As a starter, when I first heard that SHINee was going to release a ballad as their new Japanese single, I was pleasantly surprised. SHINee is a group that's known for their amazing ballads and their ability to harmonize beautifully so I was looking forward to 1000 Years, also because I was having serious SHINee withdrawals (getting sucked into the black hole that is EXO) and I badly needed something to get me back on the Shawol track and this was just what I needed.
In all honesty, 1000 Years as a song needed a little getting used to but after I gave it a few more listens, I eventually came to love it. It doesn't stray far from their other Japanese ballads and their voices and the blending are wonderful as usual. My biggest issue when I first heard it was the somewhat over-use of falsettos in the chorus but I've learned to appreciate it and Onew's voice works wonders in harmonizing.
Now, on with the music video!
First of all, I love the cinematography. Japan never fails to amaze me with their video skills. The tones and colors and hues are nice and easy on the eye, a stark contrast from the blast of garish colors that we often see in most of SHINee's music videos. But I think the most commendable thing about this MV is the storyline (wow, SHINee finally gets a music video with an actual storyline!). I like the idea of SHINee as shinigami and it played well with the plot. For those who still can't comprehend what actually happened (as I had to watch the video twice to really understand everything), the story's about a father who's trying everything to make his child, who seems to be suffering gravely from an illness, happy but his attempts always seem to be futile as he is constantly ignored. Here, we are given context clues that SHINee is waiting for the time of death of the son, them checking their pocket watches and surveying the scenes between the two. However, it seems that the father has finally managed to make his son happy as he opens up a magic box and releases an avalanche of balloons. This is where things start to get a tiny bit confusing as we are finally enlightened that SHINee wasn't waiting for the sick boy, they were waiting for the father (who passed away before everything else transpired, that's why he was constantly ignored) to move on and finally cross over peacefully to the afterlife. And he does, after watching the smile on his son's face. He boards the bus (in typical Japanese fashion) and SHINee waves him off.
It's actually quite a powerful MV and I was moved and this is saying a lot because I have never ever been moved by a SHINee music video before. It's either I'm squealing my head off or screaming but 1000 Years left a lot to be desired and I'm proud of them. They're no longer just dancing boys with good vocals, they're mature performers with a strong group dynamic.
My boys did not disappoint.
"Beyond the story, the video itself is just a classy and mature new offering from one of SM’s hardest working idol groups."
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