Zoo (song)

This article is about the Red Velvet song. For other songs, see Zoo (disambiguation) § Recordings.
"Zoo"
Song by Red Velvet
from the album The Red Summer
ReleasedJuly 9, 2017
Genre
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Courtney Jenaé Stahl, Alice Penrose and LDN Noise
Audio video
"Zoo" on YouTube

"Zoo" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Red Velvet for their first special extended play (EP) The Red Summer (2017). It was written by Lee Seu-ran of Jam Factory, while the production was handled by Courtney Jenaé Stahl, Alice Penrose and production team LDN Noise. The tropical house-influenced song has since become a stand-out track and received favorably reviews from music critics, citing it as a "gleeful and audacious pop moment". Following the digital success of the parental extended play, "Zoo" achieved a peak at number 24 on Gaon Digital Chart.

Background and composition

Following the release of Red Velvet's fourth extended play Rookie in February, SM Entertainment confirmed through news outlet on June 23, 2017, that the girls would be releasing their first summer release and had recently finished filming a music video.[1] After revealing both the group's image and video teasers, the song was released digitally with its parent album on July 9, 2017, and physically on July 10, 2017.

"Zoo" is a tropical-influenced song which was composed in the key of C# major, with a tempo of 109 BPM.[2] The song has been described as "playful and rhythmic", while incorporating animal sounds and member Seulgi's imitation of Tarzan's battle cry throughout the track.[3][4] It also marked the first LDN Noise production work for an S.M. artist in 2017 and the second time they work with Red Velvet, after the release of the group's first studio album The Red (2015).

Reception

The song received positive reviews from critics following its digital release, with Lee Gi-seon of IZM magazine chose the track as one of the EP's highlights.[5] Chase McMullen of The 405 website praised the song, calling it "one of the most gleeful and audacious pop moments".[4] Chester Chin from Star2 reacted positively to the song. citing it and follow album track "Mojito" as examples for "extend the feel-good dance floor vibe".[6]

Due to the digital success of The Red Summer, all five tracks from the EP charted within the top forty of Gaon Digital Chart for the week from July 9 to July 15, 2017, with "Zoo" debuted and peaked at number 24 on the aforementioned chart, while additionally charted at number 12 on the Gaon Download Chart.[7][8] It also debuted at number 30 on the re-established Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 for the week of July 17, and peaked at number 96 on the July issue of the monthly Gaon Digital Chart.[9][10]

Live performance

The song was first performed at Red Velvet's first concert "Red Room" in August, 2017.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Red Summer.[11]

Studio

  • Recorded at doobdoob Studio
  • Edited at Big Shot Studio
  • Mixed at SM Yellow Tail Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart

Weekly chart performance for "Zoo"
Chart (2017) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[7] 24
South Korea (Billboard K-pop Hot 100)[9] 30

Monthly chart

Monthly chart performance for "Zoo"
Chart (2017) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Download Chart)[10] 96

Release history

Region Date Format Label
South Korea July 9, 2017 Digital download SM Entertainment, Genie Music
Worldwide SM Entertainment

References

  1. ^ "Red Velvet confirm their comeback in July!". naver. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  2. ^ "Zoo - Red Velvet - Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  3. ^ "Red Velvet Offers a Taste of Summer With 'Red Flavor' Song & Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  4. ^ a b "Album Review: Red Velvet - Red Summer". The 405. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  5. ^ "Neo Music Communication IZM". izm.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  6. ^ "'The Red Summer': K-pop girl group Red Velvet's sizzling affair - Star2.com". Star2.com. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  7. ^ a b "Gaon Weekly Digital Chart - Week 28, 2017". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  8. ^ "Gaon Weekly Download Chart - Week 28, 2017". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  9. ^ a b "Billboard K-pop Hot 100 - July 17-23, 2017".
  10. ^ a b "Gaon Monthly Download Chart - July 2017". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  11. ^ The Red Summer (photobook). Red Velvet. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Genie Music. 2017. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)