SHINee’s “View”: How a bold departure became a timeless K-Pop landmark

With the release of "View" on May 18, 2015, the Korean pop music scene was at an important juncture. Existing artists were being forced to create a unique artistic persona rather than just following trends in the market place. For SHINee, this came after a two-year break from the Korean music album scene and became an important evolutionary step. Having been together for seven years as a group, the artists were keen on portraying themselves in a matured fashion, consciously deviating from the trend of highly choreographed music which was the hallmark of the 2015 era for boy bands; the trend which entailed the usage of sounds that were overly exaggerated and jarring rhythm changes.

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SHINee had been creators of such hyper theatrical productions in their past singles such as "Lucifer", "Sherlock" and "Everybody". But with “View” (the single that served as the leader to their fourth studio Korean album, Odd, released through SM Entertainment), the band performed an audacious stylistic shift altogether. It was not about making an impression by means of technical sophistication or monumental arrangements, but rather about a graceful and laid-back approach, rooted in a deep house sound, summer vibe, and a natural way of singing. As noted by British style authority Dazed magazine, it was exactly during that time period that SHINee defined their artistic “color.”

It would be incorrect to say that the timeless nature of "View" was earned due to following the transient trends of 2015, but rather it was earned through its deliberate opposition to them. With its sound that is based on the minimalist approach to production and songwriting alongside with the natural vocal delivery, SHINee created a work of pop art that has nothing to do with any particular time period. Now, many years after it was released, it is still a perfect example of alternative approaches to creating Korean pop music. In the times when the mainstream singles were trying to impress people with their overkill, SHINee took a brave creative decision to slow down.

This restraint is the reason behind why the song is unable to be confined to its date of release and holds a certain timeless significance because of the way its music construction is carried out, utilizing a mesmerizing bassline looped in, radiant synths, and a chorus that is based on the sensation of feeling and not a big drop. What is so great about "View" is not how the song borrows from Western electronic music genres but the way in which it translates the structure of international dance music into K-pop.

The longevity of the track is ensured due to the highly polished sound design of the track that emphasizes continuity rather than the use of gimmicky sounds. Unlike many tracks of its genre, "View" does not use the technique of creating a thick layer of instruments but rather applies strict precision in arranging its sounds. Directed by a powerful team of international producers that includes LDN Noise, Ryan S. Jhun, and Adrian McKinnon; a team that will go on to create the sonic identity of many hits created by SM Entertainment; the sound design of the track is an example of classic deep house. The track relies on rhythmic repetition, modulation, and space in order to build up its momentum.

Unlike usual pop productions from the mid-2010s, whose quality becomes obsolete quickly because of too harsh EDM drops or old-fashioned synth presets, "View" avoids aging thanks to its lack of saturation. Synths sound bright but are far from being irritating – they serve as some kind of a transparent fabric, which sets the background for the pure ambient environment. The bass line acts as a heart pulse of the track, giving an excellent basis for everything else without forcing a climax artificially. Effects and transitions sound almost invisibly well, showing that the richness of the track does not come from the number of tracks in it, but from the perfect balance between dynamic rhythm section, solid low end, and ambient synths.

Minimalist architectural approach is reflected in the building of the track’s top line and melody line horizontally. The composition "View" denies completely the logic of theater interruptions and opts for the uninterrupted linear process of the song. The track goes as one continuous stream: there is an atmosphere introduction that sets up the world of sounds, then the verses introduce the melody without overcrowding the arrangement, and the pre-chorus creates concentration through building up the emotional tension. But the explosion of the vocal does not take place in the chorus – it gives the feeling of panoramic liberation instead.

The chorus does not create power by adding more instruments; it opens itself up and turns the repetitive line of lyrics into a hypnotic experience. The song avoids all vocal showmanship that involves wide-ranging notes that is expected in a typical showcase of industrial vocal ability. Rather, it uses a very precise layering of the individual voices of SHINee, which makes it possible to create a beautiful synergy of contrast and complement. Onew with his immaculate stability, Jonghyun with the power of expression, Minho with his deep register, and Key and Taemin with their unique vocals all combine in this song, creating an organic atmosphere. This can be achieved by letting the vocal parts of SHINee flow freely over the minimalist instrumental background.

Apart from the quality of its production, the lasting significance of “View” is directly connected to its lyrical content, which stands out in stark contrast to the clichéd narratives found in many pop hits of the mid-2010s. The song was the result of an intensive artistic process, driven by Jonghyun, a rising star whose reputation as a singer-songwriter was becoming more established. While working on Odd, he ended up in a tough competition among about forty other writers, trying to compose the title track. He had to repeatedly revise his lyrics until they were finally accepted by the record company.

In interviews after the release of Odd, Jonghyun confessed that he was not sure he would succeed in writing the lyrics and that he felt a lot of pressure being part of such an important comeback of his group, although his friends said they loved his lyrics from the very beginning. Instead of following a chronological love journey (such as meeting, separating, declaring, or desiring), Jonghyun decided on the abstract and sensorial method of transferring emotions into concrete impressions. Through his lyrics, Jonghyun utilizes the rhythm already present in deep house music and works with sounds, colors, and changing environments caused by love-induced amazement. By not specifying the text with very culture-specific or contemporary elements, he created an open-ended and suspended emotion language that will make the song timeless and accessible to all generations to come.

This absolute alignment of subdued sounds, Jonghyun’s matured lyrics, and the group’s stylistic development completely demolished the archaic model of a big comeback of a K-pop group. Releasing a minimalist deep house song as their main single was a risky decision for the group that had made its name with complex, explosive choreographies. The sonic break was also reflected in a more free-flowing visual image, in which the music video filmed in Thailand did not rely on the polished futuristic set of the genre, but opted for simplicity and naturalness; largely due to greater control of the members over the artistic process, mainly from Key’s side.

This gamble turned out to be commercial success for “View” becoming a number one hit in the Billboard World Albums chart. Throughout time, the song has solidified its position as an absolute crown jewel in the discography of SHINee. The SM Entertainment company itself often uses this song as an example of the band's mission in the past to break musical boundaries and create something revolutionary. By denying the proof that it was a part of 2015, “View” has managed to evade all the pitfalls of planned obsolescence and become an immortal example of pop perfection. It is undeniable proof that a song becomes immortal not by catching up with trends, but by using the methods of its age to create something completely new.