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Red Velvet 'Queendom': Release date, concept and all about adventurous comeback

After 2 years, the girls are back with their 6th Korean EP and the vibrant and fun lead single 'Queendom'

The wait is finally over! After releasing their compilation album and hit single ‘Psycho’ in 2019, Red Velvet went on a temporary hiatus of sorts. We saw just one project single in 2020, but that was it from the girl group. In the meantime, the members were busy with solo activities like K-dramas and solo albums. But after almost two whole years, Red Velvet is finally back.

After several rumors and speculations, the group’s comeback is confirmed with their sixth Korean EP ‘Queendom’. They started pre-promotions in the last week of July by opening a pop-up store of iconic memorabilia from their past comebacks and special clips of their b-sides. And with only the weekend between us and the most anticipated comeback, here’s everything you need to know about ‘Queendom’

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Release date

Red Velvet’s ‘Queendom’ music video and digital version of the album will be released on August 16 at 6 pm KST (5 am ET). 
The physical album will be released on August 17.

How to listen

The album will be released on all major music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, MelOn and more.

Schedule

August 14 - Joy and Yeri on Amazing Saturday at 7:40 pm KST (6:40 am ET) 
August 16 - ‘Beyond LIVE - Red Velvet ONLINE FANMEETING - inteRView vol.7: Queendom’ at 8 pm KST (7 am ET)
August 19 - Mnet’s ‘M Countdown’ at 6 pm KST (5 am ET)
August 20 - KBS’ ‘Music Bank’ at 5 pm KST (4 am ET), ‘Wendy’s Youngstreet’ at 8 pm KST (7 am ET)

Tracklist 

1. ‘Queendom’ - Title track
2. ‘Pose’
3. ‘Knock on Wood’
4. ‘Better Be’
5. ‘Pushin’ N Pullin’
6. ‘Hello, Sunset’

From the snippets released, the title track ‘Queendom’ is dance-pop with an upbeat melody while ‘Pose’ is described as a pop song with a fierce bass line. ‘Knock on Wood’ is relatively dreamier with electro-punk sounds while ‘Better Be’ is an R&B track. ‘Pushin’ N Pullin’ is a pop-R&B track that is inspirational as they sing about a person with anxiety getting into a relationship. The album ends with ‘Hello, Sunset’. It is a slow R&B confessional ballad juxtaposed with an electric guitar and piano.

Concept 

The group released a mood sampler and teaser images for the comeback. The album will have two versions - the Girls version and the Queens version. The first set of concept images titled ‘Homecoming! Girls’ is a part of the Girls version and has a retro look with the girls sporting chic and preppy outfits. ‘Welcome to the Queendom’ is part of the Queens version where the girls are stuck in a doll-like world. In the last set of teaser images, titled ‘Carnival’, which is also a part of the Queens version, we see the girls with windswept hair and cool tones in an abandoned carnival.

Music video teaser 

They finally dropped a music video teaser two days before the album release. The teaser had instrumentals full of disco sounds as the girls dance in a vibrant toy-like setup. Many drew parallels between the teaser and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

‘It’s actually happening’

Reveluvs have been waiting for a group comeback for so long that they couldn’t contain their excitement. They ended up trending the girls in several regions including the Twitter worldwide trends where they were #1. It still didn’t feel real as one fan keyboard smashed, “Icb its actually happening sjdjsjs.” Another posted a reaction meme, “Rv: *releases 2 different covers for photobook version and 1 for case version for queendom plus beyond live and md set* me:.”

With the album crossing 120k preorders already, one fan made a meme, “Red Velvet preparing the 110k preordered queendom albums.” Many also noticed the one constant prop in all Red Velvet music videos, “Red Velvet finally reunited with their 6th member, the Table!” Another fan added, “I've said it before but I will say it again, redvelvet.smtown has got the prettiest ig feed ugh so aesthetically pleasing.”

Fans also loved how amazing the girls looked as one tweeted, “So true center irene.” Another fan said, “WENDY YOU LOOK EXPENSIVE.” One fan posted, “Cause of death: seulgi’s wink.” Another added, “JOY is the MOMENT.” A Reveluv couldn’t get over Yeri, “KIM YERIM SO CUTE!! ARE YOU SURE YOUR AGE IS 23??? MA'AM???”