SHINee's Back Again

Insert Minho's "SHINee's back again."

In May 2008, SM Entertainment debuted a five-member group called SHINee. In 2010, after one of the most difficult years of my life, I reconnected with my best friend and she introduced me to these five men with "Ring Ding Dong" and their reality show Hello Baby. I fell in love. SHINee is the group that got me back into Korean entertainment. I've since moved to other groups, broadening my music (and fanbases), not enjoyed some of their releases, but I will always come back to SHINee.

They reconnected to me to my best friend growing up. They gave me my musical freedom back.

Last December, a tragedy happen to SHINee fans and K-Pop fans when Jonghyun took his life. This happened so suddenly and so close to their decade anniversary. The strength that it must take to move forward would make Jonghyun proud, and their efforts and strength do not go unnoticed.

The thing about his video, this song, this choreography for SHINee's new song has subtle, moving references to Jonghyun still ever-present in their lives, in fans' lives, that watching the video brings me to tears (and I've watched at least a dozen times by the time I started writing).

There was a moment in one of the teaser video for "Good Evening" where the four members are looking down from what seems to be a well, but there is a shadow. There was talk that it was just Taemin's or Onew's shadow, but no one doubts that the presence of the shadow represents nothing else except Jonghyun making the group five.

The choreography uses chairs as part of the routine. I do not believe that it's just part of the aesthetic. SHINee's first win ever on a music show was with "Love Like Oxygen" and the choreography for that featured chairs as well. There is one point in the video where there appear to be five chairs instead of four, as well.

There is a lot more symbolism in the video and the lyrics that I think touches on the four members' grieving and understanding of the devastating loss of Jonghyun, but I'm not particularly ready nor qualified to understand what they mean, how they pertain to what members (and SHAWOLS) are feeling.

Let's talk about the song itself. It blends into the trends in pop music well, showcasing SHINee's always-evolving ability as musicians. The choreography is interactive, so they are helping each other carry through with the story of movement.

It's a very pop song, a very SHINee song. It's upbeat and meant to make you move. There is always a story to be told with SHINee's music, and this one is no different (even if it's much more subtle and coming from the details).

Watching the live performance allows the story telling of the choreography come through as well. This is definitely a new level for SHINee to reach, and they're doing incredible. It's a very ambitious project and I think that they're going to do well with it. They're continuing to grow despite everything they've been through.

There is a lot to overcome in this return to the stage since the loss of Jonghyun. There is a lot of pain in moving on when you lose someone the way the world, the way that SHINee lost Jonghyun, but giving up isn't what he would have wanted. Music is a way to express, to grieve, to understand, and keep going when it's hardest to do so.

SHINee, Onew, Key, Minho, Taemin—SHAWOLs are proud. All K-Pop fans are proud. I promise you're doing well.