“Replay” by SHINee (2008)
A great debut can tell you everything you need to know about a group, and no first song has solidified legend status like SHINee’s “Replay”. While fashions from 2008 have (thankfully) evolved, the quality of this 00’s-inspired R&B song hasn’t needed to. If there was a K-pop 101, SHINee would be a necessary chapter. They’re known for their experimental discography, often innovating and introducing new sounds before they’re palatable to the naked ear (just a fair warning if you want to jump straight into the plunge pool of “Ring Ding Dong”).
“Want” by Taemin (2019)
Taemin is considered one of the most influential soloists in K-pop (and if you’re wondering who exactly he is, he’s the boy with the sensational bowl cut from the previous video). As an active member of SHINee and an artist in his own right, Taemin is a great example of the way solo careers can co-exist with group activities in K-pop - something Western groups have never been able to master. While many consider Taemin’s single “Move" to be his most defining song, it’s 2019’s “Want” that offers an insight into just what can exist comfortably under the umbrella of K-pop. It’s provocative, sensual, downright dirty, and an antidote to the notion that K-pop is purely sanitised.
I'm not a fan of replay, but I like Want
