REWIND: Taemin Advice MV full break down
Added 2021-06-04 08:00:04 +0000 UTCThis is an early access video.
Torsie breaks down the Advice music video, interpreting the meaning behind the lyrics, and all the symbolism hiding in plain sight.
Comments
I'm totally absorbed by his music, dance and visuals. I've noticed some religious themes in his clips but haven't dived in like this before. I really enjoyed you exploring Advice. This was him saying his piece before he enlisted and left us for a time. It's an amazing bookend to Replay... what a journey this man has had. I have no idea what he is thinking but I wasn't aware of his faith. It's interesting and refreshing to see him draw on his beliefs. I hope on the other side... (and that the military isn't purgatory) that he continues producing art we can enjoy.
Ed
2021-08-29 16:03:43 +0000 UTCLoved all your detailed analysis! 💕
Duchess521
2021-06-06 03:57:42 +0000 UTCThis is amazing! From the start you've already blown my mind with your interpretation of his veil/crown of thorns imagery - I have very little religious background myself and while I got the crown of thorns/Jesus iconography, I hadn't thought of the masculine/feminine, divine/human meaning at all. With the latter paradox, I can't help but think of the way he, and all idols, is - well, idolized. Going with Criminal's popular interpretation of being about his relationship with fame (being both victim and victimizer in a Stockholm-y relationship with his celebrity status; "It's painful to the point that I can't breathe but it's so magnificent," and "My hands holding yours that stabbed me are not clean either"), it makes me think of his divine/more-than-human celebrity image existing together with his actual humanity (though hidden, perhaps deliberately, behind a veil). With the “my hands are not clean either” line, as well, you can see in a few points in the MV that his hands look dirty - not the blackened look, but almost like they’ve been poorly washed of blood (you can see it at 1:00 in the MV). I read a review of the Advice album recently (I can't remember who it was by, but I believe it was a Korean music critic? Or someone in the music industry), that said something along the lines of, "Although Taemin did not write the songs or the lyrics, as soon as the words come out of his mouth, they are entirely his own," in praise of his incredible showmanship and distinctive stage persona. I definitely agree - though none of his "big three" title songs are self-written, he made them completely his own and clearly chose them as carefully as he would choose his own words for the story he wanted to tell. (Okay this comment is getting very chaotic but that's because I'm writing it as I watch your video LOL) The balaclava in the MV of course also made me think of thieves, and I think you’re definitely on to something with the relation to crucifixion, but it also reminded me of his debut song, Danger. The Korean title is literally “Phantom Thief,” which offers a common thread from his first solo song to Advice. In Danger, he is styled and presented in a darkly polished way - even in the grungier outfits, he looks quite glamorous. In Advice, we open with a shot of him - still the same Phantom Thief he was 7 years ago, but dirtied and ravaged with his face covered and body bare, where originally it was the other way around. This is definitely a reach, but I think one interpretation could be along the lines of, “You’ve (media/fans/haters/the industry) stolen even the clothes off my back since the first time you saw me, the ‘phantom thief.’ You’ve stolen more from me than I could ever steal from you.” CHILLS!! I had never thought of the piano in purgatory the way you described, representing that his only path to salvation is to play the piano/perform like he’s “supposed” to, but it makes so much sense (I can’t remember if you’ve reacted to the Famous MV yet, but it fits perfectly with the themes from that video too). In his reaction video to the Advice MV, Taemin said the piano represents his identity - a word that is central to the themes of all the “big three” albums. His black and white outfit is also reminiscent of the black and white keys on a piano. A more optimistic potential interpretation of the piano scene could be that while he himself is often like the keys of a piano being played by someone else’s hands, he is now the one in control, shown by his playing of the piano that disappears - because there was no piano, it was really just him facing his own identity and choosing to take control. It also could fit with the subsequent shot of him in the balaclava again, though this time his skin is clear of the black marks from the beginning, and he is wearing a shirt - as though with his reclaiming of identity, he’s gained back some of what was taken from him prior to the start of the MV. In the lyrics at the bridge, he says “I close my eyes discreetly/I don’t have to cover my ears… Voice for me, the loser pours it out.” The first couple lines feel really significant but I can’t quite decide how to interpret the meaning… The phrase, “See no evil, hear no evil” comes to mind, though. The line about pouring one out, while definitely related to death like you said, I think also could be connected to the previous line about “voice” and the symbolism of the piano and his identity. “The loser pours it out” could be poetically referring to his voice (represented by the sound a piano makes), calling himself the loser in the scenario where someone else is making him pour out his voice. The leash in the track suit outfit makes me think, again, of Criminal’s lyrics, “I’m on a leash called you.” Sticking with the interpretation of Criminal being about fame here, I think it could have very much the same meaning - he has been lead around on a leash either as a result of or for the sake of his status as an idol, but now we see that he is the one holding the end of the leash. I think that also fits with your interpretation of the car crash and how he would rather crash and burn by his own decisions than be forced to live and die for anyone else’s. He is free and holding the reigns, but when he chooses for himself to cast away his hat, which acted in place of a mask, we see that he is crying. Final, random thoughts: I think the black and white suit could also show how people will view him differently depending on the angle they are looking at him from - they may see him as pure and divine when his back is turned, but when he faces them head-on, they will see him in a less than holy light. It could be interpreted as either him having the power to control how people perceive him by deliberately showing different sides of himself; or it could be the opposite, saying he can’t control the direction from which others watch him. I also would love to hear more interpretations connecting the LOTR sword concept photos to the MV, but sadly I know even less about LOTR than I do about Catholic symbolism 😅
nialeta
2021-06-05 00:41:48 +0000 UTCOh thank you!! I used to podcast about nerd stuff, I really enjoyed it... hmm food for thought! And I am SO keen to read your novel of a comment! I want to get deep into this with everyooooone!
TORS1E
2021-06-04 23:57:32 +0000 UTCOkay, wow this is amazing and if you ever decided to start a podcast doing analysis like this, I would 100% be into it. I've written an absolute novel of a comment while watching so I apologize in advance LOL It will be coming shortly
nialeta
2021-06-04 23:14:45 +0000 UTC☺️ Thank you! I’m going to lie face down for a while, but you know me, I could talk about Taemin forever. Thank you for watching 🥰 Oh I love the shredded paper/ paint parallel- that’s beautiful! Especially since he’s in the garbage room in the beginning, like he’s been put though the shredder and thrown out with the rest of the junk. That’s great. And a huge “huh!” to the mannequin, isn’t that interesting!! And if it’s right, his moves during that line take on a new meaning— the arms up/out the way they are, like he’s being puppeteered... oooo, oo I like that, too... you just know I’m going to watch this another 10,000 time now haha! Thanks again 💖
TORS1E
2021-06-04 13:07:00 +0000 UTCTors....well done love, hope you can put your feet up and have a nice glass (or 2) of whatever takes your fancy, you've worked hard. A couple of points for discussion...the shredded paper in the beginning and his ending pose with the white dripping down him could mean that he has been ripped to shreds but is still standing triumphant...secondly the word torso (I saw someone comment on this, so can't say if it's true ) in korean means doll, mannequin, something without a voice...which would make sense, anyway enjoyed your breakdown 👏❤
Simone
2021-06-04 11:18:43 +0000 UTC
