"Replay" (Korean: 누난 너무 예뻐; RR: Nunan neomu yeppeo; lit. Noona, You're So Pretty) is the debut single by South Korean boy band Shinee, recorded for the extended play of the same name. It was released on May 22, 2008, through SM Entertainment. A Japanese version of the song was later released on June 22, 2011, through EMI Music Japan.
Background and release
[edit]
On May 19, 2008, SM Entertainment announced the formation of their new boy band, Shinee. Described as a "contemporary band", the group was composed of five teenagers and was intended to set trends in music, fashion and dance.[1] A teaser for the music video of their debut single, "Replay", was released the same day.[2] The song and its accompanying music video were released on May 22, alongside the EP of the same name.[3] The music video features Victoria of f(x) as the female lead.[4] The choreography was created by Rino Nakasone.[5] The music video was remastered in 4K and was re-released on April 20, 2022.[6]
"Replay" is a contemporary R&B song composed by The Heavyweights, who co-arranged with Yoo Young-jin, while the lyrics was written by Young-hu Kim.[3] The lyrics are from the perspective of a young man in love with an older woman.[7] The line, "Noona (older sister), you're so pretty", directly targets the adult female demographic.[8][9] The group took an entire day to record the song, finding it unexpectedly challenging and vocal-driven. Prior to their debut, three of the group's five members were training to be rappers; only Jonghyun and Onew were vocalists.[7] The youngest member, Taemin, did not feature on the song at all.[10]
Promotion
[edit]
Shinee performed "Replay" for the first time on the music program Inkigayo on May 25, 2008.[11] The performance attracted over 800 fans, and the group held an event afterwards at a nearby park where they handed out lollipops.[12] They also performed at the 2008 Dream Concert on June 7.[13]
Critical reception
[edit]
Writing in 2008, Jo I-seul of IZM described "Replay" as a "trendy" and "high-quality" song, but did not find it lived up to the originality implied by Shinee's "contemporary band" label.[14] Retrospectively, "Replay" has met with more positive reviews. It was named one of the top 100 K-pop songs of all time by a panel of 35 music critics and industry experts in association with Melon and the Seoul Shinmun.[15] According to music critic Kim Yun-ha, "Replay" laid the foundation for Shinee's "unique identity", and carries the "mint-coloured freshness" that the public associates with the group.[16] Park Chang-young of Maeil Business Newspaper stated that "Replay" "opened a new chapter in idol music".[17] Writing for Marie Claire, Quinci LeGardye called the song "one of the best idol debuts ever".[18]Insider named it one of the best debut songs of all time in K-pop.[19]
A Japanese version of "Replay", titled "Replay (Kimi wa Boku no Everything)", was released on June 22, 2011, featuring the Japanese version of "Hello" as a B-side.[22] Yoona of Girls' Generation appeared in the music video.[23] Shinee celebrated its release with a live showcase at Abbey Road Studios in London, becoming the first Asian artists to perform there.[24] The single sold over 91,000 copies in the first week, setting a new sales record for the Japanese debut single of a Korean group.[25] It was certified Gold by RIAJ for selling over 100,000 copies,[26] the first debut single by a Korean male group to do so.[27] The song was later included on Shinee's first Japanese album, The First.[28]
Credits and personnel
[edit]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Replay.[29]
Recording
Recorded and mixed at SM Booming System
Recorded at SM Blue Ocean Studio
Mastered at Sonic Korea
Personnel
Shinee – vocals, background vocals
Young-hu Kim – lyrics, directing, vocal directing, recording
^Lee, Eun-jung (May 19, 2008). SM, 10대 밴드 '샤이니' 공개 [SM unveils teenage band 'Shinee']. Yonhap News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^'샤이니', '누난너무예뻐' 티저영상, 네티즌 '꺄약' [Shinee release teaser video for 'Replay', netizens respond]. Hankyung (in Korean). May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abKim, Hyung-woo (May 22, 2008). SM 혜성 샤이니도 22일 낮 출격 '가요계 빛 떴다' [SM comet Shinee debuted on the 22nd 'The music industry is shining']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
^f(x) 리더 빅토리아 공개! 중국에서도 폭발적 관심 [f(x) leader Victoria revealed! Explosive interest in China]. Chosun (in Korean). August 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
^Lee, Hye-rin (May 28, 2008). SM JYP YG 빅3, '신상'으로 대격돌, 승자는? [SM JYP YG, Big 3's 'new faces', who's the winner?]. Asia Economy (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Naver.
^SM 대형 신인 '샤이니' 25일 '인기가요' 통해 데뷔 [SM's new rookie group Shinee to debut on 'Inkigayo' on May 25]. Hankyung (in Korean). May 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
^Kim, Myung-shin (May 26, 2008). 샤이니, 첫 데뷔 무대 팬 800여 명 운집…누나들 인기폭발! [800 fans gathered for Shinee's debut stage... Popularity explosion!]. Hankyung (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Yong-ho (May 20, 2008). 2008 드림콘서트, 역시 톱가수들 집합 [Top singers will gather for the 2008 Dream Concert]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^"Melon" K-pop 명곡100 [100 K-pop Masterpieces]. Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
^Kim, Yun-ha. 97위 누난 너무 예뻐 (Replay) - Shinee [#97 Replay - Shinee]. Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
^Park, Chang-young (June 15, 2018). [박창영 기자의 아이돌SWAG] K팝에 결핍됐던 예술성, '샤이니'가 빛내다 [[Reporter Park Chang-young's Idol SWAG] The artistry lacking in K-pop, 'Shinee' shines]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
^Yoo, Hye-jeong (June 22, 2008). 싸이월드 5월의 신인상 수상한 샤이니 [Shinee wins Cyworld DMA's Rookie of the Month]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
^Lee, Hye-rin (May 26, 2011). 샤이니, 내일 日데뷔 뮤직비디오 공개 [Shinee to release their Japanese debut music video tomorrow]. Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 26, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
^SHINee、1stアルバムに話題のシングル3曲を収録 [Shinee includes three popular singles on first album]. Natalie (in Japanese). October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^Replay (Liner notes). South Korea: SM Entertainment. 2008.
^누난 너무 예뻐 (Replay). Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
^샤이니 일본데뷔 본격시동, 소시 윤아 뮤비 특별출연 [Shinee's Japanese debut begins in earnest, Soshi Yoona special appearance on music video]. Newsen (in Korean). May 26, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2025.