Crush and Red Velvet’s Joy Give Us a Quarantine Anthem with “Mayday”
Some good things have come out of this quarantine period. On May 20, Crush dropped his latest single “Mayday,” featuring Red Velvet’s Joy, as the first track from his homemade series.
Even celebrities are scrambling to find some sort of entertainment during this COVID-19 quarantine period! “Mayday” is a chill R&B track that captures the almost painful boredom that comes with staying at home all day. “자나깨나” literally translates to “asleep or awake,” which perfectly sums up how each day has blended into one another for the past few months. In the song, Crush rants about feeling exhausted even though he hasn’t done anything all day. He can feel himself going crazy—to the point where his dog probably thinks he actually is. It’s an accurate portrayal of how most of us need to always be productive in order to feel sane. Then, Joy comes in with her sweet voice as the comforting savior. She reassures us that she’s here if we need to rest, whenever we may need her.
The music video is a charming, home-style video that is all presumably shot at Crush’s house. Although it’s all filmed at home, it’s endearing how much effort was put into filming—from the several “costume changes” to various guest stars that display the hectic chaos of his thoughts. He utilizes some humorous nostalgic effects, like slow-motion and glitter animations that remind one of ‘90s television. Even Joy’s outfit is old school, with puffed sleeves and glamorous pearls, as she pops out of a cardboard castle with her name drawn on the front. There is a “ghost” in Crush’s backyard that taunts him, but evaporates in Joy’s presence. Cut to the end, and you’ll see Crush’s dog, Doyou, adorably dressed as a ghost too.
In a broadcast premiering the music video on YouTube, the pair praised each other for their work. “When I was making the song, I thought that I definitely needed Joy’s voice for it, and that’s why I made the offer,” Crush said. In response, Joy shared her honor in working with Crush: “Even just being contacted about it made me so excited and nervous.” Crush and Joy even agreed that if the song went to No. 1, Crush would wear a Lightning Man outfit and dance to Red Velvet’s “Psycho.”
Check out the music video for “Mayday” and stream on Spotify.