This Valentine's day, SM Station gave fans the smooth R&B track “Cold” by SHINee’s Key featuring Hanhae. This new track gave Shawols another taste of Key’s vocal prowess, leaving them breathless and hungry for more.  

The  Music Video

The video itself revisits the theme of film sets repeated in previous SM Station releases this season. The overall video is filmed with an old-school feel. The first thing that I noticed was the flickering effect visible throughout the video. This makes the scenes feel old, even retro. The colors are muted and grainy in most shots, adding to this retro feel. In most scenes, Key is only lit with a spotlight, and the background being cast in shadow magnifies the overall grainy feel of the music video. These grainy, muted shots are contrasted with stark white scenes of Key dressed in a red suit. After watching a few times, the story of two lovers drifting apart began to unfold. The love interest is the film director, who is filming the film that Key is playing the lead role for. While Hanhae features in the track, he does not appear in the music video. Instead, his verse is played over different black-and-white shots of Key, creating a haphazard feel that flows oddly well into the rest of the music video.

The Song

Key never ceases to impress with his vocal talent. His vocal color fits well with the smooth melody created by the guitar and electric keyboard. The rhythmic base of the song is created with the subtle beat of a bass drum and a snapping sound. Its relaxing tones make it an easy addition to any chill vibe playlist. The addition of Hanhae with his rap doesn’t distract from the overall mood. This came as a surprise to me as most R&B-focused tracks that include rap often feel piecemealed together, unless the rapper’s vocal color matches that of the singer. This is the case with Key’s inclusion of Hanhae on “Cold.”

This is another song to add to The Kraze ’s rainy day playlist. Check out Key’s video below.