Resolver (Shinhwa album)

Resolver
Resolver cover
Studio album by Shinhwa
Released	May 5, 1998
Recorded	1998
Genre	K-pop
Language	Korean
Label	SM Entertainment
Producer	Lee Soo Man
Shinhwa chronology
Resolver (1998) T.O.P (1999)

Resolver (Korean: 해결사; Haegyeolsa) was Shinhwa's debut album. It was released on May 5, 1998 and became quite popular among the fans. The boy band was first seen performing on KM Music Tank with their first song, "Resolver". The song grew to be popular and reached a few number one on some chart. Their second single from the album was "Eusha, Eusha". Because "Eusha, Eusha" was a lighter song in comparison to Resolver, which was a dark mood song, and climbed up the chart quickly. However, around the same time, a water accident had occurred on a beach, causing people to use the song, "Eusha, Eusha", as a reminder of the accident, despite it being a happy, light-hearted song. Quickly, Shinhwa move to their third single, "Sharing Forever", which charted fairly well as well.^[1][2]

Tracklisting

Information is adapted from the liner notes of Resolver:^[3]

Music Videos

"Resolver"

Shinhwa's music video for their three albums can be seen contrasting each other. In the music video "Resolver" (Korean: 해결사; Haegyeolsa), Shinhwa can be seen wearing matching shiny yellow outfits, dancing on a swing-like platform. The storyline that follows the music video cane be link to the American movie, Terminator, with Seoul, South Korea being destroyed by a huge blast of fire. A girl can be seen in the music video, walking with a guy following her. As the music video continues, the guy shows the girl various clips of pictures from the holocaust to even Marilyn Monroe.

"Eusha, Eusha"

In contrast to their first single, Shinhwa's "Eusha! Eusha!" (Korean: 으싸! 으싸!), which was a remake of Manfred Mann's song "Doo Wa Diddy", was a bouncy song, with the members dressing in white and blue costumes. They also filmed the music video near a beach as well, with the members dressing in yellow basketball uniforms. "Eusha! Eusha!" became Shinhwa's first bubblegum pop song, with the members showing a different side to them in the music video, from jumping around to playing in the water.

"Sharing Forever"

With "Resolver" being a dark song and "Eusha! Eusha!" a light-hearted song, "Sharing Forever" (Korean: 천일유혼; Cheon Il Yoo Hoon)was considered a sad song. The music video features Eric Mun, the leader of Shinhwa, as a photographer, taking pictures in the park when he stumbles upon a blind girl. She became his model and he fell in love with her, only to accidentally kill her in a car accident, thus causing him to become depress. The girl would later return as a ghost who can now see and visits Eric while he is sleeping. He woke up, feeling her presence, and would eventually embrace her.

Controversy

Although their debut album was a moderate success, Shinhwa was met with accusations that they were just another copy of another popular boy-band at the time, H.O.T, although the two came from the same entertainment. They were often compared to H.O.T., with critics accusing them of just "trying to win over the hearts of the H.O.T.'s fans."^[2] Over the years, however, Shinhwa managed to surpass H.O.T. and is currently one of the top boy bands as of today.

Release history

Personnel

Information is adapted from the liner notes of Resolver:^[3]

References