Red Velvet - Perfect 10: lyrical analysis

Red Velvet is a five member cute girl group that recently delved into the horror scene with their music video for “Peek-a-Boo”. Having that in mind, I like to think of the Perfect Velvet album as a soundtrack for that concept. “Perfect 10” is obviously about a relationship between a boy and a girl and their reminiscing about the perfect moments, but in my theory for the lyrics, I dug up a darker meaning behind the lyrics.

Light camera action uh
Everything is perfect
Hit the button and push record
Day night, I don’t care
I’ll follow my five senses
Feels real, following how I feel
A scent that resembles you overflows

The song begins with terms associated with filming then jumps into almost animal instincts. “A scent that resembles you....” coincides with the line just above it “I'll follow my five senses”. This gives me real creature vibes. It's almost as if the person is being hunter.

Your heart is a clear, square frame
I’m the subject
That wants to live inside
With the sweet light
I’m waiting for you

“Your heart is a clear, square frame” sounds like a target for a hunter or a beast. But the next few lines suggest setting a trap and waiting.

My black eyes, close up
All of me, close up
So my honest heart can get closer
As if we can touch, closer

Black eyes are a sign of animal instincts kicking in. It's the adrenaline rushing to the blood. Maybe the hunter is waiting in the dark and the victim is nearing the hunter without even realizing it. The “closer” could also be switching perspectives.

I’ll be your perfect 10, 10, 10
Be your perfect 10, 10, 10
Each cut is 10, 10, 10
When you place me in your arms
No more, no less, perfect

In the last stanza, I mentioned the switching of perspectives which makes sense in this stanza. “I'll be your perfect 10” could mean that the victim is aware of the hunter and is becoming the prize the hunter wanted all along.

Rewinding the film of my memories
I’m looking at myself from when we were together
So unreal, how could I spend
Each minute and each second, looking at you?

I know this stanza kind of debunks my whole “hunter and hunted” theory, but it could be even creepier if you look at it with my theory in mind. The hunter is recalling all the moments spent hunting the victim.

Your soft smile is a flash to me
With that light, I get brighter
A subject that only follows you
Walking together in the rain that night
We were so picturesque, yeah

It only gets creepier. “A subject that only follows you, walking together in the rain that night” almost freaks me out with how dark and sinister it sounds. You could say that this is a love song about memories of a loved one, but I like looking at it with this sinister edge because of the music video for “Peek-a-Boo”.

My black eyes, close up
All of me, close up
So my honest heart can get closer
(Nana whoa yeah) (Oh my)
I wanna show you
I’ll be your perfect 10, 10, 10
(I’ll be your perfect)
Be your perfect 10, 10, 10
Each cut is 10, 10, 10
When you place me in your arms
No more, no less, perfect
Don’t lose a single moment right now
Feels like I can melt
A different kiss, a different trembling
Feel brand new

“A different kiss, a different trembling” could be the kiss of demise and the trembling of fear. I'm really digging with this, but I enjoy this concept.

Oh oh my
I’ll leave all of my moments
Only with you
Yeah
My smooth hair, close up
Everything you want, close up
Even my trembling breath
It’s all for you
I’ll be your perfect 10, 10, 10
Be your perfect 10, 10, 10
Each cut is 10, 10, 10
When you place me in your arms
No more, no less, perfect, perfect

[Lyrics from: www.colorcodedlyrics.com]