Red Velvet at SMTOWN LIVE 2022: A Queendom in KWANGYA
Welcome to the Queendom! Returning to SMTOWN LIVE 2022 is the one and only Red Velvet! On January 1, Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri took the stage with their talent and charm. From full-team performances to collaboration, let’s take a look at their iconic performances.
I Just Really Like You
After NCT Dream’s “Hello Future” performance, the screen went dark. Soon, magenta mist filled the dimly-lit stage. As the lights turned up, Red Velvet stood in their position, and the infamous string intro of “Psycho” played. Adorned with classy black and white outfits, the girls sang about a toxic relationship, one that is unpredictable and tragic.
Red Velvet stayed on stage to talk to the audience—starting off with their signature “Happiness!” greeting. Yeri mentioned how they had been venturing in different gigs throughout the past year. Yeri’s second acting gig on Blue Birthday, along with Wendy and Joy’s first solo EPs, marked 2021 as a productive year for Red Velvet. Additionally, Irene starred in the movie Double Patty and Seulgi became an ambassador for various fashion brands and hosted her own show. “I couldn’t help feeling empty in my heart as I worked alone away from our members,” Wendy added. ReVeluv—fans of Red Velvet—couldn’t agree more. In August, they released Queendom, their first comeback as five since 2019. With no signs of stopping this year, Red Velvet continues to level up.
An Autumn Getaway
Wendy’s performance of “Like Water” marked Red Velvet’s second stage. Her solo debut, released on April 5, 2021, recounts her deep gratitude for those she cherishes in her life. Surrounded by a forest of red, golden, and brown, Wendy beautifully sang her heart out. Her amazing voice, coupled with an acoustic live band, made the performance a comforting view for the audience.
“You shined upon me / Like you’re water to me / By the time you open your eyes, everything will be fine,” she sang. As the song ended, viewers were presented with a wide shot of the scene, picturesque and unforgettable.
Hello, 2022
Joy’s cover of “Hello” by Park Hye-kyung was included in Spotify Korea’s New Year playlist this year. With its hopeful lyrics and Joy’s bright voice, it was no surprise that it became a popular choice to start 2022. SMTOWN did not miss the opportunity to have her perform the song. Wearing a colorful cardigan, white T-shirt, and short jeans, Joy sang in the middle of the flowery stage.
While the stage didn’t feature the choreography from her previous performances, Joy wasn’t alone. Accompanied by a band, she stood on stage and showed off her charming voice. As Joy put it: “Forget everything that’s happened to you / So you should throw away all the painful memories / Don’t cry, today’s a new day / Get ready to welcome it.”
Strike A Pose
Red Velvet’s popular B-side off of Queendom made it to the SMTOWN LIVE 2022 setlist. Starting off with the titular posing, Seulgi opened the song with her sultry voice. Well-known for its runway vibes, “Pose” is a confidence-boosting song about being content in your own style. With stylish and colorful outfits, the girls danced in front of a city line background.
The “Pose” performance was one of the stages leading up to SM’s newest project: the all-women team, Girls On Top. Along with BoA, Girls’ Generation, and aespa, Red Velvet showed their fierce, charming side in their next SMTOWN LIVE 2022 performance.
GOT the Beat
One of SMTOWN LIVE 2022’s highlights this year was the debut stage of Girls On Top, SM’s take on the ultimate girl group. Girls On Top (GOT) is set to debut various units with different styles, the first being GOT the beat, a strong performance unit oozing with charisma. Joining GOT the beat are Seulgi with her amazing dance skills and Wendy with her one-of-a-kind voice.
“Step Back” is a hip-hop R&B track with stark instrumentals and vocal performances. Featuring a choral motif and heavy beats, “Step Back” contrasted its brash sections with a groovy bridge and smooth harmonies. The song ended with a dance break and the last rendition of the chorus with amazing ad-libs. With the single planned for official release on January 3, Girls On Top are a force on the rise.
The More It Gathers, The More Beautiful It Gets
Last but not least, Red Velvet performed their most recent comeback, “Queendom.” As one of the concert’s last songs, “Queendom” fits perfectly into the theme of coming together, united by music. In the anthemic performance, the girls invited everyone to become one in the titular queendom. “The more it gathers, the more beautiful it gets,” they sang.
With three group performances, two solo stages, and one collaboration stage in SMTOWN LIVE 2022, Red Velvet cemented themselves as one of the strongest K-pop girl groups. We can’t wait to see what Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri have in store this year!
Want more coverage on SMTOWN LIVE 2022? Check out our article on Girls On Top’s debut performance here.
