"Monster" debuted at number 8 on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart, becoming the duo's first top 10 hit. It debuted atop the Download chart for the period July 5—11, 2020 and peaked at number 13 on the component Streaming Chart. The song entered the Billboard K-Pop 100 at number 28 on the chart issue dated July 11, 2020, peaking at number three in the following week. The track appeared as the 157th biggest hit single on 2020's Gaon Year-End Digital Chart.
Following its initial release, "Monster" was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Rania Aniftos of Billboard magazine described the track as "bold", further praising Irene and Seulgi for "preaching their confident individuality, and the "monster" inside as they deliver sultry choreography weaved in with eerie, paranormal scenery". Writer Riddhi Chakraborty of Rolling Stone India described the song as "one of the most stand-out singles of the year" referring to the subunit's "fascinating use of dark pop and dubstep". On another song review, writers Kim Sung-hwan, Yeol Shim-hi, Yoo Seong-eun, and Cha Yoo-jung of Y-Magazine described the track as "well-organized, from narratives reminiscent of delicate horror movies", further adding the "style with the energy of thought in the midst of mystery by utilizing its bold movements and images of femme fatale", while rating the track with three point five stars out of five. In an individual album review, Kim Do-heon of IZM viewed the track as "a neat composition without superfluousness" adding that "there is a lack of element that can be imprinted".
Buzzfeed ranked the song number 30 on their list, citing it as "delightfully scary as they detail possessing someone and toying with them as they struggle to break free from their hold". Dazed magazine chose the song as one of their 40 best K-pop songs of 2020 describing the subunit's "gratifyingly noisy, and lyrically teasing" song. The song was featured on Metro's 'The best K-Pop comebacks of 2020 ranked' at number 8, describing "Monster" as "sexy and slightly terrifying". Nación Rex described the song as "elegant, mysterious, and obscure" further praising Irene and Seulgi for portraying their "artistic essence". Rolling Stone India praised the song as "plenty of glamor and glitter" further adding the "imagery that can only be defined as creepy". Furthermore, Teen Vogue described the song as "ferocious" and "intensely fun".
Monster
Red Velvet - IRENE & SEULGI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
평범치 않아
One, two, five to seven
난 어둠 속의 dancer
온몸 뚝뚝 꺾어
침대 가까이 갈게
무시무시하게
네 심장을 훔쳐 지배해
하나의 조명 왜 그림자는 둘이야?
내 속에 다른 게 눈을 뜬 것 같아
I'm a little monster 날 겁내
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I'm a little monster
I'm a little monster
차가운 땅
잿더미에서 일어났어
황혼에서 새벽
난 여전히 존재해
이 광기가 싫지 않아
즐기고 있는 걸
넌 벗어날 수 없어
도망가지를 마 다쳐
너를 구원하고 도로 약 올리고
Oh 난 완벽하고 다시 엉망인 걸
I'm a little monster 날 겁내
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I'm a little monster
I'm a little monster
봐 난 그냥 놀고 있어
나쁜 의도 없어
작지만 위험한 날
누가 거부하겠어
빨간 동이 틀 시간이야
이제 안심한 넌
꿈에서 나오려 해
But monster lives forever
I'm a little monster 날 겁내 (oh oh oh)
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해 (oh oh oh)
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I'm a little monster
I'm a little monster
I'm a little monster
In "Monster," Irene and Seulgi from Red Velvet describe themselves as "monsters" who are not ordinary and enjoy the madness they cause. They view themselves as dancers who move in unique ways, and they plan to conquer and dominate the hearts of those around them. The song is about the power they possess and their enjoyment in using it to control others. The two singers mention that they do not have malicious intentions, but in their existence, they are a little dangerous.
The lyrics of "Monster" are open to interpretation, but it seems to be a song about the dark side of love or relationships. Irene and Seulgi could be representing individuals who have been hurt in love and have become "monstrous" in their approach to relationships, using their power to control and conquer the hearts of others. The use of the phrase "I'm a little monster" throughout the song reinforces this idea, as it implies that the two singers may have a dark side that they cannot control.
Overall, "Monster" by Irene and Seulgi is an intense and mysterious track that showcases their strong vocals and unique style. The song is a perfect representation of the darker tones that Red Velvet has been known to explore throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
내 움직임은 특이해
My movements are peculiar and unusual
평범치 않아
I am not ordinary
One, two, five to seven
Counting the beats, moving to the rhythm
난 어둠 속의 dancer
I am a dancer in the darkness
온몸 뚝뚝 꺾어
Breaking my body into pieces
침대 가까이 갈게
I will get close to the bed
무시무시하게
Frighteningly
네 심장을 훔쳐 지배해
I will steal and dominate your heart
하나의 조명 왜 그림자는 둘이야?
Why does one light have two shadows?
내 속에 다른 게 눈을 뜬 것 같아
It feels like something else inside me has awakened
I'm a little monster 날 겁내
I'm a little monster, be afraid of me
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해
I'll torment you and make you dream of me
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
I'll dance and surprise you, with scissors pressed against you
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
If I cast a spell on your body
차가운 땅
The cold ground
잿더미에서 일어났어
I rose from the ashes
황혼에서 새벽
From dusk till dawn
난 여전히 존재해
I still exist
이 광기가 싫지 않아
I don't dislike this madness
즐기고 있는 걸
I'm enjoying it
넌 벗어날 수 없어
You can't escape
도망가지를 마 다쳐
Don't run, you'll only get hurt
너를 구원하고 도로 약 올리고
I'll save you and give you medicine
Oh 난 완벽하고 다시 엉망인 걸
Oh, I'm perfect and yet a mess again
봐 난 그냥 놀고 있어
Look, I'm just playing
나쁜 의도 없어
I have no bad intentions
작지만 위험한 날
I'm small but dangerous
누가 거부하겠어
Who would refuse me?
빨간 동이 틀 시간이야
It's time for the red dawn to turn
이제 안심한 넌
You who are now at ease
꿈에서 나오려 해
Trying to wake up from the dream
But monster lives forever
But monsters live forever
I'm a little monster
I'm a little monster
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Delaney Jane, Jenson Vaughan, Yaakov Gruzman, Yeon Jung Kim, Young Jin Yoo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tellvision384
Psycho: "I'm original visual."
Monster: "Oh, I'm perfect."
Irene's not lying tho.
@anditadharmayanti
Agree :"
@swiftscarat
Is there a time stamp where she said that?
@tellvision384
@Lovelybyul 1:20
@swiftscarat
@TellVision thank you!
@mikebutler7237
if anything she is understating the truth
@officialcringe-3724
There is no straight way to describe this song
@kianautot
because there is nothing straight here at all
@officialcringe-3724
@kiana that's what i'm saying ‼
@yamatoofredania9829
@kiana I'm not complaining tho👀