Ahead of the SMTOWN Live 2025 in Seoul tour on Jan. 11-12, SM Entertainment announced its remake stage where the artists will perform their own rendition of their senior and junior's original songs.
In the teaser posters, the idols who will be participating are revealed, including the songs by their fellow artists that they will possibly remake. One of them will be a solo track by the late SHINee member Jonghyun.
Following this announcement, Shawols (SHINee's fans) showed anticipation about the forthcoming performances. Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased.
Although many acknowledged that SM Entertainment's original intention was to honor the legacy left by the music icon, some fans couldn't feel the label's sincerity, reasoning the agency's alleged treatment of Jonghyun's work and accomplishments after his death in 2017.
So sm is going to remake a whole jonghyun song and release it officially on an album celebrating a company that won't reprint his albums, won't acknowledge him more than twice a year, and won't release his concerts but now that they can make money off of him they remember his art
— dija (@meowqxng) January 8, 2025
They also complained about the lack of his album's supply despite the high demand as the label supposedly decided not to reprint it.
SM doesn’t give Jonghyun any attention, they purposely hold back content, and only recognize him two days out of the year. But now you want others to REMAKE his SELFWRITTEN& PRODUCED songs for their anniversary? give me a break, if you want to attract kpopies do anything but that
— m∞ri¹⁵ - 开天 (@jonghyunoutdid) January 7, 2025
Further, as per the fans on X (formerly Twitter), SM also didn't release the official recordings and film of his previous concerts, on top of mentioning him only twice a year during his birthday and death anniversary, although it is not a matter of being held back by his family or members.
I wouldn't care if they performed a cover during the concert by why would you remake a jonghyun song who asked for this
— 자몽 (@selenekjh) January 7, 2025
In addition to this, fans are worried that the song, which became close to their heart due to Jonghyun, will be mistaken and known as another SM Entertainment artist song. After all, it's not only a cover but a remake.
SM Entertainment is yet to respond to Shawols' complaints.
RELATED ARTICLE: SHINee Key Expresses Honest Thoughts About Jonghyun + Minho's Sweet Surprise for Him in 'I Live Alone'
