Song of the Week - 도원경(桃源境/Shangri-La) By VIXX

Concept kings VIXX are back with a brand new song and mini album called 도원경 (Shangri-La) and it’s really something quite special especially the stunningly visual music video.

The song itself is quite the hybrid of genres, it’s R&B with electronica elements and a little traditional music (courtesy of what I presume is the Gayageum) all mixed into one satisfying audio experience. The vocals in Shangri-La are absolutely on point, especially the chorus which is divided between Leo and Ken.

The music video for Shangri-La is literally the most aesthetically pleasing music video I have ever watched! It’s utterly gorgeous, from the fan dancing to Ken’s floral tattoo, colliding planets to pretty blossoms every frame looks like a piece of art. Also, VIXX look stunningly beautiful and poised and their outfits are made out of various silks of varying shades that match the aesthetics of the video perfectly. This video is literally flawless.

The detail in the video is impeccable too, I did a little research into the idea of Shangri-La which is often thought of as an exotic oriental paradise. Officially Shangri-La’s origins are rather modern which surprised me, this well known ‘Eden’ was thought up by novelist James Hilton in his 1933 novel Lost Horizon as a Tibetan utopia where the dwellers were practically immortal. In turn, it’s thought that Hilton was inspired by Shambhala, the Tibetan kingdom or Pure Land which is a celestial realm. This inspiration is quite clearly seen in the video as every set looks perfect and otherworldly especially with the white backdrops, the sparseness in some places and then the abundance of natural elements such as plants, rockeries and water in other moments.

Another inspiration for the imagery in the video is clearly 桃花源記 (The Peach Blossom Spring) a Chinese fable by Tao Yuanming wherein a fisherman discovers a paradise hidden in a forest of Peach Trees. The blossom and the plucking and appearnce of peaches in VIXX’s video clearly can’t be a coincidence so a closer look in Tao Yuanming’s famous fable could potentially give an insight into the meaning behind the Shangri-La video. Peaches are a symbol of immortality thus they most defintly link back to the Shangri-La storyline of immortal beings. The symbolism in this music video is all very interesting and potentiallyty with each watch you could uncover another layer of meaning.