Bloom is the first Japanese studio album (third overall) by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. It was released on April 6, 2022, through Avex Trax. Bloom is Red Velvet's first studio album released in four years and five months after the group's second Korean studio album Perfect Velvet (2017).
On December 10, 2021, it was announced that Red Velvet would be releasing their first Japanese studio album, Bloom.[1] The album will mark the girl group's first Japanese release in almost two years, following the May 2019 extended play (EP) Sappy, which featured the singles "Sappy" and "Sayonara".[2] Five of Bloom's eleven tracks are new, including the lead single "Wildside".[3] In addition to the digest video of the premium event Red Velvet ReVeluv-Baby Party held in 2019, the first production limited edition DVD and Blu-ray will include footage of previous activities in Japan, live videos from A-Nation, and behind-the-scenes videos of the album shoot.[4] Each member also created individualized shots with "special" designs for the release.[5]
The album was initially set to be released on February 2, 2022, but postponed due to production issues, with no new release date stated.[6] By March 12, the group opened their official Japanese Twitter account and announced that Bloom would be released on April 6.[7] A content schedule was also posted, indicating that the gradual release of various promotional content for the album.[8] The lead single was released on March 28, ahead of the album itself.[9]
The lead single, "Wildside", is a "cool" and "seductive" song "unique" to Red Velvet, and the lyrics contain a message that they will support themselves who do not give up to reach where they want to go.[10] "Marionette" samples a xylophone signature line from the classic song, "The Nutcracker".[11] "Jackpot" is a song described for its "exciting" atmosphere.[12] "Snap Snap" expresses an era that relies on social media.[13] "Color of Love" is a song described for its "charming" and "soft" melody.[14] In addition, there are a total of 11 existing songs including "Sappy", "#Cookie Jar", "Sayonara", "Aitai-tai", "Swimming Pool", and "Cause It's You".[15]
Bloom debuted at number five on Japan's weekly Oricon Albums Chart in the chart issue dated April 4–10, 2022.[16] It also peaked at number two on the component daily Albums Chart.[17] The album debuted at number two on Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated April 7–13, 2022.[18] Additionally, it also debuted at numbers 41 and two on the component Download Albums and Top Albums Sales in the chart issue dated April 7–13, 2022.[19][20]
^Red Velvet 初の”全曲日本オリジナル楽曲”となるフルアルバム発売決定 [Red Velvet's First Full Album to be Released "All Songs, Original Japanese Songs"]. Oricon News (in Japanese). December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
^Red Velvet、日本1stフルアルバム『Bloom』2月にリリース [Red Velvet's First Full Album in Japan, "Bloom", Will be Released in February]. Barks (in Japanese). December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
^Red Velvet、全曲オリジナル楽曲！日本で初のフルアルバム「Bloom」2022年2月2日に発売決定 [Red Velvet, All Original Songs! Japan First Full Album "Bloom" will be Released on February 2, 2022]. Kstyle (in Japanese). December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
^RedVelvet、全曲日本オリジナルアルバム『Bloom』4・6発売 日本公式ツイッター開設 [Red Velvet's Original Japanese Album "Bloom" will be Released on April 6, Official Twitter Opening in Japan]. Oricon News (in Japanese). March 12, 2022. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
^Park, Seol-i (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳 日 첫 정규 앨범 'Bloom' 4월6일 발매 [공식] [Red Velvet's First Full-length Album 'Bloom' Released on April 6 [Official]]. TV Report (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^Ji, Min-kyung (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳, 6일 日 첫 정규 앨범 'Bloom' 발매 [공식] [Red Velvet, To Release Its First Full-length Album 'Bloom' on the 6th]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^Kim, Min-ji (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳, 6일 日 첫 정규 '블룸' 발매…11곡 수록 [Red Velvet, Will Release Its First Full-length Album 'Bloom' on the 6th…11 Tracks in the Album]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^Lee, Seul (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳, 6일 日 첫 정규 'Bloom' 발매…타이틀곡은 'WILDSIDE' [Red Velvet, Will Release Its First Full-length Album 'Bloom' on Thursday…The Title Track is 'WILDSIDE']. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^Oh, Yoon-joo (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳, 日 첫 정규 앨범 'Bloom' 발매 [공식] [Red Velvet, To Release Its First Full-length Album 'Bloom' in Japan [Official]]. MyDaily (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (April 5, 2022). 레드벨벳 日 첫 정규 앨범 'Bloom' 4월6일 발매 [Red Velvet's First Full-length Album 'Bloom' will be Released on April 6]. StarNews (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2022.
^ ab2022年04月04日～2022年04月10日 オリコン週間 アルバムランキング [April 04, 2022 ~ April 10, 2022 Oricon Weekly Album Ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 4–10, 2022. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
^2022/04/06付 オリコンデイリー アルバムランキング [Oricon Daily Album Ranking on April 6, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 6, 2022. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
^Billboard Japan Download Albums – 2022/04/13 公開 [Billboard Japan Download Albums – 2022/04/13 Release]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 7–13, 2022. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
^Red Velvet、全曲日本オリジナル楽曲のJapan 1stアルバム『Bloom』2月リリース [Red Velvet's Japan 1st Album "Bloom", All Original Japanese Songs, Will be Released in February]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
^Red Velvet、日本1stフルアルバム「Bloom」集合ジャケットを公開…華やかな雰囲気 [Red Velvet Unveils Japan's 1st Full Album "Bloom" Collective Jacket…Gorgeous Atmosphere]. Kstyle (in Japanese). March 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022 – via Yahoo! Japan.
