Shinee Noona: 2021 Shinee Beyond Live Concert

Finally! One by one, the Shinee members returned from the military. Taemin who had been holding the fort alone with his solo and SuperM promotions were now surrounded by his hyungs. New content came thick and fast - Minho was not even out of his military uniform when he sprung a surprise visit to the other members who had congregated to watch a Taemin performance.

But this is Covid era we are talking about and so the long-awaited Shinee comeback happened with modifications. No huge in-person concerts at the arenas and domes but this time round, Shinee stayed fresh and relevant with appearances in many new formats. It was an absolute treat to be a Shawol for the Don't Call Me promotions. We got the usual MV teasers, artwork and Instagram posts but also got Shinee appearing in many new Youtube shows such as ODG and MTTG. The reaction videos where other idols or groups reacted to "Don't Call Me" were fun and Key initiating the "ending fairy" was a welcome bout of humor. It's been obvious that Key has made such a name for himself in variety - shining as the "Keyro" and resident girl group dancer in "Amazing Saturday". It's been a joy to see him do so well! You have to respect his hard work and hustle!

So what to do about the big concert? Hold an online concert of course! As it happens, this suited my personal circumstances just fine. I've been dealing with a chronic illness since January 2021 and if they had held an in-person concert in any location, I would not have been able to go. Although, the online concert was no match for the atmosphere of an in-person concert, it was still rewarding to see Shinee perform. SM made the concert a bit more interesting with some augmented reality features.

With Taemin now in the military, the other Shinee members will be working hard on solo releases, variety appearances and more! Even after all these years, Shinee still keeping me entertained...