Shinhwa Pimp Post - CH 2: The Group
Chapter 2: The Group
Now that you've learned about the individual members, I'll explain more about the group and their dynamics with each other.
In order to help new fans understand them, I've used comparisons in this chapter with idol groups such as H.O.T, DBSK, Super Junior & Big Bang. Please do not take these comparisons the wrong way! I'm using them only as a reference point so people who are learning about Shinhwa can make connections to understand them better. I'm a fan of all four groups and I know they are very different and uniquely talented. But some of them do have aspects that relate to Shinhwa and their history so that's why I used them. I've tried to be as respectful as I could, but do remember, this is a Shinhwa Pimp Post. If it sounds like I'm bragging, it's only because I love these guys so much and want to share their awesomeness with the world :D
Wow. Where to start? I don't want to just state a bunch of facts about their debut, etc. So instead let's start with why do I love them?
Because they are true entertainers - in every sense of the word. They sing, compose music, write lyrics, dance, choreograph, MC, act in movies, dramas, musicals, etc. The list goes on and on. They've dabbled in every aspect of the entertainment industry and emerged successful in all of them. Sure, not all of the members are good at everything. Each one has his own strengths and weaknesses but put them together and they shine brighter than any star.
Musical Style
Shinhwa's music style is hard to describe because it's evolved and changed so much over time. If I had to categorize them, I'd say their music is a mix between DBSK and Big Bang. In other words, pop with a touch of hip-hop. A bit more hip-hop than DBSK because they have 3 rappers so there are more rap parts in their songs. But it's also a bit more pop/ballad-y than BB since they also have three singers with great vocals (four later on when Junjin started singing too). But they've tried a lot of other genres over the years so each one of their albums sounds a bit different than the last.
And as a sample (the real music post will come later), their final music video before enlistment: "Destiny Of Love". The video contains clips from their 10th anniversary concert. The song was composed by Minwoo with the raps written by Eric & the lyrics by Hyesung.
Click to viewLegacy
The first thing you need to know about Shinhwa is that they were never number one. They've rarely swept the award shows or consistently been the top selling group. In their ten year career, they've only won 2 Daesungs BUT they've gotten a Bosang nearly every single year since 2000. So they've never been the most popular but they've always been successful. Over the years, it's their very presence in the music industry that has become their legacy. They've lived up to the meaning of their name, a Legend/Myth.
Which other idol group can proudly say they sold over 100,000 copies of their album with NO promotion? They didn't have an album showcase, didn't performed a single song on any music show, didn't appear on any variety shows, had no fan signings, nothing. And yet their 9th album still sold that many copies. I'm sure the actual number is much higher if you count all the different versions and repackages but that's beside the point. More important than the actual sales is the fact that the members contributed, through writing and composing, to every single track on the album. And this is just the beginning. When they return from their military service, I know they're going to blow us all away with the best album of all, golden #10.
Winning the Bosang at this year's Golden Disk Awards
Image
Shinhwa's image cannot be described without bringing up H.O.T because so much of their career was shaped by the group whose shadow they lived in. It's a lot like the DBSK & SuJu dynamic today.
H.O.T. was bigger than DBSK back in those days and they were SM's favorite "child". It was no secret that H.O.T. was favored in everything and Shinhwa was pretty much left to fend for themselves. I'm not putting H.O.T. down because those guys worked like crazy and they deserved everything they got. But a lot like how SuJu is treated today, Shinhwa had to work twice as hard to gain half as much because no one took them seriously. That's why the Shinhwa members branched out into different fields. They became DJs, MCs, actors, solo artists, etc. while H.O.T. stayed focused on their music and making pathways into China & Japan. Starting to sound familiar?
And even their images have a lot of similarities. H.O.T. was always poised and "perfect" (this was more true in the beginning when SM was trying to portray an almost unhuman, god-like image but like DBSK they had their crazy moments too) Shinhwa, on the other hand, was just all out wild and disobedient. I can't imagine the massive headaches their managers must have had. What do you do with a group that rarely answers the questions being asked and is too busy living in their own world, messing with each other and doing random things to finish interviews? A group in which the leader sneaks out of the dorm in the middle of the night through the bathroom window to go god-knows-where and a certain member has such a bad hangover that they have to wrap him in a blanket and throw him in the van on the way to a performance. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you start watching Shinhwa videos you'll see for yourself how crazy these guys are.
But that's their image: the eternal children.
Talented and damn sexy but always children at heart :P
A video in which they discuss their 10th anniversary as a group. Even during such a serious conversation, they still don't hesitate to be total idiots or interrupt and hit each other.
Brotherhood
You know the old saying, struggle makes the bonds grow deeper? Well that's the story of Shinhwa's career. They overcame all the obstacles standing in their way and had to fight for every inch they earned. Nothing was ever handed to them on a silver platter. There were no famous choreographers or stylists molding them every step of the way. A large part of what they accomplished or earned was through their own hard work and sheer will power. After their 1st album didn't sell well, SM abandoned them and they had to go out on their own and ask songwriters for songs while spending months in the practice rooms creating their own choreography. That's what forged their love and trust for one another. Eric said at their 10th anniversary concert that there are a lot of people in the industry who try to cut you down until you think there's no one by your side anymore. But for him there were always 5 guys standing behind him, ready to pick him up. And during one of the most emotional parts of the concert, Minwoo even said, "I would follow those five guys to hell."
An awesome video montage of their friendship (shown from Eric's point of view) The ending has a bunch of pictures of the video makers' friends, in case you're wondering who those girls are :D
Fan Service
Shinhwa & H.O.T. were the first groups to embrace fan service and but like always, Shinhwa were the ones who took it to extremes. They openly acknowledge and call themselves by their fan-made couple names and at their 10th anniversary concert, Minwoo even asked the audience who the fans' favorite couple was these days. But the best thing about Shinhwa's fan service is that it's not really service. They just genuinely love each other that much. When they kiss and hug you can see the affection in their faces and how comfortable they are with each other.
I guess that's the benefit of showering together. They explained on Yashimmanman how they started showering together to get rid of the awkwardness when they first became a group. It obviously worked! Maybe that should be a mandatory ritual for all idol groups :P
Because it results in hilarious conversations like:
Andy: We know everything there is to know about each other.
Minwoo: Know what? What do you know, Andy?
Andy: I know a lot about Minwoo hyung ... Minwoo hyung has a mole on his butt.
Despite their genuine brotherly love, they often do things just to rile up the fans.
Of course, along with love, also comes abuse. They're still guys after all.
At the end of the day, they're just a bunch of crazy guys who love each other but never really grew up.
I can't believe there are people out there who actually think Shinhwa isn't going to come back together after their military service. They obviously don't know the real Shinhwa. I honestly believe hell will freeze over before this group disbands. Whoever thinks they're "has-beens" should know that they'll have to drag them out of the entertainment industry kicking & screaming and have to fight off thousands of hoards of fans. But I don't think it'll come to that because like Eric said, "In the future, if there comes a time where no company wants us, we'll just form our own company and carry on." No one can break their bonds with each other. They haven't faded even after 10 years of bickering and goofing around. They've only grown stronger.
Some more quotes describing their respect and love for one another.
Minwoo: When we were still trainees we were punished physically and beaten up before. But because we had such a scary manager, we were always on tenterhooks, and this made us even more united and allowed us to get to where we are today. When we were living in the dorm, if one of us got scolded, the other members would help to speak up. When we got scolded, we'd comfort each other; when we argue, we'd work things out, and competing against each other will help us to develop musically. These interesting memories are the reasons that keep us going. Whenever we feel tired, the members will help each other out, that's why we're still together today. None of us has ever thought of trying to stand out among the rest.
Eric: I became an entertainer at the age of 20, and all of my youth was spent with Shinhwa. I feel so fortunate that I've found the meaning of life, and being able to live such a meaningful life with them.
Andy: When I became extremely depressed, I was determined to leave the group. However, in the end, standing on the stage of Shinhwa’s Fan Meeting, the members cried while trying to stop me from leaving
Junjin: To me, Shinhwa is like home. Shinhwa is like a place where I can return to anytime, a place that exists to welcome me back at any moment..
Hyesung: Just because we're busy doing our own things, doesn't mean that we're not friends. There is still a strong relationship that continues to grow in our group everyday. We've come a long way and we're more than friends - we're mentors and brothers to each other. Don't doubt that.
Dongwan: Although we are not related by blood, I thank God for letting us meet. This is the greatest fortune of my life. No matter what happens in our lives in the future.. I wish that we will keep this memory of us forever. Until we die, let’s never forget this friendship of ours.
Minwoo: The member who’s left behind, we grab hold of his hand. The member who’s at the front, shares his luck with the rest of us. That’s how we’ve gone through for 10 years.
But I can't end this chapter on such a serious note! That would be so un-Shinhwa like. So instead here's a MUST watch appearance on Happy Together. Make sure you grab some tissues though, because you will laugh so hard you'll have tears streaming down your face. Like Dongwan. I was sure he was going to burst a gut or something from the number of laughing fits he had. Probably because Junjin was so lively here. I'm not sure what made him so talkative and goofy that day but it was fun seeing that side of him.
Alternate Links (in case the YT videos get taken down)
http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/454
http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/455
http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/456
http://shuidee.multiply.com/video/item/457
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CREDITS
Pictures & Gifs: http://gallery.asianfanatics.net/ & various users @ http://www.shinhwa.biz/forums/ & http://www.soompi.com/forums
Quotes: from various interviews and videos (collected by kriza_09 at the soompi "The Chronicle of the LEGEND" post)
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So ends another chapter. Coming up next will probably be The Couples - Part 1. But I'm not 100% sure yet. I'll have to see how school goes and how long it takes me to go through my hundreds of couple pictures :P
Also, I just want to make one more thing clear. Although I did compare Shinhwa & H.O.T. to DBSK & Super Junior, their journeys are not exactly the same.
First, I don't want you to think that H.O.T. broke up because they weren't close to each other. That disbandment was an unfortunate side effect of being the first idol group. They really had no one else to look up to for example and it was just a given assumption that an idol group wouldn't stay together forever. It only makes sense while they still fit the "idol" image right? It's hard to imagine that now when there are groups like Shinhwa to prove it wrong but back then such a thing was unheard of. Plus SM had evil intentions from the beginning and was bent on breaking up the group whose popularity and hold on the public reached almost insane levels. Jealousy? Fear of your creation getting more powerful that you? I guess we'll never really know.
But I do want to make clear that this does not mean that DBSK will suffer the same fate. One, because thanks to Shinhwa, that road is already paved for them. They just have to make the decision whether to follow it or not. Secondly, their struggle in Japan mirrors the struggle Shinhwa went through. Starting all over again form the bottom in a new country brought them much closer and deepened their bonds. Even they themselves have said many times that their hard times in Japan made the group stronger.
My only concern is that I'm afraid of DBSK burning out. SM is working them to the bone right now and I'm afraid they're going to start hating what they now love after a few years time. First it was the T album, then the Japanese tour and then back in Korea for Mirotic and all those activities and now they're back in Japan again for their next Japanese album. It's insane. I think one of the best things to happen to Shinhwa was that they got out of SM when they did. It was the freedom to go their own ways and try their own stuff that made them keep wanting to come back together at least once each year to release another album. But none of our predictions or thoughts mean much. What will happen to DBSK can only be decided by themselves and time. We'll just have to wait and see. And root for them along the way :)
Other Chapters
CH 1: The Members
CH 3: The Music
CH 4: The MinWan Couple
CH 5: The Variety Shows/CFs Part 1 (members locked because it has download links)
CH 6: The Variety Shows/Interviews Part 2 (members locked because it has download links)