Red Light (f(x) album)

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.[3] It reached number 1 on the Gaon weekly album chart[4] 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.

Red Light
Digital and Wild Cat version cover
Studio album by
f(x)
ReleasedJuly 7, 2014
Recorded2014 at S.M. Studios, Seoul
Genre
Length35:05
LanguageKorean
LabelS.M. Entertainment
Producer
F(x) chronology
Pink Tape
(2013)		 ''Red Light''
(2014)		 4 Walls
(2015)
Singles from Red Light
  1. "Red Light"
    Released: July 3, 2014

Background

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.[5]

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.[6] 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."[7] 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.[8]

The title track "Red Light" was played on Korean Broadcasting System's "K-Pop Connection" radio from July 8, 2014.[9]

Release and charts

The group played their first performance of the album's lead single, "Red Light", on July 3, 2014, through Mnet's M!Countdown.[10] The Red Light album reached number 1 on the weekly Gaon albums chart,[4] while the promotional single "Red Light" went to number 2 on the Gaon weekly digital chart[11] and the Billboard K-pop Hot 100.[12] Several other non-promotional album tracks also charted on the Gaon and K-pop Hot 100 charts.[12]

Red Light entered the Gaon Album Chart at number one for the week ending July 14, 2014.[4] The record sold 86,143 copies in South Korea in 2014, the nineteenth best-selling album of the year.[13]

Sulli's hiatus

On July 17, f(x) performed on Mnet's M!Countdown without Sulli.[14] 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.[15] On July 24, SM Entertainment posted an official statement on the group's homepage, saytating that Sulli had become "mentally and physically exhausted from the continuous, malicious comments and false rumors" that had been spread about her,[16] and would take a temporary break from the entertainment industry, while remaining a member of f(x).[17] The remaining members would move their activities to focus on solo ventures and continued overseas activities without Sulli for the time being.[18]

Sulli eventually withdrew from the group on August 8, 2015, making Red Light her final contribution.[19]

Critical reception

Fuse TV described f(x) as the K-Pop's top hipsters,[20] and the album was acclaimed by the critics. The "Red Light" music video reached more than 2 million views on YouTube on the first day of release.[21] By August 2014, it had reached more than 10 million views.[22] The song "Red Light" was chosen by Fuse TV as one of 15 nominees for 2014's summer anthem.[23]

The title track "Red Light" was included on the lists of best K-pop songs of 2014 by Dazed (number 9),[24] Vice (number 4),[25] and PopMatters (number one).[26]

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.[27] In response, the f(x)'s agency, SM Entertainment, modified the lyrics.[28] 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.

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Red Light"KenzieBryan Jarett, Daniel Ullmann, Maegan Cottone, Allison Kaplan, Sherry St. Germain, / Produced by Casper & B.3:32
2."MILK"KenzieLee Hyun Seung, Kenzie, Teddy Riley, DOM, Engelina Larsen3:36
3."Butterfly" (나비; Nabi)Shin Jin Hye (Jam Factory)Thomas Troelsen, Engelina Larsen, Shin Eun Seung (Hitchhiker)2:57
4."Rainbow" (무지개; Mujigae)MisfitWill Simms / Ylva Dimberg2:47
5."All Night"Jinbo, Kim Lee Young (Jam Factory), Lee Eun-jinLee Hyun Seung, Teddy Riley, DOM, Jinbo, Ylva Dimberg3:30
6."Vacance" (바캉스; Bakangseu)KenzieKenzie3:15
7."Spit It Out" (뱉어내; Baeteonae)MisfitCaesar & Loui, Olof Lindskog, Jasmine Anderson3:02
8."Boom Bang Boom"Seo Ji Eum (Jam Factory)Eirik Johansen, Jan Hallvard Larsen, Carl Johan Isac Gustafsson, Fredrik Haggstam, Sebastian Per Emil Lundberg, Melanie Fontana2:54
9."Dracula"Jo Yun GyeongJoachim Vermeulen Windsant, Willem Laseroms, Maarten ten Hove3:14
10."Summer Lover"Young-hu KimAmber J. Liu, Sean Alexander2:54
11."Paper Heart" (종이 심장; Jongi Simjang)Seo Ji Eum (Jam Factory)Chris Wahle, Didrik Thott, Dianna Corcoran3:25

Charts

Accolades

Music program awards
Song Program Date
"Red Light"
Show Champion (MBC Music) July 16, 2014
M Countdown (Mnet) July 17, 2014
Music Bank (KBS) July 18, 2014
Show! Music Core (MBC) July 19, 2014
Inkigayo (SBS) July 20, 2014

Credits and personnel

References
  1. Pearce, Sheldon (November 18, 2015). "f(x): 4 Walls | Album Review". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 7, 2016. Last year’s Red Light offered a decidedly edgier synthpop sound that leaned more toward the club...
  2. Benjamin, Jeff (July 8, 2014). "f(x) Solidifies Brand of Quirky, Hipster Pop With 'Red Light' Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014.
  3. "에프엑스, 정규 3집으로 전격 컴백…크리스탈 강렬한 티저". Nate. Donga Ilbo. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  4. "2014년 29주차 Album Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  5. Lee, Seung-rok. "크리스탈이 밝힌 어두워진 f(x), "예쁘지 않아도…"". My Daily. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  6. "The 3rd Album <Red Light>". f(x) official website. SM Entertainment. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  7. Jakob, Dorof. "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2014". Vice. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. "Arirang Pops in Seoul". Youtube. Arirang TV. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  9. "Play List/Entertainment/Program: K-Pop Connection – 2014.07.08". KBS International Radio. Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016.
  10. "Taeyang Reclaims No. 1 Spot + f(x) and Other Artists Make Comebacks on M! Countdown". Soompi. Soompi. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  11. "2014년 29주차 Digital Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. "Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100 for July 16, 2014". Billboard.co.kr. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  13. "2014 Album Chart (Year-End)" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015.
  14. "f(x) Grabbed the First Place While Sulli Absent from the Show". koreabizwire.com. Kobiz Media Co. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  15. Kuang, Robert. "Fans Fear f(x) Disbandment Due To Sulli's Absence And SM Contract Expiration". Kpopstarz. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  16. Jones, Julie. "Rumors Force Sulli To Take A Break From Performing". Kdramastars. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  17. Jung, Ha-soo. "SM Releases Official Statement Announcing f(x) Sulli Will Stop All Promotional Activities". MWave. CJ E&M. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  18. "설리, 당분간 연예활동 쉰다.."악플-루머로 고통"". Naver. Osen. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    - http://news.nate.com/view/20150807n21599?mid=n0107
  20. Benjamin, Jeff. "f(x) Are K-Pop's Top Hipsters With New Single "Red Light"". Fuse.tv. Fuse Networks. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  21. Jackson, Julie. "f(x)'s 'Red Light' video surpasses 2m hits on first day". Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  22. "f(x) '레드라이트' 뮤비, 한달보름만 '1000만뷰' 돌파". Naver. Money Today Star News. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  23. "15 Tracks Poised to Become Surprise Song of the Summer". Fuse.tv. Fuse Networks. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  24. Glasby, Taylor. "The Best K-pop of 2014". Dazed. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  25. Dorof, Jakob (December 29, 2014). "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2014". Vice. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  26. Interrante, Scott (December 23, 2014). "The Best K-pop of 2014". PopMatters. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  27. "KBS Deems f(x)'s New Title Song "Red Light" Unfit for Broadcast, MBC Still Undecided". Soompi. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  28. "f(x) Modifies "Red Light" Lyrics, KBS Gives Them the Green Light". Soompi. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  29. "South Korea Gaon Album Chart". On the page, select "2014.07.06~2014.07.12" to obtain the corresponding chart. Gaon Chart Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  30. "G-Music Albums Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014.
  31. "Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  32. "World Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
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