in the lyrics as a reference to the advice he keeps being given about being more mainstream, but he's saying, "stop trying to make me conform to the image you have in your head of who I should be and what I should do." In other words, take all that time and effort you have been using to come up with ways to talk about how he don't fit in, etc. and put it to better use. "Follow my own advice" and do something original for once.
The crucifixion pose at the end of "Advice" is sort of a signature pose for him. I interpret it to be like he is saying, "And that is the end, this is my final word, take it or leave it, but don't doubt me. I have gave it my all and laid everything I had out there for you," etc.
If you are impressed with Taemin's dancing in this MV, just wait until you see him perform live. Also, check out his dance practice video on SM's SMP Floor channel. As I said, Taemin is on a whole other level.
His Move video and live performance of Black Rose are amazing. Also Heaven is really beautiful.
please react to kai next!!!! he’s also a talented soloist like taemin, in fact they were in a group together at one point!! he has three title tracks as of right now; “mmmh”, “peaches”, and “rover”. since you seem to do four mvs per video u could also check out “film : kai” which gives u a little preview of his sound :)
Yes ... He also plays th piano beautifully. King!
That 'noise' is SM's signature! Music quality all over the place, like Red Velvet! He is the king of K-pop!
Taemin is great !
I also was shocked they were real people too ! And I only saw that the second time I watched that MV LMAO
Taemin loves Michael Jackson's dancing and you will a lot of MJ-inspired moves in Taemin's choreography.
Edit: In Advice, yes that is actually him playing the piano. And his voice is always calm and delivered smoothly.
I seen taemin and hit that subscribe button so fast!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING THE GOD OF KPOP TAEMIN THE LOVE. You have got a new friend in me. Pleeeeease keep taemin coming I can't wait for more.
Taemin/Shinee are the only kpop artists I listened to. They seem to me as the only authentic group within kpop.
And Taemin is a genre himself. His artistry and musicality is unique and unmatched
Beautiful 💯 Taemin 🤍 ➕️ Enjoy U 👏
Oh my god I'm really glad you decided to react to Taemin he's literally the g.o.a.t!!
Also because you asked, in idea the 'killing me softly' line is sang by another kpop legend her name BoA
Thank you for reacting to the KING🙌👑 Check out more of Taemin's songs especially his live performances. He is living legend and my ultimate bias ever!!!
Taemin is actually the korean MJ because of how he was so influenced by MJ since he was very young. The thing about Taemin is that he isn't just dancing like MJ in some parts of the choreo but he also added his own color making his own style.
I grew up looking up to MJ as well. So, it's no mystery Taemin is my first SHINee bias. (I bias all 5 of them now)
Killing me (the one who sang that part was Boa , another artist in SM)
instantly clicked as soon as I saw the your reacting to taemin literally one of my fav artist !! Love ur vids man
In Advice, yes, it's Taemin playing piano 🙂 he is a good piano player.
Taemin, besides being an amazing dancer, great solo singer and being an iconic reference for younger idols, is the youngest member of SHINee (a 2nd generation kpop group).
SHINee debuted in 2008 as a 5 members' experimental contemporary r&b group.
After 15 years of activity, they are still highly respected in the industry and considered as trendsetters. Still.
They have a huge discography (studio albums in Korean, in Japanese, mini-albums, solo works of the members). Besides that, please note they are even better in live performances than in recorded studio versions🙂: watch a few live performances (they actually sing live, no lip syncing. They trained for that) and you'll see.
As I said, they debuted in 2008 as five members; unfortunately in 2017 one of the members - Jonghyun - passed away... but they still consider themselves as 5, as Jonghyun shall never be forgotten and is still with them.
There are a few good guides to SHINee which will help you through the group activities and the members.
thanks for reacting to Taemin🙏🥰
"Killing me softly" in Idea was sung by BoA, a legendary solo female artists.
advice is SOOOO good its my fav song of him
TaeMin is who brang me into the world of Kpop, along with SHINee, in 2010. I then found Infinite, VIXX, and finally BTS. TaeMin is an amazing artist who can do it all and I’d like to thank you for reacting to his videos and bring me back to where it all began.
I really like those songs😍😍 Thanks for reacting to Taemin!!
taemin is such an artist. he's heavily inspired by michael jackson, so you were not wrong with saying that it looked like a michael move. with a lot of people in the music industry, there is a lack of creativity and artistry. however, taemin always comes with something different and creative with every comeback. for someone who has been in the industry since he was 14, he is has such a strong sense of self and personality with his releases. i can hear a song and immediately recognize that it was something he did. hes just so taemin lol.
hopefully you are able to check out the group he is apart of, which is shinee, along with some other artists under SM.
Saying he is “just so taemin” is the perfect way to describe it because he’s literally so different from everyone else. The only other artist I could think to even closely connect him to is MJ!
One of the reasons I love Taemin so much is because he worked his ASS off to get where he is, especially vocally. When SHINee first debuted, he wasn't given many lines, next to none of them solo, because, and I quote SM (their agency), "Taemin doesn't have the kind of voice that should be heard." 15 years later and he has the most successful solo career from the whole group (Jonghyun was very, very successful as well. I really miss him).
Want is my favorite. He's the devil tempting Eve (IMO) and wow, that'd do it. He's amazing. Also, he adores MJ and has been performing since he was a kid, so he's very, very good, among the best dancers in Kpop for sure.
I dare you to find one song you don't like by Taemin ;) He's soooooo good! He's amazing solo but I love his groupwork as well. I could listen to him for the rest of my life and never get bored
He is consider Korean MJ !!! Taemin have a very deeps concepts
He's the MJ and King of Kpop. Taemin has a lot of control dancing and singing, it's very different from calmness
I get what your saying, his voice is very gentle and soothing. His voice is very suductive in a way. Taemin is definitely one of my fav solo artists, his voice is extremely pretty and he’s an amazing dancer
I enjoyed your reaction a lot! IDEA is actually not about love (Criminal technically either), but Taemin's songs very often have multiple meanings, and he enjoys when fans interpret them freely. IDEA, is about Taemin finding his ideal self. His pronunciation is different, because this is a Greek word (I think it would stand for 'ideal' in English). This song has been inspired by Plato's 'Theory of Forms'. Criminal on the other hand was based on Stockholm Syndrome, and it represents Taemin's inner struggle. It would be great to see you react to his Move, Sayonara Hitori (Japanese release), Under my Skin (Japanese release).
*ΙΔΕΑ is an idea in English
ideal is ιδανικός (idanikos)
@@avotia Oh wow, thank you! It's difficult to figure out without knowing how to read Greek alphabet 😭 and it seems that I had a limited understanding of the English usage of this word too (it's not my first language). You helped me here more than just with the Greek meaning.
@@shadow_sigyn don't worry)))for me, English is also not the first language and not even the second, but I'm glad I helped, it's just that in Greek this theory is called
The theory of ideas
which says that
All moral values are Ideas: virtue, justice, valor, prudence, piety, and all others corresponding to them. Ideas are even mathematical concepts and entities: equality, unity, multiplicity, number, point, line, geometric figure, solid
@@avotia Ah it's called Theory of idea in my language, but we also don't use the word idea the same way it can be used in English, I think this is what got me confused. We have a different word that we use in more mundane situations like for example in a simple "I have an idea" sentence.
OMGGG🎉❤ thankss for reaction a TAEMIN
Thanksss
Greetings from Argentina
Sorry english😅😢
PLEASE 🙌🙌reaction:
> Taemin press your number dance perf 2
and
> KEY Killer
Taemin is from the group SHINee. You should check out the songs Replay (their debut from 2008) Ring Ding Dong ( one of their most popular songs) Dont call me and Hard ( some more recent music) . I will say SHINee is a 5 member group but one member passed away in 2017 so you will only see 4 members in their more recent music. ❤
I got to see Teamin live in front of my face with my actual eyeballs at Kcon LA last month and it was a religious experience. Absolutely amazing. He performed Move, Advice, and Criminal
As for b-sides, my favorite are Pretty Boy and Heaven
Advice is STILL one of my favorite songs :)
Omg glad to see you bro, take care of yourself too ☺ Taemin is an Icon, one of the 1st Solo Idols i stanned (still have to get into Shinee😭)
He became interested in dancing after watching MJ's music video. So yes, he has a lot of references to him in his MVs.
Calm and powerful
he is also best friends with Jimin of BTS AND KIA OF EXO
React to his older music ❤ ooo his Japanese music 😊
Struggling with the outro 😅😅😅
You are genuine.
The "killing me softly" is actually sung by BoA another artist from the same company
Taemin is king. He’s also a clumsy baby who loses stuff all the time. But mostly, the man is king.
TAEMIN is the MJ of kpop
taemin is kpop
I love your reactions to the Taemin videos. He has so many more great ones out there as well as Shinee that he is a part of.
12:32 😅That is his power of masculine elegance of a smooth slayer because once you hear & see TAEMIN, you are done for HAHAHA
In the song IDEA, super legendary soloist BoA lent her voice to Taemin during the "killing me" parts
I‘m glad you reacted to him since he is one of my fav idols ❤️🙏🏼
He leaves me wanting more ❤😊
think of you is such a great video!! waiting for ur reaction on it. great reaction!
Taemin is so unique and talented. He has been compared to MJ, the MichaelJacksonof South Korea. He is a member of the group Shinee.
Taemin LOVES MJ. THE KING OF POP. Also Chris Brown & the weeknd
The king of kpop
Thank y so so much for reacting to ma boy ❤
23:24 it wasn't Taemin's voice; that was BoA's voice. Just the queen of kpop, 1st gen Idol, debuted in 2000 at 14 years old. You should check her songs too she is amazing and also has a smooth voice: Better , Forgive me and Woman (the begging of the choreography is a must).
Also why not Shinee? They are amazing, not just Taemin is a soloist, all of them are. They are a 5 member group with great vocals and a flavor of R&B. They just had a comeback actually.
Some suggestions:
1 of 1 (on the MV Onew is not dancing because he was injured)
Replay (their debut)
Don't call me
Atlantis
Taemin said the song criminal is about falling in love being like stockholm syndrome and the choreography is from the view of a corpse. Hense all the fluid iver pronounced movements
"killing me softly" was by BoA
Please react to Taemin ACE, but it's gotta be the Beatburger production version. You'll really get to see what a great dancer he is in that one.
His voice is like silk