Taemin was discovered at the 2005 S.M. Open Weekend Audition Casting. In 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group SHINee, a 5-member boy group. The group debuted on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo.
On September 19, 2012, Taemin released his first OST, "너란 말야 (U)", for the drama To The Beautiful You. On October 16, 2012 it was announced that Taemin, alongside Super Junior's Eunhyuk and Super Junior M's Henry, Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon, and EXO's Kai and Luhan would participate as a 6-member dance team Younique Unit for the Veloster theme song, "Maxstep", the collaboration album between SM Entertainment and Hyundai. A video teaser of the song shown at the PYL Younique Show on October 17, 2012. In 2013 he featured in Super Junior M's Henry solo song "Trap" alongside Super Junior's Kyuhyun.
On July 25, 2014 it was announced that Taemin would be making his official solo debut in August. The official music video for his title song "괴도 (Danger)" came out on August 15. On August 18, Taemin released his solo mini album ACE.
Taemin released his first full length solo album Press It on February 23, 2016. He made his Japanese debut on July 27 with the EP さよならひとり (Sayonara Hitori/Solitary Goodbye).
Taemin's second studio album, MOVE - The 2nd Album, was released in October 2017 and spawned the hit single "Move".
On November 5, 2018, Taemin released the self-titled Taemin, his third overall and first Japanese studio album.
Taemin released his second Korean EP, WANT - The 2nd Mini Album, on February 11, 2019. The EP ranked on various Billboard charts, including number four on World Albums, making it Taemin's fifth entry to date, and number five on Heatseekers Albums, which is a new peak for the artist.
Taemin's third Japanese mini album FAMOUS was released on August 4th, 2019.
On February 11, 2019, he released his second mini album WANT - The 2nd Mini Album.
On October 4, 2019, he debuted in SM Entertainment's super-group SuperM with their first mini album SuperM - The 1st Mini Album.
His third album was split into two parts: Never Gonna Dance Again : Act 1 - The 3rd Album, released on September 7, 2020 and Never Gonna Dance Again : Act 2 - The 3rd Album, released on November 9 of the same year.
His third mini album ADVICE - The 3rd Mini Album was released on May 18, 2021. It was his last release before his military enlistment on May 31, 2021.
His fourth mini album Guilty - The 4th Mini Album was released on : October 30, 2023. It was released after 2 years and 5 months of inactivity due to his military enlistment.
Soldier
Taemin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
뺨에 스치는 바람은 위로
두 팔을 벌리고
It doesn't matter
I need an angel's hand
'Cause a devil kissed me kissed me
Why'd you never miss me miss me
Ha ah 죄를 씻을 수 있다면 지금
Ha ah 두 무릎을 굽혀
나의 목을 조여도 나의 몸을 망쳐도
하늘에 맹세해 한 손을 올려
I just wanna be a soldier
I just wanna be a soldier, yeah
내 안에 너를 놓아주려 해
이제 너를 정리하려고 해
풀지 못했어 오해를 여태
I need your forgiveness
Yeah I know you miss me
Miss me baby
Give you kiss me kiss me
Yeah I know you miss me
Miss me, miss me
Ha ah 죄를 씻을 수 있다면 지금
Ha ah 두 무릎을 굽혀
나의 목을 조여도 나의 몸을 망쳐도
하늘에 맹세해 한 손을 올려
I just wanna be a soldier, oh
I just wanna be a soldier
잊지 못할 가슴의 아픈 추억들
외로움 속의 마지막 너의 모습은
너무 아름다웠어
I wanna be a soldier
I, oh, I 마지막까지 함께하기를
I, 너의 입술을 맞춰
숨이 멎을 때까지
세상 해 뜰 때까지
내 옆에 있는 널 지키려 했어
I was born to be a soldier
I was born to be a soldier, yeah
Taemin's song "Soldier" is about the pain of separation and the longing for a loved one. The opening lines, "The way back is like a maze / The wind that brushes my cheek comforts me / I spread my arms wide / It doesn't matter / I need an angel's hand," set the tone for the song's melancholy mood. Taemin uses the metaphor of a maze to represent his inner struggles and confusion over his feelings for his loved one. The wind represents a source of comfort and hope amidst his pain.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines, "Ha ah if I could wash away my sins right now / Ha ah even if I have to kneel down / Even if it chokes me and destroys my body / I swear to the sky and raise one hand / I just wanna be a soldier." Here, Taemin expresses his desire to be forgiven and to earn the right to stand by his loved one's side once again. He compares himself to a soldier, willing to endure any hardship and fight for what is right.
The bridge of the song includes the lines, "Memories of painful moments that I cannot forget / Your last image in loneliness was so beautiful." These lyrics highlight the emotional weight that Taemin is carrying and the difficulty of letting go of his past with his loved one. He cannot forget the memories they shared, even though they are no longer together.
Overall, "Soldier" is a poignant song that captures the emotions of heartbreak and the desire for redemption. Taemin sings with raw vulnerability and passion, making the listener feel the weight of his pain.
Line by Line Meaning
돌아가려 하는 길은 미로
The path I'm trying to return to is like a maze
뺨에 스치는 바람은 위로
The wind that brushes my cheek comforts me
두 팔을 벌리고
With my arms spread open
It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter
I need an angel's hand
I need an angel's hand
'Cause a devil kissed me kissed me
Because a devil kissed me, kissed me
Why'd you never miss me miss me
Why didn't you ever miss me, miss me?
Yeah the devil kissed me, kissed me, kissed me
Yeah, the devil kissed me, kissed me, kissed me
Ha ah 죄를 씻을 수 있다면 지금
Ha ah, if I could wash away my sins right now
Ha ah 두 무릎을 굽혀
Ha ah, I kneel down
나의 목을 조여도 나의 몸을 망쳐도
Even if you strangle me or ruin my body
하늘에 맹세해 한 손을 올려
I swear to the sky, lifting one hand up
I just wanna be a soldier
I just want to be a soldier
내 안에 너를 놓아주려 해
I'm trying to let you go from within myself
이제 너를 정리하려고 해
Now, I'm trying to sort things out with you
풀지 못했어 오해를 여태
I couldn't solve the misunderstandings till now
I need your forgiveness
I need your forgiveness
Yeah I know you miss me
Yeah, I know you miss me
Miss me baby
Miss me, baby
Give you kiss me kiss me
Give you kiss me, kiss me
I just wanna be a soldier, oh
I just want to be a soldier
잊지 못할 가슴의 아픈 추억들
Heartbreaking memories that I can't forget
외로움 속의 마지막 너의 모습은
The last image of you in my loneliness
너무 아름다웠어
It was so beautiful
I wanna be a soldier
I want to be a soldier
I, oh, I 마지막까지 함께하기를
I, oh, I want to be together until the end
I, 너의 입술을 맞춰
I want to kiss your lips
숨이 멎을 때까지
Until my breath stops
세상 해 뜰 때까지
Until the sun rises
내 옆에 있는 널 지키려 했어
I was trying to protect you, who was by my side
I was born to be a soldier
I was born to be a soldier
I was born to be a soldier, yeah
I was born to be a soldier
Lyrics © DistroKid, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Benward, Felicia Barton, Matthew Tishler, Tae Min Lee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind