SHINee for everybody

Like an unstoppable force of nature, K-pop boy band SHINee are becoming omnipresent in our lives.

This month, the chameleon-like quintet - who have morphed effortlessly from testosterone-fuelled macho men to boho- chic hippies to their current incarnation as trendy cool cats - presented their highly anticipated fifth EP, Everybody.

The response, not surprisingly, was overwhelming.

Not only did the seven-track album top charts in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, it was praised by top US music authority Billboard for its "delicious balance of hyperactive electronic dance music and pop stylings" while boasting "some of 2013's top choreography".

Critics have tipped SHINee as successors to K-pop kings Super Junior.

If their latest album title Everybody is any indication, Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho and Taemin, who are all in their early 20s, certainly do not hide their ambition.

In town next month to headline Kpop mega-concert MBC Korean Music Wave Singapore 2013, which features other acts such as Sistar, 2PM and FTIsland, SHINee are extending their reach and visibility as part of their global conquest.

SHINee for... the West

While SHINee have won over almost every corner of Asia, English-speaking territories remain a slight challenge to them.

But it shouldn't be difficult, seeing how they share an amicable relationship with famed US producing duo The Underdogs (Harvey Mason, Jr and Damon Thomas), who have done work for Beyonce, Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake.

The Underdogs produced SHINee's old tunes Juliette, Spoiler and Selene 6.23, as well as Everybody's lead single Symptoms.

Of their extensive list of clients, SHINee are the only K-pop act they have chosen to collaborate with.

If this doesn't help SHINee make inroads into the Western pop market, we don't know what will.

SHINee... for new pants

For all their success, we think the boys of SHINee definitely need new - and loose-fitting - trousers. We recommend baggy cargos.

Last week, on South Korean radio, the stars shared how Minho and Key's pants once ripped in the middle of a performance, in front of a live audience.

"Minho's pants got ripped in the middle, while mine was on the left side," said Key.

Minho recalled: "Fans in their seats had their heads lowered probably because they were embarrassed."

SHINee for... Park Bo Young

Dating is often a taboo topic in K-pop land, but last week, fans finally got a hint as to the kind of girl their idols would fall for.

On a Korean radio show, SHINee were asked by the DJ "if there was someone you would want to spend all your time in a day with, so much so that 24 hours wouldn't suffice".

Key replied that for him, it'd be 23-year-old Korean actress Park Bo Young as she is "charming and attractive".

Park was chosen by the rest too. Said Jonghyun: "All of us like cute and lovely types like Park Bo Young." Time to slug it out and woo the princess of your dreams, guys.

SHINee for... mobile phone users

True SHINee junkies would not be content to simply listen to Lucifer and Ring Ding Dong on MP3s or iTunes.

They can now live and breathe SHINee all day long, thanks to the recent release of the SHINee-themed dodol.pop package on mobile phones (the dodol.pop app has to be installed first).

The package includes ringtones and alarms (both voice and video) by every SHINee member, as well as sound clips for your phone setting notifications.

In other words, you can set Minho's voice as a morning call, Taemin's voice as a perk-me-up whenever your phone rings and Onew's voice for SMSes. It doesn't get more diehard than this.

What's next, special SHINee-themed Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn interfaces?

Get The New Paper for more stories.