For about a month, K-pop fans have been anticipating Red Velvet dropping an EP titled Velvet Summer. Now that it’s out, fans are excited about the mini-album, but they’re also feeling bad for group member Seulgi.
The Tracks Seem Warm
The mini album was highly anticipated, and so was the group’s concert over the weekend. Showing no signs of pain on August 3, Seulgi told The Korea Times that she loved the sound.
They cited her as saying, “The moment I heard the demo, I could already hear Red Velvet’s voices in it. The bossa nova genre felt so appealing. Our past summer songs were intense and full of energy, but this time we captured a more ‘velvety’ summer mood, like watching the sunset over a beach rather than standing under the midday sun.”
The celebratory concert also became an emotional moment for Seulgi. Koreaboo reported that she stared crying during the performance while celebrating Red Velvet’s 12th anniversary. Their article was about the mini album which brings five songs . But they didn’t just talk about Red Velvet and their sound.
They mentioned how the song Candy made Seulgi cry. “Seulgi suddenly broke down in tears while singing. Unable to hold back her emotions, she was comforted by fellow member Yeri, who wrapped her in a tight hug as the performance continued.”
Fans Feel Sad
The concert also debuted a song from the album titled Surfin’ Boy. It’s a lead song, while the EP includes the B-side Hula Hoop. But what upset Seulgi so much at a time when celebrations seem to be in order?
On X, @ksgdinas wrote, “even though seulgi keeps saying she’s okay and telling us not to worry about her, this still breaks my heart.” The video with the post showed her tears running down her face.
@ksgdinas – Seulgi crying in concert – X
In the comments section, people discussed how she probably needed “time to grieve.” Fans on X suggested Seulgi may still be grieving the loss of her cousin Sujin, who died unexpectedly in June. But they can’t know for certain if that made her break down.
Koreaboo explained to fans that “Earlier this June, Seulgi’s cousin Sujin, whom she was known to be very close to, passed away unexpectedly. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Seulgi continued preparing for Red Velvet’s Velvet Summer.”
The New Album
While fans respect Seulgi’s grief, that hasn’t stopped them from enjoying the new album. As noted by AllKpop, the record is the group’s first full-team release in two years and two months, following 2024’s ‘Cosmic’.
They also cited Joy, who wrote the lyrics for both Surfin’ Boy and Hawaii, as saying that “the warmth of summer memories and the wish to build more of them with fans inspired the songs.”
What do you think about Seulgi feeling so emotional during the concert over the weekend? Are you excited for Red Velvet’s new Velvet Summer? Join the discussion and come back here often for all your K-pop news and updates.
