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Saw someone say "it's likeTaemin is singing the part of the abuser and dancing the part of the abused and I can't believe how hauntingly beautiful it is " Very interesting if this holds up..
Si el hace las dos parte tanto cantando como bailando. .El susurro .Cuando agarra alguien por el cuello.en una cama. .GUILTY es una obra de ARTE. Musicalmente la orquesta los violines su danza su maravillosa hermosa voz, el regreso del TAEMIN actor. ARTE .FELIZ por su regreso. .❤
Thought I saw a behind the scenes clip where "he is holding someone down on the bed then we got a glimpse of that someone and it's him. (?) I also loved. the live performances each one just a little different each time. The live performance of The Rizzness was Great. I preferred this one as none of the details were cut off. K-Choreo 8K The Rizzness Taemin at choreography @Music Bank KBS k-pop @@leydarachadey465
Yes you're right, a new video Guilty MV Explained confirmed in some parts Taemin is singing as the abuser, it's confusing to us because bad lyrics translation. The video is good piece of research and revealed like, 300% more stuff underneath. The author is Agatho. Bye!
this is so interesting@@Irene-cb3wx
Little late to the party BUT a girl wrote this song about her abusive ex then sold (gave? Sold? Idk how it works) the song to Taemin and he changed some of the lyrics to make him into the abuser!
Please forgive me as i don’t remember her name, but she uploaded her original version of the song on tiktok!
I have never seen a idol performing like this TAEMIN really is the best performer out there. Give the King of Kpop his crown
Love Taemin but the King of Kpop is G Dragon
@@sjames1955what a joke
@@sjames1955nah honey he might be amazing and everything but king of Kpop needs to be representable like taemin though gd is amazing but in his own way
@@sjames1955 as far as i know gd is the king of drugs and taemin is the king and ace of kpop. gd couldn't in your wildest dreams give you 1% of all the art that taemin does in every comeback. hope that helps.
@@sajjadali-taeminsteppedony8434Nah GD is the king of Kpop but Taemin is too imo cause both made big impact in the industry. 😊
it's also important to note that Taemin's title tracks always have a deeper meaning than just romantic/toxic love. here it's also about the abuse not in a romantic relationship. him and the director explained that the video is about a person going through a traumatic event (in some kind of school here), refusing to become a victim, destroying everything and becoming a new, stronger person through that, who leads other people. 'the bird fights its way out of the egg. the egg is the world. who would be born must first destroy a world. the bird flies to god. that god’s name is abraxas.'
in the final scenes of the video, taemin is wearing a feathered headpiece that resembles said god, but that’s not the only inspiration behind it. the music video was also inspired by the french philosopher's book called 'Eroticism', it covers a lot of topics about breaking taboos, religion, human's complex relationship with death and sensuality. the SM translation also failed to convey this much deeper meaning
a lot of his songs have a double meaning like this, like his video Criminal is actually about 2 sides of himself and inner conflict, but you can think it's about toxic love on a surface level
Why are all the comments requests?? The video was fire, y’all are funny as hell and love the content. Also yalls insight helped make this song make so much more sense for me. Yalls takes are so good on the meaning behind the songs/lyrics and I appreciate it. I love how y’all take the time to actually give insight and make the videos better instead of just staring at the screen and ending the video. Love y’all keep up the great content 🫶
I love Taemin fans who care about what he really wants to say, and because half of the powerful, beautiful yet haunting Guilty MV story is buried under mistranslated lyrics and internet noise, I made a video for sincere Taemin admirers. Cheers.
The only k-pop Idol that drives me crazy. King Taemin.
im an army for 8 years i love bts for life but Guilty is the song of the year. periodt
Guilty, Jk Standing Next to You and wayV's on my youth are on an equal footing for me (in Kpop)
@@folkloreevermore2797 cool! next to Guilty, Set Me Free by Jimin for me
I agree!!!
Guilty, Jk Standing Next to You and Set Me Free by Jimin for me. i am army 4 yrs.
Agreed, Taemin for me by far.
07:00 A lot of people, including myself, feel like the lyrics of the song are speaking from the POV of the toxic/abusive lover while Taemin in the MV is being filmed as if he's in the POV of the lover being manipulated. So you have Taemin positioning himself as both the Victim and the Victimizer in the relationship, in the industry, etc. It becomes a little more conceptual and metaphorical when experiencing the music video through that idea.
Interestingly, Taemin uses a similar Victim/Victimizer portrayal with his older song "Criminal" so many think this release is somewhat of a follow-up or response to that song. The difference is that in "Criminal," the lyrics were from the POV of the Victim while the MV was from the POV of both Victim and Victimizer.
Also, he designed the bulk of this album release and concept around two main philosophy-heavy books: "Demian" by Hermann Hesse and "Erotism: Death and Sensuality" by Georges Bataille. There are both direct and subtle references to the books all through the MV and album packaging. He also referenced "Demian" during the "Never Gonna Dance Again" album (the album that "Criminal" is one of the title tracks for) which further makes me think "Guilty" and "Criminal" are connected even if only in concept interpretation.
10:00 Oh, you guys came to a similar conversation. 😂😂😂😂😂 I should've waited to comment.
Taemin already stated that Guilty is indeed in a way a continuation of the complex concept of Criminal, so you’re absolutely right. Also there’s an amazing video called Guilty MV explained which gives enormous insight and context to Taemin’s Guilty and broader career experience. I truly recommend it!
@@I-love-Bts I'll have to check it out!
TAEMIN THE IDOL OF IDOLS!!
I super love him and his music is masterpiece after masterpiece!!! Thank you so much for reacting to him and especially to this song!
Other songs of his that are worth watching:
Drip Drop
Want
Criminal
Black Rose
Press Your Number
Famous
Don't sleep on Taemin's group Shinee. The Princes of Kpop.
taemin is an absolute gem and an icon. he never had any bad songs as a soloist and shinee’s group songs are fire
TAEMIN THE BEST !!!! HE IS INSANE!!!!
I loove this song ❤taemin got me hooked to this song his voice ,dancing everything
thank u this is what im waiting for ! taemin is literally a king and guilty is a freaking masterpiece
Guys thanks for caring about Taemin's lyrics and song meaning. Your sincerity is inspiring. Let's just say what you intuited so far is a tip of an iceberg due to lyrics mistranslation, and also deliberately subversive video direction. I made an explainer video that will make sense of some of the stuff you have picked up. This project is very important to Taemin and he doesn't do any random allegory or statements, so yeah worth hearing him out!
Guys and gals I can vouch for the mind blowin quality of this explainer
YEESSS THE KING OF KPOP 👑 TRUTH TOLD ❤
If you guys like Taemin you have to check out criminal by him one of his best songs
TAEMIN KILLING VOICCEEE
Been watching yall for years!!! Not a single bad reaction! I love that yall pay attention and actually give your own interpretation based on the video AND lyrics! Popper 4 life!!! 🙌🏾🫶🏾🤟🏾✨
You need to react more to Taemin... He's the Idol of idols..
TAEMIN is currently an artist who can combine it all: dancing, charisma, performing and singing at the highest level at the same time.
Some idols can sing better than TAEMIN but I'm sure they can't reach his dancing level
Some others may have a dancing level close to TAEMIN's level, but they certainly can't sing as well as him.
Especially, no one can do what TAEMIN does. THE KING of kings
This whole freaking MV is awesome!!!!
Taemin has talked about the literature that inspired this concept: Erotism: Death and Sensuality by Georges Bataille and Demian by Hermann Hesse.
Love that Taemin decided to do things his own way with his own colors. I don't see anyone else doing this concept, or even the way in which he does it. Just stunning! Great reaction
KING-TPOP-ART
5:45 yeah Taemin is THE best dancer in kpop, not one of the best. HE IS THE BEST and it's pretty undeniable. From the versatility, technique, emotion, etc etc... taemin is unmatched in the dance category. Anybody who disagrees is in heavy denial lmao
without even watching, i know yall are going to LIVEEEE for this!!!!!
*TAEMIN IS A REAL LEGEND*
You guys always go deep with your analysis and it makes watching the MV even more enjoyable. I appreciate you!!! 👏 👏 👏
💎 What can we say other than THE KING IS BACK!? I absolutely love how deep Taemin’s songs and MVs are…they aren’t just entertainment or for clicks/views, but he tells a story. He wants to make people THINK and question and reflect. This isn’t something one can watch and then move on. His concepts are intellectual and personal.
💎 Regarding the song itself, his haunting whispers with the beautiful runs on top give me chills…the rap section was unexpected, but fit perfectly and suited the song more than I’d have imagined. I loved how the song switched gears in unexpected ways…there are certain formulas that most kpop songs follow, but this moved in ways I’d never imagined it would and it’s perfect.
💎 As far as the choreography…holy freaking moly. I KNEW it would blow my mind…of course it would-it’s Taemin! With that said, I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t some of his best work to date. It’s provocative without being slutty. Not only that, but you can SEE him being jerked around without any hands on him at all. Around the tenth time watching the video, I happened to notice some of what the background dancers were doing (it’s hard to peel my eyes from Taemin!). There are some genius moves that add to the overall look of the stage…some possibly inspired by breakdancing and some quite acrobatic. I STRONGLY suggest watching the Studio Choom and/or some (ALL) the live performances because the choreo is spectacular. The hips, the abs, the arms, the hands…HIS EYES & LIPS ~~ pure perfection.
💎 All I can really say besides the King has returned is, if loving Taemin is a crime,
I’m “G-U-I-L-T-Y … Who's gonna punish me?” 💎
Always love the vibes you guys have, great vid as always, great insight from all of you on the lyrics and dance. Taemin is a fantastic artist and I loved this comeback.
I have watched the MV multiple times, and still your reaction made me realize new things. Thank you❤
Taemin is the best artist
This MV and song are so deep! I love Taemin and his artistic so much more! He is really THE IDOL OF IDOLS!!!
Taemin my bias ❤ I’m loving scene Transition dance moves hand gestures acting face expressions backup dancers the room bunk bed remind me of Annie girl movie but fake blood 🩸 his leg stylist or staff did perfect job on it
The song is totally vibe dance to it drink smoothie walk around place he know he be on stage doing that all fan girls going screaming I don’t blame you Taemin 6 pack abs woo 😊👋❤️
Its funny cause this has no pronouns and everyone just assumes she/her pronouns when in reality Taemin likes singing and having the concept of two sides of himself so he is singing to no one but himself and how he views different sides of himself. Very queer video and you can see how he's exploring his feminine and androgynous side again and even in the other videos. This song is supposed to make you feel guilty as he is being exploited and the viewer enjoys it even though you're not supposed to.
well said
Amo a TAEMIN, es estupendo y puro fuego 🔥 ❤❤
More Taemin reaction Please 🥺
ele arrasou DEMAIS nessa, não dá pra não amar e ficar intrigado com a história
Taemin is the king of kpop
the 2min did the challenge ..... omg ......... omg .........i'm in love
Taemin songs are always amazing and different
@thespianoge said on 11/5/23
Aaannnnd a specific reading based on childhood trauma in the industry: In the beginning, there are children’s drawings on the walls. There are old discarded clothes from the past. He stumbles through the halls of his memory with difficulty and trepidation. He spies something that may have been important or shameful to him (the two children in the room.)
He remembers a fun time in the dorms with pillow fights and perhaps a younger him. He looks on with sadness and pity and regret.
These memories creep onto him like the hands that caress his neck. An intimate violation.
These memories are too much for him and send him spiraling. Cue tortured dancing.
They can’t be contained underneath anymore and they escape through his shirt and reach towards his neck, attempting to suffocate him.
Then there’s the manhandling in the medical-esque scene, molding and forcing him and invading his personal space. Wrapping him up tightly and restrained in the hoodie. Taking away his autonomy, as he looks on, dead faced.
That was his childhood as an idol.
The next look with the skirt, he graduates to his solo career. Was he made to wear the skirt, keys around it but no lock? He experiments more with his sensuality in his performance and perhaps in life in general. He begins to become a more dominant figure.
Perhaps the crown symbolizes his rise to stardom. He stands in the middle of circles that seem to be almost worshiping him.
But still, that old trauma snakes up once again and attempts to choke him.
People pile on the bed. I know this is dark, but maybe it’s people the industry ruined in one way or another.
People dance around him in slow motion. He looks around in a daze, seeing the people but not really in the world anymore. Completely dissociated from his life, realizing from the outside what the reality truly is.
He’s in a car with an inhaler in a schoolboy’s uniform, trying to calm himself from what he knows he must do.
He clings to an authority figure, the stability and manager of his whole life, for one last time. He claws at his leg, attempting to be an outlet to keep the pain inside.
He raises his gaze and, with a look of determination, sets fire to his old home. Reframing the story of being a child, finally claiming his agency.
He emerges beautiful and free from the flames wearing a costume completely different from the others, of his own choosing. He still wears the jean skirt sometimes, but because he chooses to. His dancing is much more free and loose.
@milindawilson9175 said on 11/4/23
I think "Guilty" is a continuation of the themes surrounding Taemin's previous releases. Particularly connected to his Never Gonna Dance Again album -- "2 Kids", "Criminal" and "Idea" -- and Advice album themes.
As Taemin has explained, "Guilty" is about a lover who DOESN'T feel guilty about all the bad things they have done in the relationship and they feel no shame or remorse for the pain and suffering they may have caused the other person. Which, if you connect it to the messages from his previous MVs, this easily could be interpreted as a metaphor for everything Taemin has gone through in his career and life. As an idol, he has been manipulated and controlled his whole life. Debuting at 14 years old, Taemin has lived his entire life in the public eye under a microscope, he is expected to be flawless and perfect, and people are constantly telling him what to do and how he should act, etc. However, now that he has turned 30, I think he is embracing a new chapter in his life where he is saying he is no longer going to allow people to manipulate him and he is officially taking back control. In other words, he's not going to feel guilty any more for being himself and doing what makes him happy.
With Taemin -- and all the members of SHINee -- you will never get the same thing twice. Everything he releases will be a new style and sound and, yet, it will still be very "Taemin". As SM's experimental boy group, SHINee are meant to be the first to do almost everything, and they are expected to come up with something new that no one has ever seen or heard before with every release of theirs. As Kpop's trendsetters, the members of SHINee reinvent the industry with every comeback.
Guilty is Taemin's 4th mini Korean album, but he has been in the industry for more than 15 years as a member of SHINee and he has been a solo artist since 2014. Therefore, including his full-length albums, mini albums, and singles, etc., as well as his Japanese albums, Taemin has more than a dozen solo albums. Not to mention the 2 albums he has as a member of SuperM. And on top of all that, SHINee currently has 14 full-length Korean and Japanese albums, just as many repackaged albums, numerous mini albums, etc. You have a TON to catch up on. :D
Now you need to check out Taemin's Killing Voice performance. I have a feeling when you watch his Killing Voice you will find that hearing him sing "Guilty," as well as his other songs, live that you will be even more impressed. Plus, you need to see one of his live performances of "Guilty" to see the complete choreography. There is a reason why Taemin is like none other.
@trixy1823 said on 11/10/23
TEAMIN says that CRIMINAL, ADVICE, and GUILTY are a collection(I think RIZZNESS could be included).
I watched ADVICE first and then went and slowly read the lyrics on a lyrics site. There was one line that made it all click. No one would put that in there without a serious reason. Then I started taking everything in the songs seriously. To me GUILTY confirms it. I recently saw how the lyrics are the voice of the perpetrator yet he performs as the victim.
The lyrics tell me he is NOT talking about “mental health issues”… he is talking about WHO and WHAT specifically caused his mental health issues. To me…this is a victim’s anthem for everyone❤🩹💪🏽💖. A retribution.
I love tour reaction guys! Thank you for for putting thoughts on the lyrics and the videos ❤
I appreciate you!
@5:40 😂😂😂 But Taemin is a genre himself 😩😩😩 He’s amazing
Not them bobbing the heads at the same time 😅
보면 항상 내용을 진지하게 보려고 하고 서로 이야기하시는 듯
Y’all r so entertaining 😂😂
This song is about his lose of innocence at a young age and how he finally control over the situation that he didn’t have when he was a minor.
Killing Voice Taemin.
please react to Shinee, a legendary kpop group where Taemin is part of. You should check out Don't Call Me, Hard, Sherlock by Shinee i know yall would like it too !!❤ as always ur reaction is so good we need more pls
I love your reactions thank you for react TAEMIN Guilty i love so much this song💜
I love watching y'all's reaction to music, always taking the time to analyze and think about the lyrics rather than just watch the video! Thanks for the great content and keep it up!
he actually have a song called Criminal while he's the victim in a toxic relationship, and Gulity is the other respective of a toxic person mindest
in Guilty he's actually singing from both the abuser and victim side, it's a bit lost in translation. also he said that in Criminal he's portraying both the victim and the abuser, and it's about 2 parts of himself (Taemin the artist and Taemin in real life)
@@universe986 oooh interesting I didn’t get that when i read the lyrics 😭 i gotta look again with that perspective
bro all Taemin's songs are great
LOVED YOUR REACTION 😂❤ YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO "THE RIZZNESS" BY TAEMIN ITS HONESTLY FIREE! WHO AGREES?
Taemin💯💖💥
FINALLY!!!! 🎉 been waiting for your taemin comeback
Eu adoro o react de vocês ao mesmo tempo que se divertem e são engraçados vocês também absorvem e entram em conversas profundas sobre o react.
I love your reactions and at the same time they are fun and funny, you also absorb and get into deep conversations about the reactions.
That’s the best dancer in K-pop! My taemin ❤❤❤❤
esperaba esta reaccion los amoooo
check out more of taemin! nct and wayv! wont regret it. as always yall great
Hi, i am back. Good reaction, ty. Good song. On 1st listen I felt strongly like crying. The tears were held in though the whole song though. But at the end i had to wipe my eyes. I just want to hug Taemin. On my 2nd listen i read the lyrics. And after i wondered was my reaction all in my head. There are layers here upon layers. Loved the fits and makeup. Some of the subject matter was an issue for me. I know Taemin had lots of mental health issues in the military. Based on the teasers I thought he would talk about it. And it looks like he does in his own way. I really want to hear his views on this song and album. I watched Suchwita ep. w. Taemin right after this. Glad he is back giving us headaches, lol. Perfect vocals in my opinion. The feathered headband is a Native American thing for me. I feel it has an important significance. The lyrics had nothing to do with the images in the MV. This was way over my head and i watched some reactions to see what others think of Taemin's msg here. Feels based on imagery. Great choreo. The dance practice was so good. =0p Hope u check out his Killing Voice. Borahae. -NY USA 2019 Army💟
Loved that long skirt. He looked so good, dang.
I also was getting examination. After a few reactions i am thinking he is showing military and psych mental health area. Like a mix of places. I was thinking were ppl saying he was guilty of making them feel attracted to him? Does he feel guilty about something? Lots of thoughts going through my head. I am so glad u watched the teasers. The more i watch the more i think that he is combining the military facility with a mental health facility. And we know he suffered in the military and asked for a transfer. So it seems he is portraying his struggles here.
@ireneserrano4570 said on 10/30/23
I'm still confused about the exact meaning, but again, there could be different interpretations as with his other songs. But from the visuals i get the feeling it refers to abuse, it can be at so many levels. It can have psychological and physical or both, you can suffer it under your own family, friends, at school, at work, in love relationships... Then who is the perpetrator? many times you can be trapped by those people, even in a group or the society, you don't even realise but by the time you realise you have been actually abused THEY are gone, who can you blame exactly? I have gone through my own dose of abuse, and after years you realise but you end up blaming yourself too, as if you hadn't known better but then you allowed it...😢 Also the images of classroom and rooms with beds, and a kid surrounded by a group...Taemin is watching him from the door as if he was watching himself as a kid... also at the end those kids in school uniforms, all spread around, one grabbing the legs of an adult that grabs his leg, bleeding... South Korea also has buIIying as endemic.. at schools (kids also teachers committing suicide as they can't either find understanding or help by their surroundings, on the contrary they are treated as the outcast and weirdos) also at the workplace, in the Military, in university... Their social rules, their stratification and obsession with seniority, comparing their ages, wealth, possessions, their marks, everything... the social pressure on kids and in general on everyone to be better, the most xx the most xx...). The crazy mix of their traditional values and the contrast to the monstruos capitalism that devours all traditional values... traditional collectivism versus wild individualism...
@pamela-623 said on 10/30/23
this is an amazing comeback, so artsy so taemin, shawols had lots of interesting theories, my favorite being that this is an interpretation of the struggles in military enlistment, young men being taken, examined and given a gun, i find it so fascinating
@princesssunshine79 said on 10/31/23
From what I have picked up here and there, I THINK, don't quote me, the song is about training at an extremely young age in a very exploitive industry, his horrible experience while doing his military service, and his own mental health. Again, I am not positive about any of this. But, for Taemin, it makes a lot of sense. Especially the last two bits because his 2 years away was a nightmare that really messed with his mental health and depression. I hope this helps a wee bit. 😁
@sumim2192 said on 11/1/23
Just a note, In July (I think), Taemin updated his Instagram bio with a famous quote from Hermann Hesse's famous novel Demian “The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas.” I think his outfit with the feather hat represents the god Abraxas.
@prisonbreakd said on 10/31/23
The way he does dark concepts is so amazing to me.
I think if you think about how guilt feels, the video/song represents it perfectly. The way he moves through the corridors and outside, and the choreography feels like he is out of control, and being suffocated by the situation, he is overwhelmed and struggling to understand up from down, invisible and visible hands push him around. You can't help but feel sad or sorry for him, despite him singing that he's done something horrible. And I think it's because, unlike in "Want", he is not proud or embracing it here; his pain, struggle and guilt are obvious. It's haunting.
To me, the overall story of the video was that love (and life) is not always cutesy and sweet; it can come with a dark side, conflicting feelings, being intense and too much. You can do things you regret, and it can spin out of control, you can be aware of doing something wrong and not know how to stop, you can want things that are not good for you or someone that you care about. You can hurt people and be aware of what you are doing but not know how to do it better. You can love the wrong people, make mistakes and feel... well, guilty. It's just a very painful side of human experience that we don't like to look at because guilt and shame go together and make us very uneasy.
@pandakholin said on 10/31/23
9:55 Yep. Rian, Simeez, Noze and Rozalin. They’ve been Taemin’s backup dancers since Criminal.
Also here is Suzy Hong and Kim Haeun.
Only the best of the best for Taemin.
@lunemaline1338 said on 10/31/23
Taemin has spoken before how he regrets debuting so young in a very exploitative industry, that mixed with how hard his military enlistment period was for his mental health I see this being about him kinda losing his innocence and being thrown into violence. the shot of him looking at one of the dancers that kinda looks like a younger version of him having fun with everyone else to him being in this medical room and being moved like a puppet, forced to hold a gun and being stripped of his individuality by wearing this school uniform. That’s what I love about Taemin’s music and MV’s it starts to make you think and theorize, he’s super creative.
@schuylernefcy3466 said on 10/31/23
Other note, It's like Taemin is singing the part of the abuser and dancing the part of the abused and I can't believe how hauntingly beautiful it is.
@bea_hae_tae9392 said on 11/3/23
Taemin has talked about the literature that inspired this concept: Erotism: Death and Sensuality by Georges Bataille and Demian by Hermann Hesse.
Love that Taemin decided to do things his own way with his own colors. I don't see anyone else doing this concept, or even the way in which he does it. Just stunning! Great reaction, thanks for giving so much love to his work.
♡omg oh wow yay!! ♡
@thespianoge said on 11/5/23
Some initial bullet points:
I definitely think The Rizzness is a diss track to the industry.
My interpretation of Blue is that it’s about/for Shawols. The pearl-aqua ocean of fan lights.
Taemin’s variety is huge and I highly recommend going through his discography. He’s a stunning, creative, chameleon like soloist and I love his soft, soothing voice that can grow to an impressive belt. It could be interesting to go though his discography in order to see his growth, but ultimately I’d recommend Never Gonna Dance Again Act I and II (both have some of my very favorite songs and I honestly can’t pick between the two…) I’m not the hugest fan of his debut Ace based mainly on my personal taste.
He’s incredibly involved in picking the songs, though isn’t a songwriter himself as a rule.
Taemin has specifically said that this is the beginning of his “Act II” in his career and basically life in general from what he’s said.
And now…you wanted to read a think piece on the MV. Boy, do I have one for you.
Pardon the RIDICULOUSLY long essay. I have been meticulously and obsessively dissecting this video since it came out. cracks knuckles
I have three main theories. I’ll talk about this later, but he experienced a traumatic military service and it could be speaking to that. It could also speak to being taken advantage of by the industry as a child, especially. And as a queer person who kind of finds queerness in everything, I felt gay conversion camp vibes from the time I saw the first trailer.
There's also the book Erotism by Georges Bataille that the director recommend he read in preparation for this comeback. It’s about the intersections of sexuality, religion, death, the sacred and the profane and taboo. (Which has ironically basically been his brand from the beginning, more or less.)
There’s also the quote by Herman Hesse that he's mentioned in interviews even before enlistment from the book Demian. "The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas." People think that the feather crown is a nod to Abraxys, which is supposed to be a heretic god, both God and Satan, without a binary.
I found the lyrics somewhat at odds with the MV, but maybe to condense the most basic thesis is wrestling within oneself with their guilt, warranted or not, until one finds their way to set themselves free.
They evolve like the bird fights out of the egg to destroy their prior world to find their inner god, both good and bad, the radiant and the taboo, but it’s on their own terms, like in Demian.
For the queer theory: At the beginning he's wearing Homme Girls boxers (he's actually worn them before and they're HEAVILY featured in his album photo book) from the beginning. It could mean some sort of secret queerness kept under wraps.
Then he graduates to a denim skirt but with a cross necklace, perhaps still trying to convince himself that he could return to the comfort of conformity, and finally, a skintight floral
"feminine" look. Coming into his own personal expression, claiming it after the flaming arrow hits the target.
To go further down the rabbit hole, my queer headcanon saw the brief scene featuring two young people in an intimate moment in a room off the hallway, walking in on something forbidden, which he quickly left at 21 seconds. The person on the left is the person in the long sleeves featured at the 36 second mark.
Some people read it as young Taemin, with old Taemin looking at himself as a child, which totally makes sense. Except when I first saw it, I read it as an androgynous girl and was kind of confused about her significance. So I could be completely wrong but I read some queerness into that brief scene as well. Or it’s just Taemin looking in on his younger self in early sexual experimentation.
In the original trailer, there were a bunch of kids playing in the creek. Some were male and some female, but they were indistinguishable from each other. I even didn't clock it until someone else mentioned it.
But once they were in their uniforms, there was a clear delineation where the girls were now wearing skirts, enforcing the gender roles they were previously unconcerned about.
I'll also mention a content warning for racy talk. There's also a brief moment in the scene in the bunks with someone holds the head of someone with a baseball cap in front of their fully clothed groin. In the split second moment at 1:45, Taemin’s hand is seen lifting up the chin of someone. They have an Adam’s apple.
Finally, the most obvious line that people have latched onto is “loving is a crime.”
With the military theory, he ended up having to leave the military proper and go into the public service sector for the rest of the time due to extreme anxiety and depression. There's been documentation of idols (G-Dragon is a good example) being treated extremely badly by other members, even as much as trying to take photos of them in the shower and such. It's entirely possible he had a traumatizing time in there on top of his preexisting mental health conditions.
Especially as someone who has been sexualized by being beautiful and feminine since he was literally a child in the industry, this may have made him an even bigger target than just being an idol. So one interpretation of this MV is referencing the invasive nature of an institutional (military) setting. Medical examinations, forcing violence, having a hand help him him hold up the gun to shoot it as seen in the trailer, bunks, etc. With this theory, he would have to walk a fine line because it would be criticizing the South Korean military.
Then there’s the theory of being an idol from basically childhood and the ways he has been taken advantage of. He began training at the age of 12 and debuted at the age of 14. There is literally a TH-cam video entitled “The Sexualization and feminization of Lee Taemin” chronicling the way adults have been creepy and inappropriate to him since the beginning. The bunks are like like trainee dorms, and he looks back on his old self with sadness and pity. The clinging to the leg of a captor because there’s no other choice. The early loss of innocence, but ultimately coming out empowered by the end.
Throughout the MV, he danced in an especially tortured way after depicting memories of invasive manhandling which tracks along any interpretation. There’s clearly a story about someone vulnerable and their journey to self discovery and purging themselves into their empowered "final form.” His hand-under-the-shirt move may have something to do with a secret desire or feeling that keeps trying to get out, perhaps like the temptation of the biblical serpent. Or, as per the title, secret guilt choking him.
With the skirt look, there are many keys around his waist. Perhaps this could signify that he already has the keys that he needs to “unlock” himself and they’re all ready for when he’s ready to use them. It could be a reference to his song Advice when he says “you’ll never get the keys to my lock. Like he is the only one who holds the keys to unlock himself, kept safe on his person.
In the scene outside in the uniforms near the end, there is the building of extreme anxiety with the inhaler and the gripping and scratching of his legs to try to cope and gather the strength to “burn it all down”/be his true self.
The self knowledge that it must be done but he’s scared shitless. One last clinging to authority/the system with they leg, and finally the full acknowledgment that he needs to do it anyway with determination in his eyes.
The I think that the lyrics aren’t projecting outwards towards another person, but rather a back and forth with himself, with his conscience vs his base desires. And the lyric “I can walk like that, talk like that, play like that" could apply to all three readings, be it “passing” as queer/cis, appearing to mentally and emotionally healthy, or the training and indoctrination trainees receive to behave perfectly as idols.
In livestreams before the comeback, he spoke about how he was going to “walk the tightrope to see how far he can go.” He’s definitely toeing the line with any one of these topics. He and his team are BRILLIANT.
5:40 yea exactly 😂
I like that you guys broke down the lyrics; ive seen so many reactors who ignored the lyrics n im like nooooo freak out with me! D; lol
Yall need to react to "The Rizzness" by the same guy, its so funny but goood at the same time😂
How I take it is be real. You have me taking advantage of you when you could just be real. You make me feel guilty for being so real and ready for real love and when someone isn’t you end up playing a game for them. It’s painful to be empathetic and play in someone else’s game
please react to his other songs: criminal, want, idea, move, press my number. it’s a legendary songs
THE JESUS OF KOREAN SOLOIST
5:35 LMAOOO😂😂😂
check out his song criminal if you guys haven’t ❤
Please do reaction via Red velvet (Chill Kill), Aespa (Drama) and NCT(check).
SM idols are not smiling. Their songs this time are all bop.💯💯💯
Bro ask are we yapping right now 😂😂😂 but on my life, i heard this song randomly so I didn’t see the mv, and it sounded like nothing but sensual sex. And now that I’ve watched the mv and seen the vid, im embarrassed asf😭😭😭 love the reaction. Seen his challenge with hyunjin and wheeww im still there.
This music set to a waltz does give off that sensual vibe, but it is just so much more. As a side note back in history the waltz was first considered a scandalous dance when it was first introduced to the public, as never before had men and women gripped hands, and touched waists, shoulders in public.
Yes,Hyunjin oh my goodness
Y’all stop making fun of me like I KNOW MY REACTION TO TAEMIN IS COMPLETELY INSANE BUT NO NEED TO CALL US OUT LIKE-
Y’all really need to react to CL Hello Bitches music video! See how she dances.
Yall should react to LALALALA by straykids 😭 and also rizznes by taemin
Please react more to his videos…Advice,criminal and the rest🙏
Can you plssss do criminal by taemin
🙏🙏💜💜💜💜💜💜
REACT TO RIZZNESS BY TAEMIN
PH1harmony 'Good 4 u' cover Olivia Rodrigo.🇧🇷
Seems like he wants it easy like a player but he's falling for her and is starting to feel guilty, and now he's starting to feel the pain and fear from his own behavior because when she finds out he's played her she'll leave him.
except that he's singing from both the abuser and the victim side (it's kinda lost in translation) and it's just a surface level. his title tracks always have much deeper meaning than just romantic/toxic love, even on a surface level it's about abuser and the victim rather than just a player
taemin and the director explained that the video is about a person going through a traumatic event (in some kind of school here) and then destroying the world and becoming a new person through that
a lot of his songs have a double meaning, like Criminal is actually about 2 sides of him, but you can think it's about just toxic love
That,i understand.
Thanks for the info. That makes a lot of since too.
can y'all react to seventeen fear I feel like y'all would like it..
But please react to Taemin ‘IDEA’ MV!!
Can you reaction to camo mapsi please 🙏
First? Also stray kids lalalala next plsss❤
YESSSSSS ❤❤❤
love réaction can you react stray kids lalalala
You guys should react to superm and you guys should also react to taemin and exo Kai's friendship
Ding ding ding!!! The guy in the middle got it right!!! Thanks for reacting!
Aespa drama reaction next
can y’all react to riize please… i enjoy you’re reaction videos
PLEASE REACT TO JESSI - GUM. YOU GUYS ARE SO FUNNY!
DO RIZZNESS
SHINee reaction please 🥺
Better to analyze what I've seen
내가 영어를 잘해서 다 알아 들었으면 좋겠다. 재밌게 봤어요~!
STRAY KIDS “LALALALA” next!! 🔥🔥
Aespa drama next pls💗
The song is amazing 🔥🫶🏻💜 I was curious to listen to the song because he is Jimin friend from BTS 😍 (and He did a dance challenge with Jimin 🔥😭