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Red Light
Digital and "Wild Cats" version cover
Studio album by f(x)
Released	July 7, 2014
Recorded	2014
Studio	SM Studios, Seoul
Genre	Synth-pop electropop
Length	35:05
Language	Korean
Label	SM Entertainment
Producer	Lee Soo-man Casper & B.
F(x) chronology
Pink Tape (2013) Red Light (2014) 4 Walls (2015)
Singles from Red Light
"Red Light" Released: July 3, 2014

Red Light is the third studio album by South Korean girl group f(x), released on July 7, 2014, by SM Entertainment and Genie Music. It reached number one on the Gaon Album Chart and had two promotional singles, "Red Light" and "Milk". This is the last album with Sulli, who left the group one year after its release.

Background and release

Red Light has a dark and eerie concept, which f(x) said they liked. Krystal added that she liked this concept because she is often given roles that make her look pretty, and just this once she wanted something that would make her look darker and different.

Naver describes the album's title track, "Red Light", as a "blast of urban rhythm bit, reversal in electro house genre". The lyrics talk about capturing great moments, stopping and reconsidering what is important in life. Also, it is a message, using a "red light" to symbolize the warning, that is expressed in an eye-catching way. Jakob Dorof of Vice described the song as "a high-tech whiplash thriller with a chorus that hits like a fist and, by the second blow, has you begging for it." Kenzie, wrote the lyrics and Maegan Cottone of Phrased Differently, Daniel Ullmann, Bryan Jarett, Allison Kaplan and Sherry St. Germain were credited with the song's music. It was produced by Lee Soo-man and Casper & B. f(x) member Amber Liu describes the song's dance as the "most passionate" and "most dynamic". Luna said that the song's genre fitted with their aim for a slightly intense but feminine image.

The group played their first performance of the album's lead single, "Red Light", on July 3, 2014, through Mnet's M Countdown. The title track "Red Light" was played on Korean Broadcasting System's K-Pop Connection radio from July 8, 2014.

Commercial performance

The Red Light album reached number one on the weekly Gaon Album Chart, while the promotional single "Red Light" went to number two on the Gaon Digital Chart and the Billboard K-pop Hot 100. Several other non-promotional album tracks also charted on the Gaon and K-pop Hot 100 charts. The record sold 86,143 copies in South Korea in 2014, the nineteenth best-selling album of the year.

Critical reception

Fuse TV described f(x) as K-pop's top hipsters, and the album was acclaimed by critics. The "Red Light" music video reached more than 2 million views on YouTube on the first day of release. By August 2014, it had reached more than 10 million views. The song "Red Light" was chosen by Fuse TV as one of 15 nominees for 2014's summer anthem. The title track "Red Light" was included on the lists of best K-pop songs of 2014 by Dazed (number nine), Vice (number four), and PopMatters (number one).

Controversies

The South Korean broadcast station KBS ruled "Red Light" unfit for broadcast, since the song mentions a specific brand, the heavy equipment manufacturing company Caterpillar. In response, f(x)'s agency, SM Entertainment, modified the lyrics. Other TV stations, however, such as SBS's Inkigayo, MBC's Show Champion and Mnet's M Countdown, allowed broadcast of the song with its original lyrics.

Accolades

Sulli's hiatus

On July 17, f(x) performed on Mnet's M Countdown without Sulli. SM Entertainment explained that she was sick and thus unable to perform. However, when she did not appear in the next few Red Light promotions and f(x)'s Korean promotion schedule was abruptly cleared for the rest of the month, it led to speculation that Sulli would be leaving the group, or that the group itself would be disbanding. On July 24, SM Entertainment posted an official statement on the group's homepage, stating that Sulli had become "mentally and physically exhausted from the continuous, malicious comments and false rumors" that had been spread about her, and would take a temporary break from the entertainment industry, while remaining a member of f(x). The remaining members would move their activities to focus on solo ventures and continued overseas activities without Sulli for the time being. Sulli eventually withdrew from the group on August 8, 2015, making Red Light her final contribution.

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Charts

References

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3. Benjamin, Jeff (July 8, 2014). "f(x) Solidifies Brand of Quirky, Hipster Pop With Red Light Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014.
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11. "Play List/Entertainment/Program: K-Pop Connection – 2014.07.08". KBS International Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016.
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13. ^ "Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100 for July 16, 2014". Billboard.co.kr. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
14. ^ "2014 Album Chart (Year-End)" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015.
15. Benjamin, Jeff. "f(x) Are K-Pop's Top Hipsters With New Single "Red Light"". Fuse.tv. Fuse Networks. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
16. Jackson, Julie (July 4, 2014). "f(x)'s 'Red Light' video surpasses 2m hits on first day". Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
17. "f(x) '레드라이트' 뮤비, 한달보름만 '1000만뷰' 돌파". Naver. Money Today Star News. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
18. "15 Tracks Poised to Become Surprise Song of the Summer". Fuse.tv. Fuse Networks. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
19. Glasby, Taylor (December 16, 2014). "The Best K-pop of 2014". Dazed. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
20. Dorof, Jakob (December 29, 2014). "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2014". Vice. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
21. Interrante, Scott (December 23, 2014). "The Best K-pop of 2014". PopMatters. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
22. "KBS Deems f(x)'s New Title Song "Red Light" Unfit for Broadcast, MBC Still Undecided". Soompi. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
23. "f(x) Modifies "Red Light" Lyrics, KBS Gives Them the Green Light". Soompi. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
24. "f(x) Grabbed the First Place While Sulli Absent from the Show". koreabizwire.com. Kobiz Media Co. July 17, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
25. Kuang, Robert. "Fans Fear f(x) Disbandment Due To Sulli's Absence And SM Contract Expiration". Kpopstarz. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
26. Jones, Julie. "Rumors Force Sulli To Take A Break From Performing". Kdramastars. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
27. Jung, Ha-soo. "SM Releases Official Statement Announcing f(x) Sulli Will Stop All Promotional Activities". MWave. CJ E&M. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
28. "설리, 당분간 연예활동 쉰다.."악플-루머로 고통"". Naver. Osen. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
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30. Lee, Eun-jung (August 7, 2015). 설리, 에프엑스 탈퇴…"연기 활동 집중' [Sulli leaves f(x)... "Concentrating on acting activities"]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Nate.
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33. "World Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 5, 2015.

External links

• "Red Light" music video on YouTube

• F(x) (group) albums
• 2014 albums
• Albums produced by Lee Soo-man
• SM Entertainment albums
• Genie Music albums
• 2010s Korean-language albums