Taemin for Beginners: 4 Songs That Show His Solo Style
New to Taemin? Start with “MOVE” for bass and groove, “Criminal” for synth-driven tension, “Advice” for piano against a trap beat, or “Guilty” for string-led drama. These four solo songs offer different ways into his music, with official videos linked below.
Which Taemin song should you try first?
Our starting pick: “MOVE.” Its bass-led R&B gives you one clear feature to follow. Prefer more tension or a bigger arrangement? Choose another entry below. This is a listening route, not a ranking.
| Song / year | Sound to listen for | Start here if you want… |
|---|---|---|
| MOVE 2017 | Bass-led R&B and syncopated rhythm | A groove you can follow closely |
| Criminal 2020 | Tense rhythms and retro-styled synthwave | A more suspenseful atmosphere |
| Advice 2021 | Minor-key piano, choir and a trap beat | Strong contrasts between musical layers |
| Guilty 2023 | A 30-piece string sound and dynamic synths | A fuller, string-led arrangement |
Who is Taemin, and how is he connected to SHINee?
Taemin (태민) is a South Korean singer and performer who debuted with SHINee in 2008. His solo releases began with the mini album ACE in 2014. You may therefore encounter him through either a SHINee group song or a release credited simply to TAEMIN.
The GRAMMY Museum’s artist introduction highlights the connection between his music, choreography and cinematic visual style. That makes an official music video a useful companion to an audio listen: it adds another part of the presentation rather than requiring you to know the group’s history first.
Four songs, four things to listen for
1. “MOVE”: follow the bass and rhythm
The label’s album introduction describes “MOVE” through its weighty bass and syncopation. Syncopation means accents that pull against the regular beat; you do not need music theory to follow it. Listen for the bass, then notice how the other sounds sit around that pulse.
Try an audio listen first, then the official “MOVE” #1 music video below. There are multiple official MOVE videos, so the number helps you identify this version. On the second pass, choose one element to follow—voice, bass or movement—and see whether it changes your impression.
Open the official MOVE #1 video on YouTube.
2. “Criminal”: try a more tense atmosphere
SM’s release introduction describes “Criminal” as synthwave with tense rhythms and a retro sound. Synthwave points here to the synthesizer-led texture. If suspenseful pop appeals to you, this is our suggested second stop.
Watch the official Criminal video, then compare its synth texture with the bass emphasis in “MOVE.” It is an easy way to hear a change of mood within the same artist’s catalog.
3. “Advice”: hear the piano against the beat
“Advice” brings together minor-key piano, choir and a trap beat in its label description. The useful first-listen question is simple: how does the piano interact with the beat? Follow one layer, then switch your attention to another.
Watch the official Advice video. If you enjoy hearing contrasting textures within one pop track, put this earlier in your listening order.
4. “Guilty”: follow the strings and synths
The album introduction describes “Guilty” using a 30-piece string sound and dynamic synthesizers. Choose it when you want to explore a fuller arrangement. Listen for the string layer, then consider what the electronic sounds add alongside it.
Watch the official Guilty video. Comparing it with “Advice” gives you two different combinations to follow: strings and synths versus piano, choir and beat.
What should you hear next?
For a straightforward route, play MOVE → Criminal → Advice → Guilty, then return to whichever track held your attention. Open that song’s album and try its other tracks. Going deeper from a song you like is more useful than treating four selections as a complete picture of a long career.
If performance is what draws you in, compare an official music video with an officially uploaded stage performance of the same song. And when you are preparing for a show, our first K-pop concert guide for the US and Europe covers practical planning.
Sources and listening links: Artist context from SHINee’s official profile and the GRAMMY Museum artist introduction. Release years and sound descriptions checked against the label introductions for MOVE, Criminal, Advice and Guilty. Official video links are also listed in Taemin’s official Japanese fanclub video catalog. Listening order and starting recommendations are our editorial choices.
By Kpop From Seoul · Sources checked October 7, 2026. Both photographs are archival images, dated in their captions.
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