"Chocolate" by Max

"Chocolate" by Max Changmin

Max & U-Know

I've gotta be straight up with you about this one.  In the summer of 2019 I spent six magnificent weeks in Seoul, South Korea on a study abroad trip and it changed my entire life.  One thing that it changed was the fact that I became aware that for the last 11/12 years of my K-Pop obsession I have been SLEEPING on TVXQ!.  

Being a veteran of K-Pop, around in the early days of Super Junior and the debut of SHINee, I somehow overlooked TVXQ!.   TVXQ! or DBSK! stands for 동방신기 which literally translates to "Rising Gods of the East."  They debuted in 2003 with five members:  U-Know Yunho, Micky Yoochun, Hero Jaejoong, Xiah Junsu, and Max Changmin.  Their major hit song was in 2009 (roughly the year I got into K-Pop) and was called "Mirotic."  

If you know anything about 2nd Generation K-pop, you know that this song was ICONIC and defined the generation.  It was scandalous and sexual in a way that other songs had never been before.  While TVXQ! was popular in Korea and Japan, it really solidified their position in the industry.  Like, they had to change lyrics in order to be able to perform it live, but still. 

Screengrab from the "Chocolate" MV

Also in 2009, three of the members left SM Entertainment and the group leaving TVXQ! with two people: U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin.  Since then their career has exploded and they've gained a huge fanbase in Japan and a formidable one in Korea.  I could write a novel about their history and their success but I think you get the idea.  Also, a good thing to note is that over the last several years U-Know (who I will lovingly just call Yunho from now on) has had a successful solo career in addition to TVXQ! and Max (Changmin, as I will call him) has remained silent. 

However, he is silent no longer. 

Earlier in 2020 (the exact dates allude me), Changmin announced his solo debut after 17 years.  This man has been in the industry for over half of his life and he finally decided to drop a solo.  I think he knew that if his song could be injected directly into our bloodstream he could cure the entire outbreak of COVID-19.  (for legal reasons, that was a joke.)  

Changmin and Chanyeol

This was perfectly timed because I had just started to bias him HARD.  Maybe like... a week?  He shot up to an Ultimate Bias position and challenged Chanyeol's position for a second there.  So, it goes without saying that I was PUMPED because I had spent the last 6-7 months absorbing every single thing he had ever done and I was ready for some solo work.  

And BOY DID THIS MAN DELIVER. 

On the day it came out I stayed up until 4am to watch his debut live with "Chocolate."  I didn't know what to expect but judging from the teasers, I knew to expect something intense and sensual.  Besides, judging from his past solos he's always either sad or sexy and there is no in-between (looking at you, Heaven's Day.)  

Let's start with a comprehensive list of things I don't like:

1.  

Now onto the things I do like:

1. The strong beginning with the intense high note
2. He ain't scared of electricity 
3. The DANCE which I was NOT EXPECTING (and now I basically know by heart because I've watched the Spy vs. Lupin stage 21421732947 times)
4. The long blue coat (please I want it)
5. The chorus
6. The catchy verses
7. The fact that there's a cohesive plot in the music video
8. The shots with him in that sweater vest and leather pants.  Literally every single second of those shots
9. The sheer number of stages he came out with one after another 
10. How all the b-sides on the album are REALLY good and I want to give off the energy from "Piano" and "High Heels" at the same time 
11. I was not expecting it, but I loved his blond hair
12. The styling is impeccable and you can't change my mind
13. The physical albums are packaged like boxes of chocolate, complete with a piece of wax paper with his logo on it
14. His vocals are basically unmatched.  Like you try and beat seventeen years of vocal training.  Even his live stages sound pretty good. 
15. This cute-ass interview
16. This other cute-ass interview 

I think you get the point. 

It's hard not to be biassed, and I'm not pretending to be.  With songs this good and songs this long-awaited, I cannot be partial.  

So I'm begging you to go watch this music video and this dance performance (OMG that coat!!) and give this hard-working man the love he deserves. 

Oh, yeah!  And congratulations to him because he's getting married in September! 

Stan talent, stan Max Changmin

(P.S. Not that you need to know this, but it was SO HARD choosing just a few pictures of this man.  I have a problem.)

My all-time fave picture of Changmin