Red Velvetâs Red Flavor MV (Music Video Analysis)
The views presented in this analysis are a part of my own individual interpretation of the video, which means they are subject to error. This post is based off of the MV from the SMTOWN Youtube channel. The video is very quirky and Iâve been kind of disconnected from the fandom lately, so if the members mention anything about the meaning of the video, please go again and message me.Â
Fruit: So, Red Velvet has come back with a ratherâŠunique concept. Each girl has been assigned a different fruit based on their color: Irene is watermelon, Yeri is grape, Seulgi is pineapple, Joy is kiwi, and Wendy is orange (why couldnât they have just made Wendy blueberry?). The song is called Red Flavor, so it makes sense to assign them each a fruit that would give them a specific flavor. But that doesnât explain why each member is interviewing a fruit version of themselvesâŠmy theory is that the video is a coming of age story. The most important thing about fruit is that it has to be ripe for it to reach its best flavor point. As the girls age and mature, they âripenâ and reach an age where they can enjoy the sweetest part of life.Â
The video includes scenes where the members are interviewing their respective fruits. It appears like a newscast, with ticker tape, and a different member translating in sign language.Â
The ticker tape reads: I wasnât that sweet when I was young. As I grew, I became full and ripe.Â
Later, the video switches things around, having the kiwi interview Joy instead.Â
Or a watermelon interviewing a watermelon.
And then finally reveals multiple versions of Seulgi interviewing herself, and even running the production. As they interview the fruit, they are really interviewing themselves. The surreality of fruit interviews and multiple Seulgis can be attributed to an almost subconscious state. Rather than literally interviewing fruit, each member is figuratively reflecting on their past selves, reflecting on their own stories, their youth, and their current lives.Â
Keep in mind the subject matter of the ticker tape interviews.Â
I wasnât that sweet when I was young. As I grew, I became full and ripe.
Back when I was a child, I wasnât tough like this, I was very weak.Â
That I have to say goodbye to my friends.
I used to dream of becoming jam when I grew up.Â
During my childhood, I was very mischievous.
(I wanted to be) Ice cream!
Sometimes Iâm not even sure who I am.
As an only child, I always used to play alone.Â
I havenât included everything, but the things included in the interview show a reflection on childhood emotions and aspirations, and a comparison to current life. As children they faced hardships, like having to part with friends. They experienced weakness and loneliness. They dreamed of becoming things like jam and ice cream in accordance to the fruit theme, showing somewhat unrealistic aspirations for the future. As they grew and matured, they could become strong and âfull and ripe,â but they might still experience issues of identity, as with Yeriâs interview line: Sometimes Iâm not even sure who I am. This reflects the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Â
We see a childhood photo of one of the members. I have no idea who it is or if itâs even an actual childhood photo, but itâs shown during Ireneâs clip so for the purpose of this post Iâm going to say itâs Ireneâs childhood photo. The childhood photo explicitly introduces the comparison of youth.Â
A few seconds after the shot of baby Irene, we see a little sprout being watered.Â
And then immediately after we get a shot of a child being rained upon. The juxtaposition of the childhood photo, the growing plant, and the child all show the connection between growing fruit and growing children.Â
A couple seconds later we get a shot of a giant orange tree, in contrast to the small sprout. Again, thereâs contrast between youth and maturation.Â
Then we see Irene recreating a childhood photo.Â
And Seulgi dressed as a school girl being reprimanded for her hairstyle. The ticker tape reads: I always got reprimanded in school for having inappropriate hair styles.Â
In reflecting upon their childhood, they imagine their present selves in that childhood context. Even though they act as they did when they were children, we know thereâs something off with someone Seulgiâs age being reprimanded like a school child. In reliving their childhood memories, it only serves to show how much theyâve really grown and matured. We know that Seulgi wonât be chastised anymore for her hair, just like we know that Irene doesnât wear her hair in watermelon pigtails and that Yeri doesnât want to be jam anymore.Â
The coloring book pages and 100% grade also reflect childhood.Â
We see Wendy dressed in a cap and gown while playing on a skateboard. Itâs a mix of childlike playfulness with young adult themes like graduation. This reflects the meeting of a childlike attitude with their current state of maturity in young adulthood as they move from one phase of life to another.Â
Throughout the video, the fruit is being picked, put into baskets, and having stickers put onto them. The fruit is being removed from their place of growth to be shipped out. The fruit is ripe and ready for consumption.Â
Just as the members are themselves reaching a stage in life where they can reflect on their childhood and still look forward to what is to come. They have reached the sweetest part of life. Theyâre ripe and ready to face the world that is to come. The adult-like nature of the party reflects this coming adulthood, as well. (Also, the little patches on Wendyâs dress are grocery store bagsâŠlike for fruit.)