Romeo (EP)
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Romeo
| type = EP
| artist = Shinee
| cover = Romeokorea.png
| caption = Regular cover
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2009|05|25}}
| recorded = March – May 2009
| venue =
| studio =
- Coo (Seoul)
- SM Blue Ocean (Seoul)
- SM Concert Hall (Seoul)
- SM Yellow Tail (Seoul)
- XP (Seoul)
- T (Seoul)
- Vound (Seoul)
| genre = K-pop
| length = 23:14
| language = Korean
| label = SM
| producer = Lee Soo-man
| prev_title = The Shinee World
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = 2009, Year of Us
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Romeo
| type = EP
| single1 = Juliette
| single1date = May 18, 2009
}}
}}
Romeo ({{langx|ko|로미오}}) is the second EP by South Korean boy group Shinee. It was released on May 25, 2009, in South Korea under the seal of the label SM Entertainment. The EP consists of six tracks including the title song "Juliette" and is Shinee's first Korean release after a seven-month hiatus. On August 29, 2011, a Japanese version of "Juliette" was released as Shinee's second Japanese single with the original Japanese song "Kiss Kiss Kiss" as a B-side. The release peaked at number three on the weekly Oricon chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/457118/products/932178/1/|title=Shinee Juliette－ORICON STYLE|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=2011-02-24|archive-date=2015-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217231931/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/457118/products/932178/1/|url-status=live}}
The album was commercially successful in South Korea—it topped the Hanteo Album Chart for three consecutive weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009061608314057545 |title=샤이니, '로미오' 한터차트 3주 연속 1위 |author=Kang Seung-hoon |date=June 16, 2009 |accessdate=November 24, 2010 |website=Asia Economic Daily |language=ko |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930185337/http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009061608314057545 |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20090616n04851 |title=샤이니 '로미오' 연속 3주 음반 판매 1위 |author=Lee Kyung-ran |date=June 16, 2009 |accessdate=November 24, 2010 |website=Nate |language=ko |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160930192804/http://news.nate.com/view/20090616n04851 |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }} However, there are no known cumulative chart records for albums sold in 2009. Prior to the establishment of the Gaon Music Chart in 2010, South Korea's music charts were supplied by the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK), which stopped compiling data in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/06/201_61266.html |title=Korea Launches First Official Music Charts Gaon |author=Han, Sang-hee |date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=November 24, 2010 |work=The Korea Times |archive-date=August 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804044458/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/06/201_61266.html |url-status=live }} According to Gaon, the EP has sold over 20,000 copies since 2011.Cumulative sales for "Romeo":
- {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2011&targetTime=12&nationGbn=K |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214130805/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2011&targetTime=12&nationGbn=K |title=December 2011 Sales |publisher=Gaon Charts |language=Korean |archivedate=2015-02-14 |accessdate=2015-04-27 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2012&targetTime=07&nationGbn=K |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212201015/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2012&targetTime=07&nationGbn=K |title=July 2012 Sales |publisher=Gaon Charts |language=Korean |archivedate=2015-02-12 |accessdate=2015-04-27 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/album.php?f_type=month&f_year=2013&f_month=02&f_week=&f_chart_kind_cd=K |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025071419/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/album.php?f_type=month&f_year=2013&f_month=02&f_week=&f_chart_kind_cd=K |title=February 2013 Sales |publisher=Gaon Charts |archivedate=2014-10-25 |accessdate=2015-04-27 |language=Korean }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?pageNo=4&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=targetTime=5&targetTime=10&hitYear=2015&termGbn=month |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926013736/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?pageNo=4&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=targetTime%3D5&targetTime=10&hitYear=2015&termGbn=month |title=October 2015 Sales - see #393 |publisher=Gaon Charts |archivedate=2016-09-26 |accessdate=2016-08-21 |language=Korean |url-status=dead }}
- {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?pageNo=3&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821195846/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?pageNo=3&nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month |title=July 2016 Sales |publisher=Gaon Charts |archivedate=2016-08-21 |accessdate=2016-08-21 |language=Korean |url-status=dead }}
Background and release
Romeo was Shinee's first Korean release since the reissue Amigo on October 31, 2008. The EP was originally scheduled for release on May 21 but was delayed to May 25 due to Onew damaging his teeth.{{cite news|url=http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200905201323191137 |title=Shinee's Onew Injures Front Teeth Two Days Before Comeback Performance |last=Im |first=Lim |date=May 20, 2009 |work=MyDaily |accessdate=February 24, 2011 |language=ko |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722134612/http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200905201323191137 |archivedate=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The choreography for the title song is the work of Rino Nakasone, who also choreographed previous Shinee songs such as "Replay" and "Love Like Oxygen".{{cite news|title=少女時代、美脚ダンスの振り付け担当は日本人ダンサー・仲宗根梨乃|url=http://www5.nikkansports.com/entertainment/ishii/archives/20101020_5937.html|accessdate=February 28, 2015|work=Nikkan Sports|date=October 20, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023060843/http://www5.nikkansports.com/entertainment/ishii/archives/20101020_5937.html|archivedate=October 23, 2010|language=ja}} The lead single "Juliette" is a remake of "Deal with It" by Jay Sean and Corbin Bleu. Executives at SM Entertainment bought the rights to the song from Hollywood Records. The song was slightly re-arranged by Cutfather and, as the original song's lyrics were not purchased, the Korean lyrics were penned by Shinee members Jonghyun and Minho.{{cite news|url=http://news.joins.com/article/3615567.html?ctg=15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418092931/https://news.joins.com/article/3615567.html?ctg=15|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|title=Onew's Extraordinary Injury Causes 1-2 Week Delay|last=Kang|first=Seung-hoon|date=May 20, 2009|work=Joins.com|accessdate=February 24, 2011|language=ko}} On May 22, the group started their official promotions and performed the title song for the first time on Music Bank. The Korean music video was released on May 22 and features f(x)'s Krystal as the female lead,{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20090524n02967 |title=샤이니, '줄리엣' 뮤직비디오서 로미오 변신 (동영상) |date=May 24, 2009 |accessdate=November 24, 2010 |website=Nate |language=ko |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160930193549/http://news.nate.com/view/20090524n02967 |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }} while the song's Japanese music video features actress Go Ara. The Korean music video was shot in early May in Seoul and Ilsanseo-gu and was directed by Lee Sang-kyu.{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20090522n07913 |title='로미오 변신' 샤이니 화제 뮤비 22일 공개 |date=May 22, 2009 |accessdate=November 24, 2010 |website=Nate |language=ko |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160930194447/http://news.nate.com/view/20090522n07913 |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Concept and composition
{{quote box|width=15em|align=left|"We want to showcase music that is colourful and yet full of personality, and a group that leads the trend and brings to everyone many different unique sides."|source=–Jonghyun about the group's new album.{{cite news|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/12/2009051200624.html |title=최고 연하남 SHINee, 21세기 로미오로 화려한 컴백! |website=Chosun |date=May 12, 2009 |accessdate=February 24, 2011 |language=ko |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930185912/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/12/2009051200624.html |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }}}}
The album concept was inspired by William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The band members portray the Romeo of the 21st century, confessing their love to their Juliet. The album consists of six tracks, and songwriters such as Kenzie, Young-hu Kim, Jung Yeop and Eco Bridge participated in their composition.{{cite web|title='로미오' 변신 샤이니 '줄리엣' 노래하다..21일 2nd 미니앨범 공개 |date=May 18, 2009 |url=http://www.newsen.co.kr/news_view.php?uid=200905180828301002&search=title&searchstring=%EC%83%A4%EC%9D%B4%EB%8B%88 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719172155/http://www.newsen.co.kr/news_view.php?uid=200905180828301002&search=title&searchstring=%EC%83%A4%EC%9D%B4%EB%8B%88 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2009 |website=Newsen |author=Park Se-yeon |accessdate=July 23, 2010 |language=ko }}{{cite web|title=샤이니(SHINee) 2번째 미니 앨범 '로미오', 21일 발매 |date=May 18, 2009 |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/18/2009051801636.html |website=Chosun |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930190157/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/18/2009051801636.html |archivedate=September 30, 2016 |accessdate=July 23, 2010 |language=ko |url-status=dead }} Two of the six songs are named after Romeo and Juliet—the title song "Juliette" and the last track on the album, "Romeo + Juliette". The title track, which is described as an urban dance song with "sophisticated" rhythm and acoustic drums, is written by Jonghyun, who took on the job of writing lyrics for the first time since debut.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002025713|script-title=ko:샤이니, 18일 신곡 음원 공개|trans-title=Shinee releases new song on the 18th|work=Osen|via=Naver|last=Lee|first=Jung-ah|date=May 15, 2009|access-date=June 22, 2022|language=ko}} He stated that after listening to the demo of the title track he went to look for a romance story that "will make everyone interested but also a story which everyone can identify with" and was inspired by the classic movie Romeo and Juliet.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200905181521461002|script-title=ko:샤이니 종현 '줄리엣' 첫작사 비화 "고전영화 로미오와 줄리엣 영감" (인터뷰)|trans-title=Shinee Jonghyun's first time writing lyrics for 'Juliette': "The inspiration was the classic movie Romeo and Juliet" (Interview)|website=Newsen|last=Kim|first=Hyung-woo|date=May 18, 2009|access-date=June 22, 2022|language=ko|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128230114/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200905181521461002|url-status=live}}
SM's creative director Min Hee-jin, who had worked with the group since the beginning, called Romeo a turning point for the group, visually as well as musically, saying, "The visualisation of the album reflected their identity the best. I aimed to put the group's signature colour (pearl aqua) on the map, as well as each member's individual style." In the music video for the title song "Juliette", the members wear bright clothes and clashing accessories to accentuate their youthfulness.{{cite web|title=Looking back at K-pop group SHINee's extraordinary 10-year career|date=July 18, 2018|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40720/1/shinee-10-year-anniversary-retrospective|website=Dazed|author=Taylor Glasby|access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512081645/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40720/1/shinee-10-year-anniversary-retrospective|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Romeo track listing
| extra_column = Arrangement
| total_length = 23:14
| title1 = Talk to You
| note1 = {{Korean|hangul=니가 맘에 들어|rr=Niga mam-e deul-eo|lit=I Like You}}
| lyrics1 = Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds)
| music1 = Carol Borjas
| extra1 = Borjas
| length1 = 3:27
| title2 = Juliette
| note2 = {{Korean|hangul=줄리엣|rr=Julliet}}
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Jonghyun|Minho}}
| music2 = {{hlist|Mikkel Remee Sigvardt|Jay Sean|Mich Hansen|Joseph Belmaati}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Cho Yong-hoon|Jeon Hong-sung}}
| length2 = 3:25
| title3 = Hit Me
| note3 = {{Korean|hangul=차라리 때려|rr=Charari ttaeryeo|lit=Might as Well Just Hit Me}}
| lyrics3 = Young-hu Kim
| music3 = Borjas
| extra3 = Borjas
| length3 = 3:56
| title4 = Señorita
| note4 = {{Korean|hangul=세뇨리따|rr=Senyoritta}}
| lyrics4 = {{ill|Kim Jeong-bae|ko|김정배 (음악가)}}
| music4 = Kenzie
| extra4 = Kenzie
| length4 = 3:32
| title5 = Please, Don't Go
| note5 = {{Korean|hangul=잠꼬대|rr=Jamkkodae|lit=Sleep Talking}}) (Jonghyun & Onew
| lyrics5 = Jungyup
| music5 = {{hlist|Jungyup|{{ill|Eco Bridge|ko|에코브릿지}}}}
| extra5 = Eco Bridge
| length5 = 4:10
| title6 = Romeo + Juliette
| note6 = {{Korean|hangul=소년, 소녀를 만나다|rr=Sonyeon, Sonyeoreul Mannada|lit=Boy Meets Girl}}
| lyrics6 = Lee Sung-soo
| music6 = Lee
| extra6 = {{hlist|Lee|Jeon}}
| length6 = 4:44
}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Music program awards ! scope="col" |Song ! scope="col" width="140"|Program ! scope="col" width="140"|Date ! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="4" |"Juliette"
| rowspan="2" |Music Bank | June 5, 2009 |
|---|
| June 19, 2009 |
| rowspan="2" |Inkigayo
| June 28, 2009 |
| July 5, 2009 |