I don’t know why all these distinctly summer songs are releasing right before I have to go back to work for the new school year, but the timing is not to their advantage. Summer songs need weeks to brew and connect with all the great experiences listeners enjoy during the season. At any rate, Red Velvet’s Joy is back with her first solo work in years and it sees her delivering a sweet beachside serenade.
Like 2021’s Hello, Love Splash! is upbeat and effusive. This is a great energy for Joy to explore and differs from the usual idol-turned-soloist mode. When it comes to direct summer competition, the song is not nearly as bombastic and joyful as NCT Wish’s Surf last week, but offers a slightly more subdued adult take on the same summer vacation. Despite its exclamatory title, Love Splash! holds back at every turn. Even the beat drop during the chorus is more reserved than something like Red Flavor. This tiptoeing around becomes a bit underwhelming when you expect the song to pinwheel forward with unbridled energy, but the nuanced approach adds to Love Splash‘s sweetness.
I don’t know that this will become a future summer staple, but it seems well-positioned to have strong longevity. While Love Splash! doesn’t hit you over the head with its charm, it subtly works its way into your memory and remains charming for its full runtime. Buoyed by Joy’s effortless performance, the song will surely satisfy longtime fans.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
