“A formula that will never be broken for a lifetime, SHINee + SHINee World = Love” – Minho

Both Shawols (fans of SHINee) and the rest of the K-Pop community are aware of the impact SHINee has had in taking the K-Pop industry to its current level of success. These past years with the quintet have been nothing but a magical ride with several moments to cherish and treasure.

Through the decade, the act has made sure to give us amazing B-sides, which will remain evergreen in our playlists. With so much to be proud of, the group is finally turning 12 this year, and to celebrate, we give you a playlist of 12 earworm tracks to reminisce on the unforgettable adventures we’ve had with the group.

“Love Should Go On”

“Love Should Go On” from their first ever mini album, Replay, is a peppy pop track featuring the rookie vocals of the members as they tenderly approach their crush. “Our love should go on,” begins Key as they want the just-beginning journey of SHINee and Shawols to last forever. With electric guitar melodies and rhythmic drum beats backing up the soar verses of Key, Minho, and Taemin, the master vocalists Onew and Jonghyun unite during the chorus, showcasing their honeyed vocals. The song also features Taemin as a rapper, which might be an unusual role to fourth generation fans, but yes, we were blessed with rapper Taemin back in those days. The parts are simple yet catchy enough for the listener to follow and nod their heads from the very first listen. Onew’s line, “Love forever and last forever,” signals the journey of love that was never meant to end.

“Punch Drunk Love”

This retro-pop track from the group’s third full-length album, Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of You, is a funky song. “Punch, Knock Down,” is the famou tag-line of the song, as the members feel defeated before their loved one. It centers on the catchy chorus and the beautiful harmonization of the members, making for a rich vocal experience when listening through the headphones. As for the verses, the lines are perfectly intertwined by the vocalists’ high notes and Minho’s deep rap lines, keeping every segment of the song lively and engaging.

“Evil”

SHINee is known for their diversity in sound, and has gifted us with a number of dark-themed B-sides. Among such tracks is “Evil” from their album Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me. The lyrics, “Evil, will I be able to endure this night? Evil, Evil, a dream that is too cruel is born,” highlighting either the suffocation of being inundated with nightmares while trying to sleep or being abducted by evil thoughts during the night. “Evil”  showcases pompous instrumentals, vocal power, and an addictive chorus. The members’ modulations during the verses keep us hooked and make us empathize with the mood. The track also has a perfect climax, crashing with power and energy until it all fades out, making the listener want to press repeat to be blessed again.

 “Girls Girls Girls”

“Girls Girls Girls” from Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of You is one of the most well-known B-side tracks from the group. With a peppy tempo, the members innocently discuss and contemplate on girls and their likings. As the song flows, the lyrics emphasize on assumed traits on girls’ behaviors, and later come up with new ideas on winning a girl’s heart. The song is cute and enjoyable and keeps the listener’s mood light, as the sweet voices and flower-boys sides of the members are sure to steal the listener’s heart. The performance of this particular song is greatly adored by the fans, as the group comically stage an act to entertain the viewers.

 “Don’t Let Me Go”

“Don’t Let Me Go” is a mellow ballad marinating on the departure of a loved one. The lyrics are melancholic as the protagonists feel betrayed by the person’s departure, yet they make an effort to accept the reality. “We met like a painting. Like a piece of watercolor painting,” begins the song, leading us to a narrative melody. As it goes on, the melody makes us experience a gloomy mood on a rainy day. And to add more flavor, the track ends with the patter of raindrops falling and single keyboard notes, drenching us both with harmonious vocals and soothing instrumentals.

“Trigger”

“Tigger” from Odd reveals a storyline where the lover is in charge of the civilian members while they plead with her to pull the trigger to end their suffering and pain. The contemporary R&B track is sensual and alluring thanks to the soaring vocals of the members. Leading up to the trademark high notes in the chorus, Key’s fierce shout, “Pull the trigger,” grips the listener’s attention. Taemin also gets a chance to shine with his standout verses. Without much effort, the song takes a spoton our favorite playlist.

“Odd Eye”

“Odd Eye” is another contemporary R&B track off Odd that can make any listener sway to its groovy beat. The song shows the boys singing about being attracted to a unique personality who stands out anywhere she goes. It’sk a pleasure to listen to through the headphones as the members’ harmonization is heavenly. Jonghyun, being the star of this track, bridges the chorus with his honeyed vocals while Minho gives us a glimpse of his rap verses to seize our hearts. It’s a diverse listening experience; the song is both spooky and enchanting.

“Beautiful”

“Beautiful” is an upbeat pop song that brings out the feelings of a flower boy trying to explain his love to his crush. Off of Dream Girl,  the simple song is refreshing with its rhythmic beats. The chorus, led by the vocalists, keeps the song's spirits high and irresistable. To keep up the charismatic essence of the song, Minho also sprinkles his rap line between the verses, and yes, we love it!

“Prism”

“Prism.” from the act’s fifth album, 1 Of 1, is a retro fusion pop song with a chill melody and groovy beat. The song’s lyrics metaphorically relate a lover to a prism, as it lets a white light pass through to be transformed into a rainbow of colors. Likewise, the lover shines a colorful aura into the members’ lives. The members’ verses complement each other’s unique vocal colors. Minho as an all rounder takes up the role of a singer and rapper, contributing soothing lines to complete the song as Onew crowns the track with his high notes.

“Destination”

“Destination,” from the group’s fifth mini-album Everybody, is more of a powerful fighter’s anthem. “The flag sways in the wind, floating in front of my footsteps. Will I be able to go to my destination?” they sing in the chorus as the members set out on their journey as explorers to find their right destination. As a complement to the determined lyrics of the song, the members unite to emit that power through their passionate vocals. It’s perfect to add to a motivational playlist.

 “Y Si Fuera Ella”

The beautiful ballad from the group’s first concert album is one of most precious songs we’ve received from Jonghyun. The first ever solo track from the singer is a souvenir of Jonghyun’s exceptional singing abilities. The melancholic melody captures the pain and suffering of the protagonist after his loved one’s departure. With crystal clear vocals and grand orchestral instruments, the song stands out as an epic to move every listener to tears. Of course, the climax can pierce the listener’s heart and leave one breathless. The heavy-weighing lyrics were brilliantly brought out by Jonghyun, and it can be visibly seen in his first concert performance, making everyone hold their breath.

“You & I”

“You & I” is one of the most recent B-sides of the group, and was personally penned by Key in remembrance of Jonghyun. Walking back into the K-Pop scene as an act of four was undoubtedly a difficult decision for both the artists as well as the fans, but the members decided to bid a memorable goodbye to their friend. Despite having so much to say, the song wraps the entire journey of the quintet with unforgettable memories and regrets. Personally, the song sounded complete with Taemin sounding like Jonghyun in some parts, reminding us that his presence is eternal. Though the song is heavy, we all need a tear jerker to pour out our emotions to and feel some comfort.

A dozen of years does seem like forever—even thinking about how much has happened in just these last few years. While struggling with such thoughts, I stumbled upon one of Taemin’s quotes that can really help us move along with life.

“As I go on with life, I find that there can be bad moments. But, I have to be positive and change so that the bad things won’t happen again.” 

Despite the hardships and unfortunate moments, SHINee has always helped us feel loved and belonged through their music, and the journey is to hopefully continue for more fruitful years. With lots of love, we wish SHINee a happy anniversary!

Let us know your favorite B-Side track in the comments!

 Lyrics Translation: lyricstranslate.com