Red Velvet - "Cosmic" MV Review (+ a short mini album review)

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, from left to right: Wendy, Yeri, Irene, Seulgi, and Joy pose wearing long dresses with a colourful mountain as their backdrop.

Red Velvet is an SM girl group that debuted on August 1, 2014 and originally consisted of 4 members Irene, Seulgi, Wendy and Joy, with the 5th member, Yeri, joining the group later in March 2015. Red Velvet is generally divided by two concepts: the red side are upbeat pop songs and the velvet side are more moody R&B songs.
After releasing "Chill Kill" on November 2023, Red Velvet has made their newest comeback to celebrate their upcoming 10th anniversary (which falls on August 1st) with their mini album, Cosmic, with "Cosmic" also being the name of the lead single.

"Cosmic"


"Cosmic" is, in my opinion, Red Velvet's best single since "Psycho" in 2019 -I did like "Chill Kill" when it was released, but now I can't remember how it goes off the top of my head (unlike other Red Velvet songs)- 
The beat of the song is super catchy, and the structure of the song is really nice. I have to say that the first time I listened to "Cosmic," I found the chorus to be a little bit underwhelming at the start (I thought that it was going to have more pizazz), but I liked the part that says, "I'm riding on your rhythm, through the solar system" and what comes after. 
Now that I have re-listened to the song many times, I have grown to love the chorus in its entirety.

The MV is truly beautiful and has a fairy-tale feel to it. The video is inspired by the horror movie "Midsommar" and the summer solstice festivities in the northern hemisphere -in the southern hemisphere, we (not everyone, of course) also celebrate St. John's Bonfires on the same day(? (even if it's super cold)-. 
The art at the start of the music video (and in some other parts) is really nice. 
My favorite scenes are the one with Yeri lying on the grass with moving flowers around her at 1:46, Seulgi singing while standing in a flower bath (I think?) at 1:54, and the one where the girls are sitting with table unnie and the personification of ReVeluvs(? with flowers covering their eyes and petals raining on them at 2:46.

Style-wise, I love the red outfits (example 2:24); they are the ones that caught my attention the most, especially Yeri's hood, which looks wonderful with her black hair and full bangs. The outfits the girls wear during the Maypole scene are my second favorites; they look very summery and remind me of the boho chic style from 00-10's, especially Seulgi's. 

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic where joy, seulgi and yeri are sitting in a table outside and look at the camera like if there was a person walking besides them

Rating

Song – 10/10
MV – 10/10
Choreography – 10/10
Style – 9/10

Overall Rating – 10/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic that shows seulgi, wendy and irene dancing

Song Credits

Release Date: June 24, 2024.

Length: 3 min 46 sec.

Lyrics by: Kenzie.

Music by: Kenzie, Jonatan Gusmark, Ludvig Evers, Adrian McKinnon, Ellen Berg.

Arranged by: Moonshine and Kenzie.

MV Directed by: Lee Hye-In (2eehyeinfilm).

"Sunflower"

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, there is a headshot of Irene's side profile. She is being illuminated by a pink light.
Length: 3:17.
Lyrics: Kim In-Hyung (JamFactory) and Jeong Mul-Hwa (JamFactory).
Music: Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker, Wihelmina, Jonatan Gusmark, and Ludvig Evers.
Arrangement: Moonshine.

The intro and the pre-chorus(es) are quite relaxing. I'm not a big fan of the best during the verses and in parts of the chorus; it sounds a bit off.

Rating – 7/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic that shows irene holding the camera as she spins with the background moving fast

"Last Drop"

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, Seulgi poses looking towards the right of the photo while she sits in a place that has fake grass.
Length: 3:23.
Lyrics: Bay (153/Joombas) and Zaya (153/Joombas).
Music: Alida Garpestad Peck, James Wong, and David Brook.
Arrangement: James Wong.

To my ears this song feels so magic girl-coded; I love it! "Last Drop" just feels super smooth and flowy.

Rating – 10/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic that shows a close-up of seulgi's face and when the camera zooms out she turns around to wave a flag

"Love Arcade"

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, Wendy poses looking towards the upper right of the photo. Behind her there are some stands with people sitting on them.
Length: 2:57.
Lyrics: Liljune (153/Joombas).
Music: Ryan Kim, Devine Channel, Jayna Brown, denzelworldpeace, Sakehands, Yumi K., and Geist Way.
Arrangement: Ryan Kim, Devine Channel, denzelworldpeace, and Sakehands.

"Love Arcade" is quite an adorable song; the glockenspiel (I think?) at the start of the instrumental is fantastic ﹘ I love the little sound effects this song has.

Rating – 10/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic where wendy is laying on a bed looking at the camera

"Bubble"

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, Joy is in a shadow and poses with a hand resting on her left cheek, while a white light slightly illuminates her face.
Length: 3:28.
Lyrics: Sumin and Soyo.
Music: Charli Taft, Sumin, and Daniel "Obi" Klein.
Arrangement: Daniel "Obi" Klein.

"Bubble" feels like the ending theme of a magical girl anime. 
The song has a good rhythm, beat and flow; it's really good.

Rating – 10/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic where Joy is holding a red thread

"Night Drive"

Concept photo for Red Velvet's mini album Cosmic. In the picture, Yeri poses by showing only half of her face. She is wearing blue contact lenses.
Length: 3:20.
Lyrics: Danke, Moon Seol-Ri, Na Jeong-Ah (153/Joombas), and Yoo Jae-Eun (JamFactory).
Music: Flip_00, Isak Alvedahl, 37, and Rachael Chevlin.
Arrangement: Flip_00 and 37.

"Night Drive" is a nice song; I like the last chorus of quite a lot, especially with those high notes.

Rating – 9/10

Gif from the music video of red velvet's song cosmic where yeri is singing laying on the grass while some flowers move around her

Photo source: SM Ent.

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