Poorwa's blog

Do you know the amount of thrill and excitement one feels when they’re going to review the debut solo album of the artist they admire the most?

Hey there! Welcome or welcome back to Poorwa’s blog. I hope you all are in great moods and if you’re not, don’t worry my friend, you clicked on the right link. Be ready to get some music therapy 💖

So, on June 5, 2023, NCT’s leader Lee Taeyong dropped his long-awaited first mini album ‘SHALALA’. It consists of seven tracks including one song featuring Wendy of Red Velvet.

Being the huge fan of Taeyong that I am, I’ve already listened to the whole album a number of times and I’m completely in love with it. It’s even more special because it’s filled with Taeyong’s self-written, self-composed tracks. So I’m super excited to do this review and without any further ado let’s just get into it…

SHALALA

I’m obsessed with this song. Though I’m not a fan of the vocal fry thing but there were some decent vocal moments that I loved (especially the “I’m really good at entertaining yeah” part was lit). The bridge section is SLAY. Still I think if there were more adlibs it could’ve been more dynamic. Talking about the MV – it’s a visual treat. It’s so entertaining. You can see perfection in the performance and choreography, Taeyong slayed as always. I’m obsessed with the Shalala dance challenge (check out my Instagram!). I love how it’s not really hard but carries the whole vibe of the song.

GWANDO

With those delicate guitar strings and sweet instrumental, Gwando is such a pleasure to ears. The lyrics talk about wanting to let go of the lingering feelings for a past love and moving on, in a bright tone. It’s such a comfort song and Taeyong’s sweet vocals with melodic rapping makes it even more fun to listen to. It’s not my favorite though but recommended.

Move Mood Mode

I was super excited about this song because Red Velvet member Wendy has featured in it. I didn’t like it much at first listen but over time I’m getting obsessed with it. I wish Wendy had more lines, her voice is just too beautiful and they both harmonize so well together. My favorite part of MMM is the prechorus, it just sounds so romantic, especially the line “you shine on me, I shine on you” and the “wurrurr” part. The song captures the excitement of starting a new love and the joy of falling for a person. Do listen to it if you haven’t already!

Virtual Insanity

Here comes the queen of the album!!! Virtual Insanity is a sensation! Rising from its earlier incarnation as ‘GTA 2’ (that was released in 2021 on Taeyong’s SoundCloud profile) Virtual Insanity is a hip-hop genre song that started from Taeyong’s imagination, “If I watch my performance in VR, wouldn’t it feel similar to this music?” And this song actually makes you feel like you’re inside a video game. And did I tell you I wasn’t a great fan of rap until I found NCT and Taeyong became my favorite, I admire his rapping skills so much. And this track, it’s 11 out of 10.

RUBY

The day they posted the tracklist of Shalala and I saw this song on the list, I knew I’m gonna fall for it because it’s not the first time he’s written for Ruby. It’s a heartwrenching tribute to his beloved dog Ruby. The song goes beyond just romantic relationships it’s about valuing all the things that we hold dear. When you listen to this song you can feel the love and grief that oozes from his voice. I love each and every second of this song, especially the lyrics “Is it okay if I stay by your side / Until I die, I want to play with you all the time / Because you live your whole life looking at me, oh”. And I can’t forget that the outro part of Ruby’s lyrics are Taeyong’s letter to Ruby back then…

"If we meet again in the next life,
Let's be each other's point of view,
And fill the regrettable part of each other.
Let's make sure to do that"

404 File Not Found

I didn’t like its chorus part a lot but i think it’s one of his best songs ever. This is about feeling lost in life, like when you can’t find a webpage (you know the “404 error”). I love the way TY delivers his messages in the songs, like it reflects in his voice so clearly that you can feel it straight to your heart. The lyrics talk about looking yourself in the mirror and feeling unsure. Taeyong also teased a part 2 of this track and said, “It’s not just an end. File Not Found, it doesn’t mean that I don’t find anything and that’s it. I might actually have other song after this please look forward to what come next.”

I'll be that black star
Even if I'm not in your life
I'm gonna keep shining on you, don't worry
So try to shine to find me
Won't you even try to hate me?
Even if I'm not by your side
Even if the clamor of so many stars make it hard for me
The darker I am, the more, I hope, they shine 

Back To The Past

It gives a old-school hip-hop vibe. The instrumental is really beautiful that contributes in making it a perfect ending track for the album. Taeyong talks about his past experiences in a nostalgic way. He reflects on a tough childhood, with adults saying negative things about him, and even dealing with a leaking roof during heavy rain. He talks about the burden of people’s expectations and it reminds me of the moment when Taeyong was told that if NCT fails it’s his fault. He also shows that he has succeeded because of his own efforts. The song also contains a thank you letter to his family for always being there at his worst. Back To The Past expresses how those painful experiences shaped who he is today.

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Final Thoughts:

⭐9.3 out of 10

Favorite tracks- Ruby, Virtual Insanity.

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Though this album is promoted as his solo debut, Taeyong has been sharing his solo work with his fans since debut through various performances, SM station projects and through SoundCloud. So it’s no surprise for me that this album is so good.

I almost gave it a perfect rating because this music is exactly the kind I like. All of the songs in this album, it fits my taste perfectly. (I would have given it a 10 if I could sing all the rap verses fluently in Korean haha *just realized I’m the problem oops.)

Shalala is full of creative ideas and it’s not just flashy and showy. It is an extension of Taeyong and his personality. Full of the artist’s unique colors, SHALALA – The 1st Mini Album by Lee Taeyong is an album worth listening to.

P.S.- Don’t forget to check out the amazing performances too xD

Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!

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