Despite not having written a review of any Red Velvet songs in my blog, they have one of K-pop’s strongest discographies. It was mostly usually because the timing of their releases coincided with my hiatus periods (regarding writing in the blog). I have a particular soft spot for their novel ballad, ‘One of these Nights’, which is arguably one of the most musically interesting songs in the K-pop soundscape, stuffed with key changes, note transpositions, uncommon cords, just to mention a few. However, some of their latest releases haven’t hit a cord with me compared to their earlier ones. For example, ‘Queendom’ was good- as in a solid 8 across the board. But not ‘great’. Their last comeback’s title track, ‘Chill Kill’, was polarising to many fans (although I personally loved it). In the light of this inconsistent streak, just in time for the group’s 10th anniversary, ‘Cosmic’ marks Red Velvet’s return to form.
The song begins with an incredible bass line that is surprisingly apparent, setting the stage for a disco banger. Yet, the pre-chorus takes a sonic shift, morphing into an ethereal and wispy, incorporating the signature transposition of select notes that characterises many of their songs. This shift is somewhat surprising and can be abrupt for some listeners, but ultimately I think it is quite novel. It is framed in a position as if it was simply the natural direction. I think it would be relatively easy to digest, and I predict that some doubters of this production choice would eventually end up finding it compelling and interesting and merely be a piece in the puzzle.
When the chorus hits, I’m immediately in love. The metamorphosis is complete, introducing lush strings that fill in the space along with a melody that is one of the most immediately catchy chorus melodies in recent K-pop. It feels like an instant classic. As the first phrase of the melody comes to an end, the violin’s adlib dancing downwards in pitch simultaneously evokes a romantic ballroom dancing-esque appeal as well as a sound reminiscent of the the great band ABBA. I resisted ‘Dancing Queen’ to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating, and although the two songs sound quite different, it still gives off the same old-school, classic vibe which I absolutely adore. The chorus melody continues to develop and get even stronger (which I didn’t think was possible) as it progresses, and its post-chorus acts as an extremely effective repeated hook that seals the the chorus’s state of greatness. As usual, the vocal direction and layering is state-of-the-art. Altogether, it is simply beautiful.
The bridge doesn’t take any fancy, just a classic piano bridge that does the job right and emulates the same old-school vibe of the chorus. A standard bridge sounds just about like the bridge in ‘Cosmic’, complete with a Wendy power note. By the way, it doesn’t really need to be said, but Red Velvet sound absolutely perfect on the track.
If anything, the verses still feel noticeably weaker than the chorus. However, it doesn’t pull down the song because of the sheer strength of the chorus. I believe it is just the curse of a fresh listen.
Overall, ‘Cosmic’ is a song worthy of a 10-year anniversary, reminding listeners of the legends that Red Velvet are.
Hooks – 9
Production – 10
Vocal Delivery – 10
Overall – 9.75 (I will wait for a while before deciding whether I will give it a 10)
K-pop Evaluated 
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