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The Top Ten Best Album Tracks by RED VELVET

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The Top Ten Best Album Tracks by RED VELVETIt’s been a long time since I’ve written one of these top ten lists. (Okay… it’s been years.) But what better excuse to dive back in than a tenth anniversary celebration? Red Velvet celebrate their tenth year this summer and now it’s finally time to take a look at my favorite album tracks and b-sides from their illustrious career.

* I promise not to take so long before publishing the next one! Most of the old lists need updating, too…

10. I Just (2017)

We’ll kick off with something slightly more downbeat since the majority of this countdown will feature energetic bangers. I love the warped vocal flourish that forms I Just’s hook and the halting verses set it up perfectly.

9. Cool World (2015)

You can never go wrong with an It Takes Two/Think (About It) sample, and that familiar sound brings us into this cool synthpop gem. It’s a late standout in the group’s incredible The Red album.

8. Hit That Drum (2018)

This reminds of what I assume a Zumba class would be like, and that could easily make it too silly and appropriative to work. However, I’ve always been a fan of intricate percussion and Hit That Drum has too much energy to ignore.

7. Aitai-tai (2018)

One of Red Velvet’s most straightforward dance tracks and the only Japanese song to feature on this list, Aitai-tai is a blast of cute, summery house music.

6. Bing Bing (2019)

Over an Edge Of Seventeen style guitar chug, Bing Bing exemplifies the colorful “red” side of the group. It sounds like a carnival, exploding with an ever-increasing sense of pop joy. (full review)

5. Look (2017)

I love when Red Velvet go full-on synth-dance. Look is a slick 80’s throwback in the best way, serving icy vocals and a percolating beat that’s retro without simply becoming a pastiche.

4. Body Talk (2017)

A stately synth-pop dreamscape houses one of the group’s most affecting melodies. I don’t usually go for slower tracks, but I’ll make a big exception here. This is simply gorgeous. (full review)

3. Huff n Puff (2015)

The Red is Red Velvet’s most consistently upbeat album and many of its tracks could have easily featured on this list. Huff n Puff goes one step further than the rest with its ultra-percussive sound and catchy chanted chorus.

2. Zoo (2017)

I count Red Flavor and Happiness among my all-time favorite Red Velvet songs, so it should surprise no one that the colorful, zany Zoo ranks this high. Everything about it — from the animal noises to the trumpeting synth to the escalating “Zoo! Zoo! Zoo!!” — is my kind of bonkers K-pop. It’s a total summer classic. (full review)

1. You Better Know (2017)

I often wonder why more K-pop groups don’t embrace this kind of big-voiced EDM anthem. I’ve come to think it’s because many of them just don’t have the vocals needed to pull it off. You Better Know is surging and cathartic and absolutely massive. And at a whopping 4+ minutes, it allows itself to luxuriate in its extended rush of euphoria. The second half goes absolutely off. (full review)

23 thoughts on “The Top Ten Best Album Tracks by RED VELVET”

  1. OMG I called it! You Better Know is an amazing dance song perfect for the summer. There’s a lot going on with the song.

    Would you say that “The Red Summer” is your favorite ReVe album to date?

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      • BTW I’m curious to know your thoughts on both Red Velvet’s and TWS’s new albums 👀

        And I know you weren’t that intrigued by Red Velvet’s last full album Chill Kill but I’m also curious to know what your favorite track from that album was.

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        • I like every song on the TWS album quite a bit, but the two singles are the clear standouts. Will probably have a buried treasure in the coming days.

          I think the RV is slightly better than their recent albums, but it suffers from the same issue I’ve had with much of their late-career work. It feels like it’s more tasteful (?) than fun, if that makes sense. I might find a buried treasure, might not…

          About Chill Kill… I’d honestly have to listen to the album again because I can’t remember a thing from it. It left no impression on me, really 😅

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          • I think Bubble’s light disco/arcade flare might be a good candidate. Lately I’ve been listening to SHINee’s Like A Fire, and Sunflower off the Cosmic album gives me similar vibes (maybe the vocal layering in the chorus?). Honestly, Red Velvet’s vocal performance elevates a lot of their material

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        • I aalso saw that you said the happiness is one of your fav red velvet songs and I can say with confidence that happiness is such an amazing song, I love it!

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  2. Wow, you really did it! And so quickly! And I’m really surprised Body Talk’s here! Thanks for this, I’ll be listening to Red Velvet tomorrow for sure:)

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  3. Aww too bad that Day 1 nor Bad Dracula was on the list, but to be fair, Red Velvet has an amazing catalogue of b-sides (I have a special love for the ones where they get to show their vocals i.e Oh Boy & Don’t U Wait No More, coincidentally from the same album; The Red really is an incredible album). I will patiently await the TVXQ! one 😭 (just thinking about it intimidates me!)

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  6. Solid top. All my favs are there but it’s missing Oh Boy, Ladie’s room and In My Dreams. Very hard to make a top 10 of their best bside lok

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  7. I often wonder why more K-pop groups don’t embrace this kind of big-voiced EDM anthem. I’ve come to think it’s because many of them just don’t have the vocals needed to pull it off.

    now why’d you clock them like that? 😭

    great list, some of my favorites that didn’t make the list are Take It Slow, Time Slip, Day 1, Cool Hot Sweet Love, Little Little, Mojito, About Love, Blue Lemonade, Butterflies, So Good and BAMBOLEO.

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  8. It’s telling that these are all from the earlier half of their career. It’s sad that they left behind these fun, maximalist concepts for the ‘mature’, or as you rightly say ‘tasteful’, ones that aren’t nearly as joyful.

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  9. All of the yes for ‘You Better Know’ and ‘Zoo’ at the top of the list!!! Those are definitely my two favorites as well, with ‘Swimming Pool’ right behind, or maybe even jumping ‘Zoo’ for me. Also much love for ‘Aitai-tai’ and ‘Hit That Drum’ – they would make my list as well. I would have also added ‘Bamboleo’, ‘Red Dress’, and ‘Mojito.’ I’m not sure what my last two would be… The rest of the album tracks that I actually like fall into an overlapping jumble. Maybe ‘Cause It’s You’ because I find it very sweet and beautiful. And then ‘Butterflies,’ ‘Will I Ever See You Again?’ and ‘Eyes Locked, Hands Locked’ can duke it out for the last spot, haha.

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  10. This is such a hard group to do, because they have so many good B-sides! My top 5 would probably be 1) I Just 2) You Better Know 3) Cool Hot Sweet Love 4) Butterflies… and then my golden trio from The Red that I can’t choose between, Huff N Puff, Campfire, and Oh Boy.

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  14. 1) Psycho *

    • In My Dreams (1) *

    2) Russian Roulette

      • Look (2) +
      • Body Talk (3) *
      • Swimming Pool (4) *

      3) Umpah Umpah +

      • Sunny Side Up! (5)

      4) Rookie +

      • You Better Know (6) *
      • Zoo (7)

      5) Dumb Dumb

      • Zoom (8)
      • Mr. E (9)
      • Would U (10) *

      ……. (various b-sides before ice cream cake including: Sassy Me, Stupid Cupid, Happily Ever After, Pose, Mosquito)

      6) Ice Cream Cake

      7) Chill Kill *

      8) Be Natural

      9) Sappy

      10) One of These Nights

      ===

      (Disclaimer: have not listened to “Cosmic” yet. Hopefully it’s great!)

      *I’ve tried singing these

      +I’ve tried dancing to these

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    1. I feel personally victimized by Cool Hot Sweet Love not being on the list xd

      I love pretty much all of these, I would add a few more like: Oh boy and Some Love.

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