SHINee Celebrates 16th Anniversary with Spectacular Encore Concert
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SHINee shone brighter and more brilliantly than ever as they celebrated their 16th anniversary.

From the 24th to the 26th, SHINee held their encore concert, ‘SHINee World VI [Perfect Illumination: SHINee’s Back]’, at the Inspire Arena in Jung-gu, Incheon. Selling out all seats, including limited-view seats, for all three performances, SHINee attracted a total of 30,000 spectators, reaffirming their solid popularity and powerful ticket-selling prowess.

This concert was an encore performance that mixed and restructured their sixth solo concert held at Seoul’s KSPO Dome in June last year and their Tokyo Dome concert, which attracted 100,000 spectators in February. True to the main subtitle ‘Perfect Illumination,’ the concert showcased a dazzling display of lights, while also living up to the additional subtitle ‘SHINee’s Back,’ showcasing SHINee’s 16 years of experience and presence in a more radiant light.

This performance held special significance as it was the first ‘complete’ concert with all members, following Onew’s recovery and after the members signed with different agencies. Key and Minho renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment, while Taemin joined Big Planet Made, and Onew moved to Griffin Entertainment. However, on the 25th, SHINee declared through their performance that “this is just the beginning.”

SHINee kicked off the concert with a mashup of ‘Clue’ and ‘Sherlock,’ shouting “SHINee’s Back!” They utilized an upgraded main LED setup from the Tokyo Dome concert, featuring a 3.5m wide and 10m high flying stage, adding grandeur to the performance.

They continued with hits from the past and new songs from last year’s release, including ‘Lucifer,’ ‘Stranger,’ ‘Satellite,’ ‘Dream Girl,’ and ‘Identity,’ drawing enthusiastic responses from fans.

SHINee delivered a passionate performance with tracks like ‘Like It,’ ‘Good Evening,’ ‘Don’t Call Me,’ ‘Body Rhythm,’ and ‘JUICE,’ driven by their determination to perform as if “there is no tomorrow,” despite any vocal mishaps, cramps, or dehydration.

A highlight of the show was Minho’s reveal of his abs during ‘Body Rhythm,’ heating up the venue. Minho shared, “After today, I’m going to eat a lot of my favorite salty, spicy, and sweet foods. I’ve been working out continuously for almost a year during the Japan and Asia tours. It was all for today.”

The concert also featured a nostalgic medley of hits that SHINee World (fan club) had longed for. Following news of the Tokyo Dome performance featuring hits from the 2010s, domestic fans were thrilled with non-stop stages of ‘Ring Ding Dong,’ ‘Everybody,’ and ‘View,’ to which they responded with loud sing-alongs. SHINee also performed their debut song ‘Replay,’ along with ‘Love Like Oxygen’ and ‘Aside,’ reaffirming their strong bond with fans.

Rather than filling the void of the late Jonghyun, they performed as a ‘five-member’ group. The VCR included silhouettes of five members, and Jonghyun’s parts featured his voice along with the other members. They concluded with the final song ‘Replay,’ performing ‘Diamond Sky’ and ‘Colors of the Season,’ and fans illuminated the venue with phone lights.

Taemin, reflecting on singing Jonghyun’s parts, said, “As I was singing Jonghyun hyung’s parts, I thought ‘Hyung, are you doing well?’ When I opened my eyes, the surroundings were so beautiful. It felt like a dream.”

Fans requested an encore by singing Jonghyun’s self-written song ‘An Ode to You’ a cappella. This touching moment led to the encore performance of ‘HARD,’ the title track from last year’s full album, marking a complete return with Onew’s healthy comeback.

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Onew, returning in good health, expressed, “I was so happy today. I’m very grateful for being able to be here with everyone and the members. It feels like I’m being healed. I look forward to your continued support.”

Minho added, “SHINee exists because of you. If you continue to support and cheer for us, we promise to repay you. You are my hope. See you again.”

Key expressed, “Going forward, if you can light our way with mint-colored stars, it would be a great strength to us, and our journey will shine brighter. During this concert, I’ve thought a lot about the member who went on a ‘personal journey’ (Jonghyun). I wonder how much he would have grumbled if he had performed ‘JUICE.’ I endure with the thought that he is still with us, not in the past but in the present.”

Finally, Taemin shared, “Just like a movie has a beginning, middle, and end, we are writing a story that doesn’t end. I want to continue writing a beautiful story towards ‘Happy,’ not calling it the ‘end.’”

With the overwhelming demand for another encore, SHINee concluded their three-day concert journey by gifting fans with ‘1 of 1.’

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