Like Water (EP)

Like Water
Like Water
	Digital version cover
EP by Wendy
Released	April 5, 2021
Genre	Pop; rock;
Length	18:56
Language	Korean
Label	SM; Dreamus;
Wendy chronology
Singles from Like Water
	"When This Rain Stops"; Released: April 5, 2021; "Like Water"; Released: April 5, 2021;
Alternative cover
	Case version cover (standard)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Beats Per Minute	78%^[1]
IZM	^[2]
NME	^[3]

Like Water is the debut extended play by South Korean singer Wendy. The EP was released on April 5, 2021, by SM Entertainment and consists of five tracks, including the two title tracks, "When This Rain Stops" and "Like Water".^[4] The EP makes Wendy the first Red Velvet member to make a solo debut.

Background

News of the EP was first reported on March 10 by South Korean entertainment outlet StarNews. The publication had claimed that Wendy was working on a solo album planned for release in April. Shortly after the report, SM confirmed that the singer would release a solo project sometime next month, although a specific date had not been announced at the time. "Wendy is working with the goal of releasing a solo album in April. Please look forward to it," the company stated. Prior to the EP's release, Wendy had been on a year-long hiatus due to a stage accident during the 2019 SBS Gayo Daejeon music festival. She suffered a pelvic fracture and broken wrist, among other injuries, and had to be hospitalized for two months.^[5]

The official music video teaser for the title track was released on YouTube and Naver TV via SM Entertainment's official channels at midnight on April 2.^[6]^{[better source needed]} A second teaser was released the next day, which features Wendy looking glowing as she is bathed in sunset like glow, in this amber-colored teaser. She is surrounded by water droplets and fresh flowers and a heavenly instrumental sound fills the background. Towards the end, Wendy hits the high-notes, standing in a red dress.^[7]^{[better source needed]}The video was released alongside the song on April 5 and features Wendy performing the song alone in a mansion filled with overgrown plants. It also features shots of the singer in a glass pavilion, similarly surrounded by bright red flora.^[8]

Composition

The EP contains five tracks.^[4]^[9] "Like Water" is described as an acoustic pop ballad characterized by Wendy's pure vocals.^[10]^[11] Written by prominent South Korean songwriters Kenzie and Yoo Young-jin, the song offers Wendy's deepest epiphanies as she reflects on her blessings from those who've been by her side at every step of life.^{[citation needed]} The gentle mix of guitar and band sounds in the song keep the rhythm ebullient before she wraps up with a soothing outro and reinforces the chorus with her signature high-notes.^{[citation needed]}

"When This Rain Stops" is a piano ballad that sends a message of empathy and strength. The song is backed with a slight yet steady piano melody combined with Wendy's dynamic vocals. There is very little scope for her to rest throughout the song which delivers a sense of urgency to the narrative. The lyrics seem heavily influenced by her own personal experience in the past year when she struggled with recovery in an atmosphere of uncertainty. "Why Can't You Love Me?" is a cheerful spring inspired track about a one sided love. "The Road" is a modern rock song.^[12] "Best Friend" features fellow Red Velvet bandmate Seulgi and explores various genres ranging from pop to rock.^[13]

Track listing

*Like Water* track listing
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"When This Rain Stops"	minGtion	minGtion	minGtion	4:03
2.	"Like Water"	Kenzie Yoo Young-jin	Coach&Sendo Anne Judith Stokke Wik	Coach&Sendo	4:20
3.	"Why Can't You Love Me?"	Koo Tae-woo	Jamie Jones Matt Wong Lamont Neuble Tim Stewart Paulina Cerrilla	Jamie Jones Matt Wong Lamont Neuble Tim Stewart Paulina Cerrilla	2:48
4.	"The Road" (Korean: 초행길; RR: Chohaenggil)	Lee Ju-hyung	Lee Ju-hyung Kwon Ae-jin	Lee Ju-hyung	4:15
5.	"Best Friend" (with Seulgi)	Kim Yeon-seo	minGtion Kim Yeon-seo	minGtion	3:30
Total length:					18:56

Vinyl LP bonus tracks
No.	Title	Music	Arrangement	Length
6.	"When This Rain Stops (instrumental)"	minGtion	minGtion	4:03
7.	"Like Water (instrumental)"	Coach&Sendo Anne Judith Stokke Wik	Coach&Sendo	4:20
Total length:				27:19

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Like Water*
Chart (2021)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[14]	35
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[15]	71
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[16]	4

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for *Like Water*
Chart (2021)	Peak position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[17]	7

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Like Water*
Chart (2021)	Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[18]	66

Release history

Release history for *Like Water*
Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	April 5, 2021	CD digital download streaming	SM Entertainment Dreamus
South Korea	May 28, 2021	LP	SM Entertainment

References

^ Early, JT (August 20, 2021). "Album Review: Wendy – Like Water". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
^ Jeong Da-yeol (April 2021). "Album Review Wendy – 'Like Water'". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2021.
^ Ruby C (April 9, 2021). "Wendy – 'Like Water' review: navigating the ebbs and flows of emotions with vocal fluidity". NME. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Lee Min-ji (April 5, 2021). "girl group member-solo release". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ Puah Ziwei (March 24, 2021). "Red Velvet's Wendy unveils release date of upcoming solo debut". NME. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
^ "Red Velvet's Wendy teases solo debut with M/V teaser for Like Water". Pink Villa. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ "LIKE WATER: Red Velvet's Wendy is bathed in sunset glow in this amber themed teaser". Pink Villa. April 4, 2021. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ Ziwei, Puah (April 5, 2021). "Red Velvet's Wendy drops stunning video for debut single 'Like Water'". NME. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^ "'Goddess-like vocal tone' Red Velvet WENDY, Solo debut!". SM Entertainment. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ Lee Sun-min (April 5, 2021). "'Like Water'". Korea Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ Jang Woo-young (April 5, 2021). "레드벨벳 웬디, 오늘(5일) 솔로 데뷔…'라이크 워터' 공개". Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ "Red Velvet's Wendy shares a dreamlike world in her solo debut". Bandwagon Asia. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ Dongre, Divyansha (April 5, 2021). "Red Velvet's Wendy Makes Dreamy Solo Debut With 'Like Water'". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ 週間アルバムランキング – 2021年04月26日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – April 26, 2021]. Oricon (in Japanese). April 12–18, 2021. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^ Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/04/14 公開 [Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/04/14 Release]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 15–21, 2021. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
^ 2021년 15주차 Album Chart [2021, Week 15 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). April 4–10, 2021. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ 2021년 04월 Album Chart [April 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ 2021년 Album Chart [2021 Album Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)