Savage (Aespa song)
"Savage" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their first extended play (EP) of the same name.
It also continues the group's previous storyline in "Next Level", with the members and their corresponding avatars confronting their Black Mamba villain in the fictional Kwangya universe.
Upon its release, "Savage" received positive reviews from music critics for its "addictive hooks and refrains", comparing the song to the work of late Scottish musician and record producer Sophie.
Sporting a dark, futuristic atmosphere, the video depicts the group getting ready to battle Black Mamba in Kwangya.
On September 13, 2021, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their first extended play titled Savage with the lead single of the same name on October 5.
[4] "Savage" was released for digital download and streaming as the lead single from EP of the same name on October 5, 2021, by SM Entertainment.
"Savage" was composed by Kirsten Collins, Jia Lih, and Hautboi Rich, along with Yoo Young-jin, who also wrote the Korean lyrics of the song.
[12] Crystal Bell of Paper mentioned the hyperpop hodgepodge of brash synths, trap beats, and earworm hooks on the song.
[16] Carmen Chin from NME said "the clanging electronic instrumentation that kicks [the song] off, while reminiscent of late Sophie, steadily unleashes the musical potency that listeners have come to expect of aespa.
"[12] In addition, she mentioned that the song is "brimming with addictive hooks and refrains that sit on top of masterfully layered production" which further "perfecting the edginess the quartet had already grounded themselves in."
Writing for Billboard, Starr Bowenbank described the song as "assertive and daring", and further expanded that it "is worthy of a replay (or two) to catch every one of its intricate elements.
[51] At a press conference for the song's release, Aespa's member Winter noted that the group "paid extra attention to [show their] powerful and strong side" for the video.
Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India praised "sci-fi thematics with its high-budget CGI and polished labyrinthine set design" of the music video that is "creating a visually immersive experience".
