Like many, we have been (im)patiently waiting for more releases from our favorite SM Entertainment third gen girl group, Red Velvet. Leader Irene is the fourth member to make a solo debut, two years after the last member, Seulgi, made her solo debut. In such a vocally talented group with such a diverse discography, it’s always a surprise what type of music the members will give us for their solos. Safe to say, the direction Irene went in fits her quite well. 

The title track, “Like A Flower,” is a light, airy EDM song with a nostalgic vibe. The driving beat, and higher register vocal line gives it strong summer track vibes. The tone of the song complements the optimistic lyrics of self-empowerment. The track itself gives off a hyper-feminine vibe, which is certainly something that Irene gives off in her idol image. The song itself shows the strength in femininity, how emotion and compassion create a sense of peace and the power in that. Though I’m a person who doesn’t live by this soft vibe, the track does have appeal for its catchy melody and uplifting narrative. Tough girlies can still appreciate the important message of powerful, soft femininity. 

Since Irene is known for her visuals, those of course, take center stage in the music video. Her makeup is done up to show a natural look, with blue eye contacts heavily accentuating her facial features. I particularly love a close-up shot where she’s seen with red mascara, it is absolutely stunning. The video is shot with a bit of a vintage twist, opening up with an old-school small television circa the early 2000s and a focus on cassette tapes as a major prop. Butterflies, flowers, cats, and soft pink hues set the importance of the feminine vibe of the track. Like many SM music videos, a lot of the composition is visually stunning with ambiguous story composition, but that’s certainly what makes interpretation interesting. She certainly presents “Like A Flower” through the video.

Check out the music video for “Like A Flower” below!

Edited by Rae Lovette