Flashback Friday: The Legendary--Shinhwa

Do we have any Soompiers out there who remember dial-up internet and having to listen to this to get to spazz out on that strange thing called the Internet with other fangirls and fanboys?  

“Flashback Friday” will feature artists from days of yore when K-Pop wasn’t so polished but still just as shiny.  Today’s Flashback Friday features Shinhwa—the heirs to H.O.T.’s throne, the longest-running boy band in K-pop history, and perhaps the only idol group that beat SM Entertainment at their own game and kept their name, their fans, and their careers. 

Shinhwa is composed of six members: Shin Hyesung, Andy Lee, Kim Dongwan, Lee Minwoo, Jun Jin, and Eric Mun, and was formed under SM Entertainment as their preferred successor to H.O.T.  (compare H.O.T.’s “Happiness” with Shinhwa’s “Eusha Eusha”) and even included a member who was supposed to debut under H.O.T.  but was not permitted by his parents to debut because they felt he was too young (Andy). 

In 1998, Shinhwa debuted with their first full-length album “Resolver,” and released ten more albums which include: second album “T.O.P. (Twinkling of Paradise)” released in 1999; third album “Only One” released in 2000; fourth album “Hey Come On” released in 2001; fifth album “Perfect Man” released in 2002; sixth album “Wedding” released in 2002; seventh album “Brand New” released in 2004; eighth album “State of the Art” released in 2006; ninth album “Shinhwa” released in 2008; tenth album “The Return” released in 2012; and eleventh album “The Classic” released in 2013. 

Some interesting footnotes to Shinhwa’s history: In 2003, after five albums and the expiration of Shinhwa’s contract with SM Entertainment, SM offered a second contract which was rejected by Shinhwa who moved to Good Entertainment; SM then filed a lawsuit against the idol group to prohibit them from using the name “Shinhwa” but lost.  After numerous industry awards, variety show appearances, “We Got Married” television marriages, drama lead roles, solo albums, producing other boy bands (Teen Top and 100%), a handful of group albums, and racking up the record of being the longest-running idol group in K-pop history, Shinhwa would make history again as the first idol group to form their own entertainment company called Shinhwa Company in 2011 and released two more albums under their own label.     

Click through the gallery to enjoy old school K-pop! 

Shinhwa – “Eusha Eusha”

Shinhwa – “Wild Eyes”  (Check out their famous “chair dance”!)  

Shinhwa – “How Do I Say”  (This digital single shows off the boy band’s swoon-worthy, pulse-quickening charms.)  

Shinhwa – “Throw My Fist”  

Shinhwa – “Run” 

Shinhwa – “Venus” 

Shinhwa – “This Love” 

“Shinhwa Broadcast” cut – Shinhwa singing various songs from current K-pop idols (Thanks to LoveMochiDubu!)