※The author does not speak English. The following text is an AI-generated translation of the article.
What one Taemin fan thought about TXT Yeonjun's cover of Taemin's "Guilty" at the 38th Golden Disc Awards
＜１＞
When I found out that the cover stage of "Guilty" was going to be performed at GDA, I honestly felt extremely conflicted. The biggest factor was the feeling of "Guilty is Taemin's song."
It's not just because Taemin released it; it's because the song "Guilty" is like Taemin's personal novel. Based on Taemin's real experiences during the 15 years as a member of SHINee and the 9 years as a solo artist in the entertainment industry, "Guilty" was presented as a new challenge that goes beyond his identity and clichés. The music video and choreography were also created with this in mind. (Plus, it holds sentimental value as his first solo release after completing military service.)
For more details, I will put a link to the interview article at the end of the blog, so if you are interested, please take a look.
＜2＞
The conversation will change a bit, but it is often said that art begins with imitation. This imitation is not about tracing lines, painting the same colors, or mimicking compositions; it's about training to delve into the underlying reasons that led to that expression. It's not the imitation of skill but the imitation of thought.
With that in mind, let's talk about the "Guilty" cover stage.
As mentioned in the previous section, "Guilty" is like Taemin's personal novel. It's a song that only comes to fruition through the weight of his 15 years (even longer if you include his time as a trainee). Jumping into the competitive world of the entertainment industry at a young age, witnessing the success and departure of others in the cutthroat environment, fans delving into his personal life, a life archived continuously, dealing with constant praise, criticism, and achievements – all the while tirelessly searching for and refining his identity as an artist.
The weight of those years is challenging, even with skill and talent. I thought that without experiencing the essence firsthand, it's difficult not to stay on the surface.
(In the Guilty Challenge, the focus is on catchy and sensational point dances, but I believe that's the correct approach considering limited resources and the goal of sharing.)
In addition, when performing on stage, one's own interpretation is required. As a concept, it seems quite challenging.
＜3＞
The reason I was moved by Yeonjun's cover of "Guilty" is simply that he understood and embraced its difficulty, facing "Guilty" with sincerity and dedication.
To be honest, he could have taken an easier expressive route. Just showing a bit of his abdomen with a sexy expression and gestures would have been enough to please fans. But he chose not to do that (although he did show his stomach). In that decision, I felt Yeonjun's respect for Taemin and his own pride as an artist.
Beyond our expectations, I believe Yeonjun thoroughly studied "Guilty" and Taemin's previous works. (The moment Yeonjun bound and untied his wrists at the beginning of the stage is an homage to Taemin's "Criminal.") I also think he pays attention to Taemin's interviews.
Upon further investigation, I was surprised to find out that TXT debuted in 2019. Considering this, Yeonjun likely routinely examines, questions, and deepens his thoughts about the industry and his surroundings.
"Guilty" is like Taemin's personal novel, and probably, being in the same industry, Yeonjun can intuitively understand the sins and love depicted in it. I found it admirable that he can accept and embrace those themes.
Moreover, he seems like a genuinely good person. Perhaps his youth plays a role, but you can sense a genuine sadness in Yeonjun's performance of "Guilty." Yet, that sadness is beautiful. It's probably a reflection of Yeonjun's sensitivity.
The stage, filled with Yeonjun's respect for Taemin and his own artistic identity, deeply moved my heart.
Supplementary material
✅Interview article
✅MV
"Criminal"
