I don't think there is any story for mimcking. Onew is drawing his own life and ours as well. People's appearance and story are different, but we all have the same day, night, and four seasons. Like you said we are in the same circle, therefore we can recover through each other. Love Onew’s music and thank you for listening.

The phone with blood on it. I think it represents the time we say we are fine while we are in pain. But try to pretend to be fine .

You’re so right. I kept seeing new things each time I watched the video and saw fan theories on twitter. A few of my favorite easter eggs: - All the Shinee members are referenced in the video: the dinosaurs on the windowsill for Jonghyun (one of his nicknames/mascots), keys for Key lol, a soccer ball for Minho, and mushrooms for Taemin (his debut haircut was known as the mushroom look). - The puppet is a cat (modeled after the director’s cat who recently died) and the eight stories of eternity refer to the nine lives of a cat. The fact that it’s the “last episode” means the cat is on its last life and has watched this circle of happiness, sadness, pain, and joy play out over and over again. Others have pointed out other hidden messages in the comments. Such a creative video and of course his voice is heavenly! I love how the song unsettles and comforts me at the same time.

Everything about this is pure art - the scenes, lyrics, his voice, his look. You certainly need to watch it many times to take in the beauty of it all. Both the music and the mv have a nostalgic and haunting quality. Quite ethereal. The lyrics are so deep and mature. Onew looks great with the long hair. He said he started growing it when he decided on the song, because he visualised himself as having long hair to fit the mood of the song he saw in his mind. And it looks like a cat to me 😀 PS: don't forget this song in December when you make your Top 23 for 2023 🤣

This song is a MASTERPIECE, I cried with this song, it's just so magical, the way Jinki sings the words always touches my heart, I love his voice so much, he is the best leader, and one of the best singers in kpop for me. I hope he can really be happy with what he is doing, because it definitely make me happy with his songs, he needs to know how awesome he is, and that we are always here to support him no matter what he does, If he is happy we are happy too. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. Thank you for this reaction. Also he looks amazing with the long hair.

Jinki said in the countdown live, that he visualized this song as a warm street in ancient rome/greece with a sunbeam coming down on him. The scene of him sitting in the pink-colored tube references his song In the Whale, which he dedicated to all his fans. It has ties to the story of Jonah & the Whale. The Truman Show is referenced a few times (i.e. open door in the sky colored wall), and some have said they see a couple of Wes Anderson's movies here as well. Somebody in another reaction video said that the cat was a dedication to the director of the music video... His Persian cat had died, and seeing it here brought him comfort, but idk how true that is.

Cats live 9 lives. Maybe it's the stories of the 8 previous lives and that's why it says "Eight Stories about Eternity"

I swear if this song doesn't get a music award by the end of the year, it really is "OUTRAGEOUS" or nonsense. this is "MASTERPIECE". it doesn't need the "popularity" of the singer to catch someone's attention, like a singer who only "sells" her name because the group is popular. interesting, if you watch the mv, there is one scene where the cellphone screen is full of blood getting the message "I'm fine" it makes me shed tears, I know you guys will understand what I mean, I mean, when your best friend asks how you are via text message, " are you okay" then you Answer "I'm fine" while the phone screen is full of blood. OMG gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes without me knowing it. I highly recommend this album. Seriously !!!

Let me tell you, I went into kpop because of shinee almost a decade ago😂 and even I wasn't able to tell it was him at first glance😂 I think he also lost quite some weight, and the hairstyle, and styling in general. He really looks like a different person😂 but beautiful as always The song is so amazing. One very specific thing I love is when songs resemble their title, like libido by ooo resembles the libido, skinz resemble the reactions under the skin, rotate by mx actually 'rotates' in melody, and this song actually feels like your going in circles. It's super specific but super satisfying. Honestly, it's such a mature song. He has come such a long way, and grew gracefully. He's one of the most grounded idols I know, who always pushes quality, in his group and as a soloist. And this song is no exception. The instrumental is so dreamy, his voice too, especially with the choir, I almost teared up ngl. Thanks for the reaction!!💕

Okay so I'm going to share my own personal interpretation of the MV (sorry its long). First of all the song is broadly all about how we're all floating along waves on this endless circle of life through the seasons etc. Because of that , I feel like when we see Onew in these different settings talking into a walkie talkie, he's in these different stages of the circle of life. The pink tent/cave with Onew in pure white feels kind of womb-like, representing the beginning of life/ birth. His facial expressions feel light, relaxed and wondrous. And then when he's in "normal" dark clothes, sat in different rooms in a dusty empty building with cobwebs and a much more muted colour palette, I feel like it represents the end of life / death. His expression seems more reflective and resigned in these shots. There's flashes of these muted coloured images that could represent a reflection back on key parts the human experience- a football in an empty classroom (childhood), falling coins (the struggle to work and support oneself), a rose in a puddle (romance, and lost love), a bloody phone reading "I'm fine" speaks for itself. Then there's the trippy, colourful quirky children's show setting, which based on the title card is called "Eight Stories about Eternity", so seemingly a vintage childrens show aimed at introducing children to the concept of eternity/ potentially death and the afterlife. At the same time Onew sings about "My childhood dreams of the emerald world". So this colourful setting could be a representation of a young Onew's personal view of paradise / the afterlife, casting himself as the main character in this remembered childhood setting. In all of those settings Onew has brown eyes, so I think these are the three settings that represent the inevitable stages in the "circle" of human life. There's also the Onew with the blue eyed contacts, in a fancy weird outfit and cape, stood on a kind of stage with a mixture elements from these other settings and an ever spinning window behind him - personally see this Onew more as the all-seeing narrator of the song looking down on all of this and singing about how it's all just the endless circle etcetera. That's my own personal interpretation based on my own ideas! I haven't seen anything about what Onew has said about it / but I'm sure the director would intend people to all take their different interpretations too :)

So apparently I can't listen to Circle without crying, so I'll comment when I'm not at lunch.

This song has transcended kpop....

This song is GOLD. It gave me all kinds of feelings…sad, tragic, hopeful, joy, promise…I cried 😭💎after I watched this. Onew is incredible. He gave us all a gift we could use at this time in our lives. The video is so full of imagery that you need to watch it many times..and I will! Thank you for your reaction RJ. I love your reviews so much! 🙌💎💙

The most amazing Song and MV this year. This song is such an earworm. Like Taemin, Onew is an artist. Shinee comeback 2023!!!

I don't know that I've ever heard this kind of sound in kpop before, he said that while in the Dice mini he experimented with trying out different genres, for Circle album he decided to make the kind of songs he has always enjoyed listening to the most himself. The song feels kind of hopeful yet nihilistic to me, that good and bad times are an inevitable cycle that we all experience like the seasons. He has spoken before about believing in the multiverse theory and a few of the scenes like him talking to someone (his parallel self?) through the walkie talkie remind me of that. We don't have any explanation for the scrungly cat puppet yet but shawols are hoping he might give us some insight in the making of videos that will be released soon! The story of it representing the director's pet is a misunderstanding. He had long hair like this back in Hello/Sherlock era, particularly when he was in a musical called Rock Of Ages, shawols have been asking him to grow his hair long again ever since! I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the rest of the album! He performed most of songs at his concert a few days ago, they posted a tiny highlight clip if you're curious kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nNajlKek2Jq9nGg.html Minho, Key and Taemin were all in the audience to support him, it was so good to see them together!

Absolutely an incredible song by Onew! I was just like you as I couldn't believe how short the song was! I was really needing a bridge but I'm still so satisfied with it. LOVE THAT we are getting such a unique gospel almost indie type of song which I haven't heard in K-pop yet. In a sea of songs that are out now, this track left one hell of an impression! The album is a banger and it flows so well from start to finish. It felt personal and he threw in so many different genres and styles of singing that I'm just ecstatic. My excitement for the rest of the year with these SHINee men is real! SHINee next then Taemin...ooooof!

1:10 Lol I still can't believe that I failed to identify him immediately. The long hair truly suits him!!!

Long hair Onew is one of my fav Onew styling...like in Hello. He is so beautiful like d song n his voice!!!

But then, the diseased cat is an unexpected actor. What does he want to say? The song is free and wild. All the members of Shinee are superstars in their own right.

6:48 was lterally me, I was literally waiting for the chorus to start again or a brudge or something. "I just pressed play" related.

Haha. The last time Onew has long hair was the Lucifer era. The album is so cool. And he went to number one in all music charts too

I have been waiting !!!! Onew topping charts like crazy with this album !!!!!! Proud Shawol 💎💎💎🎉🎉

This song is so Onew. I cry every time I listen to it

VOCAL KING ONEW

The lyrics are poetic. The melody is uplifting. The vibe is very gospel. But there is just this sad undertone. He and the other members debuted at a very young age. Before they were adults, they were already in this world called show business. The show business in South Korea is especially cruel. I guess that is why the music video is like in a movie set. Onew is trying to look back at his past life where he spend most of the time on stage. All those small pieces of images seemed like metaphor or symbols representing something very personal to him. The blooded phone with the I am fine message really makes me think of the passing of his fellow bandmate Jonghyun. Maybe Jonghyun has been telling his bandmates he was fine but he was actually not. We will never know unless we ask Onew. Anyway, such an artistic piece!

Totally understand the confusion over recognizing him with long hair lol. I haven't seen Jinki with long hair since I guess Sherlock era? It's actually his long hair that made me fall in love with him so I'm so glad that he grew it out again because it looks so freaking good 💜💜💜

jinki never mentioned any specific basis for the mv but just for me there are hints of: - everywhere everything all at once - the truman show - phantom of the opera

Btw, I love everyone’s reaction when they see the cat😂😂😂

Thank you so much for your reaction RJ!! I'm pretty sure you'll love the rest of the songs on the album!!! Onew managed to bring new elements to kpop, I hope many people enjoy it as much as we do!! I just wanted to reproduce a comment I saw in another reaction: the only artists I see singing this song are just Onew and Jonghyun!! Onew already performed this song in the solo concert and the choreography is amazing too!! He will be at the music shows for 2 weekends!

This song is a masterpiece ❤❤❤

This is a masterpiece 👏 🙌 ✨️

It's about lifeee

Onew angel 😇

You are so good, I really wanted you to react to circle!!!!

Nosso Onew está no auge da maturidade musical, simplismente angelical!🔷🔷🔷🔷

Yes Jinki! Congratulations on your Masterpiece

React to Onew and Taemin “rainy blue”. Nobody can resist it cause it’s just another level regarding the emotions. It just made me cry I couldn’t help

It's almost too much to take in. I had to watch it at least 3x in a row to get the whole aesthetic as well as the music, vocals and lyrics. Such a difficult vocal performance but Jinki brings it. It's just such a Jinki song and beautiful on every level. His vocal skills are just stunning...You have seen Jinki with long hair....during Lucifer/Hello era...but I can't remember if you were still confusing him with Key at that point of your SHINee journey 😆... Onew with long hair is everything.. been hoping ever since for a long hair Jinki comeback..

It is clear that you enjoy with Onew, so let me recomend, just in case that you didn't know jet, "Sea of hope". Imagine a special place on a quiet beach where some people enjoy its meal while hearing special songs. This recomendation is not to react, just to relax with their videos.

Beautiful song

i understand why you couldn't recognize him. this hairstyle is so 2009 him though XD

it's a cat sir...

Onew has Minho hair and it’s throwing everyone off.

I suggest you to watch all the bibi mv animal farm jotto vengeance and so many more, she's singer songwriter, she's so talented musicians

In Korean the word I is pronounced ing and is silent. Depending on the sentence in which it's used. Circle is what you should go with.

It's a cat. Not dog 😂, also i read somewhere that, the dire actor of the mv has a cat before. And it died.. :(

❤❤