Song Review:: Onew (SHINee): Connection- Mansae {Pre-Release}

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  •  Release date: 2025 January 06

  • Album tracklist: Winner, Promise You, Boy, Graduation, Conversation, Yay

  • Album runtime: 17 minutes

 Happy Birthday, Onew!! I found out I actually have one of his photocards for my month birthday wall I have in my closet office at work so he gets to hang out between Eric and Joshua.  Yes, I know the actual English title is Yay, but the associations I have with that word make me smile and I want to smile when I see this. As per usual with pre-releases, everything will be updated once the album is out, although I'm definitely going to be leaving the title of this song as Mansae in the title for the post.

Okay, maybe it's because I heard it twice on my way to work this morning, both the SHINee World IV and the regular studio version, but the instrumentals at the beginning of this remind me of Ready Or Not. Very funky, very groovy. They really just automatically make me want to dance and remind me of some sort of comedy buddy cop movie from the 80s. But as much as I like them, I think they overpower Onew's vocals in places as whatever was done to his gorgeous voice makes it match the instrumentals for too much of the song. Also, there isn't a whole lot of variation to the instrumentals, which would normally indicate that they're being used to and showcase the vocals, which I don't find to be the case through most of the song.

The chillness with which Onew says "mansae" is kind of funny. The word means "yay," right? And instead of having enthusiasm or energy, the way he sings that word, it's just "yay". There isn't even a capital to it. Also, as very catchy as the chorus is, the lack of variation (it uses the same rhythm and tune as the instrumentals) combined with the length of the chorus started making me zone out and wonder when it was going to be over on about the fifth listen. It's going to be stuck in my head later, but I don't know if that's going to be a good thing because I'm not sure I'm going to like it well enough to tolerate it being stuck in my head. Still, the sections where the vocals break away from the instrumentals I like better, and I have to give him some applause because his name is credited as one of two lyricists for the song. Also, this is the ultimate introvert anthem, but I literally couldn't be happier for him that he can shout that he's happy. 

The opening of this music video reminds me so much of the early days of CGI that I had to remind myself the song just came out. It also kind of reminds me of student film animation, which feels like an odd choice. Not that it's done badly, but there's just a very distinct look to it that does not say "I've been in animation and CGI for four decades." Unless it was by choice, in which case it was an interesting choice to have that look, and I'd have to spend some time thinking about why. I also could see the fishing line on the bird and I started laughing. All that's missing is some claymation. This is an adorably weird music video that's like the reverse of Alice in Wonderland. It also kind of reminds me of Rapunzel, and with the bird, that should make him a Disney princess, right? I'm very happy for him that he gets to play with the music he wants and he gets to play in the world he creates. Griffin is doing well to help SHINee's illustrious leader find his happiness again.



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