Reacting to TAEMIN 'Guilty' MV + 4th Mini Album!

[@beauregarden]

Austin: "we're gonna pay attention to the words on the screen" The words on the screen: "Oooooooh" 🤣

[@leadan5170]

Me when I watch the mv : good luck for siraustin and Caitlyn you were the two reactors i was thinking while watching 😭

[@kimlee9322]

What!? Me too! 😃

[@marinal.]

hehe

[@zuha6616]

the only difference is, caitlyn lost her sanity 😭

[@Sirah1981]

"Guilt is weird, I try not to have any." Same, my friend. Same.

[@bea_hae_tae9392]

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,

[@butterflymuse2707]

Not sure if you are familiar with Dreamcatcher but they have a song called Demian that's based on the Herman Hesse book! It's not like Taemin's song at all but it is based on that concept :)

[@DalYeosin]

My words about Taemin and his personality: In my eyes, he is the person that everyone would want to surround themselves with because he has a very pure soul. Whenever I see him, I want to hug him protectively. He's such a kind and caring puppy. I'm very happy that more and more people are paying attention to him because he deserves it. I think there is no one who can currently beat him with the way how he moves his body. Back then, he was given the impression several times that he wasn't a singer, just a dancer, and I hope that those people who told him that back then have now sat in a corner and are ashamed of themselves. I very much hope for him that he can get his mental problems under control, which have been haunting him for an eternity. I wish him the best on earth and beyond that.

[@haseenaayousaf7114]

Taemin has said there is a connection between guilty and criminal

[@Lia-Kim]

Taemin has plenty of sensual songs scattered throughout his discography :D

[@marinal.]

facts

[@thespianoge]

Some initial bullet points: I definitely think The Rizzness is a diss track to the industry. I appreciate the t.A.T.u reference! 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 headcannon 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 KZbin 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.

[@thespianoge]

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.

[@agatho_loves_music]

'You're right The Rizzness is a diss track - to the gossip media. But what most people missed - for good reasons - is GUILTY is a massive jab at something even greater. A lot of what you said were addressed in GUILTY, indeed, but tons of facts were lost in lyrics translation. I made a GUILTY MV explainer for true Taemin appreciators like you, just 6 minutes, and propaerly subtitled. Check it out when you have time.

[@marinal.]

His hand-under-the-shirt move Taemin actually said the other way is boring so he came up with this. 0.o Also, he is pushing the line trying to break the taboo in music.

[@adrianrm07]

Wow, I just read everything and I'm mind blown 🤯 The queer aspects of the video were very clear to me from the beginning but the way you took your time to explain everything and to give your point of view... Incredible. This gay fanboy appreciates you so much. Makes me so excited to go through a Taemin discography journey!! Do you have any B-sides recommendations??

[@pepsigolda]

you're right. the choreo for the rizzness is crazy. it's kinda something new, but very taeminesque at the same time

[@4Peace.]

Yes, a Taemin solo journey please 💜 Thank you for your reactions, as always. The Artist: Taemin is a good documentary to learn more about Taemin's process.

[@youbetterstanmonstax7]

His vocals was on another level

[@lori4021]

One thing is certain, Taemin was part of the creative process even if he's not credited. One example is that the song Guilty was rearranged, and the whole mv was made to suit the concept and theme he created. And yes to more of discovering of Taemin's solo albums because he has really great songs and pretty diverse.

[@reyanime]

His comeback are always a work of art. In a time where kpop has become so westernized it makes me happy we still have artists like Taemin.

[@mei00662000]

I have waited for this reaction for a week! Welcome back to Taemin's art world~ I really love your reaction and analysis. Taemin did say the concept of GUILTY is similar to his CRIMINAL. Both of these two songs are art and suitable for his style. I can't wait to go to his concert to see his big show next month! Thank you for reaction Austin❤

[@julienchu7219]

Blue is also my favorite 🫠 I feel Teamin show cases his vocal on another level with this album. He showed so much improvement. I’m so proud of him❤💎🔥

[@CherB.7161]

Thanks for your reaction, Austin. Watch the Guilty trailer to get a bit more context on the scenes, most of which were not shown in the MV. Can’t wait to see what you think of the album.❤

[@lenhathi.]

love these reactions when we view and listen for the whole album, it's like reliving my first time watching and listening to the whole thing 🥹

[@I-love-Bts]

I have so many thoughts about this album. First of all I love it as a whole. It’s moody, emotional, very raw in terms of showing his feelings and very Taemin. Except for The Rizzness, which is very unique and pretty much stands on its own I feel there’s a lot of sadness and nostalgia and that’s so Taemin. That being said I feel this mini album is just a warmup to his 10th solo anniversary which will happen next year and I suspect he’s gonna release a full album then, which might surprise us a lot. As for the songs on this album - you were absolutely right about Guilty. Taemin said that in a way it’s a continuation of themes from Criminal. If that’s the case I would say The Rizzness is somewhat connected to Advice - it’s basically a statement, a song that can be treated as an ultimate cult leader Taemin anthem :) The rest of the songs is so perfect, I can’t even explain it. Taemin said he wanted us to have songs for different moods - for example he described Blue as a perfect song for riding a bike and simply admiring nature, or I think he mentioned that Night Away would be perfect to listen on a rainy night… He once said he wanted to make music that can accompany us during different times of the day, something to give us hope and comfort or simply to make us feel good and I think that’s exactly what Guilty album is. If you’re going to check out his albums please start with Never Gonna Dance Again Act 1. I love all his albums, but I feel this one might be the best one in his discography.

[@dantexpiers9662]

TAEMIN IS AN ART

[@Diamante316]

Sir Austin thank god. Youre here (the only reaction I wanted to see.) Thank you.

[@SirAustin]

Thank you! Killing Voice tomorrow!

[@momjjong5191]

I love that song "NOT OVER YOU". ... I already missed you Mr Austin🌹... I see your love for SHINee and Taemin... I love you😍😍😍😍

[@mochawilliams5996]

Love Taemin's vocals! Blue is my favorite ❤

[@Freckles929]

I was looking forward to your reaction!!! Blue is definitely 100% my favorite song from the album, with Guilty a close second. You’re so right about Night Away being something that could fit on Minho’s album. For Taemin’s most sensual album…hmm, maybe his debut? It has Ace and Play Me which are both those kind of songs. And then Press It has songs like One By One and Mystery Lover. And obviously yeah, Famous has Slave. 😂

[@leydarachadey465]

TAEMIN REGRESÓ DIFERENTE CON ALGO QUE NUNCA HABIA HECHO . GRANDIOSA LA MANERA QUE SE REINVENTA .TAEMIN SUPERANDO A TAEMIN EN CADA REGRESO .EL ALBUN ME PARECIO MARSVILLOSO .PODRIAS REACCIONAR A SUVPRESENTACION EN DINGO .MOTRANDO SU OTRA CARA .LA DE CANTANTE CON UNA VOZ HERMOSA .

[@momjjong5191]

Su álbum es espetacular su tremenda voz y sus agudos vocales son la escencia del álbum Taemin superandose así mismo me encantó🥰 gracias Mr Austin por la reacción!

[@marinal.]

Taein doing concert in Dec. FYI. And next year will be his 10yrs as a solo artist so he going to have something special prepared. He been working so hard.

[@tidus_1135]

I love watching your reactions. You have such a lovely, funny, sweet way of expressing yourself. Apart from Guilty I was not expecting the rest of the album to sound that way. I really like it. His voice and the music sound so dreamy. Kind of like a perfect summer, warm with a gentle breeze. Thanks for your reaction.

[@V_S_-tj9bq]

the king is back! Thanks for your reaction 🩵

[@g-malaigo1155]

#RIZZNESS When you have time ... he did do a love stage with this song. Excellent Choreo & honestly in my personal opinion, it made me enjoy the song more 🤫🤭

[@marinal.]

Cont... Hi, i am back. Good reaction(Rizzness), ty. It's not bad. The rhythm is ok. Like his singing more. Glad to see him exploring rap more. He good. He is still growing. He should be confident. He got so many looking up to him. King! HE IS ART. After Advice i hoped he would explore rap more. I am glad he did. Shinee has rap songs. So they all know how to rap. But this is his own version. It's different and i really like it in Guilty. Many reactors have said Tamein has growth vocally and improved so much. The 2 yr break did him good i hear often. So i was surprised not to hear the same comments from u. I assumed u had heard Taemin's albums. Austin u got to take out all his albums. He has 80 songs. He a beast as a solo artist. I love a lot of his solo work. His just so good. =0] Borahae. -NY USA 2019 Army💟 She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not by TAEMIN Good reaction, ty. Like this. Nice vocals. Not Over You by TAEMIN Good reaction, ty. Good song. Liked his vocals and melody. Night Away by TAEMIN Good reaction, ty. Nice too. Love the ad libs here. Blue -TAEMIN Good reaction, ty. Feels. Loved this one too. The vocals, sigh. What a pleasure. FYI Taemin said Guilty was made 2 yrs ago with Advice. He ended up picking Advice than as the title track. =0] Taemin did Schwita w. Suga hope u watch it. He talks a little about the writing process on there. He is given a song and they edit it to suit him.

[@sirdromos2769]

the album is so beautiful ^^

[@lenhathi.]

Blue is about long-sought-after freedom. The entire album concept focuses on breaking the taboos, pushing the boundaries of what deemedd "acceptable" in Kpop, and what he has been enduring / suffering for his whole career until now. So imagine a dazzling blue sky when you first come out from somewhere that locked you up for years, that's blue.

[@jumitsu]

I was really waiting for your reaction!! 😍 This mini album is incredible, the songs are all excellent and the more I listen, the more I look for translations and see comments, the more I like them all! My favorite since the first time I heard it was The Rizzness and after seeing the translations, it continued to be my favorite! While I've been obsessed with Not Over You over the last few days, the song's production has evolved in a wonderful way! To close a top3, Guilty and all its layers give me goosebumps every time I see the MV! Regarding the album to react to, I personally think that the album Never Gonna Dance Again (act 1 and 2) is simply Taemin's most perfect album, however, I believe that the album Move-in (repackage of the second album Move) could be a good first start! ☺️ Thank you so much for the reaction, I'm looking forward to seeing your Killing Voice video! 💎✨

[@myqwertymind]

The Rizzness is a dance performance song, it would have been best if you watch the live performance version, I liked his performance when he guested in AKMU show

[@g-malaigo1155]

#GUILTY per one of Taemin's Interviews He stated that: This song (Guilty) is about a Love that doesn't feel Guilty for forcing the wrong kind of love (strange ... but Taemin is a deep thinker, and obviously so is the song writer). It's a Song About Bad Love... he also stated that it's pretty much connects also to Criminal with the forbidden type of love (Which I can relate with the connection). Wonderful to have you Reaction to this Sir Austin!!!! You look Great by the way

[@valeriareyes3351]

I hope you can react to more of his music, you'll not regret Sir i swear. I'm glad you react to Guily, thank you sm! Hope you're doing great ❤

[@valeriareyes3351]

And probably the most baby making music you can find are on Press it or Move. But honestly all of his albums got some of that vibe (watch the performance of Play me or Slave, you'll see he's not playing 🔥)

[@lari5891]

Yes similar to criminal about control pain and pleasure, taboo (the kid is indeed begging so it is not obligated to kill someone) but much better in portraying the desperation, anguish and sensuality in the video and improved vocals.

[@fairyboy666]

I was SHOOK by The Rizzness. It’s so refreshing from him because he raps there! One of my favourite songs on the album and probably from Taemin in general, it’s soooo good 😶‍🌫️

[@heidileigh1979]

First of all, I LOVE you in this yellow sweater!!💜💜💜 Second, I loved your reaction.

[@marinal.]

Hi, i am back. Good reaction, ty. Love ur sweater Austin. So cute. 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. I think this is way over my head and i will watch some reactions to see what others think of Taemin's msg here. Feels based on imagery. Great choreo. Love the dance practice. =0p 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.

[@karinaspak4230]

The rizzness has choreo...you can choose anyone you like form the music shows. For the guilty choreo....be original ooorrrr inkigayo, with the school uniform outfiit are the best for me.

[@user-zp4fu9iw9b]

Thank you for your awesome reaction I was looking forward to it:)

[@91vampy]

Yeyyy was waiting for your reaction 😍

[@shanbeauty4193]

Austin been waiting.. u have a lot to catch up on.. live stages for rizzness, n guilty is crazy❤🎉🎉

[@mwmw458]

맞아요. 꼭 봐야 해요...

[@shanbeauty4193]

He made Blue with the intention to preform live seeing that it’s a fan song of the sort

[@캐미미]

태민은 guilty를 나쁜 사랑, 못된 사랑에 대한 노래, 그 사랑을 강요하는 내용이라고 소개했습니다. MV의 내용은 가사와 직접적인 연결은 되지 않는 듯 해요. 처음에는 MV가 좀 어렵다고 생각되었는데 여러 번 보니 개인적으로 이런 내용인가?하고 생각되는 부분이 있어요. 어디엔가 모여 지내는 어린 아이들이 (즐거운 한 때도 있었지만) 누군가의 통제 아래 힘든 시간을 보내며 뒤틀리고 부서지고 파괴되는 과정을 보이는 것이 아닌가 생각이 듭니다. 그래서 절정 부분에 나오는 춤들은 기괴하고 절망스럽게 느껴져요. 절망적인 태민의 슬픈 눈이 인상적이고, 한 편으로는 머리에 모자(?)를 쓴 태민은 그 역경을 이겨내고 모든 것을 초월한 다른 존재로 태어난 것도 같습니다.

[@캐미미]

덧붙여 태민이 개인방송에서 어릴 때 활동했던 자신을 떠올리면 가슴이 아프다, 가슴이 저민다라고 말한 적이 있고, MV의 인물을 불쌍한 아이라고도 말한 적이 있기에 태민의 자전적인 부분도 담고 있지 않나 조심스럽게 생각해봅니다.

[@katieryan1188]

nice i was waiting for you to react to this

[@talalalshery6575]

Hello sir Austin,viviz released a song called “Maniac”. Please reaction to the song and the album because it is so perfect.

[@at.8887]

yayy was waiting for you!

[@ireneserrano4570]

ahhh Tattoo! haha i remember! they were huge for a bit back then!😁

[@katieryan1188]

tbh the mv and the song lyrics kinda have two different meanings...i would suggest watching the trailers and and just the mv for that story bcs the actual song was written by someone else a few years ago

[@thespianoge]

Yeah, I felt a HUGE disconnect between the lyrics and the MV. It’s almost like SM decided they should release the song with a more simple, pat reading, and the MV, which carried so much depth and intention that was important to Taemin.

[@inalusa9011]

@@thespianogeI think the director said Taemin who is singing represents the guilty and abuser and the Taemin we see dancing and go through stuff is visualization of the victim and abused. It's a cycle of abuse type of thing. Kind of similar to criminal where he is both criminal and innocent.

[@gemini2467]

So happy to see you again sir I hope to see your reaction for aespa, red velvet and of course if you were interested, StrayKids

[@diegopantoja566]

i would say Advice and Famous are the most sensual albums.

[@IrmaDamayanti-r9k]

Yes yes...esp Famous is soo sensual!

[@Taekaii33]

When Taemin did his solo debut he was 21 so I like to joke that all is solos are 21+ 😂 if your under 21 please stop looking at my man 😂

[@luizalvez7649]

PLEASE BACK WITH SNSD REACTIONS, Concerts, Live Stages 🥺💙💙

[@RavenPZ-pn9eq]

I was thingk the same Sr. Austin.. The chorus in she loves me she loves me not.. Looks like Shinee member most exactly Key

[@abirdayoub8206]

❤❤

[@ravishupadhyaya4024]

Thanks sir Austin for reacting to taemin s new project , will you be reacting to red velvet upcoming comeback with their 3rd album

[@avotia]

No, this is not about forbidden love, but about bad love, as Taemin says. According to the plot, the video shows the childhood of the hero of the music video, where he is broken because he is forced to harm his friends and later this child grows into a man who suppresses and controls others. Trying to convince them that bad love is also love and he doesn’t feel guilty at all.

[@universe986]

it holds multiple meanings i believe. Taemin also said that it's about the desire to explore complex emotions, including moments when people find themselves tolerating what they once considered unacceptable. he also said in the interview to NME that 'there are a lot of things i gain from being a singer, but at the same time there are a lot of things i have to give up, and these are the ones i emphasized in this single' no, i'm not talking about sexual orientation, just taboo, religion, sins and human's sensuality in general, which is the book Guilty inspired by about

[@avotia]

@@universe986 It's not that I disagree at all. Yes, it was a conversation about inspiration, where he gets his ideas from, and yes, he talked about taboos. But there is a difference between inspiration and implementation of an idea. This is one of the stories that was born based on certain data. It's like being inspired by something and writing a book, and this is the end result: if you want, you can write another one inspired by the same thing, but it will be a different book. Inspiration can provide a wide range of ideas, but the end result cannot contain everything. Yes, there is freedom of interpretation and everyone catches something different, but the creator always has his own vision and can give answers.

[@universe986]

​@@avotiai just mean what he said to NME shows that it holds multiple meanings and not just one. 'things i have to give up by being a singer' is not the same as toxic love. it's not the first time when Taemin talks about multiple meanings of his song

[@konagirl86]

“He doesn’t have a good track record with vehicles” 😂😂😂😂😂

[@kimchiiiii0525]

I wish better translations of SM's MV lyrics...

[@creolivia4830]

You should have watched the trailers first. This would have provided you the back story.

[@mwmw458]

악뮤의 오날오밤 - 태민 편 당신이 꼭 봐야 한다고 생각합니다! ㅋㅋㅋ kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3i5lnV9rdignLMsi=dzfh6GLBAfyUcwYS (Taemin dancing with AKMU) kzbin.info/www/bejne/in-bZXp-hbt_i5osi=DHo3GN5RmltsgoEB (The Rizzness live) Rizzness 음악은 제 취향이 아니었는데 무대 영상 보고 완전 좋아하게 됐어요. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIaVi3Sspd-ar7ssi=yoMvsPdi2UiDp1RH (Move live) 레전드 무브 무대 또 나옴..

[@naylavaz832]

Thanks 💌🤧 Can u react to Taemin in the Suga show

[@shanbeauty4193]

Blue is beautiful but most people love Rizzness😂

[@dowdydiva]

I think She Loves Me, She Loves Me not reminds me of 80s/90s indie rock. The guitars give me a little bit of Pixies. The song was in fact based on the flower petal game. The “fornication of it all”. 😂

[@karinaspak4230]

I htink the same about him anc cars....he should be driving...hahaha

[@RVSVTTK]

This is out of topic, but is that seungkwan behind you sir? 🥹

[@SirAustin]

YES! Mr. Boo!

[@peanut2864]

Taemin himself talks about Guilty being about toxic, unhealthy love, yet neither the abuser nor the victim are able to break the cycle because it hurts too good. Beyond that, I feel that it’s important to remember that Taemin’s art is very rarely autobiographical. He draws inspiration from many sources - of course from his own experiences as well - but he’s always careful to stress that the final result is not him, or not all him.

[@lari5891]

I think taemin's lyrics should be more abstract. The "Romance" topic obstructs a deeper understanding of his concepts. He is very fast at clarifying that he did not experience that type of love, which I think detracts from the emotionality of the song. But I do think is about him, only that this is not a romance in the way most people understand.

[@peanut2864]

@@lari5891 Taemin doesn’t write his own lyrics though, for him its all about the interpretation. He picks songs that speak to him in some way, that he can express in a meaningful way.

[@lari5891]

@@peanut2864 he can take more risks with the lyrics, though, he has asked to change the lyrics before.I think he can trust his audience and challenge them with something less commercial. He may also benefit from a better understanding of the deep psychological issues he is talking about from having conversations with psychologists and philosophers, I think he would love that.

[@peanut2864]

@@lari5891 it’s fascinating to me though how he owns each song so. Here we are debating which aspect of his life Guilty refers to (military, idol career, lost childhood etc) when in fact it was written by Kole about her own past toxic relationship. This is what makes Taemin such an incredible artist, the way he elevates the songs he finds and transforms them into something quite magical.

[@universe986]

Taemin and the MV director also said that the MV/concept is about transfiguration of a person through loss of innocence and control, and inspired by the book Demian he also said the song is about things he has to give up on due to being a singer and inspired by the book about human's complex relationship with sensuality so we can say it holds a deeper meaning

[@julienchu7219]

Blue is also my favorite 🫠 I feel Teamin show cases his vocal on another level with this album. He showed so much improvement. I’m so proud of him❤💎🔥