Ice Cream Cake (EP)

Following the end of "Be Natural" promotion in late October 2014, it was announced that Red Velvet would return with an extended play, marking their first proper release since the group's debut in last August. In February 2015, Red Velvet was spotted filming in a desert just outside of Palmdale, California with then SM Rookies-member Yeri, with the then-rumored song title to be "Blonde Girl", when they were actually filming the music video for "Ice Cream Cake". Yeri was then introduced by S.M. Entertainment as the fifth member of Red Velvet through two videos uploaded on the label's YouTube channel on March 11 and March 12, which contained audio previews of then-unknown album track "Somethin Kinda Crazy".{{cite web |title=[Video] Red Velvet Welcomes New Member Yeri in Time for Comeback |last=Hong |first=Grace Danbi |website=enewsWorld |url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/88938/video-red-velvet-welcomes-new-member-yeri-in-time-for-comeback |access-date=March 16, 2015 |date=March 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165837/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/88938/video-red-velvet-welcomes-new-member-yeri-in-time-for-comeback |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }} On the same day, they revealed the title of the group's first album, Ice Cream Cake.{{cite web |url=http://m.mk.co.kr/news/headline/2015/232805 |access-date=March 16, 2015 |website=MK News |date=March 11, 2015 |title=레드벨벳, 새 멤버 '예리' 합류 5인조 변신…18일 컴백 |language=ko |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172304/http://m.mk.co.kr/news/headline/2015/232805 |url-status=dead }} On March 14, the music video for "Automatic" was released days prior to the EP's release, with title track "Ice Cream Cake" followed suit on March 16.{{cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20150315n05007 |access-date=March 16, 2015 |author=Yoon Sang-geun |website=Nate |date=March 15, 2015|title=컴백 레드벨벳, 더블 타이틀곡 활동…뮤비 기습 공개|language=ko}} SM Entertainment confirmed that the group would be promoting both "Ice Cream Cake" and "Automatic".{{cite web|url=http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/201503/sp20150315101948136690.htm |access-date=March 16, 2015 |author=Lee Jong-hyun |website=Hankooki |date=March 15, 2015|title='컴백' 레드벨벳, 반전 매력 선사! 'Automatic' MV 기습 공개|language=ko}} The mini-album was released in two versions, Ice Cream Cake and Automatic. While there are no changes in the track list, the Automatic version has an alternative cover which features the original artwork in black and white, along with the design of the physical disc and the photo book inside is different from the other version.

Not only does the group's name "Red Velvet" represent their two different images, it also represents the duality sonic concept that the group was focusing on since their debut in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/101320/20140729/sm-entertainments-new-girl-group-red-velvet-finally-unveiled.htm|title=SM Entertainment's New Girl Group "Red Velvet" Finally Unveiled|date=2014-07-29|website=KpopStarz|access-date=2020-04-29}} While the "Red" concept shows the group's "sweet, bubblegum side", the "Velvet" concept highlights the group as "sultry sirens" with "slow-burning, Janet Jackson-esque R&B jam". Ice Cream Cake marks the first release from Red Velvet to contain both "Red" and "Velvet" compositions, which was eventually followed by two different releases that focused solely on a single sonic concept: The Red in September 2015 and The Velvet in March 2016.

{{Listen|filename=Ice Cream Cake, song by Red Velvet.ogg|title="Ice Cream Cake"|format=Ogg|pos=left|description="Ice Cream Cake" is a dance-rock song with influences of bubblegum pop and drum and bass. The song represents the "Red" sonic concept of the group.}}The extended play starts with the same-name track "Ice Cream Cake", a "punchy, sugary pop confection" that consists elements from dance-rock, bubblegum-pop and drum and bass. Produced by Hayley Aitken and producing team Trinity Music, the song original title was "Ice Cream Truck" before the lyrics was rewritten in Korean by songwriter Jo Yoon-kyung and Kim Dong-hyun. In addition, it also features "haunted" harmony which can be heard during the intro of the song, while being accompanied by the sound of a music box. The lyrics tell the excitement of a girl being attracted to her boyfriend, using "ice cream cake" as a metaphor to the girl's feelings. Along with the electro-pop "Stupid Cupid" and the bright, poppy "Take It Slow", the three tracks represent the "Red" concept, with "Stupid Cupid" offers a different "aura" through the electric riffs, and "Take It Slow" highlights the group's harmonization and soft vocals that recalls "the perfection" from fellow labelmate Girls' Generation-TTS.{{Cite web|url=http://izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=26679&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1&view_sort=1|title=Neo Music Communication IZM|website=IZM |access-date=2020-04-29}}{{Listen|filename=Automatic (song sample).ogg|title="Automatic"|format=Ogg|pos=right|description="Automatic" is a contemporary R&B song with influence from neo soul.{{Cite web|url=http://izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=26679&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1&view_sort=1|first=Do-hyun|last=Kim|title=Ice Cream Cake - 2015 - Red Velvet|website=IZM|access-date=2020-04-29}} The song represents the "Velvet" sonic concept of the group.}}In contrast, the second track "Automatic" is "a surely implemented R&B track" with influence from neo soul, thus represents the "Velvet" sonic concept. Produced by Daniel "Obi" Klein and British singer-songwriter Charli Taft, the song was the first work from the duo with Red Velvet (who would later participate in the group's upcoming releases). Lyrically, the song tells how "natural" and "automatic" the senses and feelings of a girl come just by the touch of her lover, with the opening monologue "How do you like this beat?/Natural and automatic for you." Charli Taft also co-produced the third track "Something Kinda Crazy", a modern-R&B track with synth-pop influence that sings about the starstruck feelings of a girl when she falls in a relationship. The lyrics was written by songwriter Kenzie, with American producer Teddy Riley joined in the production. The closing track "Candy" is a "smoothing, popping" R&B track that sings about the wishes of a long-lasting relationship. These three tracks eventually represent the group's "Velvet" concept, portraying the group's "sultry" images and music.

SM Entertainment announced a program where the group would promote their new EP, called Ice Cream TV. The group performed the songs live on the show, which was streamed through Naver Music and was hosted by Shinee's Minho. Besides their live performances, the group also talked about the new album and their 'comeback'.{{cite web|title=Red Velvet to Pre-release 'Ice Cream Cake' Online A Day Ahead of Album Release|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89232/red-velvet-to-pre-release-ice-cream-cake-online-a-day-ahead-of-album-release|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|date=March 13, 2015|website=enewsWorld|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202832/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89232/red-velvet-to-pre-release-ice-cream-cake-online-a-day-ahead-of-album-release|archive-date=March 3, 2016|access-date=March 16, 2015}}

The group started promoting their singles "Automatic" and "Ice Cream Cake" on music shows on March 19. They first performed the songs on Mnet's M Countdown,{{cite web|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89732/redvelvet-interview|title=[Interview] Red Velvet Talks Rumors Surrounding Member Change, Goals for 'Ice Cream Cake' and More|last=Jeon|first=Ah Ram|date=March 22, 2015|website=Newsen|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191753/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89732/redvelvet-interview|archive-date=March 3, 2016|access-date=March 23, 2015}} followed by performances on KBS' Music Bank on March 20{{cite web|url=http://www.soompi.com/2015/03/20/super-junior-des-growing-pains-wins-on-music-bank/|title=Super Junior D&E's "Growing Pains" Wins on Music Bank|date=March 20, 2015|website=Soompi|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731090127/https://www.soompi.com/2015/03/20/super-junior-des-growing-pains-wins-on-music-bank/|url-status=dead}} and SBS' Inkigayo on March 22.{{cite web|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/474549|title='인기가요' 레드벨벳, 전혀 다른 두 가지 매력 '아이스크림 케이크'와 '오토매틱'|author=Hwang Seong-un|date=March 22, 2015|website=10asia|language=ko|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217231446/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/474549|url-status=dead}} They returned to Music Bank a week later and won their first music show trophy since their official debut.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?page=1&branch=NEWS&source=&category=entertainment&art_id=3265626|title='뮤뱅' 레드벨벳, 데뷔 7개월만 가요프로 첫 1위..눈물 펑펑|author=Kim Mi-hwa|date=March 27, 2015|website=Korea Daily|language=ko|access-date=March 30, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154508/http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?page=1&branch=NEWS&source=&category=entertainment&art_id=3265626|url-status=dead}} They had their first overseas performance of "Ice Cream Cake" and their first as a 5-member group in an SM Town concert held in Taiwan.{{cite web|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/474384|title=SMTOWN, 대만 홀렸다…SMTOWN LIVE 대만 공연 성공리에 마무리|author=Hwang Seong-un|date=March 22, 2015|website=10asia|language=ko|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210063456/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/474384|url-status=dead}} The group has also promoted and performed songs from the album in the Philippines for the Best of the Best K-pop Concert on April 12, a concert which also featured labelmates Super Junior and Girls' Generation as well as Cube boy band BTOB. The group also had its first promotions in the United States at KCON on August 2 at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The group participated in a fan engagement session at the Los Angeles Convention Center and performed songs "Ice Cream Cake", "Somethin' Kinda Crazy", and "Happiness" during the concert.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = IZM{{cite web|url=http://izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=26679&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1&view_sort=1 |website=IZM|author=Kim Do-hyun|title=Ice Cream Cake|language=ko |access-date=2020-04-29}}

| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

| rev1score =

| rev2 = Seoulbeats{{cite web|url=https://seoulbeats.com/2015/03/sweet-love-red-velvets-ice-cream-cake/ |website=Seoulbeats|author=Chelsea|title=Ice Cream Cake|date=28 March 2015 |language=en |access-date=2020-04-29}}

| rev2score = {{rating|3.75|5}}

}}Upon its initial release, Ice Cream Cake received positive reviews from most music critics for showcasing the duality sonic concept of the group. Jakob Dorof of pop music magazine Spin described the track "Ice Cream Cake" as "a treat as unexpected as it is unpredictable [...] packs a punch, but goes down smooth over time" and deemed it "the SM label's specialty: bubblegum pop that deeply rewards repeat rotations."{{cite web|last1=Dorof|first1=Jakob|title=SPIN K-Pop Report: Ga-In Subverts Adam & Eve, Lim Kim Pops Smoky Bubblegum|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/06/spin-k-pop-report-ga-in-subverts-adam-eve-lim-kim-pops-smoky-bubblegum/|website=Spin|publisher=SpinMedia|access-date=30 September 2015|date=2015-06-11}} Billboard's Jeff Benjamin called the album "an impressive effort for such a young group" and praised its ability to personify the group's dual-sided musical identity through the singles "Ice Cream Cake" and "Automatic." He explained: "The former track is a punchy, sugary pop confection that [...] seems to represent the outfit's sweet bubblegum side; their "Red" side if you will. While the latter is a slow-burning, Janet Jackson-esque R&B jam that [...] positions them as sultry sirens; their "Velvet" side."{{cite magazine|last1=Benjamin|first1=Jeff|title=Red Velvet Send Delicious 'Ice Cream' EP to World, Heatseeker Albums Charts|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6516563/red-velvet-ice-cream-cake-automatic-ep|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Billboard|access-date=30 September 2015}} In a positive review for the EP, writer Kim Do-hyun of IZM complemented the strong R&B influence in the release, while noting that the release is "an independent statement" for the group, choosing the two singles, "Something Kinda Crazy" and "Take It Slow" to be the highlights of the EP. Another review from Seoulbeats described the EP as "an earnestly sweet album that shows the wide range of talent the ladies of Red Velvet possess."{{Cite web|url=https://seoulbeats.com/2015/03/sweet-love-red-velvets-ice-cream-cake/|title=Sweet Love in Red Velvet's "Ice Cream Cake"|date=2015-03-28|website=Seoulbeats|language=en-US |access-date=2020-04-29}} The two singles would later appear in the top 25 Red Velvet songs by Billboard, with "Automatic" at number nine and "Ice Cream Cake" at number eighteen.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8525588/best-red-velvet-songs-critics-picks|title=Red Velvet's 25 Best Songs|date=2019-07-31|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-04-29}}

On the week of March 15, 2015, Ice Cream Cake debuted and spent one week at number one on the weekly Gaon Album Chart,{{cite web|url=http://m.news.nate.com/view/20150326n25639 |access-date=March 26, 2015 |website=Nate |date=March 26, 2015 |title=레드벨벳, 가온 주간 앨범차트도 1위 '정상 행진'|language=ko}}{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=13&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Weekly Album Chart - Week 13, 2015|website=Gaon Chart|access-date=2020-04-29}} giving the group their first chart-topping title. All six songs from the album eventually charted in the same week on Gaon Singles Chart.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150326020637/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=13&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week South Korea's] Gaon Singles Chart from March 15–21, 2015 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2015). Archived March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015. The album went on to become the best selling album by a girl group in South Korea on the Hanteo Chart for the first half of 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=3470045|title=상반기 음반판매, 엑소 1~3위 석권..레드벨벳, 女유일 톱20|author=Gil Hye-seong|date=June 21, 2015|website=Korea Daily|language=ko|access-date=August 5, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163217/http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=3470045|url-status=dead}} With a total of 48,815 copies sold in 2015, the extended play was the 50th best-selling release on the 2015's Gaon Year-End Album Chart, and later achieved a cumulative sales of over 88,000 copies as of September 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2015&hitYear=2015&termGbn=year|title=2015's Gaon Year-End Album Chart|website=Gaon Chart|access-date=2020-04-29}} It also debuted at number two on Billboard's World Albums Chart, becoming their first charting entry.{{cite web|url=http://star.mt.co.kr/view/stview.php?no=2015032708333431217&outlink=2&SVEC |access-date=March 27, 2015 |author=Yoon Seong-yeol |website=Star News |date=March 27, 2015|title=레드벨벳, 美빌보드 월드앨범 2위 진입..MFBTY 8위|language=ko}} The album also peaked at 25 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers on April 4, 2015.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2015-04-04|title=Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Musicians Chart|magazine=Billboard}} The album is also the group's first appearance on the Japan's Oricon Albums Chart, peaking at number 76 for one week.

{{Track listing

| headline = Ice Cream Cake track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| title_width = 18%

| lyrics_width = 18%

| music_width = 39%

| extra_width = 25%

| title1 = Ice Cream Cake

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Jo Yoon-kyung|Kim Dong-hyun}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Hayley Aitken|Sebastian Lundberg (Trinity Music)|Fredrik Häggstam (Trinity Music)|Johan Gustafsson (Trinity Music)}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Hayley Aitken|Trinity Music}}

| length1 = 3:11

| title2 = Automatic

| note2 =

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Choi So-young}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Daniel "Obi" Klein|Charli Taft}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Daniel "Obi" Klein|Charli Taft}}

| length2 = 3:30

| title3 = Somethin Kinda Crazy

| note3 =

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Kenzie}}

| music3 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Teddy Riley (Red Rocket)|Dominique "DOM" Rodriguez (Red Rocket)|{{ill|Lee Hyun-seung (Red Rocket)|ko|이현승_(작곡가)}}|Charli Taft}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Red Rocket|Charli Taft}}

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Stupid Cupid

| note4 =

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Seong Hyun-bin (Doppio (Devine Channel))}}

| music4 = {{hlist|Andrew Choi|Hayley Aitken|Joseph "220" Park (Iconic Sounds)|Cha Cha Malone (Iconic Sounds)}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Andrew Choi|Hayley Aitken|Iconic Sounds}}

| length4 = 3:29

| title5 = Take It Slow

| note5 =

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|G-High (MonoTree)|Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)}}

| music5 = {{hlist|G-High (MonoTree)|Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|MonoTree}}

| length5 = 3:31

| title6 = Candy

| note6 = {{Korean|labels=no|hangul=사탕|rr=Satang}}

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Hong Ji-yoo}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Claire Rodrigues Lee (Hookline & Singer Music)|Kevin Charge (TG Publishing)}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Score}}

| length6 = 4:22

| total_length = 21:28

}}

Credits are from the album liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Ice Cream Cake|others=Red Velvet|year=2015|type=booklet|publisher=S.M. Entertainment|language=ko}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• S.M. Entertainment Co., Ltd. {{spaced ndash}} executive producer
• Lee Soo-man {{spaced ndash}} producer
• Kim Cheol-soon {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Jeong Ui-seok {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Lee Min-kyu {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Kim Hyeon-gon {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Oh Seong-goon {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Jeong Gi-hong {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Jeong Eun-kyeong {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• G-high {{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
• Nam Goong-jin {{spaced ndash}} mixing engineer
• Goo Jong-pil {{spaced ndash}} mixing engineer
• Kim Cheol-soon {{spaced ndash}} mixing engineer
• Jeong Ui-seok {{spaced ndash}} mixing engineer
• Jeon-hoon {{spaced ndash}} mastering engineer
• Shin Soo-min {{spaced ndash}} assistant mastering engineer

{{col-2}}

• Steven Myungkyu Lee {{spaced ndash}} English supervision
• Min Hui-jin {{spaced ndash}} creative director
• Shin Hui-won {{spaced ndash}} music video director ("Automatic")
• Kim Seong-ook {{spaced ndash}} music video director ("Ice Cream Cake")
• Min Hui-jin {{spaced ndash}} design
• Jo Woo-cheol {{spaced ndash}} design
• Kim Ye-min {{spaced ndash}} design
• Madame Lolina {{spaced ndash}} illustration
• Choi Min-hye {{spaced ndash}} stylist
• Kim Joo-hee {{spaced ndash}} make-up artist ("Automatic")
• Shin Gyeong-mi {{spaced ndash}} make-up artist ("Automatic")
• Kim Joo-hee {{spaced ndash}} make-up artist ("Ice Cream Cake")
• Lee Ji-hyeon {{spaced ndash}} hair stylist ("Automatic")
• Jeong Seon-i {{spaced ndash}} hair stylist ("Ice Cream Cake")
• Min Hui-jin {{spaced ndash}} photography
• Kim Ye-min {{spaced ndash}} photography assistant
• Young-min Kim {{spaced ndash}} executive supervisor

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}{{Col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Red Velvet}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ice Cream Cake}}

Category:Red Velvet (group) EPs

Category:2015 debut EPs

Category:SM Entertainment EPs

Category:Korean-language EPs

Category:Dance-pop EPs

Category:2010s concept albums