Never Gonna Dance Again (album) explained

Never Gonna Dance Again
Type:Studio album
Cover:Never Gonna Dance Again album cover.jpg
Caption:Cover of the compilation version
Artist:Taemin
Length:61:01
Language:Korean
Prev Title:Famous
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Advice
Next Year:2021

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]

Charts

Chart (2020)! colspan="3" scope="col"
Peak position
Act 1Act 2Extended Ver.
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[16] 9 14 —
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] 11 29 —
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[18] — 40 —
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[19] 1 2 8
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[20] 34 63 —
US World Albums (Billboard)[21] 11 — —

Accolades

Critic/Publication! scope="col"
ListWorkRank
TimeThe Songs and Albums That Defined K-Pop's Monumental Year in 2020Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 2[22]
Rhythmer<--Rhythmer is Korean Hip-hop/R&B magazine -->10 Best Korean R&B/Soul Albums of 2020Never Gonna Dance Again5[23]
South China Morning PostThe Best K-pop Solo Albums of 2020[24]
MTVThe Best K-Pop B-sides of 2020"Clockwork"2[25]
Rolling Stone India20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020"Idea"5[26]
Song! scope="col"
ProgramNetworkDate
"Idea"InkigayoSBSNovember 22, 2020[27]

Release history

Edition! scope="col"
DateRegionFormatLabel
Act 1September 7, 2020South Korea
Various
Act 2November 9, 2020South Korea
Various
Extended Ver.December 14, 2020South KoreaCD

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 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). Hwang. Hye-jin. Newsen. Naver. June 5, 2020. ko. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200625222855/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=609&aid=0000285966. June 25, 2020. live.
  2. Web site: 샤이니 태민 손목 골절상 "솔로 컴백 재조정"[공식]]. Shinee Taemin's wrist fracture "recalibration of solo comeback" [Official]. Yoon. Sang-geun. StarNews. July 8, 2020. ko. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610000737/https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2020070814363603180. June 10, 2021. live.
  3. Web site: 태민, 8월 4일 정규 3집 프롤로그 싱글 '2 KIDS'. Taemin to release prologue single '2 Kids' from third studio album on August 4. Ahn. Jin-yong. Munhwa. Naver. July 29, 2020. ko. December 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212400/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=021&aid=0002436984. June 2, 2021. live.
  4. Web site: '컴백' 태민, 정규 3집 트랙리스트 공개..타이틀곡은 'Criminal' [공식]]. 'Comeback' Taemin releases tracklist for third studio album.. The title track is 'Criminal' [Official]. Shim. Eon-kyung. Osen. Daum. August 28, 2020. ko. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603112337/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20200828080430366. June 3, 2021. live.
  5. News: 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. Daum. Kim. Eun-ae. September 24, 2020. March 6, 2021. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20201005064228/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20200924100444299. October 5, 2020. live.
  6. Web site: 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. Daum. Choi. Hee-jae. November 6, 2020. ko. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212211/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20201106131016635. June 2, 2021. live.
  7. Web site: 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. Daum. Hwang. Hye-jin. ko. November 2, 2020. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111074055/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20201102090302109. November 11, 2020. live.
  8. Web site: 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. Daum. Hwang. Hye-jin. ko. December 7, 2020. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603024114/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20201207090630021. June 3, 2021. live.
  9. Web site: K-Pop Star Taemin On Taking Control With 'Never Gonna Dance Again'. Forbes. Herman. Tamar. October 1, 2020. February 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108173038/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarherman/2020/10/01/k-pop-star-taemin-on-taking-control-with-never-gonna-dance-again/. November 8, 2020. live.
  10. Web site: Reptile (태민). W Korea. August 25, 2020. February 13, 2021. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203132939/http://www.wkorea.com/2020/08/25/reptile-%ED%83%9C%EB%AF%BC/. December 3, 2020. live.
  11. Web site: K-Pop Icon Taemin Talks "Criminal" and His Cinematic Vision. Teen Vogue. Assis. Tassia. September 8, 2020. February 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603052854/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taemin-talks-criminal-and-his-cinematic-vision-interview. June 3, 2021. live.
  12. Web site: '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. Shim. Eon-kyung. September 2, 2020. February 13, 2021. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610003803/http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1111426479. June 10, 2021. live.
  13. Web site: '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. Hwang. Hye-jin. September 1, 2020. February 13, 2021. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610004858/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202009011005090410. June 10, 2021. live.
  14. News: 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. Daum. Kim. Mi-ji. July 29, 2020. March 6, 2021. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610005125/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20200729090419556. June 10, 2021. live.
  15. Web site: Taemin on the Making of 'Never Gonna Dance Again : Act 2'. Hypebae. Mitchell. Ashlee. November 10, 2020. February 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419051312/https://hypebae.com/2020/11/taemin-lee-never-gonna-dance-again-act-2-album-superm-member-korean-music-release-interview. April 19, 2021. live.
  16. Charted albums:
    • Act 1 - Web site: Hot Albums. Billboard Japan. ja. September 21, 2020. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004143240/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2020&month=09&day=21. October 4, 2020. live.
    • Act 2 - Web site: Hot Albums. Billboard Japan. ja. November 23, 2020. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201226210306/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2020&month=11&day=23. December 26, 2020. live.
  17. Charted albums:
  18. Charted albums:
  19. Charted albums:
    • Act 1 - Web site: 2020년 37주차 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505200832/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=37&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week. May 5, 2021. live.
    • Act 2 - Web site: 2020년 46주차 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508061633/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=46&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week. May 8, 2021. live.
    • Extended Ver. - Web site: 2020년 51주차 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. December 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505201116/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=51&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week. May 5, 2021. live.
  20. Charted albums:
  21. Web site: Taemin Chart History (World Albums). Billboard. September 19, 2020. December 20, 2020.
  22. Web site: The Songs and Albums That Defined K-Pop's Monumental Year in 2020. Time. Moon. Kat. December 11, 2020. December 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514202931/https://time.com/5920059/best-kpop-2020/. May 14, 2021. live.
  23. Web site: 2020 국내 알앤비/소울 앨범 베스트 10 . Rhythmer . January 5, 2021 . January 4, 2021. 10 Best Korean R&B/Soul Albums of 2020. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225235205/http://board.rhythmer.net/src/go.php?n=19236&m=view&s=feature. February 25, 2021. live.
  24. Web site: Herman. Tamar. The Best K-pop Solo Albums of 2020. South China Morning Post. December 17, 2020. January 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201217175534/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/artists-celebrities/article/3114302/best-k-pop-solo-albums-2020-boa-kai-hwa-sa. December 17, 2020. live.
  25. Web site: The Best K-Pop B-sides of 2020 . MTV . de Luna . Elizabeth . December 30, 2020 . December 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607164832/http://www.mtv.com/news/3173138/best-k-pop-b-sides-taemin-boa-bts-list/. June 7, 2021. dead.
  26. Web site: Chakraborty. Riddhi. 20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020. Rolling Stone India. January 2, 2021. January 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516234524/https://rollingstoneindia.com/20-best-k-pop-music-videos-of-2020/. May 16, 2021. live.
  27. Web site: '인기가요' 태민, '이데아'로 1위. Taemin wins first place on 'Inkigayo' with 'Idea'. Jeong. Han. Hankook Ilbo. November 22, 2020. ko. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123052153/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2020112216170005548. November 23, 2020. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Never Gonna Dance Again (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.