Best Songs of SHINee You Must Know

Writers: Priyanka Bhoi (Bargarh, Odisha, India) and Ankita Panda (Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

Editor: Ankita Panda (Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

SHINee (샤이니) is a South Korean boy band under SM Entertainment that debuted in May 2008. The group consisted of five members — Onew (온유), Key (키), Minho (민호), Jonghyun (종현), and Taemin (태민). Currently, they have four active members.

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SHINee debuted with their first EP Replay on SBS Inkigayo, performing the title track of the same name. Following the success of the EP, in August 2008, they released their first South Korean studio album, The SHINee World. SHINee is regarded as one of the best live-vocal boy groups in K-pop history and is popularly known as the“Princes of K-pop”. Their musical style is rooted in contemporary R&B, but over the years, they have also explored various genres such as hip hop, EDM, funk rock, and more.

Replay

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The debut track Replay (누난 너무 예뻐) is a contemporary R&B song released on May 22, 2008. The music video also features Victoria of f(x) as the female lead. Replay immediately became popular after the release and is still considered one of the best debut songs.

“Because noona is so pretty

Men won’t leave her alone

But I actually know her fluttering heart

To her, love is just a momentary feeling

No matter what they say, she’s everything in my life.”

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The song is written from the perspective of a young boy who is in love with an older woman. The term “Noona (누나),” which literally means“older sister,” is used by South Korean men to address older women. The lyrics address the young boy’s infatuation with the woman and her beauty. The pretty vocals mixed with the lyrics capture the boy’s sincere love and the feeling of it being unrequited.  

“Maybe she finds my good-natured self boring

Your gestures when you look at me let me know that

And I think I’m gonna hate it, girl

The end is coming

Facing our breakup, my heart starts crying, oh.”

Lyrically, the members found the song a bit uncomfortable to perform. The reason was explained by member Minho, who said, “It’s not that we hated them, it’s just that the lyrics felt very different from other Korean lyrics. It was a bit straightforward.” 

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Later, a Japanese version of this song titled“Kimi Wa Boku No Everything” was released in 2011, featuring Yoona of Girl’s Generation. 

Lucifer

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Lucifer is the lead single by SHINee from their second studio album with the same name. With this album, they adopted a masculine image, leaving behind their young lover-boy image. 

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In Christianity, Lucifer is known for his pride and rebellion against God, as a result becoming a fallen angel and then the Devil. The term and idea of “Lucifer” is used to show SHINee’s transformation and feelings for the new album, giving us a fresh image. The lyrics have been interpreted in multiple ways by fans, with one of the main interpretations talking about the complex and toxic nature of love. 

“I feel like I’ve become

A clown trapped in a glass castle

I dance for you

Who will never be satisfied

You look into me openly

Touching my brain, I think I’ve become a fool (Oh)

I think I’m only getting

More and more attracted to you.”

The song shows the internal conflict of a person stuck in a toxic relationship. He knows the love causes him pain, yet he remains helplessly attracted to it.

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The music video shows the exceptional dancing skills of the members and received nominations from the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards Japan. The song reached #2 on the Gaon Digital Chart and also peaked at #3 on Billboard World Digital Song Sales. A Japanese version of the song was released on October 12, 2011, and later included on their first Japanese studio album, The First.

View

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SHINee member Jonghyun wrote the song View for their fourth studio album, Odd. The song was released on May 18, 2015, as the album’s lead single. The track is a 1990s-inspired deep house and pop song.

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Upon release, View debuted at #2 and then climbed to #1 on the Gaon Digital Chart, and earned nominations for Song of the Year and Best Dance Performance at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards. The song also won nine Korean weekly music show awards.

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The concept is lively, fresh, and perfect for summer. SHINee’s Key says that “I liked how the combination of the melody and accompaniment sounded like something you would hear at select shops.” The song stands out amongst others because it introduced the deep house sound to the K-pop genre. 

“Such a beautiful view (takе me)

Show me more, thе next view (show me more)

Such a beautiful view

The sky is beautifully spread

In the ocean, time is in a bottle

I dream of peacefully walking (by my side)

Whatever it is you imagined, I’ll show you everything

Now tell me yeah, yeah.”

The lyrics are about people’s senses being magnified by love and about the beauty of the world. The lyrics perfectly capture the feeling of freedom and falling in love in the present moment, as well as the world’s beauty and admiration towards the view, which is beautiful and mesmerizing. 

“Everyone is lost for words like you

Beyond fourth dimensional, a miraculous view.”

The idea basically tells us how love can change our perception of the world, and sometimes words are not enough to describe the beauty that surrounds us. 

Ring Ding Dong

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Ring Ding Dong is the lead single from SHINee’s third EP, 2009, Year of Us. The song was a commercial success, topping multiple national music charts and peaking at #16 on the Billboard World Digital Chart Song Sales. 

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“Ring-ding-dong, ring-ding-dong

Ring-diggy-ding, diggy-ding-ding-ding

Butterfly, the moment I first met you

My eyes widened, my mind stopped and a bell rang.”

The lyrics portray the feelings of love at first sight. At its core, the song talks about instant attraction and the kind of love that completely takes over your head; the phrase “Ring Ding Dong” used repeatedly emphasises that. His love is like a bell that keeps ringing in his head. 

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Ring Ding Dong is also known for being a 수능 금지곡 (CSAT Banned Song) because of its catchy melody and repetitive lyrics that get stuck in your head. The dark theme and visuals made the music video very interesting to watch, as it perfectly portrayed the obsessive nature of irresistible attraction.

Alarm Clock

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Alarm Clock (알람시계), one of SHINee’s most emotional B-sides, is part of their fourth EP, Sherlock, and was released on March 19, 2012. This album went on to become the fifth best-selling album of the year in South Korea. It reached #1 on the Gaon Album Chart and #5 on the Billboard World Albums chart.

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The song was written by Jonghyun, with Minho participating in composing the rap. The lyrics depict the pain and feelings surrounding a breakup. The song uses an alarm clock as a metaphor to bring the person back to reality, as well as a hope that it would turn back time. 

“I hope my alarm clock will quickly ring

to wake me from this dream

I hope it chases out the separation

by turning back this nightmarish time

I can’t escape this bad dream

that stood still as if it’s broken

I hope the alarm clock will noisily ring

and wake me quickly.”

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Jonghyun’s genius lyrical writing shines through this song, where he beautifully captures the painful desire to be free from the nightmarish separation. The contradictory feelings of wanting to get over his lover, but at the same time to turn back time. 

“Like a flower that falls from a small,

passing raindrop

You say it’s nothing to you but (let’s break up)

With those words coming from you, I coldly fall asleep

The mirage of you still seems like I can touch it.”

Alarm Clock has a beautiful melody that perfectly complements SHINee’s godly vocals. The portrayal of heartbreak and yearning allows their fans, Shawols (샤월), to immediately relate to it.

Stand By Me (OST)

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Stand By Me is SHINee’s first OST released for the drama ‘Boys Over Flowers’ (꽃보다 남자). This love song is about expressing feelings to the significant other while experiencing the hesitations and blossoms of love for the first time. 

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The melody is from a standard K-pop song from the late 2000’s. Vocal tones, mid-tempo beats, and synthesized instruments make the song warm and gentle. 

“Stand by me, look towards me

Even though I don’t know love yet

Stand by me, guard over me

Because I am still clumsy at love.”

This beautiful song highlights SHINee’s youthful and powerful vocalization, making it extremely loved by the fans of both the artist and the drama. 

“Together make it love

Forever make it your smile

Now hold my hands.”

The chorus is the main attraction of the song as the lover wants his partner to stand by him and help to make their love successful. 

SHINee’s discography is not only versatile but also resonates with listeners across various generations. From their beautiful ballads to powerful and groovy anthems, their versatility proves why their music is timeless.

What is your all-time favourite SHINee song? Tell us in the comments!!