Sherlock (Clue + Note)

In this article we are going to explore Sherlock (Clue + Note) from different perspectives, analyzing its impact on today's society and its relevance in various areas. Sherlock (Clue + Note) has been an object of study and interest throughout history, which leads us to reflect on its influence on the modern world. Through a deep and detailed analysis, we will try to shed light on the different aspects that surround it, from its history to its possible evolution in the future. The goal is to provide a complete and enriching overview that allows us to better understand the role Sherlock (Clue + Note) plays in our daily lives.

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
Japanese edition cover
Single by Shinee
from the EP Sherlock
LanguageKorean
ReleasedMarch 19, 2012
Recorded2012
Studio
  • SM Concert Hall (Seoul)
  • SM Yellow Tail (Seoul)
Genre
Length3:59
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
  • Thomas Troelsen
  • Thomas Eriksen
Shinee singles chronology
"Lucifer"
(2011) 		"Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
(2012) 		"Dazzling Girl"
(2012)
Music video
"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" on YouTube

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Shinee as the lead single for their fourth extended play, Sherlock. It was released on March 19, 2012, through SM Entertainment. A mashup of two different tracks, "Sherlock (Clue + Note)" is often considered K-pop's first "hybrid remix". It was composed and arranged by Thomas Troelsen, Rufio Sandilands, Rocky Morris and Thomas Eriksen, with lyrics penned by Jo Yoon-kyung. The song was commercially successful, reaching number one on the Gaon Digital Chart. A Japanese version was released on May 16, 2012.

Development and composition

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" is the combination of two separate album tracks spliced together: "Clue" and "Note". It is credited as K-pop's first ever "hybrid remix".[1][2][3] The song was produced by a team of around 30 people in SM's A&R department, who sifted through over 100 songs, taking them apart and putting them together again. Each song was divided into parts so they could be combined together, and the same process was followed with the lyrics to create a cohesive track. Lee Sung-soo, head of SM's A&R department, described it as "one of the most difficult experiences" but "very rewarding".[4]

"Clue" forms the "bulk of the instrumentation",[5] and has been described as both new jack swing and hip hop.[1][2] It features "a beat made out of a digitized kettle, little spurts of brass, and the recurring sound of shattered glass".[5] In contrast, "Note" is "striding, percussive"[1] and vocal-driven.[2] It features most prominently in the "incendiary" chorus,[5] which is carried by explosive harmonies.[1] The beginning of the song also incorporates "soaring strings" that later reappeared in Shinee's 2013 song "Spoiler".[5] The lyrics contain a Sherlock Holmes theme; the Sherlock character depicted in the song uses the reason of "Clue" and intuition of "Note" to solve a case.[3]

Release and promotion

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" was Shinee's first Korean single since "Hello" (2010), following a year's absence due to touring and Japanese promotions.[1] It was released on March 19, 2012, alongside the rest of the EP.[6] Shinee promoted the song for four weeks, beginning with an appearance on March 22 on M Countdown.[7] A Japanese version, titled "Sherlock", was released on May 16, 2012, with the song "Keeping Love Again" as a B-side.[8] It was later included on Shinee's second Japanese album, Boys Meet U.[9]

Critical reception

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Rolling Stone cited it as an example of "how innovative and experimental K-pop can get, even for its most mainstream acts".[2] They twice named it one of the greatest boy band songs of all time, first in 2015 and again in 2020.[2][10] Writing for Dazed, Taylor Glasby praised the song's complexity and the "confrontational energy" of Shinee's performance. She said that it "signalled a coming of age for the band" and "allowed Shinee to step into a sphere that was entirely their own".[1] According to Billboard, ""Sherlock"" places a magnifying glass over the ways the Korean industry’s innovation is pushing music forward". They named it one of the best K-pop songs of the 2010s.[5]

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" on critic lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s 6 [5]
The Dong-a Ilbo Best Male Idol Songs from the Past 20 Years 5 [11]
IZM Best Korean Singles of 2012 — [12]
Melon Top 100 K-pop Songs of All-Time 11 [13]
Popjustice Top 15 K‑Pop Singles of 2012 14 [14]
Rolling Stone 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time 14 [2]
Spin Top 20 K-pop Singles of 2012 4 [15]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
Ceremony Year Category Result Ref.
Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2012 20's Performance Nominated [16]
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2012 Best Dance Performance – Male Group Won [17]
Song of the Year Nominated [18]
Singapore Entertainment Awards 2013 Most Popular Music Video Nominated [19]
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Show Champion March 27, 2012 [20]
April 3, 2012 [21]
M Countdown March 29, 2012 [22]
Inkigayo April 1, 2012 [23]
April 8, 2012 [24]
April 15, 2012 [25]
Music Bank April 6, 2012 [26]
April 13, 2012 [26]

Commercial performance

"Sherlock (Clue + Note)" debuted at number one on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart.[27] It also peaked at number three on the K-pop Hot 100.[28] The song recorded 1,720,124 downloads in South Korea in 2012, ranking at number 74 on the year-end Gaon Download Chart.[29] It also placed 81st on the year-end Gaon Digital Chart.[30] In the U.S., it reached number four on Billboard World Digital Song Sales and charted for ten weeks.[31] As of December 2017, "Sherlock (Clue + Note)" has received 30,000 downloads in the U.S., making it Shinee's fourth best-selling single in the country.[32]

Music video

The music video was filmed in early March in Namyangju and was directed by Cho Su-hyun. It is set in a museum and shows the members taking on the role of detectives solving a case. Jessica of Girls' Generation makes an appearance as the mysterious female lead.[33] A teaser for the music video was uploaded to SM Entertainment's social media accounts on March 21,[34] followed by the music video's release on March 22.[33] It received over a million views in one day.[35]

The choreography was created by Tony Testa. It was his first time choreographing for a K-pop group. Testa tried to "create the illusion" that the members were "alone, retracing memories, their blurred bodies trailing behind as if trying to piece together their lives".[1]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[36]

  • Shinee – vocals
  • Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics
  • Thomas Troelsen – composition, arranged
  • Rufio Sandilands – composition, arranged
  • Rocky Morris – composition, arranged
  • Thomas Eriksen – composition, arranged

Charts

Korean version

Chart performance for "Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[27] 1
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[28] 3
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[31] 4

Japanese version

Chart performance for "Sherlock"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[37] 4
Japan (Oricon)[8] 2

Release history

Release history and formats for "Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various March 19, 2012
Korean
[36]
Japan May 16, 2012
  • CD
  • digital download
  • streaming
 Japanese EMI [8]

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e f Spanos, Brittany; Sheffield, Rob; Shaffer, Claire; Pipia, Alexa; Martoccio, Angie; Chan, Tim; Johnston, Maura; Stevens, Kat; Murray, Nick; Benjamin, Jeff; Walters, Barry; Blistein, Jon; Bernstein, Jonathan (July 24, 2020). "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Yoon, Seong-yeol (March 13, 2013). 샤이니 신곡 '셜록', 두곡을 하나로 합쳤다 [Shinee's new song 'Sherlock' combines two songs into one]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Naver.
  4. ^ A Conversation on K-Factor: An Orchestral Exploration of K-pop at Lincoln Center. The Korea Society. June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2023 – via YouTube.
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  7. ^ Yoon, Seong-yeol (March 22, 2012). '성공컴백' 샤이니 "韓무대, 빨리 서고 싶었다"(인터뷰) [Shinee's successful comeback: "I wanted to stand on the Korean stage" (Interview)]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Naver.
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