Ice Cream Cake (song)

After wrapping up promotions for "Be Natural" 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 August 2014. Prior to the official comeback announcement, Red Velvet was spotted filming in a desert just outside of Palmdale, California for a music video in February 2015 with then SM Rookies member Yeri, with the then-rumored song title to be "Blonde Girl".{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201502011402234710|title=Red Velvet spotted filming an MV in America?|work=Allkpop|access-date=2017-11-15}} On March 11, 2015, S.M. Entertainment officially introduced Yeri as a new member of Red Velvet through a video uploaded on their YouTube channel, along with image teasers from member Irene and Joy.{{cite web|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/88938/video-red-velvet-welcomes-new-member-yeri-in-time-for-comeback|title=[Video] Red Velvet Welcomes New Member Yeri in Time for Comeback|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|date=March 11, 2015|website=enewsWorld|access-date=March 16, 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}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.soompi.com/2015/03/10/red-velvet-to-return-with-new-member-yeri-as-a-five-member-group/|title=Red Velvet to Return with New Member Yeri as a Five-Member Group|website=Soompi|date=11 March 2015|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-15|archive-date=2017-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720124531/https://www.soompi.com/2015/03/10/red-velvet-to-return-with-new-member-yeri-as-a-five-member-group/|url-status=dead}} On the same day, they revealed the title of the group's first album to be Ice Cream Cake, which would be released on March 18, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://m.mk.co.kr/news/headline/2015/232805|title=레드벨벳, 새 멤버 '예리' 합류 5인조 변신…18일 컴백|date=March 11, 2015|website=MK News|language=ko|access-date=March 16, 2015|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}} The official video for "Ice Cream Cake" was then uploaded on the official SMTOWN channel on March 16, 2015 along with the single.

"Ice Cream Cake" was produced by Hayley Aitken and producing team Trinity Music, which consists of Sebastian Lundberg, Fredrik Haggstam and Johan Gustafson. In December 2012, a 21-second demo version of the song was first spotted during an episode of Swedish TV show Kobra, where Lundberg, Haggstam and Gustafson can be seen processing the demo version which was sung in English.{{Citation|last=SwedenKPOP|title=(Eng) 121205 Swedish TVshow "Kobra" on KPOP - SHINee, Big Bang, Super Junior and more (Part 2 of 3)|date=2012-12-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbysxNyfYTo&t=8m|access-date=2017-11-19}} After being purchased by S.M. Entertainment, the song's lyrics was rewritten in Korean by songwriter Jo Yoon-kyung and Kim Dong-hyun, with the former who had been writing for Red Velvet's labelmates previously, and the song title changed from its original name of "Ice Cream Truck."Red Room DVD Credits

{{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.}}Musically, the song is primarily a dance-rock track with influence from bubblegum pop and drum and bass, which represents the group's "Red" sonic characters. It was composed in the key of A major with a tempo of 172 beat-per-minute.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotontrack.com/track/ice-cream-cake/168169|title=Ice Cream Cake - Red Velvet - Spot On Track|website=www.spotontrack.com|language=en|access-date=2017-11-19}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/06/spin-k-pop-report-ga-in-subverts-adam-eve-lim-kim-pops-smoky-bubblegum/|title=SPIN K-Pop Report: Ga-In Subverts Adam & Eve, Lim Kim Pops Smoky Bubblegum {{!}} SPIN|date=2015-06-11|work=Spin|access-date=2017-11-19}} 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. Two different remix versions of the song were also used for the group's promotion, with the first one having an additional dance break section (performed on KBS Music Bank Half-Year Special) and the second one having a longer intro and another dance break section towards the end of the song, while omitting the second verse and chorus of the original version (performed on 2015 MBC Music Festival).{{Citation|last=SMTOWN|title=Red Velvet 레드벨벳_'Ice Cream Cake'_KBS MUSIC BANK 'the First Half Year Special'_2015.06.26|date=2015-06-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aFPo-RN00I|access-date=2017-11-19}}{{Citation|last=MBCkpop|title=[2015 MBC Music festival] 2015 MBC 가요대제전 - RED VELVET - Ice Cream Cake,레드벨벳-아이스크림케이크 20151231|date=2015-12-31|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDc52QXsDo8|access-date=2017-11-19}}

The music video for "Ice Cream Cake" was filmed around February 2015 at the Four Aces Movie Ranch located in Palmdale, California.{{Cite news|url=https://www.redvelvetupdates.com/post/113674016026/info-red-velvets-ice-cream-cake-mv-was-filmed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011215604/http://www.redvelvetupdates.com/post/113674016026/info-red-velvets-ice-cream-cake-mv-was-filmed|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 11, 2017|title=Red Velvet's Ice Cream Cake MV was filmed in a place called "Four Aces" in Palmdale, California|date=2015-03-15|work=Red Velvet Updates|access-date=2020-08-04}} It was directed by director Woogie Kim, who had previously directed Red Velvet's debut single "Happiness".{{Citation|last=GDW|title=Red Velvet (레드벨벳) - Ice Cream Cake|date=2015-03-28|url=https://vimeo.com/123481242|access-date=2017-11-19}} Setting in an abandoned motel, the music video features all five members dancing and singing to the song while showing the girls eating ice cream and drinking iced coffee in colorful outfits in the desert. At some scenes, the group can be seen driving along the road while being chased after by a big pink ball. The song's choreography was created by choreographer Kyle Hanagami, who had previously choreographed for "Be Natural" in 2014. The video was uploaded on the official SMTOWN channel on March 16, 2015, and became the most viewed K-pop video in both America and the world for the month of March.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6531147/most-viewed-k-pop-videos-mvs-america-world-march-2015|title=Most Viewed K-Pop Videos in America & Around the World: March 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-11-19}} It has since received more 100 million views, making it their sixth most watched music video.

Promotion of the song was started with Ice Cream TV on March 17, 2015, where the group promoted their debut extended play by performing the songs live in the show, which was streamed through Naver Music and was hosted by SHINee's Minho.{{Cite web|url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89232/red-velvet-to-pre-release-ice-cream-cake-online-a-day-ahead-of-album-release|title=NEWS {{!}} Get The Latest News on K-pop & Your Star|website=mwave.interest.me|language=en|access-date=2017-11-19|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=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}} Two days after the digital release, they had their first live performance of "Ice Cream Cake" on 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|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191753/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/89732/redvelvet-interview|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}} followed by performances on 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 Inkigayo on March 22, where they also performed a shortened version of "Automatic".{{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}} A week later, the group returned to Music Bank 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 then continued to promote the song within the first half of 2015 on music shows and radio talk shows, before ending with a year-end performance at the fifth Gaon Chart Music Awards on February 17, 2016, where they received the Hot Performance of the Year award.{{Cite news|url=http://star.mt.co.kr/view/stview.php?no=2016021710321665728|title=제5회 가온K팝어워드, YG 음원-SM 음반 '초강세'..빅뱅·엑소 5관왕(종합)- 스타뉴스|date=2016-02-17|work=스타뉴스|access-date=2017-11-19|language=ko-KR}} The song was part of the set list for Red Velvet's first concert Red Room in August 2017, where a remix version was performed instead of the original version.

In addition to the domestic promotion, Red Velvet had their first overseas performance of "Ice Cream Cake" and their first as a 5-member group in an SMTOWN 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 then 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 label mates Super Junior and Girls' Generation as well as Cube boy band BTOB, before having their first United States promotion at KCON on August 2 at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Upon its initial release, "Ice Cream Cake" was compared to the sound of label mate f(x) by many, and has since received critical acclaim from music critics. While Jeff Benjamin of Billboard magazine complimented the song as "a punchy, sugary pop confection", Kim Do-hyun of IZM chose it as a highlight of the EP, said the song "seemed to inherit" the sound of f(x), but "it built an identity" as "first Red Velvet".{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6516563/red-velvet-ice-cream-cake-automatic-ep|title=Red Velvet Send Delicious 'Ice Cream' EP to World, Heatseeker Albums Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-11-19}}{{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=2017-11-19}} 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." On an individual music video review, Jesse Lent of KpopStarz said the song was "deeply arresting" and "delivers every intriguing move you could want from a shiny new pop song".{{Cite news|url=http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/184104/20150316/red-velvet-ice-cream-cake-video.htm|title=Review: Red Velvet Return With A Serious Sugar Rush On The Irresistible 'Ice Cream Cake' [VIDEO]|last=KpopStarz|date=2015-03-16|work=KpopStarz|access-date=2017-11-19}} Writer Chelsea from Seoulbeats applauded the song "alarmingly catchy" and "definitely an ear worm", while writer Jung Bae of Hellokpop chose the song as the Best Dance and Electronic Song of 2015 and ranked it fifth on the Song of the Year chart.{{Cite news|url=http://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|work=seoulbeats|access-date=2017-11-19|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.hellokpop.com/review/2015-in-review-day-5-dance-and-electronic/|title=2015 in Review: Day 5 - Dance and Electronic|date=2016-01-18|work=hellokpop|access-date=2017-11-19|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.hellokpop.com/review/2015-in-review-day-13-song-of-the-year/|title=2015 in Review: Day 13 - Song of the Year|date=2016-01-27|work=hellokpop|access-date=2017-11-19|language=en-US}} The song would later appear in the top 25 Red Velvet songs by Billboard, landing at number eighteen on the list.{{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}}

Upon its digital release, "Ice Cream Cake" achieved great success and became the group's breakthrough hit. The song debuted and peaked at number four on the Gaon Digital Chart for the week of March 15, 2015.{{Cite web|title=|script-title=ko:2015년 13주차 Digital Chart|trans-title=2015, Week 13 Digital Chart|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=13&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week|url-status=live|archive-url=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|archive-date=March 26, 2015|access-date=November 19, 2017|website=|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko}} It became the group's second top-five hit following "Happiness", which debuted and peaked at number five in 2014. Furthermore, "Ice Cream Cake" also charted at number 11 on the monthly chart of Gaon Digital Chart, for the month of March 2015.{{Cite web|title=|script-title=ko:2015년 03월 Digital Chart|trans-title=March 2015 Digital Chart|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=03&hitYear=2015&termGbn=month|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413052605/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=03&hitYear=2015&termGbn=month|archive-date=April 13, 2015|access-date=November 19, 2017|website=|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko}} Having spent a total of 17 weeks charting within the top 100, "Ice Cream Cake" appeared at number 46 on the year-end Gaon Digital Chart. As of July 2016, the song received more than 1.3 million downloads, making it Red Velvet's second million-seller and currently their eighth best-selling hit.Cumulative sales of "Ice Cream Cake" and "Dumb Dumb":

• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=year&hitYear=2015&targetTime=16&nationGbn=K|website=Gaon Chart|script-title=ko:2015년 Download Chart|trans-title=Gaon Download Chart: 2015|access-date=August 4, 2016}}
• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=year&hitYear=2016&targetTime=16&nationGbn=K|website=Gaon Chart|script-title=ko:2016년 상반기 결산 Download Chart|trans-title=Gaon Download Chart: 1st Half of 2016|access-date=August 4, 2016}}
• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=07&hitYear=2016&termGbn=month|website=Gaon Music Chart|script-title=ko:2016년 07월 Download Chart|access-date=October 8, 2017}}

Elsewhere, the song debuted at number three on the US Billboard World Digital Song, becoming their third entry and second top-five hit on the chart.{{Cite magazine|date=|title=World Digital Song Sales – The Week of April 4, 2015|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2015-04-04|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807090607/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2015-04-04|archive-date=August 7, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2017|magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|title=Chart History: Red Velvet – World Digital Song Sales|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/red-velvet/chart-history/wdt/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103005904/https://www.billboard.com/music/red-velvet/chart-history/WDT|archive-date=January 3, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2021|magazine=Billboard}} As of December 2019, "Ice Cream Cake" is the group's fourth most downloaded song in the United States, having achieved a total of 23,000 downloads.{{Cite magazine|last=Benjamin|first=Jeff|date=January 3, 2020|title=Red Velvet Score Second No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales With 'Psycho'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8547284/red-velvet-psycho-no-1-world-digital-song-sales-chart-2nd-chart-topper|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104131215/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8547284/red-velvet-psycho-no-1-world-digital-song-sales-chart-2nd-chart-topper|archive-date=January 4, 2020|access-date=April 28, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}

"Ice Cream Cake" won the Female Dance Award at the 2015 Melon Music Awards. It won the Best Female Dance Performance at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and got longlisted on the UnionPay Song of the Year. It also won the Digital Bonsang on the 2016 Golden Disc Awards. The song also received six music program wins.

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ice Cream Cake.{{cite AV media notes|title=Ice Cream Cake|others=Red Velvet|publisher=SM Entertainment|language=ko|year=2015|type=booklet}}

Studio

• Recorded at SM Blue Ocean Studio
• Recorded at In Grid Studio
• Additional vocal editing at SM Big Shot Studio
• Mixed at SM Concert Hall Studio
• Mastered at Sonic Korea

Personnel

{{div col}}

• Red Velvet (Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, Yeri){{Spaced en dash}}vocals, background vocals
• Jo Yoon-kyung{{Spaced en dash}}lyrics
• Kim Dong-hyun{{spaced en dash}}lyrics
• Hayley Aitken{{Spaced en dash}}composition, arrangement, background vocals
• Sebastian Lundberg{{Spaced en dash}}composition, arrangement
• Fredrik Häggstam{{Spaced en dash}}composition, arrangement
• Johan Gustafson{{Spaced en dash}}composition, arrangement
• Kenzie{{Spaced en dash}}vocal directing
• Kim Chul-soon{{Spaced en dash}}recording
• Lee Min-kyu{{Spaced en dash}}recording, additional vocal editing
• Jeong Eun-kyung{{Spaced en dash}}recording
• Jiyoung Shin{{Spaced en dash}}additional vocal editing
• Nam Koong-jin{{Spaced en dash}}mixing
• Jeon Hoon{{spaced en dash}}mastering
• Shin Soo-min{{snd}}mastering assistant

{{div col end}}

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• List of Inkigayo Chart winners (2015)
• List of M Countdown Chart winners (2015)

{{reflist}}

{{Red Velvet songs}}

{{Melon Music Award for Dance}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Songs written by Hayley Aitken

Category:2015 songs

Category:Red Velvet (group) songs

Category:Songs written by Johan Gustafson (record producer)

Category:Songs written by Sebastian Lundberg

Category:Songs written by Fredrik Häggstam

Category:Songs with lyrics by Jo Yoon-kyung