Buried Treasure: Taemin – Crush

A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

With a (performance?) video still possible for Taemin’s second title track Horizon, I’m going to hold off on writing about that song for a while and focus on my other favorite moment on his new album. The funky Crush nods most closely to his work with SHINee and paints him in the ultra-rhythmic superstar mode I love best.

From the album sampler, I already knew Crush would be a personal highlight. I just can’t get enough of these retro funk hits, most likely due to my early history with (and enduring love of) artists like Michael Jackson and Prince. In many ways, Crush recalls SHINee’s 2021 b-side I Really Want You. The song doesn’t kick up quite the same fury, but the guitar-led chorus lays down a similarly nimble groove.

Let’s talk about that chorus, because my favorite moment in Crush happens mid-way through its centerpiece when the arrangement beefs up and additional backing vocals add a jolt of harmony to the hook. It’s a simple — but very effective — way to truss up a relatively simple melody and requires absolute star power to fully click. Taemin is nothing if not star power personified, and the production does everything it can to elevate this strength.

Grade: B+