"Automatic"
Single by Red Velvet
from the EP Ice Cream Cake
LanguageKorean
ReleasedMarch 17, 2015 (2015-03-17)
StudioSM Blue Ocean
Genre
Length3:30
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Choi So-young
Red Velvet singles chronology
"Be Natural"
(2014)		 "Automatic"
(2015)		 "Ice Cream Cake"
(2015)
Music video
"Automatic" on YouTube

"Automatic" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Red Velvet for their debut extended play (EP), Ice Cream Cake (2015). Composed and produced by Daniel "Obi" Klein and Charlotte Taft with Korean lyrics adapted by Choi So-young, the R&B and urban song was released as the group's first single from the EP on March 14, 2015, by SM Entertainment. It marked their first release as a quintet since the addition of member Yeri. The song's lyrics tells about unraveling the feeling of attraction to the other person.

Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from music critics due to its sultry and minimal production. Some were unsure of what to expect from Red Velvet, as it was still unknown what concept the group has. Commercially, the song charted moderately on both the Gaon Digital Chart and US Billboard World Digital Song Sales, peaking at number thirty-two and number nine, respectively. An accompanying music video was released on March 14, 2015, with a set in composition of different spaces arranged like a human memory. The song has been performed on M Countdown, Music Bank, and Inkigayo.

Background and release

Prior to their official comeback announcement, Red Velvet was spotted filming in a desert outdoors in the city of Palmdale, California, for a music video with a believed SM Rookies member (which was eventually revealed as their filming location for their single "Ice Cream Cake").[1][2] On March 11, 2015, SM Entertainment officially introduced Yeri as a new member of Red Velvet through a video, along with image teasers of her, and members Irene and Joy as they will make a comeback as a five-member group.[3][4] On the same day, the label revealed the title of the group's first album to be Ice Cream Cake, which was set to be released on March 18, 2015.[5] The song was released digitally along with the EP on March 17.[6][7]

Writing and composition

"Automatic" was composed by Daniel "Obi" Klein and Charlotte Taft, who would later produce several songs for Red Velvet, while the Korean lyrics were written by Choi So-young.[8][9][10] In an interview with MACG Magazine, Taft revealed that she met Klein at a songwriting camp in Copenhagen, Denmark. The two songwriters then wrote a track called "Lips" and made it to the first cut with Girls' Generation, and Taft was later invited to take part in songwriting camps at SM Studios in Seoul, South Korea. Taft said that she had a really memorable time writing "Automatic"; she revealed that the song was written in her first trip to Korea. Additionally, she told that the song came together "quickly and quite effortlessly", and that she spent coming up with the lyrics and melodies for the track on a rooftop in Seoul.[11] During a podcast, Klein revealed that what seemed like an iPhone recording of girls dancing to Janet Jackson's "Got 'til It's Gone" (1997) was shown to him. He told that he was asked to make a song from the shown video and agreed to do so. However, Klein said that he needed the same BPM for the song in order to fit with the dance tempo.[12]

Musically, "Automatic" was characterized as an urban genre song.[13] Jeff Benjamin of Billboard described the song as a "slow-burning, Janet Jackson-esque R&B jam", which represents the group's "Velvet" side.[14] Kim Do-hyun of IZM highlighted the song as created through the experiment of "Be Natural".[15] It is composed in the key of F minor, with a tempo of 180 beat-per-minute.[16] The song was noted for its synthesizer tone and simple chords, without a "fancy" session.[17] Lyrically, the song conveys a message of automatically unraveling the feeling of attraction to the other person.[18]

Reception

Following its release, "Automatic" has received mixed reviews from music critics. While Benjamin called the song "a slow-burning, Janet Jackson-esque R&B jam that positions them as sultry sirens", Kim cited the track as a song that stand at both extremes of "innocence and sexy".[14][15] In addition to the review of follow-up single "Ice Cream Cake", Jakob Dorof of Spin magazine praised the track as "a recent winner" for both Red Velvet and SM Entertainment.[19] Park Soo-jung from Ten Asia praised Red Velvet's tone and restrained "sensual" vocals for standing out on the song.[20] Cho Ji-hwan of Weiv noted the song for succeeding in producing its own "stickiness".[21] On another album review, while Yoo Je-sang of Idology called the song as "a move to take a stable position", further explaining that it certainly reminds of past idols such as S.E.S., MRJ described the song as "a little disappointing", clarifying that he didn't know what to expect from Red Velvet this time.[22] Jung Byung-wook of Y-Magazine described the song as "one of the risk factors that obscures one's own color", adding that it is still unknown whether the group can have a "steady concept" or has potential as a "more advanced narrative".[23]

Jacques Peterson of Idolator ranked "Automatic" 22nd on "The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2015" list, calling the song a stand-out due to its "minimalist R&B beat" and "melancholy sensuality".[24] The song also landed on Billboard's "The 25 Best Red Velvet Songs: Critic's Picks" list at number nine, and the staff highlighted it for being one of their "smoothest cuts to date".[25]

On the 13th week of March 2015, "Automatic" debuted and peaked at number 32 on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.[26] It also debuted and peaked at number 16 and number 100 on the Gaon Download Chart and Gaon Streaming Chart, respectively.[27][28] The song has since reached total sales of 71,844 digital units in South Korea, as of March 2015.[29] Elsewhere, the song debuted and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, making it Red Velvet's fourth entry and at the time, their lowest peak position on the chart. The ranking of the group's lowest peak was later surpassed by their 2017 SM Station single "Rebirth", which debuted and peaked at number 25 on the World Digital Song Sales chart.[30][31]

Music video

Background

The music video is directed with a symmetrical narrative that emphasizes a "drowsy yet feminist" concept.[32][33]

On March 14, 2015, the music video for "Automatic" was uploaded on both SM Town's YouTube channel and Red Velvet's website.[34] The visual for the song was directed by Shin Hee-won, standing as the first visual he worked on for SM, and he later directed the music videos for Red Velvet's singles "One of These Nights" (2016), "Russian Roulette" (2016), and "Rookie" (2017).[35] In an interview with K-Popped, group member Seulgi revealed that while filming for the music video, the most fun part for her was the hardness of syncing lips with "Automatic", as the song was really fast.[36]

Synopsis and reception

The music video is set in a composition of different spaces arranged like a human memory.[37] In order to project the lyrics "I want to continue to stay in your space together" and express that it stays in the memory without departing it, the video is directed with a symmetrical narrative.[32][38] In addition, it has also redesigned spaces and scenes with unique angles and camera walking.[39] Through the narrative, a differentiated visual beauty is provided that emphasizes a "drowsy yet feminist" concept, "amplifying" curiosity about the opposite double title track.[33][40] All five members are "showcasing sensual choreography at a dimly lit dinner table".[14] The visual became the sixth-most viewed K-pop music video worldwide and the fourth-most viewed in the United States by March 2015.[41]

Live performances

Red Velvet started the promotion for "Automatic" dressed in black and white costumes on M Countdown, where they also performed "Ice Cream Cake".[42] For the performance, choreography by SM performance director Shim Jae-won was commissioned with moves that emphasized fascination and femininity.[43] The choreography included "detailed expressions", such as the movement of turning the wrists crossed with fingers made of the letter "A", taken from the song title.[44] It also featured the movement of the members gathering in a circle and matching the steps with their feet to the lyrics of "I'm putting my feet together".[45] As part of Ice Cream Cake's promotions, the song was performed live during the first promotion week on both Music Bank and Inkigayo.[46][47] On April 6, 2015, Red Velvet performed the track on Kim Shin-young's Hope Song at Noon.[48] The song was also performed during Red Velvet's first concert Red Room in August 2017.[49]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ice Cream Cake.[50]

Studio

  • Recorded at SM Blue Ocean Studio
  • Additional vocal editing at SM Big Shot Studio
  • Mixed at SM Yellow Tail Studio
  • Mastered at Sonic Korea

Personnel

  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • Red Velvet (Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, Yeri) – vocals, background vocals
  • Choi So-young – Korean songwriting
  • Daniel Klein – composition, arrangement
  • Charlotte Taft – composition, arrangement
  • Jeon Seung-woo – vocal directing, background vocals
  • Kim Chul-soon – recording
  • Lee Min-kyu – recording, additional vocal editing
  • Jiyoung Shin – additional vocal editing
  • Koo Jong-pil – mixing
  • Jeon Hoon – mastering
  • Shin Soo-min – mastering assistant

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Automatic"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various March 17, 2015 [52]

References

  1. ↑ Bae, Jae-ryeon (February 1, 2015). 레드벨벳, 신곡 MV 美촬영 최초공개 '금발 소녀' [Red Velvet, To Unveil New Music Video for the First Time 'Blonde Girl']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ 레드벨벳 'Ice Cream Cake' 뮤비 공개, 러블리 매력 분출 [Red Velvet's 'Ice Cream Cake' Music Video will be Released, Showing Off Lovely Charm]. New Daily (in Korean). March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  3. ↑ Hong, Grace Dan-bi (March 11, 2015). "[Video] Red Velvet Welcomes New Member Yeri in Time for Comeback". CJ E&M enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015 – via Mwave.
  4. ↑ Jung, Ji-won (March 11, 2015). 레드벨벳 5인조 개편, 신멤버 예리 투입 '18일 컴백' [Red Velvet's Five-member Reshuffle, New Member Yeri 'Comeback on the 18th']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  5. ↑ Hwang, Seok-jo (March 11, 2015). 레드벨벳, 새 멤버 '예리' 합류 5인조 변신…18일 컴백 [Red Velvet, 'Yeri' Joins as a New Member and Transforming It Into a Five-member Group, Comeback on the 18th]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  6. ↑ Yoon, Ki-baek (March 15, 2015). 레드벨벳, 더블 타이틀곡으로 화려한 컴백 예고 [Red Velvet, Heralds a Spectacular Comeback with a Double Title Track]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ Choi, Joon-yong (March 15, 2015). 컴백 레드벨벳, 더블 타이틀 곡 '아이스크림 케이크' '오토매틱'으로 반전 매력 [Red Velvet's Comeback, Double Title Track 'Ice Cream Cake' and 'Automatic' Have a Twist]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ 앨범 정보 - The 1st Mini Album 'Ice Cream Cake' [Album Information - The 1st Mini Album 'Ice Cream Cake'] (in Korean). Melon. March 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ 아티스트 채널 - Daniel Obi Klein [Artist Channel - Daniel Obi Klein] (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ Russell, Erica (August 26, 2017). "Charli Taft on Working With K-Pop's Biggest Stars, 'Love Like You'". PopCrush. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  11. ↑ "[Interview] Charli Taft: From Charlotte to Charli". MACG Magazine. August 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  12. ↑ Rachlin, Dan (October 6, 2020). "Dan opdager K-pop med Daniel Obi Klein og Charli Taft" [Dan Discovers K-pop with Daniel Obi Klein and Charli Taft] (Podcast) (in German). Podchaser. Event occurs at 00:34:35. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. ↑ Lee, Jung-hyuk (March 15, 2015). 5인조 변신 레드벨벳 'Ice Cream Cake', 상반된 매력의 더블 타이틀곡으로 활동 [Red Velvet's 'Ice Cream Cake' is a Double Title Track with Conflicting Charms]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 Benjamin, Jeff (March 27, 2015). "Red Velvet Send Delicious 'Ice Cream' EP to World, Heatseeker Albums Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Kim, Do-heon (March 2015). "Neo Music Communication IZM" Ice Cream Cake 리뷰 [Ice Cream Cake Review]. IZM (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Automatic - Spot On Track". Spot On Track. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  17. ↑ Park, Hee-ah (March 18, 2015). 레드벨벳, 달콤한 '더블 타이틀' 유혹 시작됐다 [Red Velvet, Sweet 'Double Title' Seduction has Begun]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  18. ↑ Park, Bo-ra (March 15, 2015). 레드벨벳, 신곡 '오토매틱' MV 공개…다른 곡은 언제? [Red Velvet, To Release Their New Song 'Automatic' MV...When is the Other Song?]. Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ Dorof, Jakob (June 11, 2015). "Spin K-Pop Report: Ga-In Subverts Adam & Eve, Lim Kim Pops Smoky Bubblegum". Spin. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  20. ↑ Park, Soo-jung (March 23, 2015). 박수정의 덕후感, 레드+벨벳+α=레드벨벳 [Park Soo-jung's Fanaticism, Red+Velvet+α=Red Velvet]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ Cho, Ji-hwan; Choi, Sung-wook; Park, Joon-woo; Sung, Hyo-sun (March 26, 2015). [Weekly Weiv] 3. 8 ~ 3. 20 | 레드벨벳, 시레나, 피타입 [[Weekly Weiv] 3. 8 ~ 3. 20 | Red Velvet, Sirena, P-Type]. Weiv (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  22. ↑ 1st Listen : 2015년 3월 중순 [1st Listen: Mid-March 2015]. Idology (in Korean). March 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
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  26. 1 2 2015년 13주차 Digital Chart [2015, Week 13 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. March 15–21, 2015. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
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  32. 1 2 Sun, Mi-kyung (March 15, 2015). 레드벨벳, 더블 타이틀 '오토매틱' MV 공개..몽환 반전매력 [Red Velvet, To Release its Double Title 'Automatic' MV..Dreamy Inversion Charm]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
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  39. ↑ Lee, Jung-hyun (March 15, 2015). '컴백' 레드벨벳, 반전 매력 선사! 'Automatic' MV 기습 공개 [Red Velvet's Comeback, Unexpected Charm! Surprise Release of 'Automatic' MV]. Sports Hankook (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
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  43. ↑ Choi, Na-young (March 24, 2015). 레드벨벳, 반전 2色 안무 누가했나? [Red Velvet, Who did the Choreography of the Reverse 2 Colors?]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  44. ↑ Jang, Kyung-kook (March 24, 2015). 레드벨벳, 'Ice Cream Cake', 'Automatic' 반전 퍼포먼스 '깜짝' [Red Velvet, 'Ice Cream Cake', 'Automatic' Inverted Performance 'Surprising']. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
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  46. ↑ Lee, Lee Yi-jin (March 20, 2021). '뮤직뱅크' 레드벨벳, 시크 블랙vs깜찍 비비드 '컴백' [Red Velvet on 'Music Bank', Chic Black VS. Cute Vivid 'Comeback']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  47. ↑ Moon, Ji-yeon (March 22, 2015). '인기가요' 레드벨벳, 블랙vs파스텔 반전폭발 컴백 '깜짝' [Red Velvet on 'Inkigayo', Black VS. Pastel Unexpected Explosive Comeback 'Surprise']. TV Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  48. ↑ Red Velvet - Automatic, 레드벨벳 - Automatic, 정오의 희망곡 김신영 입니다 20150403 [Red Velvet - Automatic, Kim Shin-young's Hope Song at Noon 20150403] (YouTube) (in Korean). MBCkpop. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  49. ↑ Jeong, Da-hoon (August 20, 2017). [SE★콘서트 현장]'레드벨벳'의 다음 페이지는...소름이 돋을 정도로 '행복'한 꽃길 [[SE★Concert Site] The Next Page of 'Red Velvet'...A Path of 'Happy' Flowers that Gives Goosebumps]. Seoul Economy (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  50. ↑ Ice Cream Cake (booklet) (in Korean). Red Velvet. SM Entertainment. 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  51. ↑ 2015년 03월 Digital Chart [March 2015 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  52. ↑ 곡 정보 - Automatic [Song Information - Automatic] (in Korean). Melon. March 17, 2015. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
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