Director Reacts – TAEMIN 태민 ‘Advice’ MV

I could watch him dance all day // He has so many fantastic songs, Danger (debut), Move, Want, Sexuality, Black Rose, Famous, Criminal & Drip Drop, Idea) Thank You // Key from SHINee has some great performances too, Bad Love, Easy, Another Life, Killer & Gasoline.

I would want to recommend Criminal and Idea… And normally I don't suggest other artist under an artist but I'm sure Taemin wouldn't mind since it's his bestie and a groupmember… I would like to suggest Kai with mmmh and Key (from Shinee) with Gasoline and Bad Love because I know you will like those mv's from a producer standpoint…

TAEMIN is just perfect. He has his own universe, his voice, his moves, his esthetic, his groove, his choreo. The king of K-pop. Check out his dance practices 🌟

I see "Advice" as a continuation of the themes within Taemin's previous Never Gonna Dance Again album trilogy — "2 Kids," "Criminal" and "Idea." With "Criminal" and "Idea," Taemin talks about being involved in a toxic relationship — not necessarily a romantic relationship, but a metaphor for his relationship with fame — in which he agrees to be manipulated almost to the point of being destroyed in order to become the artist we see today. But in the end of "Idea" we see him become free from the box everyone wants to put him in and he comes to terms with his role as an idol. He has now formed his own "Idea" about himself and what it means to be an idol, etc.

As Taemin explained during his VLive event for "Advice", "Advice" is like the end to the first chapter in his life, and it marks the beginning of the second chapter. The song seems to be his way of saying I am done caring to everyone who judged him and all those haters who spread rumors and misinformation about him. "Advice" is showing that he is now free and confident to be himself, breaking stereotypes and now only listening to himself.

Taemin is just one of those performers that leaves you speechless every time he steps on stage. He was born to be a performer and that is one of the reasons why he has become known as the Korean Michael Jackson. That is also why, as one of the top two performers in the industry, he was made a member of SuperM. Taemin is an Idol of Idols and a legend of legends. (He is considered the blueprint for what it means to be a successful as a male solo artist. He was one of the first male idols from an active group to go solo, and he did it at such a young age, starting in 2014 at 21 years old. He has been a solo artist for more than half his career.)

And the title of the industry's BEST dancer isn't just a fan's opinion, but it's a widely agreed upon title bestowed on Taemin by his peers and the industry as a whole. (If you ask any of your favorite Kpop dancers who was their inspiration, they will most likely name Taemin as one of them.)

In "Advice" he's basically saying, "Stop trying to put me in a box, in which I'll never fit in." He is also speaking to everyone that says he's getting old, that he's just a Michael Jackson wannabe that doesn't sell a lot of albums because he tries too hard to be edgy, etc. He's rebelling against all those people who are constantly advising him to make more mainstream music, or to follow the traditional Kpop idol style, in order to boost his sales and his popularity. However, as Taemin is making clear in "Advice," that is not who he is and he will never be "normal" or "mainstream" and he is OK with that.

In the scenes where you see him covered in ink, I think that is supposed to be him showing everyone how he is no longer the "unstained," cute maknae everyone wants to think of him as. The diamond you see painted on his hand when he is playing the piano, and you see drawn on his bicep, etc is SHINee's symbol and all the pearl aqua blue/green colors you see in the MV is SHINee's official color. (The large tattoo on his hip is real. Hence why in the lyrics he says, "I destroy the torso that you were chasing after." He's tired of people thinking they even have a say in what he does with his body.)

This song was specifically designed to not be like anything he has ever done before. He plays the piano, he raps, he shows off his falsetto notes, etc., which is different than what we often hear and see from him. He intentionally used this song to prove that he isn't one type of singer. People often think of Taemin as a sultry vocalist that sings in a breathy comfortable, less dynamic style. So, with this song he wants to prove to everyone that he can be unpredictable and try new things. Yet again, you can't put him in a box or tell him who to be. Everything you see in this MV is 100% Taemin, including the piano playing.

Everything that Taemin's haters like to point out about him and say are reasons why he shouldn't be held to such high esteem, I find completely ridiculous. I don't think that anyone who actually knows him would ever say he has played it safe at anytime in his career. If you think he is only one dimensional, and that he is trying to be anything other than himself, then you really don't know Taemin. Everything he does is different, out there and definitely not safe. It's always uniquely Taemin, and he couldn't do it any other way.

Also, because Taemin is a member of SHINee, none of his songs are ever like anything you have every heard or seen before from him. It will always have a new beat, style and sound. As SM Entertainment's experimental boy group, SHINee is meant to be the first and they are expected to set the trend, and that includes the members' solo work. With every new song Taemin produces it's expected to be different than the last, so you will never hear the same style or sound from him in any of his songs, even on the same album, and yet, it still will be uniquely Taemin-like. Which is another example of how you can never put him in a box or expect anything from him. 😀

Another theme in "Advice" is about how Taemin is embracing his androgynous side — but on his own terms — which I think is a continuation of the message in his "Move" MV. Early in his career when Taemin was growing up in SHINee — he debuted in 2008 at 14 years old — he was known for his delicate feminine features. It took him a long time to accept that he was recognized for his looks and to come to terms with the fact that everyone thought of him as a "pretty boy," etc. So, at this point in his career — he is now 27 years old in this MV — he is making a statement about how he has decided to be himself and no longer care what people think. Music is art and art has no gender. So, that is why in "Advice" you see him wearing hair extensions, fishnets and women's Supreme sports wear, etc. But if you notice, his choreography is very fast paced and sharp, which is hyper masculine — a complete contrast to the "feminine" image people want to give him. You also see him wearing makeup, but it's smeared on his face, as if to say, "people may think of me as a 'Pretty Boy,' but I don't care about looking pretty."

In the lyrics he is saying, "It's creepy how people are always looking to cause drama, so stop trying to create scandals in my life that don't really exist. It's all just stories you make up." He's tired of all those people who seem to look for reasons to cause drama, where none really exists.

Where he says "floppy" in the lyrics, I think he's talking about knowing about or hearing firsthand the things people are saying about him, but he is choosing not to pay attention to them because what they're saying is flopping or doesn't hold any weight or have any substance, etc. "Advice" just proves that everytime people try to put Taemin in a box, he destroys it and keeps coming back with something more unique and never seen before.

Hence, why in the choreography he puts his hands in front of his face and creates a movement that looks like an animated mouth talking. It represents how everyone keeps talking about him and what they are saying is nonsense, which makes them look and sound ridiculous, etc. Which is why in the lyrics he says, "You will never get the keys to my lock" because he doesn't ever plan to give people what they want and allow them access to his secrets and personal life, etc. (Those people who like to gossip about him will never truly know the real him.)

I interpret the "One (piece of ) Advice" he is talking about in the lyrics as a reference to the advice he keeps being given about being more mainstream, but he's saying, "stop trying to make me conform to the image you have in your head of who I should be and what I should do." In other words, take all that time and effort you have been using to come up with ways to talk about how he don't fit in, etc. and put it to better use. "Follow my own advice" and do something original for once.

As a devout Catholic, Taemin often uses Biblical references and metaphors in his songs and MVs. And the crucifixion pose at the end of "Advice" is sort of a signature pose for him. I interpret it to be like he is saying, "And that is the end, this is my final word, take it or leave it, but don't doubt me. I have gave it my all and laid everything I had out there for you," etc.

Yet again, Taemin is always even more impressive live. Also, check out his dance practice video on SM's SMP Floor channel. As I said, Taemin is on a whole other level.

You should react to ''animal farm'' by BIBI, the visuals there are amazing

"It's like me eating a bowl of cereal". Hilarious!

Yes, I agree.. Taemin is the magnificent bastard😂😂😂

Taemin is one of a kind. I hope you’ll check out Criminal and Want and Idea, all of those are amazing songs and masterpiece MVs.

I’d also recommend Key’s Bad Love and Gasoline, and SHINee performance video for Juice. All of those are great songs with awesome videography.

Please react to more Taemin! I recommend Criminal, Idea, and Move 💜

Goodmorning Captain,..
Taemin is not good,he is a peace of art! This man is a genius. ❤

This song is my first, and, as a result, my favorite Taemin song. I loved the elements of the classical mixed with his style and aesthetics and those awesome sensual dance moves!

Should also listen to taemin and bewhy – Pinocchio

Taemin este chico no es de este planeta un genio total.

One of Taemin's early songs "Danger", is a real bop. You would really appreciate the set, camera work, and symbolism

I just watched advice 2023 versión at Waterbomb.. I just need his full concert

Love to see you checking out Taemin!!! He's my ult bias, my very favorite artist. I would suggest these songs:
~Criminal
~Danger
~Idea (performance version)