Red Velvet’s rhythm

South Korean girl group, Red Velvet, is known best for their talented vocalists, signature music styles, and captivating song concepts. The five-member group follows two main concepts: red and velvet. The red concept is bright with catchy hooks, and in-your-face production. The velvet concept is darker with smooth melodies and elegant styling. 

Red Velvet is back and redder than ever. The group released a new mini album, or EP, March 21st, 2022, titled ‘The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm’. This is their 5th special mini album and 13th overall mini album, and it is one to remember. 

The release date coincides with classical composer Bach’s birthday. This is no coincidence, as the title track samples his famous arrangement, ‘Air on the G-string’. Feel My Rhythm begins with the iconic melody under dreamy vocal ad libs. Heavy, playful production then kicks in to start the first verse.

The album follows ‘The ReVe Festival’ trilogy, released in 2019. They released a mini album, ‘Queendom’, between this release and the release of ‘The ReVe Festival Finale’, but ‘The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm’ revives the story of ‘The ReVe Festival’ with a fresh, new tone.

The first track feels exactly how I wanted Reve Festival 2022 to feel: reminiscent of the previous ReVe Festival songs, but also so fresh and fun. The vocal performance is magical, highlighting each member’s unique vocal styles and tone. A key change after the bridge adds to the dreamy atmosphere, sending the final chorus soaring to the end.

What made me love the song even more is the music video. Each of the girls are individually styled with a scene unique to them. Each scene heavily contrasts with the next, with theatrical styling and artistic choreography. When shown as a group, the girls are styled in trendy clothes, the choreography complementing the silhouettes created through light, flowing fabric and low waistlines. The choreography didn’t particularly stand out to me until I watched the performance video. I love the formation changes and the natural flow it has as a whole. 

The references don’t end with the sample in the song itself, references to several art movements fill the video with familiar scenes and beautiful motifs. Rococo, Impressionism, and Surrealism are just a few of the movements referenced. A full explanation of the art references can be found here.

The second song, Rainbow Halo, is a synth-pop track with a saxophone hidden not-so-subtly beneath an easy melody and dreamy vocals. I found the lyrics to be whimsical and clever, a translation can be found here. The second verse had me entranced with switches in playful vocal styles as different members sing their parts. But what really made this song stand out to me is the saxophone solo at the end; I absolutely love a saxophone in a pop song, and it is done well in Rainbow Halo. 

Next is Beg For Me, a girlboss anthem for lack of a better word. Snappy production, flirtatious yet powerful vocal performance, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics give Beg For Me an unforgettable attitude. I am obsessed with the tension-building usage of chromatic scales in the pre-chorus and chorus.

BAMBELEO gives me the taste of city pop I was desperately craving from Red Velvet. The signature heavy bass line, the stylish vocal layering, ad-libs, dramatic vocal runs, the electric guitar – there is so much to love. The dissonance in the bridge definitely secures this as a favorite. My jaw dropped hearing the chorus for the first time; so much so, I had to rewind before even finishing the song. BAMBOLEO is entrancing – I see it staying in my playlists.

Good, Bad, Ugly is the level-headed self-love anthem I never knew I needed. The lyrics encourage you to embrace your imperfections and choose to love yourself. Not to mention, I adore the familiar, nostalgic style of production, piano, and percussion work. The vocal styling in the chorus is so swingy and classic, letting their vocal talent really shine. The simple melody and easy-to-listen pacing make this song predictable but in a familiar, comfortable way. My favorite part has to be right when the pre-chorus drops off and begins the chorus: it’s incredibly satisfying. 

‘ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm’ wraps up with In My Dreams, an emotional story of longing told in heavenly vocals and theatrical production. The verses are sung in the girls’ lower registers while the choruses are higher, showcasing their range. Their voices blend beautifully together in the chorus; and the harmonies in the pre-choruses, outro, and bridge are stunning. In My Dreams is straight out of a fairy tale. I think it was the perfect way to end the album; it matched gorgeously to the concepts, and perfectly ties together the sounds and feel of the album. 

Overall, I think this album captures Red Velvet’s talent and vision, as well as their potential to keep growing as an already incredibly skilled and successful group. ‘The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm’ is now available to stream on all major music platforms.