Never Gonna Dance Again is the third Korean studio album (fourth overall) by South Korean singer Taemin. It consists of two parts, Act 1 and Act 2, that were later collected together in the repackage album, Never Gonna Dance Again (Extended Ver.).
Background and release
It was initially reported that Taemin was preparing to make a comeback in July 2020.[1] However, the comeback was delayed due to a wrist injury Taemin sustained while practicing choreography.[2] On July 29, 2020, SM Entertainment confirmed that Taemin would soon be releasing his third full album, Never Gonna Dance Again, starting with the release of prologue single "2 Kids" on August 4, 2020.[3] This was followed up by the release of the first half of the album, Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1, on September 7, accompanied by title track "Criminal". The album features nine tracks, including "Criminal", "2 Kids" and a Korean version of the Japanese song "Famous", previously released by Taemin in 2019.[4] Two remixes of "Criminal" by DJ Minit and Sumin were later released on September 29 as part of SM's iScreaM project.[5]
The second half of the album, Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 2, was released on November 9, 2020, alongside lead single "Idea", which includes vocals by BoA.[6] The album also features the song "Be Your Enemy", a duet with Wendy of Red Velvet.[7] The two "acts" were later released together in an album repackage entitled Never Gonna Dance Again (Extended Ver.) on December 14, 2020, which includes all eighteen tracks.[8]
Music and lyrics
The album featured Taemin's highest level of creative involvement to date.[9] Taemin described it as "a moment of growth for me as an artist," saying, "I just really wanted to emphasize my individual talent and showcase my character as an artist, my own individual style."[9] The album is intended to reflect a turning point in Taemin's career,[10] and themes of identity and rebirth are central to the overarching narrative. Taemin envisioned the series as a "cinematic story," comparing the separate parts to a movie and its sequels that can stand alone but form a complete narrative when brought together.[11]
According to Taemin, "Act 1 is about rebelling against the ordinary and the process of finding a new ego."[11] Lead single "Criminal" is a synthwave song with newtro sounds and a Stockholm syndrome theme.[12] "Black Rose" features rapper Kid Milli, and combines dark and colourful keyboard sounds with lyrics referencing a solar eclipse.[13] "Strangers" is a dark pop song with an oriental melody. It describes the moment of meeting a past lover by chance and pretending to be strangers.[12] "Waiting For" is a medium tempo dance track featuring a violin melody and Spanish guitar adlibs.[12] "Famous" expresses the conflict between the artist's onstage and offstage persona.[12] "Clockwork" is a pop ballad that recalls memories of a former lover by incorporating the ticking sound of a clock.[13] "Just Me And You" is an R&B pop song with a retro tape source, whispering vocals and heavy drum beats.[12] R&B song "Nemo" makes use of rhythmic guitars and evokes a 90s sensibility.[13] The final song on the album is prologue single "2 Kids", and includes lyrics written by Taemin concerning painful memories of love as a child. It is described as an electropop song with warm guitar sounds, and is noted for showcasing a more emotional side to Taemin's vocals in contrast to his usual intense performance style.[14]
"Idea" is inspired by Plato's theory of forms and the allegory of the cave. Taemin described it thus: "instead of 'being trapped in a cave' and living in the shadow of the truth, I want to free myself from the darkness and embark on a journey of enlightenment where I discover a new ego, identity and meaning."[15]
^Hwang, Hye-jin (June 5, 2020). "SM 측 "샤이니 태민 7월 컴백, 신곡 발표+여러 활동 계획 중"(공식)" [SM: "Shinee Taemin's July comeback, new song release + various activities planned" (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2021 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (July 8, 2020). "샤이니 태민 손목 골절상 "솔로 컴백 재조정"[공식]" [Shinee Taemin's wrist fracture "recalibration of solo comeback" [Official]]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
^Ahn, Jin-yong (July 29, 2020). "태민, 8월 4일 정규 3집 프롤로그 싱글 '2 KIDS'" [Taemin to release prologue single '2 Kids' from third studio album on August 4]. Munhwa (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Naver.
^Shim, Eon-kyung (August 28, 2020). "'컴백' 태민, 정규 3집 트랙리스트 공개..타이틀곡은 'Criminal' [공식]" ['Comeback' Taemin releases tracklist for third studio album.. The title track is 'Criminal' [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021 – via Daum.
^Kim, Eun-ae (September 24, 2020). "태민 'Criminal' 리믹스 버전 29일 낮 12시 공개..iScreaM 프로젝트 5탄[공식]" [The remix version of Taemin's 'Criminal' will be released at 12pm on the 29th.. iScream 5th Project [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Daum.
^Choi, Hee-jae (November 6, 2020). "보아, 태민 솔로 타이틀곡 '이데아' 가창 참여..역대급 케미 '기대감 UP'" [BoA participated in Taemin's solo title track 'Idea'.. Best chemistry ever, 'expectations up']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Daum.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (November 2, 2020). "태민, 정규 3집 3곡 작사 참여..레드벨벳 웬디 피처링까지(공식)" [Taemin participated in writing lyrics for three songs on his third studio album.. Red Velvet's Wendy also features (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Daum.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (December 7, 2020). "샤이니 태민, 14일 정규 3집 합본 앨범 'Never Gonna Dance Again' 발매(공식)" [Shinee's Taemin to release third studio album 'Never Gonna Dance Again' on the 14th (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Daum.
^ abcdeShim, Eon-kyung (September 2, 2020). "'컴백' 태민, 정규 3집 타이틀곡 'Criminal' 포함 9곡 수록..'듣는 스릴러' 기대↑ [공식]" ["Comeback" Taemin, nine songs including "Criminal", the title track of his third full-length album]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^ abcHwang, Hye-jin (September 1, 2020). "'컴백' 태민, 7일 정규 3집 발매 확정…키드밀리 박문치 참여" ["Comeback" Taemin confirmed to release his third full-length album on 7th. Kid Milli and Park Moon-chi participate.]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^Kim, Mi-ji (July 29, 2020). "태민, 정규 3집 프롤로그 싱글 8월 4일 공개.."이별 노래, 작사 참여"" [Taemin will release the prologue single to his third full-length album on August 4... "Break-up song, participation in lyrics"]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Daum.
Act 1 - "週間 アルバムランキング 2020年09月21日付". Oricon (in Japanese). September 21, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
Act 2 - "週間 アルバムランキング 2020年11月23日付". Oricon (in Japanese). November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
^"2020 국내 알앤비/소울 앨범 베스트 10" [10 Best Korean R&B/Soul Albums of 2020]. Rhythmer (in Korean). January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
^Jeong, Han (November 22, 2020). "'인기가요' 태민, '이데아'로 1위" [Taemin wins first place on 'Inkigayo' with 'Idea']. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
