Queendom (EP) explained

Queendom
Type:EP
Artist:Red Velvet
Cover:Red Velvet – Queendom.jpeg
Caption:Digital cover
Recorded:2020–2021
Studio:SM Studio Center (Seoul)
Genre:
Length:19:34
Language:Korean
Label:
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm
Next Year:2022

Queendom is the sixth Korean extended play and by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. Marketed as the group's sixth "mini album" release, it consists of six tracks, including the lead single of the same name. The EP was released digitally by SM Entertainment on August 16, 2021, and physically on August 17, 2021.

Background and release

On June 9, 2021, SM Entertainment announced that Red Velvet would be making their comeback in August with a new album.[1] From July 26 to August 1, Red Velvet held a promotional event titled "Queens Mystic General Store" through their Instagram account leading up to their seventh debut anniversary and anticipated comeback.[2] The promotional event showcased props used in their previous music videos, and was intended to heighten the anticipation for the announcement of their comeback and release of their promotional schedule.[3] On August 2, it was announced that Red Velvet would be releasing their sixth extended play titled Queendom, containing six tracks.[4] The extended play is marketed by SM Entertainment as the group's sixth "mini album".[5] On August 3, the promotional schedule for their comeback was released, which included concept photos, promotional posters, and a teaser of the upcoming music video for the title track "Queendom".[6] The EP was released digitally on August 16, and physically the following day.[7]

Composition

Queendom consists of six songs and incorporates various genres such as dance-pop, R&B, and soul.[8] The title track "Queendom" was described as a dance-pop song with a "refreshing atmosphere".[9] The B-side track "Pose" was described as an "up-tempo pop dance" song with an "impressive energetic bass line" and "fast-changing drum".[10] "Knock on Wood" was musically described as a "fairytale-like electro-punk" song with lyrics that detail the "hope to get someone to like you" as well as "the act of knocking on wood for good luck".[11] "Better Be" was called a "witty R&B pop" song characterized by Red Velvet's "dreamy vocals and rich harmonies" and lyrically described as "not giving up easily to the person you like".[12] "Pushin' N Pullin" was described as a "medium-tempo pop R&B" song with a "friendly and gentle message" and lyrics that "tell us to trust in the time we spent together with the person who is pushed with anxiety in [a] relationship".[13] "Hello, Sunset" is a "slow-tempo R&B ballad" that "creates a late summer sensibility", characterized by a "subtle drum rhythm, refreshing electric guitar, and dreamy piano performance" and lyrics about a "confession" of being together with loved ones.[14]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Queendom received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received a mean score of 74 based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Rhian Daly from NME described the EP as "playing it safe; cautiously dipping a toe back in the water rather than making a big splash to signal their return". Joshua Minsoo Kim writing for Pitchfork called the EP "perfectly adequate, but the release itself never reaches the group's former heights" and "doesn't overflow with excellence". He further added that the title track "rarely offers the quintet the chance to flaunt their vocal prowess", feeling it is "too low-key" and "frustratingly one-dimensional" while labelling other songs on the EP "similarly unambitious, but a couple of its other songs at least have everything in order". Overall, he stated the EP "both falters and thrives in simplicity" and gave it a score of 6.7 out of 10.

Ana Clara Ribeiro from PopMatters described the EP as crème brûlée, comparing the dessert's "simplicity and accessibility in its taste" to Red Velvet's music. Overall, she stated the EP "not all songs from Queendom will be most listened by the fans, and it's not because any of these songs are poor" while explaining that we "don't eat dessert because we need basic nutrients for our body" but because we want to "taste something delicious and Queendom tastes delicious". JT Early from Beats Per Minute described the EP as "an all-killer summer project exploring the themes of empowerment, romance and its accompanying obstacles". and stated the EP "ticks all the boxes that fans would want" and has "great replay value".

Year-end lists

List! data-sort-type="number"
Rank
PopMattersTop 20 Best K-pop Albums of 202114[15]

Commercial performance

In South Korea, the EP debuted at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated August 15–21, 2021.[16] In the United Kingdom, the EP debuted at number 17 on the UK Digital Albums in the chart issue dated August 20, 2021.[17] In Japan, the EP debuted at number 41 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated August 25, 2021.[18] In the United States, the EP debuted at number 16 and 11 on Billboards Heatseekers Albums and World Albums chart, respectively, in the chart issue dated August 28, 2021.[19] [20]

Accolades

Ceremony! scope="col"
YearAwardResult
Asian Pop Music Awards2021Best Album of the Year (Overseas)[21]
Golden Disc Awards2022Album Bonsang[22]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the EP.[23]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[24] 17
Finnish Physical Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 8
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[26] 23
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[27] 11
South Korean Albums (Gaon)2
UK Digital Albums (OCC)17
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)16
US World Albums (Billboard)11

Monthly charts

Chart performance for Queendom
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[28] 33
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[29] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[30] 37

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousAugust 16, 2021
South KoreaAugust 17, 2021CD

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SM 측 "레드벨벳 8월 컴백 준비중, 많은 기대 부탁"(공식). SM side "Red Velvet is preparing for a comeback in August, please look forward to it" (official). Naver. Newsen. ko. Hwang. Hye-jin. June 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610083510/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=609&aid=0000452598. live.
  2. Web site: 레드벨벳, 신비로운 분위기 ... 아카이빙 프로모션 진행. Red Velvet, mysterious atmosphere ... archiving promotion in progress. Naver. News1. ko. Ko. Seung-ah. July 26, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051900/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0005501024. live.
  3. Web site: 레드벨벳 8월 컴백 ... 아이린→슬기 비디오 공개 [공식]]. Red Velvet comeback in August ... Irene → Seulgi video released [Official]. Naver. Sports Donga. ko. Jeong. Hee-yeon. July 26, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051840/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0000924287. live.
  4. Web site: 레드벨벳, 16일 새 미니앨범 'Queendom' 발매 .. 서머퀸의 화려한 컴백[공식]]. Red Velvet, new mini album 'Queendom' released on the 16th .. Summer Queen's splendid comeback [Official]. Naver. Herald Pop. ko. Park. Seo-yeon. August 2, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051841/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003461997. live.
  5. Web site: 레드벨벳 Red Velvet The 6th Mini Album 'Queendom'. registration. Instagram. SM Entertainment. August 1, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CSCUFVWLXMo. December 24, 2021. live.
  6. Web site: '16일 컴백' 레드벨벳, 새 미니앨범 '퀸덤' 스케줄 포스터 공개. 'Comeback on the 16th' Red Velvet unveils new mini album 'Queendom' schedule poster. Naver. My Daily. ko. Kang. Da-yoon. August 3, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051843/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003523852. live.
  7. Web site: "모두가 퀸" .. 레드벨벳, 진짜 서머퀸의 빛나는 응원 '퀸덤'[퇴근길 신곡]]. "Everyone is a queen" .. Red Velvet, the real summer queen's shining cheer 'Queendom' [new song on the way home from work]. Naver. Osen. ko. Seon. Mi-kyung. August 16, 2021. August 16, 2021. August 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210816125621/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004457215. live.
  8. Web site: Queendom - The 6th Mini Album. Melon. SM Entertainment. ko. August 16, 2021. August 16, 2021. August 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210816125550/https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10680450. live.
  9. Web site: '컴백' 레드벨벳, '퀸덤'으로 입증할 서머퀸. 'Comeback' Red Velvet, summer queen to prove with 'Queendom'. Naver. Osen. ko. Seon. Mi-kyung. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051844/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004453369. live.
  10. Web site: 레드벨벳 수록곡 'Pose' 공개…에너제틱 매력 선사. Red Velvet's b-side song 'Pose' released ... Energetic charm. Naver. YTN. ko. Kwak. Hyun-soo. August 10, 2021. August 10, 2021. August 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210810031203/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=052&aid=0001625298. live.
  11. Web site: 레드벨벳, 'Queendom'으로 전할 감각적 음악 세계 ... 위트 더한다. Red Velvet, 'Queendom' to convey the world of sensual music ... Adds wit. Naver. MT Star News. ko. Yoon. Sang-geun. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051923/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002979163. live.
  12. Web site: "수록곡, 미리 알고 듣자" ... 레드벨벳, '퀸덤' 스포일러. "Let's listen to the included songs in advance" ... Red Velvet, 'Queendom' spoilers. Naver. Dispatch. ko. Jeong. Tae-yoon. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809051843/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=433&aid=0000076356. live.
  13. Web site: '컴백' 레드벨벳, '푸싱 앤 풀링'+'다시, 여름'으로 감성 충전 예고. 'Comeback' Red Velvet, 'Pushing and Pulling' + 'Again, Summer' to charge emotions. Naver. News1. ko. Kim. Min-ji. August 11, 2021. August 11, 2021. August 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811013309/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=421&aid=0005534922. live.
  14. Web site: 레드벨벳의 여름 감성을 느껴보자. Let's feel the summer sensibility of Red Velvet. Naver. Sports Kyunghyang. ko. Lee. Sun-myung. August 11, 2021. August 11, 2021. August 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811013309/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=144&aid=0000754955. live.
  15. Web site: The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021, Page 2. PopMatters. Ribeiro. Ana Clara. November 29, 2021. December 1, 2021.
  16. Web site: 2021년 34주차 Album Chart. Week 34 of 2021 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Association. ko. August 15–21, 2021. August 26, 2021. August 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826023256/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=34&hitYear=2021&termGbn=week. live.
  17. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. August 20, 2021. August 22, 2021. August 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823083924/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20210820/7003/. live.
  18. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/08/25 公開. Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/08/25 Release. Billboard Japan. ja. August 25, 2021. August 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825053445/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=08&day=30. live.
  19. Billboard Heatseekers Albums – Week of August 28, 2021. Billboard. subscription. August 22–28, 2021. August 24, 2021. August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824151719/https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2021-08-28. live.
  20. Billboard World Albums – Week of August 28, 2021. Billboard. subscription. August 22–28, 2021. August 24, 2021. August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824151420/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2021-08-28. live.
  21. Web site: zh:【APMA 2021】亚洲流行音乐大奖2021年度入围名单. (APMA 2021) Asian Pop Music Awards Shortlisted for 2021. https://m.weibo.cn/status/4709218890550319. Sina Weibo. Asian Pop Music Awards. zh. November 30, 2021. November 30, 2021. November 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130105237/https://m.weibo.cn/status/4709218890550319. live.
  22. Web site: Golden Disc Awards – Nominees. Golden Disc Awards. December 9, 2021. December 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211208100911/https://www.goldendisc.co.kr/en/nominees/digitalSound. live.
  23. Queendom. Red Velvet. 2021. Credits. photobook. SM Entertainment, Dreamus. South Korea.
  24. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 August 2021. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1642. 10. August 23, 2021.
  25. Web site: Fyysinen albumilista – 33/2021. Physical Album List – 33/2021. Musiikkituottajat. fi. August 24, 2021. August 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822112123/https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/fyysiset-albumit/2021/33/. live.
  26. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/09/15 公開. Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/09/15 Release. Billboard Japan. ja. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915135340/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=09&day=20. live.
  27. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2021-09-20/p/2/. ja:週間 アルバムランキング2021年09月20日付. Weekly Album Ranking September 20, 2021. Oricon. ja. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210915024628/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2021-09-20/p/2/. live.
  28. Web site: 2021年09月度 オリコン月間 アルバムランキング 1～10位. 2021-11-01. ORICON NEWS.
  29. Web site: Gaon Monthly Album Chart - August 2021. 2021-11-01. Gaon Chart.
  30. Web site: ko:2021년 Album Chart. 2021 Album Chart. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107022522/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2021&hitYear=2021&termGbn=year&year_time=3. January 7, 2022. January 7, 2022. Gaon Music Chart. ko.

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