And my Red Velvet fandom at five! Earlier this week, their new album released, Cosmic. As far as the promotional tour goes, they did the usual: a live countdown, live performances, a few interviews, video of the recording sessions. I don’t know, I was kind of expecting something really big, but they did just do an international tour and a season of Level Up Project. The fact is, I shouldn’t have been expecting anything, as a K-pop group at ten is fairly uncharted territory, although it’s happening more and more. Apink’s tenth anniversary was years ago, and Red Velvet debuted alongside Mamamoo. Next year, it’ll be Twice, Oh My Girl, others I’m sure.
I think the source of my confusion is that Red Velvet often takes these big swings, and Cosmic is probably their most consistent album since, I don’t know, Summer Magic? All six songs feel related — airy, exciting, snyth — but not samey like Chill Kill, an album I still haven’t finished. Thinking about it, this is a pretty cool way to do a milestone. It isn’t intertextual (full of callbacks) like the ReVe Festival, it’s like saying the definition of Red Velvet is “quality.” Granted, I don’t think there’s a standout classic here, but there’s no false notes, either. Maybe some of the English in “Last Drop.”
But then there’s the video for “Cosmic,” which I don’t like at all. The Red Velvet visual aesthetic has always borrowed imagery, but there’s a difference between Charles Manson and Hieronymus Bosch and then the movie Midsommar. Like, Midsommar was already borrowing from primary sources, you know? To replicate that to the point of including an “inspired by” credit at the end, all you’ve proven is that you watched a movie — and one I’m not particularly fond of. Maybe that’s where my issue lies.
That does make me think about how I love K-pop idols and celebrities and stuff, and then I find out what they’re into, and it’s like… Harry Potter. Every time.
Anyway, Cosmic is great. My mind isn’t blown like it was by “Feel My Rhythm,” but I appreciate the solid work this deep into the discography. To the girls, the writers, the production staff, I don’t know how you’ve managed to stay so consistent, cohesive, and compelling for longer than most K-pop acts even exist.
With Eyes East 