"Ring Ding Dong" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Shinee as the lead single for their third extended play, 2009, Year of Us. It was released on October 14, 2009 through SM Entertainment. Penned by Yoo Young-jin, "Ring Ding Dong" is known for its repetitive, catchy hook.
"Ring Ding Dong" served as the lead single for Shinee's third EP, 2009, Year of Us. It was released on October 14, 2009, five days ahead of the EP's digital release.[1] The music video was directed by Cho Soo-hyun and was shot in early October in Namyangju. It premiered on YouTube on October 16.[2]Misha Gabriel, who had previously worked with the group on "Amigo", provided the choreography, alongside Nick Bass.[3][4] Shinee began their promotions at KBS' Music Bank on October 16.[5] On November 3, member Jonghyun was diagnosed with swine flu and had to take a break from promotions.[6]Onew later contracted the disease on November 7, followed by Taemin on November 26.[7][8]Super Junior's Yesung and Leeteuk filled in for the missing members in various performances.[9][10]
Written and produced by longtime SM songwriter Yoo Young-jin, "Ring Ding Dong" was a departure from Shinee's established contemporary R&B sound. Yoo later admitted, "they probably never imagined they’d receive a song in this style".[11] "Ring Ding Dong" is an afro-electric song with a melody driven by African bongo drums and electro synths.[1] The beat has been described as "tense and rubbery electro-house".[12] It is "high-powered",[13] "heavily produced" and "rhythmically dense".[11] Sometimes characterised as "futuristic R&B", it also features "heavily auto-tuned vocals" and "Euro-pop production".[14] The lyrics describe the process of falling in love with someone without realising. The refrain "ring ding dong", which is repeated throughout the song, cartoonishly expresses the moment of falling in love as though a bell is ringing in the head.[1] Tom Breihan of Stereogum likened this to "nonsensical English baby-talk".[12]
"Ring Ding Dong" has received mixed reviews from music critics, with some believing that the song hasn't aged well. NME reporter Rhian Daly acknowledged that the song "might feel more of its time now than some of the rest of their songs", but nevertheless praised its "adventurous, experimental spirit".[15] Likewise, writing for Dazed, Taylor Glasby described it as "unarguably a product of its musically outré time".[11] She went on to add, "the melody's power to ingrain, however, hasn't dimmed".[11] Tom Breihan of Stereogum viewed the song more positively, calling it "a pretty perfect introduction" to K-pop. He argued, "Nobody in Europe or America is using those Euro-club tropes better than the producers in Seoul are doing right now".[12] It has been criticised for the repetitiveness of the lyrics.[16]
"Ring Ding Dong" has gained a reputation for being so catchy, it distracts students from their studies.[17] It has been voted the number one banned song by college entrance exam takers on several occasions.[18][19] In 2020, the lyrics to "Ring Ding Dong" were featured in an exhibition at the National Hangeul Museum in Seoul titled "Korean Pop Lyrics – Melodies of Life".[20]
"Ring Ding Dong" was a commercial success, topping various music charts in South Korea.[21] It continued to chart for several months after its release, entering at number 85 on the inaugural edition of the Gaon Digital Chart, newly established in 2010.[22] "Ring Ding Dong" was the most viewed video on YouTube in South Korea for the month of October 2009.[23] It peaked at number 16 on BillboardWorld Digital Song Sales on the chart issue dated January 7, 2012, and stayed on the chart for nine weeks.[24] As of December 2017, "Ring Ding Dong" has sold 38,000 downloads in the US, making it Shinee's second best-selling single in the country.[25]
^ abcLee, Jung-ah (October 12, 2009). "샤이니, 파격변신 돋보이는 신곡14일 선공개" [Shinee to pre-release a new song on the 14th which highlights their drastic transformation]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Hye-rin (October 15, 2009). "샤이니, 16일 '링딩동' 뮤직비디오 공개" [Shinee will unveil 'Ring Ding Dong' music video on the 16th]. Asian Economy (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
^Kim, Hyung-woo (November 5, 2008). "샤이니 '아미고' 뮤비 공개 '민호 주인공 열연'" [Shinee's 'Amigo' music video released, 'Minho's passionate performance as the main protagonist']. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
^Baek, Ji-eun (October 16, 2009). "샤이니, '링딩동' 본격 컴백" [Shinee makes a comeback with "Ring Ding Dong"]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
^Kim, Hyung-woo (November 3, 2009). "샤이니 종현 신종플루 확진 판정 '당분간4인체제 활동'" [Shinee's Jonghyun diagnosed with swine flu, 'four-member activity for the time being']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
^Kim, Myung-min (November 7, 2009). "샤이니 온유 신종플루 확진 판정 '종현은 완치'" [Shinee's Onew confirmed to have swine flu, 'Jonghyun is completely cured']. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Eon-hyuk (November 26, 2009). "태민 신종플루 확진, 팬들 한숨 깊어가 "키-민호 조심해"" [Taemin confirmed to have swine flu, fans are sighing, "Be careful Key and Minho"]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
^Lee, Mi-hye (November 7, 2009). "이특, 신종플루 온유 대신8일 '인기가요' 샤이니 지원사격" [Leeteuk will join Shinee on 'Inkigayo' on the 8th in place of Onew due to swine flu]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
^"SBS 전망대] 수능생 금지곡1위 샤이니의 링딩동…이유는?'" [[Han Su-jin's SBS Observatory] Shinee's 'Ring Ding Dong' is the number one banned song for college entrance exam takers... Why?] (in Korean). SBS. November 9, 2015. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2017 – via Nate.
^Jang, Yeon-je (November 15, 2017). "'수능 D-1' 샤이니 '링딩동', 'PICK ME'·'나야 나' 제치고 '수능 금지곡1위'" ['SAT D-1' Shinee's 'Ring Ding Dong' beats 'Pick Me' and 'It's Me' to be named the number one banned song]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021 – via Naver.
^"샤샤이니 'Ring Ding Dong', 온-오프라인 차트 석권!" [Shinee's 'Ring Ding Dong' dominates the online and offline charts!]. The Star Chosun (in Korean). October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
^Lee, Jung-ah (October 30, 2009). "샤이니 '링딩동', '가장 많이 본 동영상' 1위" [Shinee's 'Ring Ding Dong' tops 'Most Viewed Videos']. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021 – via Naver.
^Ok, Young-hwa (December 13, 2009). 샤이니, 13~18세대들의 선택 받아 'ting's choice artist'상 수상! [Shinee won the 'Ting's Choice Artist' award after being chosen by 13–18 year olds!]. Arts News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
^Park, Se-yeon (March 30, 2010). 한국대중음악상 오늘(30일) 개최, 올해의음악상 트로피 누구 품에? [The Korean Music Awards will be held today (30th), who will receive this year's trophies?]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
^Lee, Eun-ji (November 2, 2009). "1위에 신난 샤이니, 미투데이 통해 트로피 인증 셀카!" [Shinee is excited to win first place, posts selfie with trophy on me2day!]. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2017 – via Nate.
^ abKim, Hyung-woo (November 6, 2009). "샤이니, 종현 신종플루 불구2주연속 뮤뱅1위 등극 '차트 싹쓸이'" [Shinee ranks first on 'Music Bank' for two weeks in a row despite Jonghyun's swine flu 'Chart sweep']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 14, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
^Choi, Jun-yong (January 17, 2010). "'인기가요' 샤이니, '강렬함+부드러움' 아쉬운 고별 무대!" [Shinee's 'strong and soft' farewell performance on 'Inkigayo'!]. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
^Lee, Mi-young (November 8, 2009). "온유 빠진 샤이니, 2주 연속 인기가요 뮤티즌송" [Shinee, without Onew, wins first place on 'Inkigayo' for the second consecutive week]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
^Kim, Hyung-woo (November 15, 2009). "온유빠진 샤이니 인기가요 뮤티즌송3주 연속1위 '방송 차트 싹쓸이'" [Shinee, lacking Onew, wins first place on 'Inkigayo' for three weeks in a row 'Broadcast Chart Sweep']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
