SHINee says vigor, passion drove new album following military enlistment hiatus

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

SHINee is back.

Like the line that opens SHINee's hit tracks like "Sherlock" and "Dream Girl," the second-generation K-pop act is back with a new full album after two years and six months -- a hiatus prompted by the enlistment of three of its members.

The boy band known for its trendy and innovative musical style is set to drop its seventh studio album "Don't Call Me," which includes a hip-hop-based title track, at 6 p.m.

In a press conference held ahead of the album release, SHINee voiced excitement over their long-awaited comeback and their first new album to be released after Onew, Key and Minho successfully finished their mandatory military service.

"Except for Taemin, there was a hiatus due to (our) enlistment. Since it's an album that we are releasing after a long time, we vigorously and passionately prepared for it," Minho said in the media event streamed online. "It was so fun for us to get together after such a long time."

Onew, Key and Minho were discharged from the military in July, September and November, respectively, while the act's youngest member Taemin has remained active by releasing solo material and taking part in the project boy band Super M.

As much as the members looked forward to returning with new music, the transition from soldiers to K-pop singers was not the easiest.

"While I was adjusting, I felt that my body was dancing separately under my neck. It's the members who helped me out a lot. They kept me going and elaborately went into the details for the choreography," Onew said.

Minho, who served in the Marine Corps, infamous for its strict hierarchy and tough training, said it took him about two months to fully adjust.

"It was a bit difficult adjusting. It took about two months," he said. "I hadn't looked at the mirror in a long time, so dancing in front of a mirror in itself was something that took time to get used to."

With so much excitement for the new album, Key said he felt pressure to match up to expectations.

"Since it's an album we are releasing after a long hiatus, what I focused on was whether it had that big punch, that heavy power as an album," he said, adding it will likely remain as one of the most memorable albums in their career since they had a long time to brainstorm for it.

In a bid to offer something new and powerful for listeners, SHINee explained they decided on "Don't Call Me," a heavy hip-hop leaning track with powerful beats, as their title track, an experiment for the act that has mostly showcased more trendy songs.

"Other songs like 'Heart Attack' or 'I Really Want You' are so good, but it feels as if they are somehow connected while I felt like I'd been punched when I heard 'Dont Call Me' ... It felt like a song that signals a real comeback," Key said.

Now in their fourteenth year in the K-pop industry, the members of SHINee said they hope to remain uniquely "SHINee" as they go forward.

"When people say there's that special feeling of SHINee, I think it comes from the feeling that us as different individuals and as a team create. I believe we should continue to expand and change as we mature," Key said.

In the short term, though, their goal for the upcoming album is to show they are still going strong.

"It took a long time, but we want to show that we're still here and we're strong," Key said.

"We poured in everything into the album and are satisfied with it. (But) it'd be great if its gets five-star music reviews," Taemin said.





source: Yonhap News

Comments

[fritterish.livejournal.com]

I’m pretty satisfied with the album overall. I still don’t like DCM lmao but I found myself humming to the song in the shower ugh lol

I’m super here for Taemin being back to his usual evil maknae self. Looking forward to their variety shows. I feel like they were forced to do more variety because they can’t really promote/do concerts as usual?? At least there’s something to be thankful for re: this pandemic, if at all

[sweetestbliss1.livejournal.com]

lol it is stuck in my head too. The only parts that I am OK with are the non-rapping parts. So, the bridge where Onew and Key sing. Minho's "I don't want your trash" or whatever line still kills me every time I hear it. I can't take him or the song seriously because of that lol

Yep. The only thing I am looking forward to are all the variety show appearances and v lives. Just happy they are back...despite the lackluster song.

[fritterish.livejournal.com]

I hate the second voice thing in the don’t call me part (especially the “You don’t know you waste my time” line) and it’s like sending me to a different dimension lmao

but idk we had Ring Ding Dong too so i suppose we should be used to a lot of cringe 😂😂😂

[sweetestbliss1.livejournal.com]

lol yess. When I first heard Taemin say that line, I was like what is this jibberish English? It sounds so rushed and jumbled. It is literally like this: AIOGJIOFJFIOJISOE. hahaha

lmao how dare you! RDD is iconic! Yes, it is nonsensical, but at least it is catchy?? 😂

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Other songs like 'Heart Attack' or 'I Really Want You' are so good, but it feels as if they are somehow connected while I felt like I'd been punched when I heard 'Dont Call Me'

I kind of get what he means, it makes you pay attention

[snowphone.livejournal.com]

LOL i felt like i got punched too, but not in a good way

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

Im loving this mature shinee vibes 💕

and taemin seem so happy to be promoting with them
between this and his new kitty ...

goodnight everyone ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
i hope kkoongie has a lovely day pic.twitter.com/D82irviOfE (https://t.co/D82irviOfE)

— eve (@tiny_taem) February 21, 2021 (https://twitter.com/tiny_taem/status/1363423984037949442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

I swear there's not enough hype in this world lolz

[carmine-pink.livejournal.com]

I'm out of the loop but Taemin and a kitty omg too cute!!! He looks so smitten lol

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

ikr? he's so smitten! i love to see his instagram stories with Kkoongie .. he's a proud catlover 🥺💕

[catharsiskat.livejournal.com]

My new SHINee bias is Kkoongie

[sweetestbliss1.livejournal.com]

I laughed when he was trying to train the cat. Aren't cats supposedly hard to train? Not impossible, but way harder than dogs. The whole time I was watching him force kiss his cat, I was like "You should have gotten a puppy." lol

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

im also surprised he got a kitty instead of another dog
considering he already had adam and eve for so long you would think he's a dog person.. maybe now he will learn cats and dogs arent the same lolz

[sweetestbliss1.livejournal.com]

Oh I had no idea he had dogs before. Were they actually his or his family's? I guess with his schedule, a cat would make more sense since they are easier to take care of and independent.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

yes, both were his family pets for a long time (taemin thanks eve and adam on lucifer album lolz)


but when onew enlisted taemin stayed alone on their dorm (because minho and key left shinee dorms around 2014) seem like he had eve with him then started to mention her like his pet on interviews and fancafe posts


now since taemin got this kitty his dogs arent around anymore, im sure he's living alone now

[rembrandt13.livejournal.com]

As a crazy cat lady, I was so pleased to see that he got a kitteh...and such an adorable one to boot! I like dogs too, but it's nice to finally get some feline representation in the SHINee family.

And two days into DCM, I already like it better than TSoL. The bops-to-ballads ratio is very much to my liking!