Enough of you asked for it, and who am I to deny? It’s time to dive deep into SHINee’s long-awaited comeback album Don’t Call Me, track-by-track.
1. Don’t Call Me // 2. Heart Attack // 3. Marry You // 4. CØDE // 5. I Really Want You // 6. Kiss Kiss // 7. Body Rhythm // 8. Attention // 9. Kind
I Really Want You
This is it, SM. This is your single right here. And come to think of it, “I Really Want You” would have made a very charming and clever album title after years of hiatus.
So much of an individual’s musical taste hinges upon what they grew up with. I was a disciple of artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and Prince. In their hands, every single element of a track became a rhythmic weapon — grooves upon grooves supporting each other to create music that really came to life. At their best, this is trait that SHINee are also capable of, and I don’t say that lightly. The retro funk-pop of I Really Want You is among my favorite genres of any era. It almost feels like this song was written with my own musical history in mind.
In fact, when I heard the short teaser for this track, all I hoped is that the full song wouldn’t mess things up. And to my surprise, the full version turned out even better than expected. The ridiculously catchy hook previewed prior to the song’s release stole my heart immediately. But here’s the thing… that’s not even the chorus! This titular refrain is still the best piece of I Really Want You, but it’s preceded by a big, brassy chorus à la Married to the Music.
The song’s clap-along beat and funk guitar forge an incredibly groovy backbone, and those stabs of percussion are absolutely epic. Instrumental accents, from bass to brass, add a sense of playful spontaneity to the production, and SHINee imbue their performance with just as much life. For me, this arrangement is the antidote to all those lurching, posturing boy group tracks you often catch me complaining about. This gets me dancing. It sounds like a party. Very few idol groups throw a funk spectacle as convincingly as SHINee.
I very nearly gave this a perfect rating, but it just hasn’t been around long enough for me to know whether I’ll be as excited months down the line. Maybe if they give it an mv and choreo, I could be convinced? Hint, hint… nudge, nudge…
Who am I kidding? It will probably get there either way!
| Hooks | 10 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9.75 |
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YES YES YES YES YES YES YES! This is my favourite song of 2021 and quite possibly the best thing I’ve heard in the last two years. I already have 125 plays on it and it’s shocking how good it is. The chorus is soo energetic with such a beautiful breakdown. This is peak funk and I love how its almost laid-back in it’s charms. It’s a perfect representation of the shinee persona with fun to last ages!
Also the production on the pre-chorus is to die for
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If anyone reads this blog often, no one is surprised by this lol~
Code is my fave song on the album, I was thinking that this should have been the title track. It just screams Shinee. It so funky and in your face with it. This was literally what I was waiting for when I heard Shinee was coming back.
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Yeah this song is perfect. Like, perfect. I think their best ever, honestly.
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Hey, looks like my guess was correct! I should have known, too, with your preference for the Jacksons’ music.
This song really hits it out of the park. I physically cannot listen to this without singing or dancing along. I agree that it would have made for a good title track – everything is there. Not only is it insanely catchy but it also feels representative of SHINee and spotlights the guys’ strengths in their respective parts. I adore the ad libs over the last chorus.
I don’t have that much to say beyond that. It’s pretty much perfect.
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man, I can’t help but think how Jonghyun’s vocals would’ve turned this song even more perfect than it already is. he really was something else.
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That would have been incredible!
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thank you for this comment, after reading it I felt like I could hear his wonderful, wonderful vocals on some parts of this wonderful, wonderful song. “he really was something else” indeed.
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Yeah I basically ascended to groove paradise as soon as this track came on. I’m still quite sour that SM didn’t give either this or CODE the pre-release treatment if they HAD to have Don’t Call Me as the title track. This is absolutely the sound people were expecting SHINee to deliver after such a long time away.
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[happy dance] my favorite from the album! God? They had no reason to deliver this good of a song and yet here we are. Also totally agree with Felix above, Jonghyun would’ve owned this so much.
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Nick! Have you noticed down the line? ONF’s comeback, Lucy’s comeback, Breathe being your second favorite track on the album. Something is happening! Something very big is coming down the line……and maybe….just maybe! SM will release this as a follow up music video. I just hope your magic works here! I am really begging on it!
SM give us what we want! I Really Want You is the epitome of a perfect song!
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(Shh… don’t jinx it! lol)
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but…..we must…..riot!
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Yan I just realized you pulled down your blog. What happened?
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It felt messy to me, And it also came along with a couple of viruses which made my pc slow.
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Too bad, I enjoyed reading it. Hope you still enjoy music just as much!
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You bet I do!
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I love this song. It’s just genuine fun and it’s at a perfect place in the album. Their trade off of the phrase “I really want you” is so good. I love when songs add elements like that for the members to have their own take on a line.
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(Hums off-tune) “I really want you M-V” Ooh ooh.
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This is my favorite song off my favorite album since Monsta X’s All About Luv last year (which interestingly was also released in February…maybe it’s a trend for me). The opening instrumental is already really catchy, but it almost feels like the song doesn’t have a first verse. Since it’s all spoken, it feels like you’re launched full force into the pre-chorus when Key starts singing. I love how every line of the pre-chorus ends higher than the last. It builds up to the chorus, which is worth every bit of anticipation. The vocal arrangement throughout is top tier, but especially in the chorus. I also really enjoy that every member sings the “I really want you” hook in the post-chorus. The ad libs in the final chorus are what make this a perfect 10 for me.
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Yeah, this is peak SHINee, and about as good as that description suggests, (very good, indeed). This definitely sounds more in line with what I was expecting from them for their comeback. (Although I will say that “Don’t Call Me” has held up surprisingly well for me on re-listens…the conviction and charisma of their delivery, the indisputably SHINee quirks to the song, and just knowing what to expect from it helped me get over most of my hesitance regarding it.) Thanks for doing this in-depth album review!
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I can practically already see the year end top b-sides lists, and with this song topping it.
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Same!
Even though I am fighting for follow ups, the b-sides have been top tier incredible!
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Hi thanks for sharring this
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