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"Monster" is a song recorded by Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi, the first sub-unit of South Korean girl group Red Velvet, for their 2020 eponymous debut extended play. A dance-pop track with influence from dubstep genre, the song was written by songwriter Kenzie, while production was handled by Yaakov 'Yash' Gruzman, Jenson Vaughn, Delaney Jane and Yoo Young-jin. It was released on July 6, 2020 by SM Entertainment and Dreamus, serving as the lead single from their first major release.

Music video

The music video for the song was scheduled to be released with the song on July 6 but it was delayed and eventually released the next day. On June 4, 2021, the music video for the track reached 100 million views on YouTube.

Commercial performance

"Monster" debuted at number 8 on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart, becoming the duo's first top 10 hit. It debuted atop the Download chart for the period July 5—11, 2020 and peaked at number 13 on the component Streaming Chart. The song entered the Billboard K-Pop 100 at number 28 on the chart issue dated July 11, 2020. It peaked at number three in the following week. The track appeared as the 157th biggest hit single on 2020's Gaon Year-End Digital Chart.

In Malaysia, "Monster" debuted at 16, and peaked at eight. The song debuted at number 30 on the New Zealand Hot Singles Chart. In Singapore, the track debuted at 18 on the Streaming Chart, and peaked at five. The song also debuted at number six on the Regional Chart, and peaked at two. On the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, the track debuted and peaked at number seven becoming the duo's first top 10 hit on the chart.

Critical reception

Following its initial release, "Monster" was met with mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Rania Aniftos of Billboard magazine described the track as "bold", further praising Irene and Seulgi for "preaching their confident individuality, and the "monster" inside as they deliver sultry choreography weaved in with eerie, paranormal scenery.". Writer Riddhi Chakraborty of Rolling Stone India described the song as "one of the most stand-out singles of the year" referring to the subunit's "fascinating use of dark pop and dubstep". On another song review, writers Kim Sung-hwan, Yeol Shim-hi, Yoo Seong-eun, and Cha Yoo-jung of Y-Magazine described the track as "well-organized, from narratives reminiscent of delicate horror movies", further adding the "style with the energy of thought in the midst of mystery by utilizing its bold movements and images of femme fatale", while rating the track with three point five stars out of five. In an individual album review, Kim Do-heon of IZM viewed the track as "a neat composition without superfluousness" adding that "there is a lack of element that can be imprinted".

Buzzfeed ranked the song number 30 on their list, citing it as "delightfully scary as they detail possessing someone and toying with them as they struggle to break free from their hold". Dazed magazine chose the song as one of their 40 best K-pop songs of 2020 describing the subunit's "gratifyingly noisy, and lyrically teasing" song. The song was featured on Metro's 'The best K-Pop comebacks of 2020 ranked' at number 8, describing "Monster" as "sexy and slightly terrifying". Nación Rex described the song as "elegant, mysterious, and obscure" further praising Irene and Seulgi for portraying their "artistic essence". Rolling Stone India praised the song as "plenty of glamor and glitter" further adding the "imagery that can only be defined as creepy". Furthermore, Teen Vogue described the song as "ferocious" and "intensely fun".

Accolades

On July 17, 2020, "Monster" managed to achieve a music show trophy from Music Bank. It also got nominated for the "Artist of the Year – Digital Music (July)" in Gaon Chart Music Awards. However, Kriz who worked in the song's chorus won the "Performer of the Year - Chorus" in the same award show.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Monster.

Studio

• Recorded, edited, engineered for mix, and mixed at SM BoomingSystem
• Recorded at SM Blue Cup Studio
• Mastered at Sonic Korea

Personnel

• Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi – vocals, background vocals
• Kenzie – Korean lyrics, vocal directing
• Yaakov 'Yash' Gruzman – composition, arrangement, drums, keyboards & synths, programming
• Delaney Jane – composition, background vocals
• Jenson Vaughn – composition
• Yoo Young-jin – composition, vocal directing, recording, digital editing, mixing engineer, mixing
• Kriz – background vocals
• Jeong Eui-seok – recording
• Jung Yu-ra – digital editing
• Jeon Hoon – mastering

Charts

Release history

See also

• List of Music Bank Chart winners (2020)

Notes

1. Kriz was credited as nominee

References

1. "Monster - The 1st Mini Album". Melon Music (in Korean). July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
2. "Red Velvet's Irene & Seulgi Unleash the 'Monster' Inside for Sultry New Music Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
3. "2020년 28주차 Download Chart". gaonchart.co.kr. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
4. "2020년 28주차 Streaming Chart". gaonchart.co.kr. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
5. "Billboard K-Pop 100 – The Week of July 11, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
6. ^ "Billboard K-Pop 100 – The Week of July 18, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
7. ^ 2020년 Digital Chart [2020 Digital Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
8. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia – Week 28". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
9. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia – Week 29". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. July 25, 2020. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
10. ^ "Hot 40 Singles – 13 July 2020". Recorded Music NZ. July 13, 2020. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
11. "RIAS Top Streaming Chart – Week 28 (3 - 9 July 2020)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. July 3–9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
12. ^ "RIAS Top Streaming Chart – Week 29 (10 - 16 July 2020)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. July 10–16, 2020. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
13. "RIAS Top Regional Chart – Week 28 (3 - 9 July 2020)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. July 3–9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
14. "RIAS Top Regional Chart – Week 29 (10 - 16 July 2020)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. July 10–16, 2020. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
15. McIntyre, Hugh (July 15, 2020). "BTS, Blackpink, Red Velvet, Chung Ha And Exo-SC: Notable Moves On This Week's World Songs Chart". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
16. "Red Velvet's Irene & Seulgi Unleash the 'Monster' Inside for Sultry New Music Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
17. "Red Velvet's Irene & Seulgi Oscillate Between Frightening and Seductive in 'Monster' -". July 7, 2020. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
18. 음악Y. "[Single-Out #308-2] 아이린×슬기 「Monster」 - 아이린×슬기 Monster". musicy.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
19. "Neo Music Communication IZM". izm.co.kr. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
20. Travis, Emlyn (December 31, 2020). "35 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2020". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
21. Glasby, Taylor (December 19, 2020). "The 40 best K-pop songs of 2020". Dazed Digital. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
22. Deen, Sarah (December 28, 2020). "The 20 best K-Pop comebacks of 2020". Metro. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
23. Pérez, Edlin (December 30, 2020). "20 Canciones de K-pop que dominaron el 2020 con su estilo" [20 K-pop Songs That Dominated 2020 with Their Style]. Nación Rex (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
24. Chakraborty, Riddhi (January 1, 2021). "20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
25. "The Best K-Pop Moments of 2020". Teen Vogue. December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
26. "10th Gaon Chart Music Awards 2020 Nominees". Gaon Music Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 25, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
27. "Here are the winners of the 10th Gaon Chart Music Awards – Blackpink, BTS, IU, NCT, and more". Bandwagon. January 11, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
28. "'뮤직뱅크' 레드벨벳 아이린&슬기, '몬스터'로 1위 "멤버들과 러비들에게 감사"" ['Music Bank' Red Velvet Irene & Seulgi ranked 1st with 'Monster', "Thank you members and Revluvs"]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
29. Monster (photobook). Red Velvet. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2020. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
30. 2020년 28주차 Digital Chart [Gaon Digital Chart - Week 28, 2020] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. July 11, 2020. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
31. "World Digital Song Sales – The Week of July 18, 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
32. 2020년 07월 Digital Chart [July 2020 Digital Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
33. 곡 정보 - Monster [Song Information - Monster] (in Korean). Melon. July 6, 2020. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.

• 2020 debut singles
• 2020 songs
• Songs in Korean
• SM Entertainment singles
• Songs written by Kenzie (songwriter)
• Songs written by Yoo Young-jin
• 2020 singles