the reve festival 2022 'feel the rhythm' review (feat. highlight)

[yestoday]

I think it's time I come clean with this. I have not admitted this until now—publicly nor to myself—but Red Velvet's music as of the past few of years have not been hitting for me. And that is probably my own issue, isn't it? The Reveluv side of my personality would whisper aggressively into my ear that it's because I'm not sexy enough to get it. And that's it! That's definitely it. Because what sexy person would think Psycho is bland?

The music video for Feel My Rhythm was released yesterday, and I watched it that same day—which is quite rare nowadays; I'm always irritatingly behind on my comebacks in one way or another. Before moving ahead, I would like to say I went into this comeback completely blind audio-wise. (Yes, I saw all the photobook teasers, kept up with the camp little ballet concept photos, and saw that ridiculous Tweet saying they were "aestheticizing one of the few areas where women could express themselves" that had me crying.) I will typically make the excuse that I didn't have time to watch all the MV teasers and listen to the highlight medleys and audio snippets, but to be frank here, since I know no one reads these, I mostly just do not care like to keep up with pre-release promotional stuff for groups that are not my ults... and especially for groups whose music I haven't been particularly enjoying as of late. I love my girlies though, I swear.

So anyway, here is me: going in not knowing an ounce of what to expect besides the staple Red Velvet elegant-eerie taste, in a kind of heavy mood at the moment because I just finished a depressing ass movie (Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017), if you're wondering). I was greeted with quite pleasant surprise? No, actually I don't think I can say I was surprised, because the 'staple Red Velvet elegant-eerie taste' was exactly what was provided. But what I can say is that, as soon as the chorus hit, I knew this was different from the other ReVe series girls and Queendom. I got reminded of what liking a new Red Velvet release is really like! Listen, I've loved their other titles before (Ice Cream Cake still has not been topped in my personal ranking), but it's been a hot minute since I enjoyed one of their comebacks this much and this genuinely, that I forgot what it's like to say that I love a new Red Velvet release without it being a simple compliment meant more as an acknowledgment that I listened to it than it holding any real fervor.

The next day (today), I got around to listening to the rest of the album during school. I can't say anything less than I was astonished, really. Three songs in and it already established a complete and novel vibe. I think I'm more attracted to the instrumentals of this album more than anything else. These kinds of grand, enveloping resounds of synth are absolutely my shit. I feel like I'm surfing in some sort of vaporwave landscape with a hint of regality. Maybe Queendom was foreshadowing something... because this does make me feel like I am among kings and queens.
More elaborate review of each track! The Bias List style! Oh god, I've always wanted to do this. We love you Nick James. One day I'll read your young adult sci-fi book.

1. Feel My Rhythm. My first impression of it was already covered above; it was love at first listen. And I'm a fairly lenient lover. I say I love everything. I do love lots of things. So saying this is in the list of songs I love doesn't mean that much, right? True, but everything I truly love, I love it with defined reason and real meaning. This may not be an utterly revolutionary song to my ears (at least not yet; time will tell when it continues to grow on me and weave itself into my head further), and I don't think it's the best K-Pop title of this year so far or anything, but there are elements that still make it a stunner and worth taking note of. Which is why I'm here spending this lovely afternoon reviving my Dreamwidth instead of doing literally anything else I would feel is a more productive use of my time.

This song has a soothing appeal on first listen, but a lot more is going on in this instrumental than it seems. Like I said, there's a sense of regality instilled by the intro and the clear orchestral sounds melded into these crazy undulations of psychedelic electronic layers and explosive bursts of snare. Ironically, this song gives more royalty impressions than Queendom. It reminds me of ballroom waltzing and enchantments (but are those spells casted blessings or curses?) If this was in a minor key, I think it could totally belong on one of those playlists by YouTube user oliviaalee or something. I appreciate the droning tempo; it's like they're trying to entrance you, lead you to a magical alcove of which you may or may not ever return from.

Hooks: 8.5
Production: 9.5
Longevity: 8
Bias: 8.5
RATING: 8.6

2. Rainbow Halo. The Velvets pick up the pace a bit with this song. The slight upping of speed with a creative incorporation of saxophone at the chorus gives it an insanely catchy power. Again, I love the instrumental: the theme of wavy synths persist from the first track, albeit at a faster tempo, but this track has the immediately distinguishable addition of some sparkly glockenspiel notes dropping from above. Hi-hat eighth notes come in during the chorus to drive the quicker pace of this the song along under the addictively syrupy vocals. Actually, no, I would describe these as creamy vocals. Syrupy would be better described for BAMBOLEO.

Hooks: 8.75
Production: 9.5
Longevity: 8
Bias: 8.75
RATING: 8.75

3. Beg For Me. Ah, yes, the token viral B-side. Personally I think Rainbow Halo should've been the one to get popular, but I understand the people are horny and Beg For Me probably work better as an edit song. The bass in this is evidently more prominent than the other tracks, and I think that's a nice touch, as this is the most 'intense' track on this album. I especially like synth solo at the bridge fitting in well by the overlay of Wendy and Joy's suave raps. Overall, this song is a very intricately crafted amalgamation with elements of many genres and themes. A hip-hop beat with a certain stately fem-dom majesty embellished in it? Who would have thought!

Hooks: 8
Production: 9.25
Longevity: 8.25
Bias: 8
RATING: 8.4

4. BAMBOLEO. I have been waiting to say this, but this song reminds me of their sound during Perfect Velvet era and that made me so happy. I love that album so much. Yet, surprisingly, it took me a couple listens before deciding I liked this enough to add it to my "good shit" playlist (a currently-176-hour long playlist of every song I have ever even mildly enjoyed). Maybe I was just not in a cutesy mood during orchestra. But now I am! The waves of synth that I love so much prevail here, and the slight reverb on the vocals give this song a splash of dreaminess. In fact, it almost sounds like they're singing in an echo chamber at select parts. The bridge's guitar solo is excellent, though I wish it was more emphasized and not as covered up by all the other sounds going on at the same time. This song is floaty and light and, although perhaps a bit too cheery for my taste, still makes me feel giddy.

Hooks: 8
Production: 9.25
Longevity: 7.5
Bias: 7.5
RATING: 7.8

5. Good, Bad, Ugly. Going to be forthright, this is the only track on this album that is not in my "good shit" playlist, but that doesn't mean that I don't like it or that it's bad. This kind of slow jam just really isn't something I would listen to very often, but it's still a vibe. The steady rhythm of the background chords are grounding and nice, but I'm a musical thrill chaser most of the time—what can I say. The girls prove their harmonization and ad lib skill with this. It's a fitting addition to this album's tracklist, maintaining the regal feeling, but this time moved to a cool jazz club.

Hooks: 8
Production: 8
Longevity: 7
Bias: 7
RATING: 7.5

6. In My Dreams. This last song took my by surprise, if I'm honest. Getting straight to the point: I love it immensely. It's definitely in my top three. Just from its placing and my subconscious habit of judging by titles, I thought this was going to be another one of those unbearably slow, boring ballads. When it began, it did not sound like one. Huh! I was deeply wallowing in the first few seconds of a perfectly hazy melody over moderately paced chords, before the layered vocals came in, just as dreamlike. "In my dreams, you love me back." Hopeless pining? Oh, I was so into it already.

The instrumental during the first verse reminded me in some way of 12:30 by BEAST. (Speaking of whom! I will make a small note about them at the end.) The girls' vocals are insane here, as always, but this melody speaks to me in particular, as well! I am an intrinsically sad person who has tendencies to be drawn to angsty things, and this song is all the yearning and melancholy I eat up at all of its glory. It feels drunken; it feels desperate; it feels like crystal tears and beautiful pain. (Trying to type those last two words while keeping my Melody-ism contained felt like the Junhui pounding on floor GIF.)

The lyrics and the topic hints at a tinge of m that I definitely can hear in the emotion overflowing from their voices. I adore how strongly the chorus hits; it crashes upon you⁠—cymbals, falsetto, everything⁠—suddenly like a wave. (Maybe all the waves of synths in the all previous tracks were the fluctuating tides building up to the final song's tsunami of a drop?) Another thing I noticed that, after listening a few more times, I doubt wasn't intentional: each "In my dreams, you love me back." grows more ardent and anguished, and I think that was so genius on the producer's part. The first at the beginning is quieter—sweet, even—and then it repeats as the first pre-chorus, second pre-chorus, third pre-chorus—each time developing more and more force—and finally the outro, where it fades out with the now-settling song. I also find it interesting every member says that line at least once, all at different parts of the song. But that would be getting more into lore theories, wouldn't it? And that is a hellhole for me to jump down another day!

Hooks: 9
Production: 8.5
Longevity: 8.5
Bias: 9.5
RATING: 8.9

It made me really happy that I loved this album. I wanted to say "I hope they continue making this type of music in the future," but, thinking about it, I'm not even sure what this sound would be called. It's innately just "Red Velvet music," I think. But so is all their other stuff, and I clearly didn't appreciate a lot of those nearly as much as this album, Perfect Velvet album, and Ice Cream Cake (the song—alone). So, I believe my taste just got lucky this time, and they should continue being them. I hope they continue making the music that is so trademark Red Velvet and never change! I honestly don't know what I would do if SM Entertainment suddenly gave them a Next Level. No, Zimzalabim doesn't count. The "nananana" part was Red Velvet-y enough, and that's all I ask for from that song.

Finally, here is the quick word about Highlight's same-day comeback that I said I would jot earlier, just because I love them and Dongwoon looked fine as hell, but I can't write another whole one of these. My god, it's been five hours since I started this. I swear I don't even intend to make it this long and drain all my energy, I just always have shit to say. I wish I could do weekly comeback wrap-up reviews so bad—it seems like so much fun—but I'm simply not built for that...

Sorry, getting off topic. DAYDREAM sounds so comfy to me. It sounds like 2017 K-Pop, which was when I first entered this sphere; it just sounds like home! It sounds like every tone I'm most familiar with. I don't know how Highlight manages to instill scintillas of nostalgia into every one of their title tracks. It's even found its way into some BEAST songs—Beautiful Night my beloved.

Anyway, sorry. Again. FOCUS! Come on loser, you're almost done.

There are multiple B-sides on the DAYDREAM album I love in particular—PLAY, Whatever, Seven Wonders, etc. But maybe I can elaborate on those some other time. With my dwindling strength, I will end off this extensive ass post with a closing DAYDREAM (the song) rating.

 

Hooks: 8.5
Production: 8.5
Longevity: 9
Bias: 9.25
RATING: 8.9