SHINee’s Key Keeps His Tongue Tied

Key returns to us with a new single called Tongue Tied.

I was super excited for new KEY music finally – especially since his Japanese discography is just as good as his Korean one. Although I knew this was a single, I still thought we would be getting a music video for Tongue Tied at the same time the song dropped but I might have missed out on some information here? Was there ever going to be a music video? Either way, the concept photos and the throwback atmosphere KEY brought with those were so amazing and so visually appetizing that I’m hoping we get a video for this song as well – I need more of these visuals with this eerie-sounding melody! Let’s review.

Tongue Tied sounds like it should’ve been a part of the best album of 2022 – Gasoline – as it brings such a mysterious, eerie, and unique atmosphere to the table. It’s a bit laid-back but offers a special kind of groove that KEY does so well every single time. The chorus is, obviously, the highlight of the song and introduces a hook that will definitely get stuck in my head easily, but the instrumental of the song itself is another stellar element I’d love to highlight. KEY sounds amazing and his lower register always suits this type of songs well. I feel like Tongue Tied would’ve taken us to a different level with a music video and amazing visuals but the song itself works perfectly and is another great contribution from KEY to our playlists. I really enjoy Tongue Tied, as expected. KEY really puts so much effort into his artistry and it’s a wonderful thing to see.

The b-side we got is also very melodic and suits the atmosphere Tongue Tied creates which is fantastic. KEY could never miss and I hope we get more and more SHINee music content from now one because this year feels a bit empty without their solid, continuous presence on the scene.

---

It is time for SHINee to finally give us something and of course, it was the master Key to do it because why is the boy not breathing music-wise. Yes, the concert actually gave me life again but where is the music SHINee why are we starving. Anyway, Key dropped some absolutely amazing concept photos on us for this single, also I am surprised he actually just dropped a single with the amount of effort that was put into those photos. I am also wondering where the music video is. Hmm. Anyway, let’s review.

I feel like Tongue Tied fits right in very comfortably into Key’s discography and the creepy vibe it sometimes has. It also feels very suited for summer, it is catchy a bit more low-key, and very vocal/ rhythm focus but Key performs the heck out of it. I am really curious what a music video for this song will look like. I will be seated to watch this because the visuals for it have been great so far. Overall, I don’t have too much to say about Tongue Tied. It is a really good single delivered by one of the best soloists in K-POP and he makes it work. I love vibing to it so much and it fits the boiling hot weather we are suddenly having here.

I also have to say Fresh is a fanatic b-sides and also feels very Key, it almost outperforms Tongue Tied a little as it has a little bit more going on and is really catchy as well. I am just glad to get some SHINee crumbs to be honest.