Happiness (Red Velvet song) explained

Happiness
Cover:Red_Velvet_-_Happiness.png
Type:single
Artist:Red Velvet
Language:Korean
Released:August 4, 2014
Studio:
  • SM Booming System (Seoul)
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio (Seoul)
Genre:Euro-pop
Label:
Lyricist:Yoo Young-jin
Chronology:Red Velvet
Next Title:Be Natural
Next Year:2014

"Happiness" is the debut single recorded by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. The song was written by Yoo Young-jin, Will Simms, Chad Hugo, Anne Judith Wik, and Chris Holsten, with the production was handled by Hugo and Simms. It was released digitally by SM Entertainment on August 4, 2014, in South Korea. The song also marked their first release under the Red Velvet moniker and their first as a quartet, introducing the four members Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy to the public.

An urban Euro-pop track, it is about how you can feel empowered and love yourself more by appreciating the small joys in life. Upon its release, "Happiness" received mixed reviews from music critics for its mish-mash of different sounds and styles and not much satisfaction with just this one song. The song charted moderately in South Korea, becoming the group's first top five entry on both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard's World Digital Songs chart. An accompanying music video was released on August 3, 2014, but a new version was reuploaded due to references to the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the September 11 attacks. Red Velvet's debut stage for the song was a performance on Music Bank and further promotion was held on several South Korean music programs.

Background and composition

Through SM Entertainment's trainee group SM Rookies, members Irene, Seulgi, and Wendy were introduced initially to the public.[1] Rumors soon sparked out that the three members were to debut as a group in July 2014, which was then confirmed by SM Entertainment.[2] [3] A music video teaser for "Happiness" was then uploaded on July 28, 2014, being the group's first song, including the three aforementioned members and new member Joy, who would debut together as Red Velvet.[4] The then-quarter girl group was SM Entertainment's new group since the introduction of Exo in 2012.[5] Musically, "Happiness" was described as a vibrant urban Euro-pop song that fuses "an intense synth sound" and elements from African tribal beat.[6] [7] Lee Ga-young of People Today described its "electronic sounds", which can be interpreted as SM Entertainment's intention to stick to experimental music styles. The song was produced by Will Simms and Chad Hugo, with the latter being known as one half of American production duo the Neptunes, and is composed in the key of B♭ minor with a tempo of 121 beats per minute.[8] [9] Lyrically, Simms and Hugo written the song's music with songwriter Anne Judith Wik (Dsign Music) and Chris Holsten, while Yoo Young-jin penned the Korean lyrics. The lyrics convey a message of how you can feel empowered and love yourself more by appreciating the small joys in life.[10]

Reception

Following its initial release, "Happiness" was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Jacques Petersen of Popdust called the track a "mish-mash of different sounds and styles that you wouldn't expect to work, but somehow does".[11] On another song review, writers Kim Sung-Dae, Kim Sung-Hwan, Park Byung-Woon, and Park Sang-Joon of Y-Magazine described the track as featuring "four-dimensional messages mixed with Korean and English", further adding that "the individuality and charm of the vocals of the members have not yet been clearly revealed", while rating the track with three stars out of five.[12] Writing for Hankook Ilbo, Lee Ho-yeon reported that "Happiness" was included on the songs that were on the music charts for the new year of 2020 due to positive energy from the title.[13] In an individual song review, Yoo Je-sang of Idology magazine opined that "the frivolous melody and the lyrics that pour out without context are that of f(x)" since it was "relatively more organized and experienced than them", while writer Cho Sung-min of the same magazine viewed the track as a "little early to judge", further noticing how "there's not much satisfaction with just this one song".[14]

The song was featured on Weiv magazine's "Weiv Writer's 2014 Singles of the Year".[15] It received a nomination for Digital Bonsang at the 29th Golden Disk Awards, held in the year of 2015.[16]

On the week of August 3, 2014, "Happiness" debuted and peaked at number five on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, marking Red Velvet's first top-five entry on the chart. It also debuted at number three and number 22 on the Gaon Download Chart and Gaon Streaming Chart, respectively.[17] [18] In addition, the song debuted at number four on Billboards World Digital Song Sales chart and has since sold 15,000 copies in the United States.[19]

Music video

Background

Directed by Kim Sung-wook, the music video for "Happiness" was released on August 3, 2014, one day before the digital release of the song on all South Korean digital streaming platforms.[20] [21] [22] The video was initially released on August 1, 2014, but then experienced a re-release due to the controversial imagery concerning the Japan bombing. The beginning of the music video also featured a few then-SM trainees, including Yeri, who would join the group shortly after.[23] The original music video for "Happiness" was replaced with an edited version, which became the second-most viewed K-pop music video worldwide for the month of August 2014.[24]

Synopsis and reception

The music video is set in a jungle-inspired background with geometric patterns, combination of live action and animation, and various split screens. In addition, similarly to being led on a roller coaster at an amusement park, it has dynamic camera movements separating the fantasy world from reality, overcoming adult greed to gain happiness like in a fantasy world. Following the music video's release, Song Hyung-geun of E Today noted Red Velvet's "eye-catching charm", further praising the video for its "differentiated visual beauty using various imaging techniques such as motion graphics and collage".[25] Kim Sun-min of News Way noted Red Velvet's "glamorous outfits and striking hairstyles" in the music video.[26] On December 3, 2020, the music video for the track reached 100 million views on YouTube, with them becoming the first SM Entertainment group to have over a hundred million views debut music video, while it was the ninth music video of Red Velvet to reach this mark.[27]

Controversy

In August 2014, after the release of the music video for "Happiness", Japanese media reported that images referencing the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the September 11 attacks, were seen in the background of the video. SM Entertainment responded to the reports, stating: "When I inquired with the music video director, it was said that there was no intention because it was simply using the image source of the collage technique."[28] The representative added that the label removed the content and will take care to prevent the situation from happening in the future.[29] SM later uploaded a new version of the music video without the controversial images.[30]

Live performances

Red Velvet started the promotion for "Happiness" first with a performance on Music Bank, making it their debut stage.[31] For the performance, choreography by Japanese-born choreographer Ayako Takeuchi was commissioned, with participation from SM performance director Shim Jae-won.[32] [33] Following the release of the song, Red Velvet performed "Happiness" on several South Korean music programs.[34] [35] [36] On September 15, 2014, Red Velvet performed the song for SM Town Live World Tour IV at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.[37]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of "Happiness".[38]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Happiness"
Chart (2014)Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[39] 5
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[40] 4

Monthly charts

Chart (August 2014)! scope="col"
Position
South Korea (Gaon)[41] 14

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Happiness"!Region!Date!Format(s)!Label(s)!
VariousAugust 1, 2014Promotional CD[42]
August 4, 2014[43]

Notes and References

  1. News: July 23, 2014. ko:SM루키즈 웬디 슬기 아이린, 청순 미모 대단해 '예찬'. ko. SM Rookies' Wendy, Seulgi, and Irene Have a Great 'Youthful' Innocent Looks. ETN News. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113064331/https://m.etnews.com/20140723000103?obj=Tzo4OiJzdGRDbGFzcyI6Mjp7czo3OiJyZWZlcmVyIjtOO3M6NzoiZm9yd2FyZCI7czoxMzoid2ViIHRvIG1vYmlsZSI7fQ%3D%3D. January 13, 2021.
  2. News: Park. Chang-woo. July 23, 2014. ko:SM 신인 걸그룹, 왜 4인조일까?. ko. SM Rookie Girl Group, Why is it a four-member group?. OhmyNews. live. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118054847/http://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002016318. January 18, 2021.
  3. News: July 28, 2014. ko:레드벨벳…'SM 신인 걸그룹' 데뷔일 전격 공개, '슬기·아이린·웬디·조이'. ko. Red Velvet, The "SM New Girl Group" Debut Day, 'Seulgi, Irene, Wendy, and Joy'. Asia Business Daily. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113070016/https://cm.asiae.co.kr/article/2014072813210735392. January 13, 2021.
  4. News: Yoon. Hye-young. July 28, 2014. ko:SM 레드벨벳 '행복' 뮤직비디오 티저 공개, 아이린-웬디-슬기-조이 '발랄'. ko. SM's Red Velvet 'Happiness' Music Video Teaser Release, 'Cheerful' Irene, Wendy, Seulgi, Joy. TV Daily. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113030251/http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1406479789737865010. January 13, 2021.
  5. News: Park. Jung-min. July 28, 2014. ko:SM 레드벨벳, 소시-에프엑스 이어 새로운 걸그룹 탄생 '눈길'. ko. SM's Red Velvet Currently on 'Attention', Girls' Generation, f(x) Followed by a New Girl Group. Women News. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113090955/https://www.womennews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=74149. January 13, 2021.
  6. News: Choi. Jin-sil. August 8, 2014. ko:뮤비 탐구 수첩, 레드벨벳 ‘행복(Happiness)’ 편. ko. Music Video Exploration Notebook, Red Velvet's 'Happiness' Episode. Hankook Ilbo. live. January 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113031548/https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/2014080880134. January 13, 2021.
  7. News: Bernardo. Jaehwa. May 27, 2019. 5 Red Velvet Songs You Need to Listen to. ABS-CBN News. live. March 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20190526234427/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/27/19/5-red-velvet-songs-you-need-to-listen-to. May 26, 2019.
  8. Web site: August 4, 2014. ko:곡 정보 - 행복 (Happiness). Song Information - Happiness. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113070901/https://www.melon.com/song/detail.htm?songId=4774996. January 13, 2021. January 13, 2021. Melon. ko.
  9. Web site: Key & BPM for Happiness by Red Velvet. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201114094708/https://tunebat.com/Info/-Happiness-Red-Velvet/7N2nLFpfpkqJdpXIF0BVtM. November 14, 2020. April 28, 2020. Tunebat.
  10. News: Lee. Ga-young. August 18, 2014. ko:'레드벨벳'데뷔, 유영진 스타일 벗고 SM 세대교체 이루어지나. ko. Red Velvet Debuts, Yoo Young-jin Changes His Style and the SM Generation. People Today. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113072723/http://www.epeopletoday.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3000. January 13, 2021.
  11. Web site: August 4, 2014. Say Hello To K-pop's Next Big Girl Group, Red Velvet!. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327061737/https://www.popdust.com/say-hello-to-k-pops-next-big-girl-group-red-velvet-1890001202.html. March 27, 2020. March 27, 2020. Popdust.
  12. Web site: Kim. Sung-dae. Kim. Sung-hwan. Park. Byung-woon. Park. Sang-joon. August 17, 2014. 403 Forbidden. ko: Y-Review: [Single Out #6-1] 레드벨벳 「행복」. Y-Review: [Single Out #6-1] Red Velvet's 'Happiness'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113053115/http://musicy.kr/?c=review&s=1&gbn=viewok&ix=4455. January 13, 2021. December 29, 2020. Y-Magazine. ko.
  13. News: Lee. Ho-yeon. January 1, 2020. ko:'이루리·돈벼락·행복', 새해 첫 음원 차트에 희망찬 노래 역주행. ko. 'As You Wish, Jackpot, Happiness" Hopeful Songs Climb Back the New Year's Music Chart. Hankook Ilbo. live. January 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112095059/https://m.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/202001010132392669. January 12, 2021.
  14. Web site: Cho. Sung-min. Yoo. Je-sang. 3 August 2014. ko:레드벨벳 - 행복 (Happiness) (2014). Record Library: Red Velvet - Happiness (2014). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111194022/http://idology.kr/disc/2002. January 11, 2021. December 28, 2020. Idology. ko.
  15. Web site: Cha. Woo-jin. Joo. Min-hyuk. Jung. Eun-jung. Lim. Seung-kyun. Park. Jun-woo. January 2, 2015. ko:[2014 연말결산] 웨이브 필자들의 올해의 싱글. 2014 Weiv Writers' Singles of the Year. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170706222152/http://www.weiv.co.kr/archives/19830. July 6, 2017. December 29, 2020. Weiv. ko.
  16. News: January 9, 2015. ko:'2014 골든'음원 본상 후보⑨ 6·7·8월 여름을 달구다…레드벨벳·산이-레이나·씨스타. ko. Nominees for the '2014 Golden Music Awards' Warms Up the Summer of June, July, and August, Red Velvet, San E, Raina, Sistar. JoongAng Ilbo. live. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118041215/https://news.joins.com/article/16891445. January 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: ko:2014년 33주차 Download Chart. 2014, Week 33 Download Chart. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20150514030841/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=33&hitYear=2014&termGbn=week. May 14, 2015. April 28, 2020. Gaon Music Chart.
  18. Web site: ko:2014년 33주차 Streaming Chart. 2014, Week 33 Streaming Chart. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20180926211135/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1040&targetTime=33&hitYear=2014&termGbn=week. September 26, 2018. April 28, 2020. Gaon Music Chart. ko.
  19. Benjamin. Jeff. March 30, 2018. Red Velvet Gears Up for North Korea: 10 Things to Know Before the Historic K-Pop Performance. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201010105805/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8275948/red-velvet-south-korean-kpop-group-get-to-know-10-facts. October 10, 2020. January 16, 2021. Billboard.
  20. News: Kwak. Yeon-soo. December 13, 2018. Director Behind Iconic K-Pop Music Videos. The Korea Times. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20181214113659/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/12/682_260315.html. December 14, 2018.
  21. News: Hong. Grace Dan-bi. August 3, 2014. Red Velvet Re-Releases 'Happiness' MV with Edited Scenes. Mnet America. dead. May 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20141223131642/http://www.mnetamerica.com/news/article/72424/redvelvet-releases-mv-again. December 23, 2014.
  22. News: Jang. Min-hye. August 1, 2014. ko:레드벨벳, 데뷔곡 '행복' 뮤직비디오 공개 '알록달록'. ko. Red Velvet to Release Their 'Colorful' Debut Song 'Happiness' Music Video. News Inside. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113062447/http://www.newsinside.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=254284. January 13, 2021.
  23. News: March 12, 2015. ko:레드벨벳 새 멤버 예리, 과거 데뷔곡 '행복'에도 등장한 것으로 밝혀져. ko. Red Velvet's New Member Yeri has Also Appeared in Her Debut Song 'Happiness'. Maeil Business Newspaper. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113034148/https://www.mk.co.kr/star/hot-issues-1/view/2015/03/235060/. January 13, 2021.
  24. Benjamin. Jeff. September 8, 2014. Most Viewed K-Pop Videos in America & Around the World: August 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140912094812/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6244070/most-viewed-k-pop-videos-mvs-america-global-august-2014. September 12, 2014. March 27, 2020. Billboard.
  25. News: Song. Hyung-geun. August 1, 2014. ko:레드벨벳 '행복' 뮤비 공개…에프엑스+소녀시대 느낌 '물씬'. ko. Red Velvet's 'Happiness' Music Video Will be Released, f(x) and Girls' Generation 'Highest Degree' Feels. E Today. live. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118024657/https://www.etoday.co.kr/news/view/961157. January 18, 2021.
  26. News: Kim. Sun-min. August 1, 2014. ko:레드벨벳, '행복' MV 공개에 뜨거운 반응···본격 활동 돌입 '기대 UP'. ko. Red Velvet Will Begin Full-fledged 'Expectations Up' Activities After Releasing 'Happiness' Music Video. News Way. live. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118025416/http://m.newsway.co.kr/news/view?ud=2014080118495006510. January 18, 2021.
  27. Web site: Kim. Eun-ae. December 3, 2020. ko:레드벨벳, 데뷔곡 '행복' 뮤비 1억뷰 돌파..억대뷰 총 9편 "글로벌 저력". Red Velvet's Debut Song 'Happiness' Music Video Has Reached 100 Million Views, 9 Music Videos Already, "Global Potential". live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203020942/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004320281. December 3, 2020. December 3, 2020. Naver. ko.
  28. News: Park. Byung-jun. August 1, 2014. ko:레드벨벳 '행복' 뮤비, 日 반응 "히로시마 원폭 투하 연출 불쾌". ko. Red Velvet's 'Happiness' Music Video, Response of Japanese, "Hiroshima's atomic bombing is unpleasant.". ZUM News. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113035558/https://news.zum.com/articles/15183743. January 13, 2021.
  29. News: Park. Ji-yoon. August 4, 2014. ko:레드벨벳, '히로시마 원폭 논란' MV 수정본 공개. ko. Red Velvet Unveils Modified Version of Music Video Due to 'Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Controversy'. Xsports News. live. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20141223123440/http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=480525. December 23, 2014.
  30. News: Jeon. A-ram. August 4, 2014. ko:SM, 레드벨벳 뮤비 즉각수정 원폭-9.11 연상화면 삭제. ko. SM Instantly Modifies Red Velvet's Music Video to Delete Associated Atomic Bombing and September 11 Attacks. Newsen. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113040420/https://newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201408041218433410. January 13, 2021.
  31. News: Ock. Hyun-ju. August 1, 2014. ko:레드벨벳 ‘행복’ 뮤직비디오 공개, 톡톡 튀는 비주얼+독특한 가사 ‘제 2의 에프엑스?’. ko. Red Velvet's 'Happiness' Music Video will be Released, Splashing Visuals and Unique Lyrics, 'The Second f(x)?'. The Korea Herald. live. January 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20140801195126/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140801000738. August 1, 2014.
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