THROWBACK #4: Red Velvet- One Of These Nights

Released: March 17th, 2016

You can talk to me all you want about how great Red Flavor sounds, and I am totally cool with that, but I want to shed light into what I think is probably one of the least-talked about singles of 2016. In a time where groups are competing to stay relevant through delivering top-notch upbeat dance tracks with corresponding insane, synchronized choreography, making a comeback with a slow-tempo song may seem like a recipe for disaster. So when SM Entertainment decided to give Red Velvet, a group more known for their eye-popping moves than their vocals, a ballad, I was very concerned. But it may have been the best decision ever made.

One Of These Nights is a mid-tempo R&D ballad built entirely on strings and piano. What makes this particular ballad so special? Personally, I think this one takes its sweet time to mature, foreshadow rising action, ascend, and then descend when it needs to. The beginning is calm and soothing but by the time the song ends, the evidence of such portrayal is gone. As soon as the strings start to fade, the song beautifully transitions to just the girls' vocals with only the piano to guide those. I love their high notes and the alternating of their voices later on. A couple of another high notes lead us to the chorus, which isn't upbeat yet, but shows potential of it. Definitely worthy of praise are the additional instruments in the background, adding harmony along with the girls' excellent vocals to elevate the production without having to add in percussion. The post-chorus gives off a proper sense of closure, before kicking in the beat. Even more memorable is the final chorus, where vocal layers dominate and bid us a proper farewell.

Although the song may not be for everyone, I give SM huge applause for deviating from the normal, particularly in an industry where you must release the catchiest of catchiest music out there. The song clearly shows Red Velvet can do a lot more than just perform peculiar choreography, but equally worth mentioning is the song's production; a rich blend of only-instruments to act as the decoy for the drums until they kick in. I am not saying everyone should start releasing ballads now, but if one is able to manipulate instruments and vocals together, then a ballad can definitely turn heads around musically, even if you are not the best singer out there.

RATING: 7.8/10