"Criminal"
iScreaM Vol. 5: Criminal (Remixes) cover
Single by Taemin
from the album Never Gonna Dance Again
LanguageKorean
ReleasedSeptember 7, 2020
GenreSynthwave
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Shae Jacobs
  • Score (13)
  • Megatone (13)
Taemin singles chronology
"2 Kids"
(2020)		 "Criminal"
(2020)		 "Idea"
(2020)
Music video
"Criminal" on YouTube

"Criminal" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Taemin. It was released as the lead single of his third studio album, Never Gonna Dance Again, on September 7, 2020, through SM Entertainment. A synthwave song with Stockholm syndrome-themed lyrics, "Criminal" was written by Danke, Lauren Aquilina, Chloe Latimer, Shae Jacobs, Score and Megatone, and produced by Jacobs, Score and Megatone.

Background and release

On August 28, 2020, SM Entertainment announced that Taemin would be releasing the first part of his third studio album, Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1, on September 7, alongside the lead single "Criminal".[1] It was released in the same timeframe as the SuperM album Super One, causing Taemin to split his time between the two projects.[2] Two remixes of the song by DJ Minit and Sumin were released on September 29 as part of SM's iScreaM project.[3]

Composition

"Criminal" is a synthwave song with "newtro" (new retro) sounds and a Stockholm syndrome theme.[4] Taemin described the song as having "a dark, internal feeling".[2] It features narration from news broadcasts in the bridge, an idea that was introduced by Taemin.[2][5] The song "pulsates with an intoxicating, borderline hypnotic groove", before building to "an explosive moment of catharsis" in the final chorus.[6] The lyrics depict being trapped in a toxic relationship in which Taemin is a victim and yet also complicit.[7] Billboard viewed the song as a continuation of themes previously explored in "Move" (2017) and "Want" (2019). They interpreted it as Taemin embracing the darkness of his alter ego, akin to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[8]

Critical reception

"Criminal" received positive reviews from critics, with many labelling it one of the best K-pop songs of the year. Taylor Glasby of Dazed described it as an "opulent piece of sonic cinema".[7] Crystal Bell of Paper praised Taemin's versatility and artistry, calling him "a master of movement and sensuality".[6] BuzzFeed reporter Emlyn Travis stated, "No one in K-pop is doing it like Taemin". She ranked "Criminal" first in her list of the best K-pop songs of the year.[9] Writing for IZE, Kim Yun-ha praised the explosive energy of the song, highlighting the intensity of the final chorus.[10] According to Marga Buenaventura of CNN Philippines Life, the song "reinforces the idea that among male idols today, Taemin is indeed an ace among aces".[11]

Year-end lists

"Criminal" on year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2020: Critics' Picks 12 [8]
BuzzFeed Best K-Pop Songs of 2020 1 [9]
CNN Philippines Life Our Best K-pop Songs of 2020 Placed [11]
Dazed The 40 best K-pop songs of 2020 3 [7]
Idology 2020: Top 20 Songs of the Year Placed [12]
Paper The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 3 [6]
Refinery29 Music Saved 2020: The 29 Best Songs Of The Year Placed [13]
South China Morning Post The best 15 singles from K-pop groups in 2020 Placed [14]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Criminal"
Award ceremony Year Category Result Ref.
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2020 Song of the Year Nominated [15]
Best Dance Performance – Solo Nominated
Favorite Dance Performance – Male Solo Won [16]

Music video

The music video for "Criminal" was directed by Jo Beom-jin of VM Project Architecture, who had previously worked with Taemin on "Press Your Number" (2016) and "Drip Drop" (2016).[17] Jo was handpicked by Taemin and they developed the music video together.[2] In the video, Taemin performs the choreography to the song on various sets, including a lava floor, a "sterile white room" and a setpiece inspired by The Devil's Advocate.[17] The choreography was created by Kasper and Koharu Sugawara.[17] Taemin had collaborated with Sugawara on several of his previous releases, including "Move" and "Want". He begins the choreography with his hands tied, an idea that was included at Taemin's suggestion,[2] and unties the knot with his teeth as the chorus begins.[10] At the song's climax, Taemin utters the line, "Destroy me more," while staring directly at the camera and running a hand through his hair.[17] Following this, the dancers, clothed in red, explode in movement around him, introducing "an element of catharsis".[17] Tassia Assis of Teen Vogue described this as "a surrender to the dark, twisty maze of his own artistry."[17] Billboard praised his use of "visual imagery as an extension" of the music.[8]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1.[18]

Recording

  • Recorded at SM Lvyin Studio
  • Digitally edited and engineered for mix at SM Big Shot Studio
  • Mixed at SM Blue Ocean Studio
  • Mastered at 821 Sound Mastering

Personnel

  • Taemin – vocals, background vocals
  • Danke (LaLaLa Studio) – lyrics
  • Lauren Aquilina – composition
  • Chloe Latimer – composition
  • Shae Jacobs – composition, arrangement
  • Score (13) – arrangement, composition, drums, piano
  • Megatone (13) – composition, arrangement
  • Deez – vocal directing
  • Onestar – background vocals
  • Kim Byeong-seok – bass, guitar
  • Lee Ji-hong – recording
  • Lee Min-gyu – digital editing, engineering for mix
  • Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Chart performance for "Criminal"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[19] 25
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[20] 13
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[21] 10

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Criminal"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various September 7, 2020 Original [22]
September 29, 2020 Remixes
[3]

References

  1. ↑ Shim, Eon-kyung (August 28, 2020). '컴백' 태민, 정규 3집 트랙리스트 공개..타이틀곡은 'Criminal' [공식] ['Comeback': Taemin releases tracklist for third studio album.. The title track is 'Criminal' [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021 – via Daum.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Herman, Tamar (October 1, 2020). "K-Pop Star Taemin On Taking Control With 'Never Gonna Dance Again'". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Kim, Eun-ae (September 24, 2020). 태민 'Criminal' 리믹스 버전 29일 낮 12시 공개..iScreaM 프로젝트 5탄[공식] [The remix version of Taemin's 'Criminal' will be released at 12pm on the 29th.. iScream 5th Project [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Daum.
  4. ↑ Shim, Eon-kyung (September 2, 2020). '컴백' 태민, 정규 3집 타이틀곡 'Criminal' 포함 9곡 수록..'듣는 스릴러' 기대↑ [공식] ["Comeback": Taemin's third studio album will have nine songs including title track "Criminal"]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ Son, Jin-ah (September 7, 2020). 태민 "'Criminal' 퍼포먼스, 기승전결 뚜렷하게 표현하고 싶었다"(일문일답) [Taemin: "I wanted to express the storyline clearly in 'Criminal'" (Q&A)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. 1 2 3 Bell, Crystal (December 18, 2020). "The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Paper. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Glasby, Taylor (December 19, 2020). "The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Dazed. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2020: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Travis, Emlyn (December 31, 2020). "Best K-pop Songs of 2020". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Kim, Yun-ha (September 17, 2020). 무대에 영혼이 있다면: 태민과 유아처럼 [If there's soul on stage: Like Taemin and YooA]. IZE (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Our best K-pop songs of 2020". CNN Philippines. January 1, 2021. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ 결산 2020 : ②올해의 노래 20선 [2020: Top 20 Songs of the Year]. Idology (in Korean). December 30, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ Morin, Natalie; Komonibo, Ineye (December 21, 2020). "Music Saved 2020: The 29 Best Songs Of The Year". Refinery29. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ Herman, Tamar (January 1, 2021). "The Best 15 K-Pop Songs and Albums of 2020". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  15. ↑ "2020 MAMA Nominees". Mwave. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  16. ↑ Kwon, Hye-mi (December 6, 2020). 태민, 댄스 퍼포먼스 메인 솔로 상 수상…"올해 뜻깊은 상 받아 감사" [2020 'MAMA'] [Taemin wins the Dance Performance Solo Award... "Thank you for the meaningful award this year" [2020 'MAMA']]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via Naver.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Assis, Tassia (September 8, 2020). "K-Pop Icon Taemin Talks "Criminal" and His Cinematic Vision". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1 (Liner notes). South Korea: SM Entertainment. 2020.
  19. ↑ 2020년 37주차 Digital Chart [Digital Chart – Week 37, 2020]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Billboard K-Pop 100". Billboard Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Taemin Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Criminal". Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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