They were the Wild Eyes

Shinhwa Vol 4. Hey, Come On!

Shinhwa Vol. 4 Hey, Come On! (2001)


The overall grade of this album:

     Ten years have passed, and the music video seems to be so old and behind times. This album was released in 2001, when I was in kindergarten. Back then hip-hop style was the big trend and Shinhwa, an idol group, followed that trend: that's why their clothes are all baggy. The music is old and little too much commercialized, but the stage itself is worth watching: their dance, performance, and songs altogether make a good mix. This fourth album was recorded, released and performed without one member in the group-Andy-because he was in the military.

1. Who is Shinhwa?

     A lot of students nowadays in Korea don't really know much about Shinhwa, but most of them have heard of the name, at least. It is because Shinhwa is the team that was almost legendary from 1998 their debut till 2006~2007. These days, since they are all busy working individually, kids are not so familiar with them but still they are on the top of Korean idol groups. Their popularity was unimaginable because of their dance, songs, performance, looks, and so on. Shinhwa is most popular with their dance: their dance is really complicated, powerful, and wonderful on stage. For a good example, this fourth album they released in 2001 had the song 'Wild Eyes' and the dance of this song became a trend even until 2011, now, that present idol groups are re-performing the dance again and again. You'll see what's that dance in a minute.

     Not like other idol groups, Shinhwa had stayed really long-for thirteen years and they are having their fourteenth anniversary soon in 2012. They debuted on March 24th, 1998, and on March 24th, 2012, they are coming back with the tenth album. The tenth album is really special because they are coming up from their own made-up company named 'Shinhwa Company.' This means from now on the company can never intervene on what Shinhwa themselves want to do, and the music will be reflecting Shinhwa's color solely, not the color of the company by using the company hired composers(many idols don't have much chance to reflect their own musical color to their own music because the companies want income, and thus want commercialized songs, not music.).

2. What is an 'idol group'? 

     'Idol' in English means a figure which is respected and adored, even worshiped. Idol group in Korean means groups that are popular among teenagers: they are called 'idols' because the teenagers madly love them. Shinhwa, though their fans are now in the mid twenties, was one of the first idols, and thus they are still called as an 'idol group.'

     Since teenagers are not so bright in real music, and they are more attracted by splendid performances and nice looks, idol groups are mostly handsome and pretty with their songs lacking quality. However there are some groups among them that have their own music and not only concentrate on money: Shinhwa is one of them. They wanted to concentrate on their own music further, and that is why they came out from their original company-the idol-producing, extremely commercialized company-SM.

3. The Songs

Track 01. Just 2 be with U

Track 02. (Title) Hey, Come On!

Track 03. Shinhwa Knight

Track 04. Wild Eyes 

Track 05. Reminiscence

Track 06. Falling in Love

Track 07. Never Can Rewind

Track 08. Trippin'

Track 09. Sure I know

Track 10. Dark

Track 11. Egotism (97年 4月 1日)

Track 12. I swear... (바램)

1) Track 02. Hey, Come On! (Title song)

Hey, Come On! (2001) Live Stages

Hey, Come On! (2001) Official MV

Lyrics written by Hyesung in Shinhwa

Composed by Peter Rafelson & Jeff Vincent

Arranged by You Youngjin(SM employed composer)
Rap making by Eric of Shinhwa
Choreographed by Minwoo of Shinhwa 

    

     This song was popular for its refined rhythm (it was stylish in 2001) and powerful lyrics. The repeated lyrics are "Hey, come on, I won't stay in the cage for you anymore but from now on I will fly out!", translated. The music was arranged by You Youngjin, a famous SM employed composer who handle most of the songs SM produce, and thus the music has his particular style. Though his music is mostly the same, this song's rhythm is pretty fresh and addictive. The lyrics imply deep thoughts, too.


My favorite part is: 

넌 항상 비슷해 홀린 투에 thing uh 내 말은 strategies 기억해라     
(You are always the same possessed by someone else, my words are strategies remember.)
크게 세상의 속을 봐, 속에 네 모습을 지켜
(Look big look the heart of the world, and protect yourself in that heart)
참아야만 했어 나의 모든 걸
(I had to be patient for my everything) 

내 나 지친, 숨가쁜, 이젠 나 쓰러 질 것 같은
(I am tired, breathless, and now I feel like I'm gonna collapse) 
짧은 순간들 속에 지쳐 가는 나 내 모든걸 위해 참을 수 없어 
(I am getting tired in short times me, I can't stop me for my everything)
  

     The lyrics show the harsh time Shinhwa was having in SM. SM, a strict company, had many restrictions on the group. They could not go out with girls, and they could not go somewhere privately without the company's permission. Almost all of the money they earned went for SM's sake. They could not dive in music they wanted to, and they could not choose what TV or radio programs to do. They were just like money-earning machines of SM: just doing what the company want them to do. This song was like an indirect, implied expression of resistance by Shinhwa. 

Dance/performance ★★★☆☆

Music                     ★★★☆☆

Rap                        ★★★★☆

Lyrics                     ★★★★☆

Overall

2) Track 04. Wild Eyes 

Wild Eyes (2001) Official MV

Wild Eyes (2001) Live, on stage

Lyrics, Composed, Arranged by Yu Youngjin

Rap making by Eric of Shinhwa

Choreographed by Minwoo of Shinhwa

     This was the innovative dance in 2001: since this song Koreans started to use chairs in their performances. When they performed this on stage, the reactions were huge. The dance, the hot topic of 2001 until now, was made by Minwoo of Shinhwa. It was actually made in thirty minutes because Hyesung(a member of Shinhwa), due to his knee injury(cruciate ligament, accurately), couldn't maintain the passionate dance which was the originally planned version. Minwoo, lacking enough time to change parts of the original dance, just created a new performance that has the chair which would help Hyesung dance. And the result was a immense, megaton hit.

     Even ten years have passed and idols still mimic this dance. Almost every top idols have performed this dance, and those are not assessed by the audience(online and offline) to be better than the original Shinhwa's, even ten years have passed. The dance have showed how Shinhwa is the best in dancing.

     The strong beat of the song always makes me want to dance. The lyrics basically mean the situation of a man who wants to be wild, because that is the type of a man his girl want. Followings are three top idol groups (SHINee, After School, and Infinite) mimicking the Wild Eyes. They miss several motions because the dance is complicated and requires keen sense of balance.

SHINee - Live Performance of Wild Eyes (2009)

After School -Wild Eyes Performance (2009)

Infinite - Wild Eyes Performance (2010)

 My favorite Parts:

You need a true rugged type figure, 
I be holin the key gootta be me, 
all in the sheets- 
달라졌어 나는 강해졌어 ( I changed- became stronger)
두고보면 너도 알게 될꺼야- (You will see)

What you really want from a guy like me, 
I be rollin the streets hitten my peak, alway complete 

…

Diamond briguette- rolex on your wrists 
Say you wanna man who can do work with his firsts 
A new millennium type figure here! 
Only wanted to show you the light side, 
the bright side of life 
But if it ain’t so let me show you some more 

     The lyrics of this song is quite evident and overused, but the rap here made by Eric (of Shinhwa) is pretty good, in my opinion. The rap rhymes well, and the lyrics match up with Eric's voice harmoniously: the last part, especially, goes well with the melody-it sounds like whispering.

Dance/performance ★★★★★

                         Music                      ★★★★☆ : loved the beat!

Rap                         ★★★★☆

Lyrics                      ★★★☆☆

Overall 

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