• Location: Portals Vells
• Short film title: Slow Dancing music video
• Year: 2023
• Producer and director: Min Hee Jin & Shin Dongle
• Main actor: Kim Tae-Hyung

“Slow Dancing” in Portals Vells: A dreamy cinematic atmosphere

The music video for “Slow Dancing,” the title track from Kim Tae-Hyung’s debut solo album, Layover, released on September 8, 2023, is a love letter to freedom, youth, and melancholy, with the beach of Portals Vells serving as the backdrop for its bohemian summer vibe. Under the direction of producer Min Hee Jin, the Korean artist Kim Tae-Hyung, a member of the popular band BTS, immerses us in a jazzy calm within a natural setting that seems frozen in time.

Critics and audiences alike agree that the music video transcends the musical format to become an introspective piece of visual art. The atmosphere of “Slow Dancing” has been described as ethereal and enveloping, where Taehyung’s natural performance blends seamlessly with the languid rhythm of the waves at Portals Vells. Reviews highlight how Shin Dongle’s cinematography avoids rapid cuts and contrived effects, opting instead for a visual narrative that evokes a “lucid summer dream.” This aesthetic choice not only enhances the warmth of the Mediterranean landscape but also allows the audience to feel the nostalgia of a shared memory, solidifying the video as a sensory experience where the music and the surroundings of Calvià breathe in perfect harmony.

The beauty of Portals Vells: ochre-hued rocks, natural shadows, and turquoise waters

The visual epicentre of the video is the Portals Vells area, an extraordinarily beautiful inlet located about nine kilometres from Magaluf, between the points of Xisclet and s’Estaca. This enclave, designated as a Natural Area of ​​Special Interest, lends the music video a pure Mediterranean essence.

The rocks of the Portals Vells cove play a fundamental role in the video’s aesthetic, acting as a natural backdrop that reinforces the feeling of freedom and connection with nature. In several sequences, Taehyung and the rest of the group run and perform slow dancing steps on the flat rock surfaces, reinforcing the idea of ​​spontaneity.

In other scenes, the protagonists let themselves be cradled by the water, floating and enjoying the sea breeze and each other’s company, conveying an atmosphere of camaraderie and peace.

In the scenes of “Slow Dancing”, the distinctive features that make this location unique can be seen:

Aquamarine sea and rocks: Surrounding the turquoise waters, limestone and marés formations in ochre and golden tones, naturally sculpted by sea and wind erosion, create a dynamic backdrop. The nearby “Cova de La Mare de Déu” is a highlight, an old marés quarry whose blocks were extracted in the 14th and 15th centuries to build Palma Cathedral.
• Forest setting: A lush, towering pine forest surrounds the beaches, almost reaching the crystal-clear water, reinforcing the sense of refuge and seclusion conveyed by the song.
• Cinematic legacy: Director Shin Dongle’s choice of Portals Vells is no coincidence; the area has a cinematic soul. In fact, the neighbouring Playa del Mago beach owes its name to the filming of “The Magus” (1967), starring Anthony Quinn and Michael Caine. Kim Tae-Hyung continues this legacy, transforming the cove into a contemporary global pop icon.

This use of rocks and the sea visually enhances the video and places the characters on an earthly and organic plane, far from artificial settings, underlining the theme of authenticity that runs throughout the album Layover.

A global impact with a Mallorcan touch

With over 71 million views, the music video broke records in a matter of seconds. The snorkeling shots in crystal-clear waters—for which Portals Vells offers excellent conditions thanks to its sandy and seaweed seabed at a depth of five metres—and the relaxing scenes on the sand perfectly capture the sweet melancholy that defines V’s solo debut.

Today, Portals Vells is a top destination for sailors and nature lovers, where they can experience the same “summer vibe” that Taehyung immortalised in its waters.

If you visit the beach, you’ll recognise the rocks that surround it, where Taehyung and his friends dance and soak up the sun.