SHINee Make A Fiery Comeback With ‘Don’t Call Me’

K-pop veterans SHINee unveiled their seventh studio album Don’t Call Me earlier today, led by the lead single of the same name. The release marks the group’s first comeback together in three years since their 2018 LP The Story of Light.

“Don’t Call Me” is perhaps the quartet’s darkest release yet; the lyrics are full of contempt as they address an ex-turned-obsessive stalker, warning them to stay away, “You just search my name all day/ You find my traces and lick them” and “I keep telling you/ There is no ‘next time’ in your life/ I’m no longer your love/ Erase it, forget about me please/ I don’t know you/ So don’t call me.” In terms of sound, SHINee experiment with unusual blends of dark synth, trap, EDM and hip-hop, adding a touch of drama with intricate piano-led bridges and their signature complex vocal harmonies. The rolling, bass-heavy synth that spans through the track is particularly memorable and different from anything we’ve heard from SHINee before.

The music video displays bold choices in set design and visuals, pairing the group’s high-fashion wardrobe with gritty backdrops like abandoned train stations and theatres. The clip features breathtaking solo shots of the members roaming surreal, gravity-defying sets but keeps the focus on SHINee’s dynamic choreography. A particular killing point in the video is a shot that circles the four members as they perform lightning-fast moves in perfect sync with a piano-led breakdown. 

Including its title track, Don’t Call Me features a total of nine songs: “Heart Attack,” “Kind,” “CØDE,” “I Really Want You,” “Kiss Kiss,” “Body Rhythm,” “Attention,” and “Marry You.” The members treated the audience to a preview of “Marry You” on a special performance livestream, broadcasted on January 31st, 2021.