SHINHWA Keeps it Classy with “Kiss Me Like That”
Sun-kissed skin, a gentle breeze, an exciting summer romance; the group captures the relaxing vibes of summer perfectly. With more of a cinematic experience, SHINHWA has finally returned with their first release of 2018, “Kiss Me Like That.” This time they have returned with a special single to commemorate the group’s 20th anniversary. A true example to the term aging gracefully, SHINHWA has still got the same spark they started with, just a slightly more updated version, making them merge and stand out within the industry at the same time.
Set on a luxurious cruise (filled with gorgeous travelers), the music video starts in silence with just the sounds of the passengers on the cruise before the haunting guitar riff kicks in. Much like the rest of their recent comebacks, SHINHWA starts off with the relaxed poise of an experienced group bathed in the warm tinge of the group’s official color: orange. Alternating between knife-like, yet relaxed, dance moves and acting scenes that seem like they’re choreography too, nothing feels forced at all. The music in itself remains relatively simple, with the guitar riff remaining a constant with layers being added one by one. It doesn’t take long for the bass to kick in, coming in during Eric’s classic English rap breaks, but even then it isn’t too harsh to disturb the gentle nuance of the music.
The song with its nostalgic melody is matched perfectly with the smooth transitions in scenes and the vintage cruise setting. The small movements that are featured in the choreography, delivered with that laidback SHINHWA charm, feel warm and fleeting, almost like an interpretive version of a kiss. The music video also features a short break in between which not only prevents the viewers from feeling like it’s getting too repetitive or monotonous, but also serves as an interval. Continuing with the movie-like theme, there is also a short blooper featured at the end with the group showing off the variety sense we know them so well for.
From a personal point of view, I quite like dance choreographies that aren’t too “rehearsed” or at least appear to be a bit more natural, SHINee’s “Good Evening” being a perfect example of this. From the music video, the members walk around before stopping and doing little points of choreography, which I really liked. Not only did it feel natural and effortless (this may have a lot to do with the fact that it's done by SHINHWA), but it also matched the sultry, warm vibe of both the song and the music video. I also find it amazing how they found a song and composition to match every single member’s timbre and not one person sounded out of place.
All in all this nostalgic song has the perfect sound and energy to accompany you during the last moments of summer. While we got something very dynamic with “Touch,” we now get something that’s very suave in a way that only SHINHWA could pull off. The tranquil melody, the velvet-like dance moves, and the buttery visuals are flawless and on point without trying too hard. But of course, what else did we expect from a group with over 20 years of experience.