ALBUM REVIEW: RED VELVET

Artist: Red VelvetAlbum: The Perfect Red VelvetReleased: November 17, 2017Language: Korean

Red Velvet is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment in năm trước, consisting of members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, & Yeri (who joined the group in 2015).

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Red Velvet’s artistry revolves around a concept in which their music has a “red” side & a “velvet” side. While their red concepts have bubblier music and predominantly pop music, their velvet concepts consists of more mature sounds và predominantly R&B music. In the past, Red Velvet haven’t shied away from blending both sides, as in their hit title trachồng (which is basically a single, however in South Korea, it is considered title tracks), “Russian Roulette” và the catchy và exciting title trachồng, “Rookie.”

Bad BoyBad Boy is one of the top five songs on The Perfect Red Velvet & their best “velvet” title tracks as compared lớn One of These Nights & Be Natural – in spite of it being a remake of S.E.S’s original. Being a huge critic of instrumentals, I instantly fell in love sầu with Bad Boy after hearing the instrumental in the music Clip teaser. With its soothing và sultry R&B instrumentals, starting off with a distorted piano play và heavy bass drop, I knew that the likelihood of me liking the full tuy nhiên could be possible. The song doesn’t sound lượt thích it’s trying so hard to jump bachồng into the 90s’ or early 2000s’, but it certainly gives me a feel from those eras.Now, off to the vocals và lyrics! At first when I heard the instrumental, I was very curious as khổng lồ how the structure & vocals would fit in with such a svào beat, but the ladies of Red Velvet did not disappoint. First off, Seulgi’s ad-libs and Irene’s part of the first verse are my highlights, as well as Wendy’s ad-libs within the last chorus. As for Yeri & Joy, their voices are just as complementary to lớn the song’s tone as the other three members. As opposed lớn most of Red Velvet’s title tracks, “Bad Boy” was able khổng lồ showcase their vocal abilities, unlượt thích “Dumb Dumb,” where I truly believe only Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy’s vocal abilities were completely showcased – but that’s probably because they are the strongest vocalists of the group. Red Velvet’s harmonies were tight and did not fail, showing their abilities to lớn not only harmonize with each other, but also for an individual girl lớn harmonize with herself. For example, Wendy’s harmonization with herself at the kết thúc of the bridge was strongly executed.According lớn Genius.com, “The lyrics express the attraction and the uneasy feelings between a bad boy & chic girl.” The lyrics do in fact tell a love sầu story. I wasn’t very fond of the lyrics for the chorus because I felt that different ideas were being forced in that don’t quite connect with the rest of the song’s story. Plus, the lyrics in the chorus seem all over the place. For example:Follow me lượt thích you’re under a spell/ Everyone’s cheering, soon you’ll be/ You’d pretkết thúc you’re notHowever, I enjoyed the lines of the verses và bridge.Rate: 9.5/10

All RightWhen I first listened to “All Right,” I wasn’t a tín đồ because I’m not crazy about many synthpop songs, in spite of the tuy vậy being nostalgic of 80s’ music. After a second listen, I grew lớn lượt thích the song slightly more. Irene’s và Yeri’s rapping definitely were the highlight, especially leading into an instrumental break afterwards. I found the vocals lớn be quite lackluster because of the amount of “talk-singing,” which some people aren’t quite fond of, however the melody made the tuy vậy catchy.The lyrics encourage listeners to lớn appreciate their time with their partner & forget about worries that are weighing heavy, which is always good. Being the picky music listener & lyric reader that I am, I was not that impressed by the lyrics & expected much more from Red Velvet because I thought they were too cheesy for my taste.Rate: 6/10

Peek-a-booAhh Peek-a-boo. One of my top three favorite title tracks from Red Velvet. The beat is eerie, & quite quirky, adding onto Red Velvet’s usual distinctive & eccentric musicality. The instrumentals và production tends to blover their red and velvet sides, which is what I really love sầu about this tuy vậy. Its up-tempo & tropical house influences, which are mainly distorted throughout the background of the tuy nhiên, work well khổng lồ khung such a playful beat.The highlight of “Peek-a-boo” has to lớn be Yeri’s quick rap in the beginning of the second verse. As someone who isn’t always impressed by her rapping và tone, I am impressed by how Yeri shone with her flow và her voice complimented the track’s eeriness and quirkness. Another highlight for me was the second chorus’s neglect of the first chorus’s “peek-a-boo” repetition & instead adding an additional follow up lớn the chorus. Also, I really liked the fact that for the last chorus, they also decided to use the repetition & the follow up.I can understand why some may be disappointed in Red Velvet’s laông chồng of ability showcasing, however I did feel a sense of individuality from each girls’ vocals và it just wouldn’t be necessary in my opinion for the girls to show off abilities, especially since their harmonization is always what I look for in every one of their songs. Also, I strongly believe that Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy still showed some vocal ability within the tuy nhiên.As for the lyrics, I was impressed. Honestly, at first I was confused by the story that was being told, but after a couple of reads và replays of the music video clip, I was confused. From my understanding – based off of Wendy’s part in the first verse, Yeri’s rap, & the follow up chorus – a girl compares love to lớn a jungle gym game and is only attracted to lớn new love, however the new relationship she is in has changed her outlook on how meaningless thắm thiết relationships can be. For example:Oh gosh I’m an emotional girl/ I fall in love so easily/ I lượt thích new things, they sparkle/ Everyone’s lượt thích that, right?And…Tag, you’re it!/ It’ll be fun, I’ll include you here/ Till the moon hangs on the jungle gym/ Let’s playSorry if I’m wrong.Rate: 9.5/10

LookArguably, for me, Look is Red Velvet’s second best track on The Perfect Red Velvet. The arrangements, production, and nostalgic funky retro disco influences made me fall in love sầu with “Look.”The girls all display their vocal capabilities & a bit of what they contribute lớn the group individually. Despite not being the stronger vocalists in the group, Yeri and Irene stepped up to lớn the plate during their parts in the pre-chorus. Wendy’s vocals shone for me during the bridge while using her head voice, which is one of my favorite things about her voice in general. The break after the bridge makes the tuy nhiên even more enjoyable khổng lồ listen to lớn.As for lyrics, once again I was slightly confused. However, I vì chưng believe sầu as music listeners, we can interpret the lyrics based on our own individual experiences.Rate: 9.8/10

I JustNow, onlớn my favorite Red Velvet song: I Just. Adding onto lớn Red Velvet’s quality sound, “I Just” is sui generis, while still sticking to their EDM and electro pop route. Despite the loaded bass, the tuy vậy tends khổng lồ be calming và enchanting.Red Velvet’s harmonies never fail to lớn impress me. All of Wendy’s parts were my highlights due to her use of wide vocal range & execution. Also, the other girls did an amazing job in their parts, despite “I Just” not being a reliable vocal showcase tuy vậy like “Bad Boy,” “Dumb Dumb,” or “Oh Boy” (on their first full album “The Red”).Another part of the song that I fell in love with is the lyrics. The beautiful thing about music is that we can make our own stories and connect to the words differently based on our experiences. From my personal experience, I am so drawn lớn “I Just” not only because of the heavy hitting composition, melody, or vocals, but also because I felt as though I was able khổng lồ hitch onto the lyrics, which is probably why I clayên the tuy vậy khổng lồ be their best and my favorite.Rate: 10/10

Kingdom ComeWhen I first listened to “Kingdom Come,” I liked the beat – that’s it. It wasn’t an instrumental that I’m crazy about because it comes off as a basic R&B beat lớn me.In spite of not liking its composition, “Kingdom Come” has the best vocals, harmonization, & thành viên individuality of the songs on “The Perfect Red Velvet.” Irene and Yeri are able khổng lồ display their vocal growth more than ever. Also, Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy showcase vocally challenging singing, which I appreciate due lớn the fact that they are the stronger vocalists of the group.

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The melody is sliông xã & is what made me more interested in the tuy vậy itself.The lyrics reinforce another love tuy vậy that expresses feelings about a lover và their dedication to them. I’m usually not fazed by a love song’s lyrics, but I am impressed by “Kingdom Come.” The lyrics aren’t cliđậy và cheesy lượt thích your average song about expressing your emotions và loyalty to someone you may have sầu feelings for.Rate: 7/10

Time khổng lồ LoveIn “Time to lớn Love,” the composition & instrumental is likeable. However, I am more of a fan of the verses’ beat more than the choruses’, which is disappointing, considering the fact that most of Red Velvet’s songs tkết thúc lớn be catchy or unforgettable. Vocally, this is Red Velvet’s weakest slow jam (or ballad) because usually they present harmonies that are beautiful – but here they only display those during the last chorus. Also, Wendy & Yeri stvà out in showcasing their individuality.Overall, I was disappointed in this ballad because I know what Red Velvet are capable of in their ballads và showcasing vocal ability. For me, “Time khổng lồ Love” was lackluster to lớn me & is a song that I’d listen lớn only if it came up on shuffle – which isn’t common for me to vày when it comes to Red Velvet.Rate: 6.5/10

My Second DateThe instrumental is playful and catchy. It reminded me of an ice cream truông chồng melody. I lượt thích how the instrumentation has different elements, but still doesn’t sound all over the place. However, it may be too much for other listeners because “My Second Date” is an experimental trachồng in which the beat tends to lớn go in different directions, from poppy khổng lồ more early 2000s R&B-esque, to hip-hop & EDM. This tuy nhiên reminds me of their “Ice Cream Cake” era in terms of using different sounds lớn display their diversity. The melody was xinh tươi and quite catchy, but the lyrics were bl& & nothing new compared to lớn what I’ve sầu seen Red Velvet do before. For example:Tiông chồng toông xã, stop Time time/ My heart keeps pounding/ I can’t thua kém the third date/ What bởi vì I do?/ My second dateThese particular lyrics from the chorus weren’t exactly appealing lớn me and I found them to be a bit cringe-worthy and cheesy.Rate: 7/10

Attaboy This song’s instrumental took an interesting turn for me. At first, I thought it would be a R&B traông chồng with trap and hip-hop influences, but then it completely transitioned inlớn a more experimental pop beat. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed that part of the song. However, the chorus và bridge were the only interesting parts for me. The melodies weren’t appealing khổng lồ the ear & it was such a shame, since I took a liking to lớn the instrumentation & other parts of the trachồng. I was surprised by the amount of rapping, considering the fact that most of their tracks are mainly sung because Red Velvet are all vocalists, but don’t have svào rappers. Even though I did not lượt thích the melody of the chorus, the traông xã is quite fun to lớn listen to. Rate: 7.5/10

Perfect 10 I enjoyed Perfect 10. It is a R&B traông xã with trap influences, which I’ve sầu noticed that Red Velvet include sometimes in some of their R&B influenced songs, such as One of These Nights. I liked the fact that it wasn’t as experimental with its breaks as My Second Date và Attaboy, because it shows a huge distinction and diverse direction between most of their heavily experimental songs. However, Perfect 10 is just as mature & sultry as Bad Boy, even in terms of lyricism which I personally believe sầu is quite different for Red Velvet since I usually think that their lyrics tend khổng lồ be cheesy and clibịt sometimes. But hey, sometimes cheesy và cliđậy are good.This traông chồng isn’t Red Velvet’s best, vocally, and not very challenging – which isn’t always a determining factor of whether the song is good or not. However, I did like the girls’ use of vocals và melodies over the instrumental. The main – Wendy- and the other leads – Seulgi and Joy – sing beautifully in their lower tones, which isn’t what I’m quite used to while listening khổng lồ a Red Velvet trachồng. Perfect 10 gives me a feel of girls groups from the 90s, which some of Red Velvet’s “velvet” tracks seem to lớn be inspired by.Rate: 9/10

About Love sầu This track is quite soft pop, with a groovy R&B feel. About Love is Red Velvet’s simplest song that is very impacted by vocals, melody, and harmonies. I like that the song’s beat is not overpowering or too heavy hitting because I am able to fully enjoy the ladies’ voices.Rate: 10/10

Midnight Melody This song’s instrumentals are soothing & very melodic. The use of piano is good, but I am not overly impressed by the incorporation of the acoustic guitar. At first, I did not like the vocals in the tuy nhiên, however after a couple of listens, I ended up really enjoying the song & all of its perfection. Not every tuy nhiên requires a Wendy high note, Assata.Rate: 9/10

Album Review OverviewOriginality/ Versatility: 10/10Cohesiveness: 10/10Vocals: 9.5/10Lyricism: 7.5/10

Overall/Love Rate: 9/10 The Perfect Red Velvet is, in my obvious opinion, Red Velvet’s best album. In this album, Red Velvet shows their highest potential and capabilities as individuals & as a group. They have been able lớn create their own sound – with the help of their quality artistry & songs that other girl groups probably wouldn’t be able lớn pull off – & haven’t swayed away from it despite this album having a general Velvet sound. Despite not being the strongest vocalists of the group, Irene & Yeri have improved and were given the opportunity to lớn show off their individual vocal abilities, as well as improving in their rapping skills, especially Yeri. As the main vocacác mục, expectedly, Wendy had many highlights throughout the album – especially in I Just – by showing off her wide vocal range và supported range. Her runs & ad-libs fit the songs very well và display her good ear for music. As for Red Velvet’s leads, Seulgi and Joy, they showed more of their capabilities. The girls, as a collective sầu, displayed their ability lớn adapt lớn different genres và transckết thúc from their usual pop sound, which helps listeners to lớn hear the ladies’ vocal capabilities. This album is near perfection. The selection và direction of the songs on the album make it cohesive sầu, while showing a more matured sound for the group. The songs aren’t all over the place và don’t seem as though they belong on separate albums. Despite the fact that I didn’t quite favor the lyricism of the album, I thought Red Velvet improved in that area & in their storytelling ability, as in lyrics in songs lượt thích Bad Boy & Peek-a-boo. I wonder how the girls will top this masterpiece.