Red Velvet’s “The Perfect Red Velvet” and “Perfect Velvet” mentioned in top albums lists

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

/r/popheads Album of The Decade #28: Red Velvet - The Perfect Red Velvet (only korean album on the list):

Excerpt:

This name change is intentional and signals an interesting thematic move on the part of the group/their company. Whereas the original The Velvet was all ballads/slow jams, Perfect Velvet included a number of uptempo dance songs that pushed the definition of their “velvet” side, and when three additional tracks were added for the repackage the distinction between “red” and “velvet” was lost entirely. Rather than the abandonment of their concept this represents an evolution of it. Rather than deciding whether this album will be “mature” or “fun” they decide that it can be both; the ideals behind “red” and “velvet” aren’t opposites, they’re perfect compliments to one another. In a lot of ways it’s a fairly simple idea but in actual execution it feels shockingly unique. Pop albums that are this dark are rarely also this upbeat, and the combination is winning.

The album is firmly a pop album, but in the tracklist it also touches on r&b, soul, disco, hip-hop, and more. Even for the notoriously genre blending Kpop industry this is a pretty wide net to cast. Take a peep at the track list of the album and you’ll notice that almost 50 writers/producers are credited, with lyrics/songwriting/production being handled by almost entirely different groups. Along with domestic writers/producers SM Entertainment are known for buying English demos and repurposing them, which usually leads to a hefty list of contributors. In an era where we crave authenticity I’m aware that this might make some people side-eye the album, but I don’t think that this style of making an album takes away from its artistic value at all. I think there’s something kind of beautiful about tons of writers/producers from around the world all coming together and working to craft one perfect album, guided by the talents and principles of a single talented act. You can see some of the writers talk about it here. However you personally feel about, the results speak for themselves: Every song on The Perfect Red Velvet is unique, yet cohesive with the others.

Creating cohesion and taking this “Red/Velvet” fusion idea further is the album’s aesthetic. Look at its striking cover art: Pure shades of red and black form the silhouettes of five girls walking away into some strange, unknown landscape, with the title of the album plastered above them in bloody font. The teasers and videos for both Perfect Velvet and The Perfect Red Velvet used a horror movie theme, with Perfect Velvet depicting them as mysterious witches and The Perfect Red Velvet playing up a more ambiguous “bad girls” image. This energy permeates the album in the form of the girls’ forceful performances and the general “heaviness” of the production giving even the more innocuous songs an air of darkness. Pounding bass, industrial noises, even the softer, lighter songs have an air of gravitas and sophistication to them.

Pushing against this heaviness is the actual writing and thematic content of the album. Surprisingly enough, this is an album about young love! Pretty much every song on the album is a love song, and the sweetness of the lyrics balances out the darkness of the production and makes this album “Red Velvet” rather than just “red” or “velvet.” Contrasting cheerful infatuation with dark/aggressive imagery has always been something Red Velvet flirted with, but they truly realize the potential of the formula on this album to amazing effect. The contradiction of innocence/violence in their music gives it a kind of surreal ambiguity that lets it be appreciated from a number of angles. It captures that love can be scary, violent, and wonderful all at the same time.

Consequence of Sound - 10 K-pop Albums Every Music Fan Should Own:

Red Velvet — The Perfect Red Velvet (2018)

Red Velvet, among many things, have built a reputation out of having an unmatched repertoire of stellar B-sides when it comes to K-pop girl groups. And the reissue of their The Perfect Red Velvet album is their magnum opus. Though the singles, “Bad Boy” and “Peek-A-Boo”, give us Red Velvet at their cheeky, R&B vocals best, the album cuts explore everything from nu-disco to trap-beats to beautiful harmonies. Red Velvet started out their careers by separating themselves into two identities: “Red” is the vibrant side while “Velvet” is the sultrier one. The Perfect Red Velvet, with songs like “My Second Date” and “Attaboy,” broke that binary by combining both identities and making them work as one bold, yet sleeker, nuanced persona. They also relied on their emblematic “velvet” sound with lush alt-R&B ballads “Perfect 10” and “Kingdom Come”. The repackaged version of The Perfect Red Velvet set Red Velvet up as the cool girls of K-pop and also leading, key players in a highly impacted scene.

Top Track: “Look”

using this to talk about rv bsides lol what are your fave rv bsides?
Source: popheads, Consequence of sound

Comments

[frequency.livejournal.com]

that song is so good

[frequency.livejournal.com]

automatic
somethin' kinda crazy
red dress
time slip
cool world
body talk
zoo
hear the sea
look
i just
kingdom come
perfect 10
aitai-tai
blue lemonade
taste
sunny side up!
LP
eyes locked, hands locked
in & out

they have really good b-sides, lmao. i often like them more than the title tracks tbh.

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

red dress! I love the melody of that song and the chorus is one of rv’s best

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Is Automatic considered an album track? I always thought of it as a promotional single

[frequency.livejournal.com]

imo even though it had an MV and was done on music shows a few times, i still consider it an album track simply cause it wasn't deemed to be a title track, lol.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

It's the single in my heart because I didn't like Ice Cream Cake 😔

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Yea ICC is probably my least favorite title track. I don’t hate it, I still listen to it occasionally but it’s my least replayed by far. Also the lyrics kinda rub me the wrong way since Yeri was really young at the time (though I guess Automatic isn’t much better lol but yea more pleasant to my ears)

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

Just want to add I always hated cool world but have recently did a 180 on it and love it, Ive seen the light lol although I dont think ill ever come around to body talk (their worst song along with little little tbh)

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

What made you change your mind about Cool World?

I dont think ill ever come around to body talk (their worst song along with little little tbh)

(Editing because my gif broke but this makes me sad!)

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

I think I just wasnt into that type of sound back then and never gave it a second listen till I was watching their redmare dvd recently and when they sang cool world I instantly loved it

Then I tried to give body talk a second try after loving cool world and I still couldnt lol it reminds me of “I just” where I feel like its just too much noise going on lol

Do you also like little little or just body talk? I honestly think I havent came across anyone who likes little little (I think the rookie album is overlooked in general too which is understandable lol)

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I loooove Body Talk but I don't really have strong feelings about Little Little positive or negative. For me it's just... there lol I get they were going for a more old-school girl group sound for that song, but I don't listen to it much.

[lynethia.livejournal.com]

Don't agree with Body Talk being their worst song but it's definitely overrated.

[annayism.livejournal.com]

my faves: ladies room, i just, zoo, sunny side up

also just wanna say that the album art for perfect velvet has to be one of my favorites of all time. so creepy i love it

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

My ultimate favorites:
ALL OF RED SUMMER. That mini is perfection!!!
Kingdom Come
Ladies Night
Eyes Locked, Hands Locked
LP
Sayonara (idk if this counts but I’m counting lol)
So Good
Time To Love
Little Little
Body Talk
Happily Ever After
In & Out
Remember Forever

Not my top but still so so good:
Look
First Time
Sassy Me
Hit That Drum
Attaboy
Lady’s Room
Day 1
Something Kinda Crazy
Lucky Girl

I’m sure there’s more, there are b sides I find later that didn’t resonate with me at first but now I’m feeling lol. B side queens!

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Eyes Locked, Hands Locked 🥰

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

So good!!!

I prefer their velvet b-sides over their red ones, RV can do a smooth track oh so well

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

MTE, their vocals are sooooo good. One of the best right now.

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

See I found a new one - Candy from their 1st mini! What a lovely track. And Cool Hot Sweet Love!!!

and I forgot La Rouge but that’s SO GOOD

[adenar.livejournal.com]

I liked the Consequence of Sound article because it made people mad about the lack of certain bands but did shine spotlight on others that aren't usually mentioned

I'm in the minority of people, I actually really like a lot of Red Velvet title tracks (except for Rookie and Zimzalabim) and can't get with their B-Sides. The ones I enjoy are Hit That Drum, Don't U Wait No More and Parade, and then I do actually enjoy most of The Perfect Velvet (I Just, Kingdom Come, My Second Date).

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

OK, SO I have a lot of favorites, I'm not going to try to limit my list at all

Look
I Just
Kingdom Come
Perfect 10
Moonlight Melody
Butterflies
You Better Know
Talk To Me
Body Talk
With You
Time Slip
Cool World
Eyes Locked, Hands Locked

Out of this list I think my favorite album track is Butterflies, because it's just... perfect??? I could listen to that song on repeat forever and not get tired of it. When it came out I made it my phone alarm lol

[ggumd.livejournal.com]

Your taste! 💯 Butterflies is legit perfection

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

The chorus is just ✨✨✨

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

rv have too many amazing bsides to count, but one i haven't seen mentioned yet is mosquito. love that one.

it'd be easier to talk about which bsides i DON'T like. for me, the worst is don't u wait no more.

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Hmmm for b-sides I don’t like - Time Slip has some bad rapping. Mr.E is kinda going nowhere for me. I feel like even the songs I don’t like as a whole have parts I still kinda enjoy! (Though am I rushing to add it to my playlist? Nah lol)

Noticing a lot of you guys like Time Slip while I’m not into it 😂

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

...My Second Date 🥺

[suggestivepeach.livejournal.com]

Awww I like Don’t U Wait No More. It’s very quirky and unabashedly silly.

[lynethia.livejournal.com]

My list of absolute favorites:
Sunny Afternoon
Light Me Up
I Just
You Better Know
Ladies Night
Red Dress
Talk To Me
Hit That Drum
Kingdom Come
Something Kinda Crazy
봐 (Look)
Time Slip
친구가 아냐 (Bing Bing)
Lucky Girl
Taste
Altai-tai
Oh Boy
LP

Let me stop before I get too carried away 😂

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

There is no such thing as too carried away when it comes to Red Velvet!

[carmine-pink.livejournal.com]

No one has mentioned my current favorite b-side from them, Milkshake?? It's such a bop! Also Oh Boy, All Right, Take It Slow.

[apricotsunrises.livejournal.com]

Since I’ve got a gazillion faves, let me just drop my RV playlist lol https://open.spotify.com/user/39igaxypfmfihwzz1txc358dv/playlist/7xgarxFIhD45FLUVbbb3Ey?si=cUkwBGKuQ9OdaBLS33AmNA

[suggestivepeach.livejournal.com]

I’m going to offend a lot of people by saying this but I’m actually not crazy about Kingdom Come, even though I understand why people love it so much. It just hasn’t clicked with me!

Some of my actual favourites include: Look (this song is just *chefs kiss*), Sunny Afternoon, Something Kinda Crazy, Lucky Girl, Little Little, Mojito, Time Slip, You Better know, and Talk to Me.

Overall there’s a reason why their discography is so critically acclaimed. They can pull off a wide variety of sounds and genres! Even though I don’t personally keep up with them that much these days, their discography is undeniably amazing.

[violoncelliste.livejournal.com]

dropping by to offer validation, i also don't get the hype around Kingdom Come! :P

[suggestivepeach.livejournal.com]

There are dozens of us! DOZENS!!!!!!!!!!!!