Welcome back to our Kpop Music Video Breakdown where, this week, we’ll be taking a look at SHINee’s latest music video, ‘Dream Girl’! For this SM Entertainment Edition, SHINee took the votes by storm with near to no competition, although that could be because it was the most recent song in the options… Even so, the group seem to have won the UnitedKpop readers over with this song, since you all voted for it, and there’s a lot to talk about.
To begin with, let’s address the ‘glitch’ situation. When the video first came out, there were comments flying around from viewers who originally thought that their computer glitching during the video. It quickly became obvious that these ‘glitches’ were not, in fact, glitches but a stylistic choice that was chosen because… Well that’s just it. We don’t know why they were included because they have little relevance to the rest of the music video, which is smooth and slick, unlike the ‘glitch’ effects.
Whilst we can make some connections between the sets and the concept of ‘dreams’ or a ‘dream girl’, we do have to search for them a bit first. For starters, the members are pictured on a bed frequently which has connotations of dreams and are woken up by alarm clocks, suggesting they’ve been woken up from a dream. Alternatively, they could have been kept awake by thoughts of this ‘dream girl’ and been checking their clocks, as one does when frustrated by a night without sleep. It seems plausible that the scenes with the trampoline and SM’s special 360-degrees matrix camera could be a sort of dream land, especially since the members fall back onto the bed as if awakening from the dream. If this is the case, it’s actually quite a clever idea which is unique and hasn’t been done in Kpop before (as far as I’m aware).
There are the two sets where the fancy-pants-microphone-dance are done but these sets don’t give off any clues regarding the dream concept. Having said that, who’s paying attention to the sets when that incredible dance should be stealing all the attention?! Granted, it isn’t the most elaborate of SHINee’s dance history but this dance seems to have been completely under-rated. But why? The addition of microphones was a fun one and the dance was flawlessly executed (…as always). The most impressive moves were those involving the support of the microphone and thankfully, they weren’t overdone but spread out over the song between Taemin, Jonghyun and Key. The dance, choreographed by Tony Testa, is beautifully intricate and SHINee’s execution and dynamics are so sharp.
There are three outfit changes in this video; a black suit and tie theme, colourful mixed pieces and those wonderful…ly dazzling ‘outfits’. I understand the direction may have been a futuristic gamble, ‘high fashion’, all the rest of it. Ten out of ten for effort. It’s nice to see people breaking boundaries. But it doesn’t belong here, it looks out of place because the rest of the music video exudes this aforementioned slickness, but here? Nothing matches except for Key’s jacket and belt! While the combinations may not have captured everyone’s heart, they’re still fun and well-thought out (don’t scoff) and the bright pops of the neon colours with the less exciting plaids and florals work well aesthetically. (The ties are the best part.)
The mixed pieces have little to no harmonious aspects but they work because they’re not supposed to, unlike the crazy suits that were supposed to (being suits, they should work as one, which is why we get matching ones most of the time). Most of the items of clothing worn appear to be one of a kind pieces; there’s nothing that hasn’t been obviously customized or looks like it’s come straight off the rack. Whatever it is, it’s either been chopped, cropped, studded or dyed and then thrown together with the only the most radical of matches.
Facial expressions add character to what might have otherwise just been the smooth video, with little warmth. This is especially noticeable in Minho’s rap section, where instead of looking very focused and serious he takes on more animated expressions and, again, there is character. As the group get older, it seems that they can interpret concepts differently and each individual can offer another flavour. In Dream Girl‘s case, this translates into proof that the group are maturing well and learning and growing as they go.
Check out the video!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzNaAY2yn6g&w=560&h=315]Keep a look out for the poll for next week’s breakdown here, due to be uploaded tomorrow.
