[CELEB] Onew is back with another solo debut after three years

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[CELEB] Onew is back with another solo debut after three years

Onew of SHINee talks about the release of his second EP ″DICE″ during an online press conference on Monday. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Onew of SHINee talks about the release of his second EP ″DICE″ during an online press conference on Monday. [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

 
Like the intro to SHINee’s 2012 song “Sherlock (Clue + Note)” says, “SHINee’s back.”
 
Or at least, Onew, leader of the boy band, is back with his second solo EP, “DICE.”
 
It’s been three years and four months since Onew made his solo debut with the EP “Voice.”
 
During an online press conference on Monday, Onew talked about how excited yet nervous he was to drop music as a solo artist after such a long time.
 
“I wanted to show that I don’t just sing ballads or calm songs and that I, too, can take on new styles and perform on stage,” Onew said. “I plan to continue proving my versatility.”
 
“DICE” consists of six songs: the title track “DICE,” “Sunshine,” “On the way,” “Love Phobia,” “Yeowoobi” and “In the whale.” Onew took part in writing the lyrics of “In the whale.”
 
When asked what the title track is about, Onew explained that it likens the feelings of falling in love to a game. Even if it’s a losing game, Onew seeks to bet everything on the person he loves, according to the lyrics.
 
SHINee members from left: Onew, Taemin, Key and Minho [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

SHINee members from left: Onew, Taemin, Key and Minho [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

 
Onew said that he chose that song as the title track because he was especially fond of its rhythm.
 
For “In the whale,” Onew said that although he actually wrote many more songs, this was the only one that made it into the final track list.
 
“The entire album is filled with diverse songs,” Onew said. “I hope my listeners will know that whenever they feel lonely, someone will lend them a hand.”
 
The EP proved to be a hit, topping the iTunes Top Albums charts in 40 nations, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, India, Singapore and Taiwan.
 
SHINee is one of the top boy bands in the K-pop industry that is still considered to have a major fan base. It’s been over a decade since the band started making music, be it altogether or solo.
 
A scene from the music video for SHINee's debut song ″Replay″ (2008) [SMTOWN YOUTUBE]

A scene from the music video for SHINee's debut song ″Replay″ (2008) [SMTOWN YOUTUBE]

 
SHINee debuted in 2008 with the lead track “Replay” (2008) from the EP of the same name. It originally had five members: Onew, Key, Minho, Taemin and Jonghyun. The members’ names are usually stylized with all capital letters. However, after Jonghyun passed away in December 2017, the band has continued as a four-member group.
 
The band released hit after hit, particularly in the 2010s, with songs like “Lucifer” (2010), “Sherlock (Clue + Note)” (2012), “Why So Serious?” (2013), “View” (2015) and its most recent Korean song “Don’t Call Me” (2021).
 
SHINee is also renowned for being fashion icons and having complex, eye-catching choreography for their songs. From its debut until the early 2010s, the band has donned high-top sneakers and colorful skinny jeans, starting the trend among the younger generation in Korea.
 
Songs like “Ring Ding Dong” (2009) and “Lucifer” were perceived to be so catchy that students say they are the epitome of songs to never listen to before taking a big test.
 
Onew [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

Onew [SM ENTERTAINMENT]

 
Onew (Lee Jin-ki)
 
Date of birth: Dec. 14, 1989
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Suwon, Gyeonggi
Debut: May 2008 as a member of boy band SHINee
Agency: SM Entertainment
 
Onew, stylized as ONEW, debuted as the leader of boy band SHINee (pronounced shiny) in May 2008. The band’s debut song is “Replay” (2008) from the EP of the same name. The song initially earned popularity among female fans due to its lyrics about a man expressing his love for an older woman. Onew made his solo debut in December 2018 with the EP “Voice.” His latest release “DICE” is his second EP. Apart from music, Onew has also made cameo appearances on television drama series like SBS’s “Dr. Champ” (2010) and “Athena: Goddess of War” (2016). He played character Lee Chi-hoon in KBS’s “Descendants of the Sun” (2016) and has been in a few musicals, the most recent being “Midnight Sun” (2021-22).
 
This information was confirmed by SM Entertainment on April 12, 2022.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]
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