SHINee’s Taemin released his second mini album, Want on February 11, 2019, and it’s another reminder of how much he’s grown. He’s no longer that cute 15-year-old who debuted over a decade ago. For this new era, he redefines how masculinity and sexuality can look in K-pop.
The Art of Seduction
The concept for Want revolves around desire, that magnetic pull you feel towards someone. Taemin depicts himself as the ultimate homme fatale: seductive, dangerous, charming. The lead single, “Want,” captures this theme perfectly. It’s a sultry, rhythmic disco tune where Taemin sings about control and temptation. The thrill of falling for an alluring, innocent man that knows what he’s doing:
“This sweetness of the forbidden apple tempts you
The impulse awakens the senses
In this sweet flow
(Will leave you wanting more, thirsting for more)…
I’m your eyes, I’ll help you see a new world (I’m your eyes)
I’m your toy, I’ll make you innocent (I’m your toy)
Trust your own self-control
Move by your body and soul
Open your eyes, listen to your sound
What do you want?
(Hot, hot) Teasing you slowly
(Hot, hot) Making you fall for me with no limit
(Hot, hot) Waking you up from the silence under your deep sea
(Hot, hot) Will leave you wanting more, thirsting for more”
Sexy, but Subtle
In the music video for “Want,” Taemin is still experimenting with how we perceive gender in the way he dances and presents himself. His outfits are sleek and elegant, accentuating his slim figure. His makeup highlights his features in a way that enhances his androgyny. The choreography is fluid, with movements that are both sharp and soft. Everything about Taemin is presented with an ambiguous and androgynous energy.
The MV has a surreal, dreamlike feel to it. Snakes play a prominent role in the MV as a symbol of sin and temptation, alluding to the story of Adam and Eve. He’s often surrounded by smoke, which adds an air of mystery and even lust. Several scenes have a black and white image of a pair of hands covering Taemin’s eyes. It’s a subtle nod to being submissive and relinquishing control to another person. Here Taemin is the forbidden fruit and the seducer. He serves you a fantasy of what could be only to pull it away at the last second.
Want feels like a continuation of Move but it also stands out on its own. Sexy concepts aren’t new in K-pop, but Taemin’s approach is different. He uses art, dancing and fashion to exude tension, restraint and sensuality without exploiting or objectifying himself. And when he’s done, he leaves you wanting more, just like he intended.
📌 Changelog
- May 26, 2025: Rewrote the article to provide additional information.
- February 14, 2019: Date original article was posted.
