Uncover Seulgi: Fans try to decipher message behind the 'room of mirrors' and lyrics
Red Velvet's sub-unit Irene & Seulgi have dropped a few tracks, including a Seulgi solo titled 'Uncover', Irene's self-titled solo 'Episode 2 Irene' as well as previous releases 'Monster' and 'Naughty'. Continuing the theme of an internal battle represented by the two opposing sides of the same person, 'Uncover' has Seulgi 'uncovering her mind' and 'listening to herself' as she dances amidst a room full of mirrors.
'Monster', the title track of the duo's debut EP, was a gritty, hard-hitting track that had Irene and Seulgi battle each other head-on. 'Naughty' saw them continue their battle, this time set to a gorgeous deep house tune that allowed the duo to truly show off their top-notch dance skills before they seemingly parted ways at the end of the video. Irene's solo soon followed, showing her engage in a dance with a clone of herself, thus taking their concept from a battle between two halves to one that exists entirely within one person's mind. And with Seulgi's solo, it appears that battle finds it's resolution, with the singer seemingly having 'uncovered' something by the end of it.
Seulgi's performance has earned her a massive amount of praise. One fan tweeted, "One of the few who passed the hardest audition from SM, been called “Ace of K-pop” alongside Taemin, being recognized as a top female dancer by many teachers in the industry and legend idol like BoA, a well-rounded artist. Kang Seulgi." Another shared, "Seulgi is the main reason why I decided to stan [Red Velvet] in the first place years ago (her opening verse in the 'Dumb Dumb' mv.. *sigh*). I honestly owe so much to her. she will always be my ultimate bias & I’m just so overwhelmed with pride go stream & show her some love." Seulgi and Irene are two idols who have often faced criticism for being 'visuals', despite both being skilled vocalists and some of the best dancers in the industry. For many fans, this sub-unit is finally a chance for them to prove their haters wrong.
But in addition to talent, Irene & Seulgi have also got fans talking about the thematic elements that run throughout all their releases, with fans now theorizing that Seulgi is ultimately the protagonist in this story. One fan shared, "I think Seulgi was drawing herself here. Makes sense since it might mean she finally ‘uncovered’ everything as soon as the song ended," in reference to the beginning of the video where the idol appears to be drawing something while sitting in front of a mirror. Another fan stated, "When Seulgi came back to where she was in the beginning but hair drenched like she was in the room full of mirrors (where she was reflecting on herself), it's like she found the courage to present who she really is on the inside, which is the message of Uncover."
Another fan pointed out, "The whole video was just such an intimate experience watching her pour her heart out into her performance...she's showing us the very depths of her soul and expressing herself through Uncover it just feels so deeply personal to her I'm blown away," further indicating that the song is built around a very deeply personal exploration of one's own mind. As fans continue to find hidden meanings and 'uncover' what Seulgi is trying to say, some are hoping Irene & Seulgi will reveal more details about the story they're trying to tell as they continue to promote the release in the coming weeks.