First-Time Listener: Taemin's 'Guilty' Reaction & Analysis

First-Time Listener: Taemin's 'Guilty' Reaction & Analysis
TAEMIN 태민 'Guilty' MV
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Original Video: • TAEMIN 태민 'Guilty' MV
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[@ninawilliams5676]

Everything taemin does is gold and no one does it better. Taemin is involved with every step of the creating his mv's, he puts his all in it. Pleeeeease continue on with the GOD of kpop taemin you will be blown away I pinky promise you.

[@minimasuo]

Yes, Taemin's MV's really ARE theatrical performances - SO good. Thank you for the reaction!

[@kdfromage9952]

No doubt about it, Taemin is an Artist in every sense of the word. So glad you reacted to him! Please keep going, you will not be disappointed. Please check out The Rizzness performance video from his Guilty album. Absolutely sick. Some people can't get over the title and the use of Rizz, but don't let that stop you. The lyrics are pretty deep actually and explore the theme of power, and staying true to your own self. 2 Kids, Criminal, Idea and Advice should be experienced sequentially as they are explorations into his identity, incredibly important to getting to know Taemin, his struggles with duality, and his search for his identity. If you want to see Taemin dancing stunningly beautiful contemporary, check out Just You And Me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJiukp6vnZuhkKMsi=KNOz94ts1JlOb1if or the dance version of Flame Of Love: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipvYdXSOiZmendUsi=riMV3GconERAZD2z Lastly, for something completely different, I strongly recommend a song he wrote Under My Skin, especially the live concert version with the English lyrics (the MV does not have English captions). kzbin.info/www/bejne/emGyhaltj7qfm5Y This is Taemin simply standing still at a mike stand, utterly vulnerable. One of my absolute favourite performances. I hope you keep exploring Taemin's discography!!

[@MyAmru]

Taemin is more than sexy.. It's like he's the embodiment of desire, sin, guilt, dark and sensual.. There's a lot more meaning to his songs. Even the point choreo in this song has some meaning behind it. Thank you for the reaction.❤

[@user-yq6rr3xr8b]

Thank you for appreciating Guilty for the way it is - not a sexy song to appeal to fans, but a true masterpiece about pain, growth and liberty.

[@Saddlemomma]

Along with Taemin's insane talent as a singer/dancer/performer, his creative involvement (sometimes as co-director/co-producer) with all his projects and attention to the most minute details are what makes him an artist rather than an idol as it is with all of his fellow SHINee brothers. This is primarily why Taemin is given the best of the best in producers, directors and backup dancers. EVERYTHING, even the choreo, in Taemin's MV's conveys deeper meaning than what is conveyed in a surface reading of the lyrics. These are key things to remember when analyzing one of Taemin's works: 1) The simplest explanation is NOT the true interpretation (opposite from the philosophical argument of Occam's razor). 2) Taemin is deep into philosophy and regularly explores various world philosophies. 3) Many of Taemin's lyrics are directed inward to his psyche and history, spanning across a storyline using different philosophies as his concepts for each song. 4) He incorporates those philosophies along with religious symbolism, metaphors, and allusions to illustrate their conflict with his Christian faith (Taemin is Catholic). So, when putting all that together, we need to look at all the details to reveal the deeper meaning behind the surface reading of the lyrics. In short, this is not about a toxic relationship between a couple. It's in fact the continuation of Taemin's toxic struggle between the relationship of the two egos in his mind (indicated by the hand inside his shirt grabbing himself -- it's coming from inside himself): the demon tempting him with the perks of his celebrity life clashing with his Christian self desiring to adhere to his Christian worldview. The person clinging to the attendant's leg is Taemin himself. He's trying to cling to his faith-based identity. He digs his fingers into his flesh to feel pain and bring him back to, or hold onto, reality. This personal story concept, initially introduced in his MV for "Press Your Number", also runs through "Criminal" (here's a recent live performance that killed many fans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKqbZ2SKrbSmapY ), "IDEA" (in fact the entire "Never Gonna Dance Again" Acts 1 & 2 albums), and "Advice". For this particular song/MV, Taemin indicated that he researched both "Demian" by Hermann Hesse and ""Erotism: Death and Sensuality" by the French philosopher, Georges Bataille. His concept is that of guilt and how humans process their guilt, especially with respect to dealing with toxic relationships. For Taemin, this is displayed through the character he plays of Abraxas (wearing a headdress and representing the gnostic demigod of a heretical sect later referred to as a demon). However, Taemin also plays the character of himself being tormented by this demon who constantly plagues and entices him to go astray. The entire song is a dialogue between Abraxas and Taemin. During the dialogue, Taemin is struggling (the choreo) to fight off being possessed and swallowed completely by Abraxas. We see even more of this struggle in the performance video for "The Rizzness" which came out recently. IT'S WILD! You clearly see the demon, "Abraxas" all in black alone and Taemin dressed in white with backup dancers. We see Taemin walking through institutions of his memory such as a school (which, as an introvert, he hated), hospital/mental institution (brainwashing), and training center (SM?), always being controlled and in situations that produce temptations to go against his values. If he is not constantly vigilant, "....when you've caught on (Abraxas), I'm already gone (Taemin)." In other words, he will lose himself instantly because the temptations are so appealing and addictive (as illustrated in his MVs for "Want" & "Famous"). The "poison apple" is the bait, (again just like in "Want" & "Famous")..."want a bite?" "Just a little more, that's all it takes." "Gift you once as a bait, then I (Abraxas) take everything." The demon is the father of lies. The pre-chorus and chorus are actually further dialogue between Taemin and Abraxas: [Pre-chorus] Ooh-ooh (On that vague border between good and bad - Taemin) You played the fool for me - Abraxas (My judgment in the final moment - Taemin) [Chorus -- all Abraxas] Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh You got me G-U-I-L-T-Y - Trick and take everything from you Again, just playing a game all for fun Hundreds of lies Ooh yeah Taemin is a genius when it comes to interweaving layers of meanings into his lyrics (which he often rewrites/tweaks from SM samples to make them fit his concepts) and leaving us spellbound, trying to arrive at the deepest look into his psyche. This is why he is the ultimate artist for me. Yes, I love his dancing, but it's his lyrical and musical prowess that truly captivates me, while also gratifying my desire for deeper, meaningful Christian messaging that is usually lacking in actual Christian music.

[@Saddlemomma]

If you want to explore Taemin's overall storyline theme more, I would suggest the following MVs in the following order (although you may want to go ahead and do "The Rizzness" next since it's basically part 2 of "Guilty") : "Press Your Number" (2016; 1st MV with Taemin play dual roles of criminal & victim): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqSyeJyKiL-Smck "Want" (2019; Taemin plays the dual roles of Satan & newly saved Christian): kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4DJgJ6fi6ugnq8 "Famous" (2019-Japanese; Taemin tempted by fame & fortune but staying steadfast to his beliefs): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGSVmZuFqK9kas0 "Criminal" (2020; Toxic relationship between Taemin & criminal ego represented by Stockholm syndrome): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nne0fWp4iJufqNU "IDEA" (2020; Epic battle between Taemin's 2 egos represented by hell & heaven; concept of Plato's Theory of Forms): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYbZgISioLGBnqc "Advice" (2021; Battle-scarred Taemin [from "IDEA"] declaring his autonomy from the one-collective advice): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYLKZYl5d5iVj9k "Guilty" (2023) "The Rizzness" (2023; Part 2 of "Guilty"): kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2LCi56paLKXn9U Now, one of my favorite Japanese songs from Taemin is, "Under My Skin" (2018): kzbin.info/www/bejne/emGyhaltj7qfm5Y . While it does reference his SHINee brother, Jonghyun as someone who left him (JH passed away in 2017), it also references the "the worst side" of himself, how uneasy that side of himself makes him feel, and why he keeps it "under his skin". He questions himself in the mirror, "am I getting any better?", then hears "the snickering deep in his eardrums." So, logically this could also be a part of his storyline. Have fun exploring Taemin psyche...

[@arle_91]

It took you ages to react to taemin, but you finally did. Guilty is one more reason why Taemin is considered the king of kpop and the best soloist and performer of all time. he will always give you top tier visuals, vocals, concepts and choreos, all at the same time, overwhelming art in the best sense of the word. Taemin is unique and different, as you can see, guilty is unlike anything you have heard before in the industry, he does not make commercial music like many other artists and is quite artistic and experimental and it is why he is the most cited Idol as their role model by other idols.. Next the rizzness

[@justherevibing6611]

Artistic and Purposeful sums up Taemin EXACTLY. He is a true artist and yes he does a lot of contemporary dance but can dance any style. His vocals are insane and he’s a legend in the industry. He’s so involved in his concepts and for Guilty he worked with the director he’s been working with for a few years now. Guilty was inspired by “Demian” by Hermann Hesse. The quote “The bird fights it’s way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world” sums up Taemin. People try to box him in but he’s ever evolving and pushing the boundaries. Another book that inspired Guilty was Eroticism by Georges Batille - it’s about taboo, sacrifice, transgression and sensuality. So much lore behind Guilty it’d take forever to explain but you’ll understand once you watch/ listen to his other songs. I would suggest reacting to Criminal and Idea next. If you’re interested in albums his “Never Gonna Dance Again” series is probably his best work in exploring these themes in my opinion. Thank you for a great reaction🩵

[@milindawilson9175]

Taemin has been in the industry for more than 15 years as part of the legendary 5-member Kpop group SHINee and he has been a solo artist since 2014. "Guilty" is his title track on his 4th mini Korean solo album. I think "Guilty" is a continuation of the themes surrounding Taemin's previous releases. Particularly connected to his Never Gonna Dance Again trilogy of albums -- "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. The story in the MV also makes more sense if you pair it with the 2 teaser videos that were released a few days before the MV dropped. In the teasers you will see Taemin being manipulated even more by outside forces and people who literally at one point hand him a gun and force him to shoot something or someone, which is all part of the metaphor that has to do with taking control of his life, etc. If you delve in deep you will see that "Guilty" could be interpreted as his relationship with fame and the different sides of who he is as a person and artist. Everything you see and hear can be thought of as a metaphor for life told using biblical references as an underlying theme showcasing Taemin's Catholic faith.The majority of Taemin's songs and MVs touch on concepts, stories and themes from the Bible, as a metaphor to explain what he has gone through growing up as an idol and the journey he has taken in order to find confidence in and acceptance with who he is as a person and an artist. 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 Entertainment'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. Taemin is the main dancer and a main vocalist of SHINee. However, because he is a member of SHINee, this means he can do it all. SHINee are known for the fact that there are no longer any fixed roles in their group, the main vocalists can rap and the rappers can fill in as main vocalists at any moment. However, what they are really recognized for is the fact that they are one of the best vocal groups to ever exist. All of the SHINee members are top tier singers and dancers. You may find this hard to believe, but when Taemin debuted as a member of SHINee way back in 2008, he didn't have a whole lot of lines in their songs. People even used to make fun of Taemin's singing and they would say that he was tone deaf and couldn't sing. However, it's sort of a misconception that Taemin "couldn't sing." it wasn't that he couldn't sing, it was just that he debuted when he was so young -- he was only 14 years old -- that his voice hadn't really developed yet and he didn't really have a good grasp of how to use his voice and produce the sounds he wanted with it. So, in the beginning, when he sang, he was often flat or his voice cracked or he was off key or out of tune, etc. And because he was being compared to the other members of SHINee who are all 2 to 4 years older than him, and the other members had such phenomenal voices to start out with, it really made Taemin sound like he was lacking. (SHINee are considered THE premier vocal group that everyone dreams of being as good as.) That's why in SHINee's first few songs Taemin only has a few lines, and most of the time he was just given big solo dance breaks to fill the stage at his parts in the song. However, if he was really tone deaf, he never would have become an SM Idol trainee -- SM would have put him on the dance track and probably steered him toward becoming a backup dancer -- and he definitely would have never become the amazing singer that he is today. As you probably know, someone who is truly tone deaf is physically unable to hear the difference in the notes and is unable to carry a tune. Taemin is considered one of the greatest dancers of all time. He has literally been voted one of the top two BEST dancers in all of Kpop by his peers and industry experts. (Kai from EXO -- who happens to be Taemin's best friend since trainee days, and a fellow member of the Kpop supergroup SuperM -- is the other top dancer.) That is why he has been nicknamed the Korean Michael Jackson. Literally everyone in the Kpop industry looks up to Taemin and idolizes him. But Taemin really wanted to prove to everyone that he wasn't just a dancer, so he spent a lot of extra time concentrating on vocal lessons and the other SHINee members -- especially Onew and Jonghyun (two of the best vocalists in the industry) -- spent some serious time coaching and mentoring him until he learned what it took to match their vocal range and to use his voice. (For the first year or more after SHINee's debut Taemin spent hours in vocal lessons and he would push himself every day until his nose would bleed because he was so tired and worn out, etc. He practically lived in the training rooms at SM.) The ONLY thing the members of SHINee are not good at is lip syncing, so Taemin, and all the members of SHINee, have specifically trained since their debut, to build stamina and endurance, in order to be able to sing live for 3+ hours straight in concert, all while performing these intense choreographies and still sound flawless. When you watch a live performance, you may be shocked because Taemin and SHINee sound so perfect live even though they are dancing so intensely, but that is why they are so highly respected by everyone. Therefore, when you hear SHINee sing, 95% of the time it will be live. Other Idols and audio sound technicians, etc. who have witnessed the SHINee members performing live are always blown away, because in the parts of the song where most singers would take a break and rely on the backing track vocals to cover their voices so they can catch their breath and recover, this is where the SHINee members actually ramp it up and become their most powerful. In Taemin's live performance you will discover that he sounds even better than in the recorded version, all while dancing full out. What makes SHINee so great is that even if they are singing a cappella while performing this high energy choreography, they sound just as amazing. That's why, even as rookies, senior artists would stop what they were doing to watch SHINee's rehearsals on music programs because SHINee's vocal talent is that impressive. When SHINee debuted, they were the first group to demonstrate how it was possible to sing live while performing complex choreography and still maintain stable vocals. Before SHINee, the thought within the industry was that it wasn't possible to sing live and also perform high intensity choreography at the same time. At that time, most groups would either sing live and have simple choreography, or they would have crazy cool choreography, but lip sync to their recorded vocals. SHINee completely changed the Kpop industry and upped the standard of what it meant to be an idol singer. Taemin -- and SHINee -- live is unmatched. It's literally referred to as the SHINee standard. It's the standard that all other groups strive to reach, and SHINee are the vocalists that all other artists try to emulate. Taemin has released at least one song or album -- most of the time way more than just one -- as part of SHINee, as a member of a project group, as a solo artist or as a member of SuperM every year since SHINee's debut. (Except for the past two years because he was on hiatus while he carried out his public service duties as part of his military requirements.) 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. Plus, he has held many solo concert tours, as well as a world tour as a member of SuperM, and SHINee has held more than 100 concerts within 6 world tours so far. 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. There is a reason why Taemin is like none other.

[@carriemorgan2704]

The man is ART. It's nothing about making it hot for 'the girls" He is genius

[@maria-ku3lg]

you need to react to taemin advice

[@baek_so]

Taemin has the true and deep concepts in the industry, everyone thinks guilty is just another sexy song in the crowd, leave that to kai, taemin artistry is truly unmatched and guilty is no exception; it is one of the most personal songs taemin has made after leaving the military service in 2023 and the concept of that MV is heavily inspired by the books "DEMIAN" by Hernan Hesse and "Erotism: Death and Sensuality" by George Bataille. Taemin brought back artistic music to kpop and that ton of idols doing the challenge and we all thank him for it. keep reacting to taemin.

[@lillymoon-hi6sz]

Please check Advice, Criminal, Idea, Rizzness, Want, Move

[@harriettholmes539]

Ditto!!!

[@amedawg18]

Yes, ditto here, too! Though I will suggest perhaps doing them at least somewhat in chronological order (Move, Want, Criminal, Idea, Advice, The Rizzness) or at the very least doing Criminal Idea Advice in that order, as they are kind of a loose trilogy. In addition to those, he has tons of other Korean and Japanese MVs, performances, etc, as well as the vast, incredible discography of his group SHINee (and SuperM, too).

[@amedawg18]

Thanks so much for checking him out!

[@julian_333]

All of his mv’s are a completely artistic

[@JiwonKang-j3v]

Plz react to Taemin - The Rizzness pv

[@harriettholmes539]

Ditto!!!

[@bea_hae_tae9392]

TAEMIN-KING Each song is unique and has a specific sound - you immediately know that he owns everything from the stage to the vocals.

[@XVMatthew]

Ya Taemin likes to try out new dance styles often and personally selects choreographers he wants to work with. He's mentioned before he's interested in Contemporary because is a style he liked but as he's mostly self-taught didn't get to train in, so every once in a while he dabbles in it a bit. Bada Lee choreographed Guilty and she did a great job but she is trained in hip hop so if you want Taemin doing Contemporary would recommend his Koharu Sugawara choreos like Sayonara Hitori for his solo work and Good Evening for shinee. There are dance practices for all of his title tracks.

[@giovannabenso1754]

Bada Lee and Casper

[@XVMatthew]

@@giovannabenso1754 Kasper is famously iffy on giving credit to choreographers and tends to claim choreo he assisted in developing as his own and listing the main choreographer as the assisting ones so I'm reluctant to accept that. Totally fair if you do, of course, but when it comes to him specifically I prefer to take the artists' words for it

[@Taemin9494-c2c]

It's bada kasper and another guy bada actually didnt make the hand under shirt move she uploaded her draft on yt!

[@ramki-90]

Masterpiece fr Thank you for this ~ hope see more taemin’s stuff ❣️

[@helenas7948]

I think that if you liked Guilty, you should check Black Rose, a b-side from his Never Gonna Dance Again album. It has a similar, hypnotic, eerie vibe. There is a performance video of it.

[@Mr_87Elt]

Taemin is a different breed. He is beyond perfection and his art is incomparable. king of kpop for a reason. Guilty choreo is contemporary dance, i suggest react to guilty - studio choom.

[@kai-jw9hf]

Taemin is the powerhouse of all male solos in the kpop industry. Best dancer and performer of all time. Taemin is the reason why your fav exist lol. I recommend Advice and the rizzness

[@newyorknewyork1190]

100% art

[@oph9016]

Finally the king of kpop. Guilty is one more reason why nothing and no one compares to Taemin's artistry department. Taemin brought art music back to kpop. React to his studio choom and then the rizzness

[@Karinaiswatching]

LETS DO THE DEEP DIVE TO TAEMIN🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@sofiaVargas-o3i]

Gracias por la reaccion ! Taemin es un Dioos !! El es arte ! 👑👑👑

[@danie_lle]

Guilty is a sexy song but not in the classic and generic way that kai would have you believe, Guilty has layers, and it is also very visceral, it is a combination of sensuality and pain at the same time, The last chorus gives you goosebumps because it is dramatic art in its entirety. Taemin is a complex artist and so intriguing with everything he does, because he will always have you reading books to understand his musical approach. Guilty is inspired by 2 books and has a deep meaning. No one else is like him or executes ideas as only he can. that's why he is my favorite solo artist. I suggest Advice next

[@AtinyWalwalMoodz]

That’s why I love Lucy’s music so much, the violin is a wonderful instrument

[@Karinaiswatching]

14:03 ALL

[@sarasarah8282]

taemin and kai are besties 😂😂😂

[@luzanahimoreno3216]

🔥PLEASEEE REACTION🔥 TAEMIN SONGS: ➡️ADVICE ➡️IDEA ➡️CRIMINAL ➡️PRESS YOUR NUMBER VERSION 2 DANCE. Pleaseee😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@vattulaitti]

Taemin is art. pure art. I'm not sure how much you know about him or his group so I'll just go with the "not much" part :'DD sorry if I'm being repetitive. He debuted 2008 in SHINee and is their maknae. Group of legends, idol's idols. You have couple Shinee reactions. Taemin and Kai were actually trainees together and are friends. Taemin is also SKZ Hyunjins icon and influence, nowadays they are friends too which I'm so happy for. Shinee (and all the member individually) have significantly contributed to what the industry is now (like first ever dance practice video uploaded on KZbin). Taemin has his handprint all over breaking some old-fashioned norms within the industry and k-scene. (YES I'm biased, he is my ult bias) There is some crazy live performances from Shinee, I rec watching ones before 2017, before Jonghyun's passing. Their older MV's like 'married to the music' is so good! Their Newer stuff like the MV for 'Hard' or 'Don't call me' go hard. From Taemin himself I rec watching at least 'Advice' I'm pretty sure you will enjoy that one. Then there is the legendary song and choreo 'Move' (rec watching dance practice or a live to fully appreciate the choreo) and then mv's for 'criminal' and 'idea' which are part 1 and 2. Also the performance vid for 'Rizziness' IS CRAZY good.

[@tuyenhoang3810]

TAEMIN is currently an artist who can combine it all: dancing, charisma, performing and singing at the highest level at the same time. 1/ Some idols can sing better than TAEMIN but I'm sure they can't reach his dancing level 2/ 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. He is the different level forever. THE KING of kings

[@claudia-do9zd]

you HAVE to check out advice, pleassseeeee, the mv and the choreo are just art, like everything taemin does

[@Hymnodic]

Would you be willing to react to BABYMETAL? I would suggest starting with recent live performances of Monochrome, Megitsune, Road of Resistance, and Mirror Mirror from their BABYMETAL Begins concerts, Black and Clear Nights.

[@Hymnodic]

Here's a playlist of recent performances, including those. kzbin.info/aero/PL7Y918oJxXaYGAlhN3DLd5AAoye11F3o4

[@katieryan1188]

"this actually feels artistic" no shit 😭

[@chae_chae_qaz]

Taemin is God

[@iremoji]

you were too late bro 😅

[@phantasmagorie]

Stray Kids has so many new songs, if you can, please check out the songs like MEGAVERSE, ITEM, COMFLEX, Hall of Fame, and Super Bowl and Super Board, these songs are really worth listening to.