SHINee Celebrate Their Story With New Single “Poet | Artist”

SHINee’s back.

For SHINee fans around the world, these two words inspire excitement, unrivaled joy, and maybe a few tears. You might even hear the signature “SHINee’s back” whisper in the back of your head, too.

To celebrate their 17th debut anniversary on May 25, the K-pop icons — Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin — released single album Poet | Artist on the same day. Titular track “Poet | Artist” and B-side “Starlight” make one thing clear: SHINee may have experienced the worst, yet they still lead with joy and love, no matter what. 

*Editor’s Note: This article briefly mentions the death of SHINee member Jonghyun. 

The Memories Behind Poet | Artist

On December 18, international and Korean news sites broke that Jonghyun, the fifth member of SHINee, had passed away the day before. Although SHINee currently are a four-member band, there has always been a spot reserved for the fifth. 

In fact, the late singer-songwriter has left his mark all over the band’s 17th anniversary single, “Poet | Artist.” Not only is the title the name of Jonghyun’s posthumously-released album (Poet | Artist released on January 23, 2018), but the new SHINee track was written by him, too. 

According to a press release, the song “embod[ies] the freedom of a poet and artist in everyday life, encouraging listeners to create something new together.” And even SHINee created something new together — as five members. Since Jonghyun recorded the demo of the track, “Poet | Artist” features his vocals in the chorus and his scatting in the bridge. This experimenting, remembering, and creating shine a spotlight on SHINee’s message: It’s never too late to create. 

The “summer-ready” track blends sharp snare and a reggae swing with an electropop base. The hook immediately draws in listeners as SHINee underscore with liveliness, “Call me poet, artist.” They lean into these descriptions especially through the music video, which features easter eggs from past video projects. SHINee pull shots and choreography from past music videos such as “Ring Ding Dong” and “Atlantis.”

Together, SHINee run, jump, and reach higher planes. They read letters addressed to their group, letters which are physical objects expressing Jonghyun’s (or their bandmates’) words to them first felt through “Poet | Artist.” They see their reflections staring back at them, both a reference to the reflective pools in the “Ring Ding Dong” music video and also a sign of how far they have come since they debuted in 2008. 

“Don’t get me wrong, don’t cage me in a frame,” they sing, a lyric that is emphasized by the house’s walls collapsing. SHINee refuse to be defined by others’ confines and thoughts about them; instead, they decide who they are as poets, as artists. Then, in the very last shot of the music video, Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin all reach a hand to the sky — moving forward, together. 

A Path of Starlight for SHINee

Paired with “Poet | Artist” is B-side “Starlight,” a dance-pop mid-tempo track. Playful electric guitars with SHINee’s signature harmony and vocal layering round out the romantic song. While the energetic production inspires listeners to dance, the lyrics inspire listeners’ hearts to dance as well. Through “Starlight,” SHINee tell a story about finding the person you have been looking for and cherishing them with everything you have. 

The cover art of Poet | Artist may remind SHINee fans of the band’s Sherlock album from 2012. Both album images feature the members’ hands gathered together. However, the 2012 album has the five members’ hands together around a guitar with paint splatters — they are artists in the middle of creating. The recently-released album artwork, meanwhile, can be characterized by its etherealness. Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin are still there, but there is still ample room for one more. 

SHINee first shared “Poet | Artist” with Shawols — the name of the band’s fandom — during their “SHINee World VII [E.S.S.A.Y] (Every Stage Shines Around You” performances in Seoul. Held at KSPO Dome and timed with their 17th anniversary, the group hosted sold-out shows from Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25, with tens of thousands of fans gathering for over these three days. 

In his farewell letter, Jonghyun wrote, “Tell me this is enough, that I did well.” You did, Jonghyun. You did, SHINee. You did so very well. 

Poet | Artist is now available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with SHINee on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X. 

Want more recommendations for your playlists? Check out EnVi’s latest Sunday Spin roundup here!