Reasons Why You Need To Know About Red Velvet’s Impact On The K-Pop Industry, According To A ReVeluv

redvelvetOT5 is a big ReVeluv who wishes to share their fan journey and their thoughts about Red Velvet‘s impact on the K-Pop industry. Read their interview below!

Can you introduce yourself? Where are you from?

I am called redvelvetOT5. Currently, I reside in Singapore and work as a psychiatrist.

How and when did you enter the fandom?

I was very busy with life pursuing my education in the States until I graduated and was posted back to Singapore during COVID. As everyone is aware, 2020-2022 was a stressful period of time everywhere. I was recommended by a friend to watch “Hospital Playlist,” especially since it was related to my work and she wanted my opinion of it. While watching, I was particularly captivated by Joy (Park SooYoung)’s vocals in ‘Introduce Me A Good Person’, when the original soundtrack played a couple times intermittently throughout the show. I delved into more details about Joy and that’s how I found out about Red Velvet! At that time they just wrapped up promotions for ‘Feel My Rhythm’, and when I saw their performance video for that era, that’s when I officially decided to join the fandom.

What are the reasons why you love your favorite group?

Ask a Luvie (other name for ReVeluvs) and they will tell you that they are arguably the queen of concepts since their debut in 2014. They have tried numerous genres and a spectrum of ideas. Previously, they named their concert “RtoV.” “Red to Velvet” setlist is what we thought they could do, but behold, they did “Velvet to Red” on their 2nd day at their concert in Seoul. Again, only Red Velvet can pull this off. As if to add an icing to the cake, with the return of their long awaited 3rd full album, they gave us “Chill Kill,” an album that has both red and velvet in 1 song itself, a perfect round up from their previous 2 full albums. “The Red” being their 1st album, followed by “The Perfect Velvet” as their 2nd to finally their 3rd album, “Chill Kill,” a fusion of both Red and Velvet. Is it really a Red Velvet song if the members are not casually trying to murder someone or EACH OTHER in their story, committing arson or violence in some way while singing in an nonchalant way, getting into their acclaimed “cult-like” circle while holding hands to grant their wish, or their distinctive hand switching/link choreography on stage? 

RED VELVET, the kpop's best discography group. pic.twitter.com/HMHcYLIlCI

— dip✨ semi ia (@revevante) November 6, 2022

Another reason why I chose Red Velvet was because of their dynamics as a group and their individual characteristics. All of them has so much to offer individually and as a group. Their sincerity and care for their fans can be seen all the time. It may be through their actions expressed in various ways. From our leader Irene that sends us pictures of beautiful sceneries that she encounters, asking how our day went, SeulGi that posts dance covers she does because she knows fans love it when she does, Wendy that does Instagram lives to sing covers despite fighting copyright and delivery simultaneously while doing so, Joy that spends a few minutes before “Animal Farm” to interact with fans and asks them for opinions about content or music they want to hear, finally to YeRi opening a YouTube channel to interact more with fans or pressing 60 times on Bubble to send high definition pictures to Luvies. This is barely enough to talk about why I or Luvies love Red Velvet. Learn more about them and I promise, Red Velvet members are the kind of people who, when they smile, make you want to smile along with them, regardless of how your day went.

Can you recommend a title track and a B-side track for new fans?

After 6 years, we finally have a 3rd full studio album from Red Velvet and they did not disappoint. Forget about Red or Velvet, ‘Chill Kill’ is the perfect blend of both in 1 song! In the words of Joy herself: “Chill Kill = Red Velvet.” The official song description talks about how it describes an event that suddenly disturbs the peace and quiet of one’s life, while also giving hope of a better future. Starting from the beginning, one would say it’s a velvet song. From the teasers to the music video trailer, we are spooked and disturbed by the darkness of Red Velvet’s comeback. All the way from the opening lines of Chill Kill, we are drawn into the darkness of Red Velvet until SeulGi goes “Don’t think about tomorrow!” and the song turns into pop dance and red, leaving all Luvies musically traumatized and gagged for a few seconds before we end up nostalgically saying “Yup, that’s Red Velvet alright. Definitely Red Velvet.” The contrast within the song and music video is to die for. This song is truly RED VELVET in itself, which is pure genius and beautifully portrayed. Considering this is the 1st time according to the members themselves, that they had the biggest hand in concepts, song choice, and direction of the album, that just goes to show how brilliant and magnificent those 5 brains are in Red Velvet. You can see a tinge of each member’s influence and idea in this album if you look closely enough and understand them individually.

Regarding a B-side, I recommend ‘Knock Knock (Who’s There?)’ from their latest album 3rd studio album. It is no mystery why this was one of the candidates to potentially be the title track for this album. True indeed to the Velvet side of the group, this song is as mysterious and eerie as it talks about discovering the identity of this person or possibly oneself? This song brings out the clear sirens of the girls’ voices as they lure you in deeper into the lyrics. There is profound beauty in the dreamy unknown and uncertainty. Is it a person you love or possibly yourself that you are trying to find? Even then, it makes one wonder if it’s the devil or angel we see. I guess we will never really know, simply because there’s duality in all of us inside.

Can you recommend a fancam, V Live, cover video, cover dance, or individual content video of your bias to our readers?

If you still have doubts about the power of Red Velvet’s vocals and their abilities to harmonize 5 distinct vocal tones, please look at Red Velvet’s “Killing Voice.” Take it a step further, after watching “Killing Voice,” go back and watch the music videos of the songs they sang in “Killing Voice.” You will be amazed over and over again regarding how an almost 10-year-old girl group in the competitive K-Pop industry can constantly improve their vocal abilities, adding maturity and elegance to songs they sang in their late teens and early 20s. 

Can you also recommend a content video (variety series, song cover, dance cover, etc.) by your favorite group?

Red Velvet has done 5 seasons of “Level Up“, their own variety show, where they spend time together as a group playing games and traveling the world. If you really want to know the Red Velvet members as real raw individuals behind their idol image, this is the perfect place to start. It makes you wonder and be amazed at how well they work together as Red Velvet, but can also be hilariously dysfunctional and chaotic even in the most serious situations. From our usual charismatic and cool leader, Irene (Bae JuHyun), who can suddenly turn into a competitive joker with poor sense of direction by herself in a foreign place. Our Red Velvet ace, Kang SeulGi, who slays the stage with her aura but becomes “ddeulgi” with her adorably clumsy antics and gets bullied by animals literally. The backbone of Red Velvet’s vocals, Wendy (Son SeungWan), getting lovingly splashed by seawater or stuck performing aegyo (cute display of affection) to get a room without sunlight. Then, there’s our big brained sexy dynamite, Joy (Park SooYoung), to becoming a rich ajumma with her fashion style and being blessed in a game simply because she followed dogs she met along the way. Finally, we have our maknae, YeRi (Kim YeRim), that indeed lives true to her name of “Maknae on Top” and just does things “My Way”, while bulldozing through her older members in the best way possible throughout the series. As weird, crazy, and chaotic as it sounds, go watch “Level Up” and it will make sense. You will definitely agree what natural comedians the Red Velvet members are and how much they have grown as individuals and as a group throughout the series.

Can you share with us one of your favorite lyrics?

I think it is pretty unanimous among the entire fandom for one of the songs with the most heartfelt lyrics would be ‘My Dear’. It talks about the relationship between 2 people that have affection for each other and both with a promise to remember the moments spent together, regardless of time or what may happen in the future. Translation might differ slightly but it’s roughly, “The size of your dream when you first told me. It’ll stay the same. Promise me it will not grow small. Because of the pressure of the world.” All too often have we heard of the tragic story of how a person’s world becomes crushed, because of the cruel circumstances that we live in. This song offers that hope that despite the harsh reality of the world and arduous trials, we should not make our dreams smaller but instead pick ourselves up and try again even if that dream slightly differs from originally planned. We should always dream big. Also, isn’t it the beauty of dreams? That we can dream of another one everyday? 

What is your favorite group/bias’ influence on your daily life?

Strangely, Red Velvet has helped me in my work because of their music and lyrics. Being a fan of a K-Pop group myself has helped me better relate and understand some of my patients of all ages. It’s simply just the knowledge that someone else just “gets it”, which could be a key turning point between a physician and patient relationship to work. I have patients open up to me more freely because of this shared connection of “stanning” a group. There’s a safe space for them to discuss more of their struggles and how K-Pop helps them cope with life. As cringeworthy as it may be, I have used some lyrics in Red Velvet’s songs to describe some of my patients relationships. Yes, even the lyrics for ‘Dumb Dumb’ and ‘Psycho’, 2 very contrasting Red and Velvet songs. I ask “Like a mannequin, everything is so awkward. I should just act like I do normally but whenever I see you. I act so stupid. My eyes, nose, lips. Even my face, arms, legs, my walk. They won’t listen to me. Dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb-dumb” is that how you feel when you meet your crush?”. He looks at me suspiciously and said: “Are you psychic? How did you know? That’s about right!”. Or maybe to the couple that has a very abusive relationship with one another but sincerely love each other and are trying to make it work by coming to me. Sounds familiar to another song, Luvies? You get the idea.

Red Velvet has 5 members with distinct personalities and all of them have something special to offer. When you watch more of their content outside of their music and performances, you see the members’ shining attributes and their life experiences that just makes you want to improve yourself. Watch more of their content and you will understand what I mean when I say…
Irene gives me tranquillity when life is chaotic,
SeulGi reminds me to never give up when I fail,
Wendy comforts me when my heart bleeds,
Joy motivates me to believe when I doubt myself,
And Yeri encourages me that no matter how rough it gets I shouldn’t lose myself to it.

Do you feel there are any misunderstandings, things that are not well known, or any prejudices about your favorite group from other fans (non-fans)?

Red Velvet has not always been given the supportive environment with regards to promotions and publicity compared to their peers. It is solely their musical appeal and characteristics that garnered the fandom they have today in their 9th year. They have no US label and Japan official fan club to date, but yet their demand and appeal can still be seen there. They are not afraid to try experimental ideas or concepts, which might not sit with some on 1st listen. They tread on the lines of quirky and weird at times because they are unique. Their music does not follow the trends, they are the trendsetters themselves. Their goal at the end of the day is to show the world: “We are Red Velvet and only Red Velvet can pull this off”. You don’t see many groups cover Red Velvet songs at auditions because it is hard to carry the song. Never mind they need to sound stable while singing difficult notes with strenuous choreography, not to mention harmonising with the other members voices live, they need to pull off the concept and aura! Only Red Velvet themselves can do so. Only true artists will be able to fully appreciate Red Velvet’s musicality. Again, Red Velvet’s music isn’t for everyone, but for those that understand will get to enjoy a musical feast for a lifetime.

redvelvetOT5’s message for Red Velvet:

Dear Red Velvet, thank you for overcoming all obstacles to remain as 5 members and to keep producing music for Luvies. We know it’s not easy for you because of the constraints you all have closed doors. We can imagine the frustrations and disappointments you have. Luvies want nothing more than for all of you to be healthy and happy. No matter your decisions and what the future holds for you, Luvies will always wait and support you. Life gets busy for everyone, especially with more Luvies growing up and entering the workforce, but one’s thing for sure. As long as Red Velvet appears, Luvies will be summoned from the farthest corners of the earth and unite to support you. Everyone will say: “Of course! That’s the Red Velvet we know!”. Real fans stay till the end and support all your endeavors both as a group or individually. I am so sorry for coming into the fandom this late, but I am definitely here to stay. As another Luvie once said “Red Velvet is the only unplanned thing in my entire J life”.