K-Song Review: ‘Advice’ by SHINee’s Taemin

Vidhi Gosain, Delhi

SHINee’s youngest member Lee Tae-min, also known as Taemin, released his 3rd mini album Advice on 18 May 2021. The album consists of 5 tracks, including the title track ‘Advice’. With the news of his enlistment, Shawols definitely weren’t ready to let the youngest member go, so this album worked as their support system until he safely returned. Now that he’s already back from fulfilling his military duties, let’s celebrate it by diving into the review of this song! Read ahead to know more:

Concept

The song is a continuation to Taemin’s previous releases ‘Criminal’ and ‘Idea’. The story set by ‘Criminal’, which follows forbidden love, is carried forward by ‘Idea’, which talks about finding a new self and fighting the boundaries of being set into one box. After this comes ‘Advice’, which possibly talks about the burdens of the industry and how it affected him.

Breaking Stereotypes with MV

The music video follows a dark theme. Being the classic Taemin he is, the song as well as the choreography is jam-packed. He truly is one of the best performers in the K-pop industry and this song is just another piece to his already perfect discography. He steals the show with his amazing fashion sense, especially the white crop top and sweatpants, and are we going to talk about the sports bra? Not only did Taemin prove that clothes don’t have a gender, but he has also made a totally different trend. With long, coloured locks, he stole the show. He totally went off the rails with him breaking gender stereotypes this time.

Meaning of the song

Coming on the vocals, Taemin comes here to win. Personally, this has to be one of his best songs ever, both vocal and performance wise. The depiction of Taemin covered in paint in the music video adds a sense of rawness to the song. With lyrics that go, “the drama you wanted, the moment it starts, it just gets twisted again”, he blatantly calls out to the people who have shaded him throughout his career. He then continues the lyrics with, “why are you crossing the line again”, a very open call-out to the haters who have crossed the line between acceptability and disrespect. In the song, he also talks about the hate received due to some mistakes made in the past and how people don’t want to hear the other side of the story. This is also portrayed in the lyrics that go, “show you imagination in a more novel way”. All I would like to add is, YOU SLAY KING!

The song from one listen sounds just like any other song, but once you analyse the lyrics, you’ll realize the depth behind each and every word of the song. Throughout the song, Taemin shares the struggles of being an artist in the industry and the effects it has had on him. This has also been portrayed through various elements including his dance and certain scenes in the music video.

Personally, this song was already emotional considering that it would be the last one before Taemin’s enlistment. After paying deep attention to the lyrics and the emotions put behind it, the song became even more deep than it already was. The song shows a more mature side of him and how being in the industry for more than 13 years has changed him.

Have you heard this song? What are your thoughts on it? Tell us in the comments!