Aespa Forever: A Heartwarming Winter Remake

aespa has made waves with their unique concept and powerful performances. Their remake of "Forever" marks a significant milestone in their journey, showcasing a softer side to the group known for hard-hitting tracks like "Black Mamba." This winter-themed digital single, released by SM Entertainment, has captivated fans with its heartwarming melody and stunning visuals.

The music video for "Forever" transports viewers to a cozy winter cabin, featuring members Karina, Giselle, Winter and NingNing in a dreamy snow globe setting. With its mid-tempo rhythm and string instruments, the song highlights the vocal range and ad-libbing skills of each member. Produced by Yoo Young-jin, this remake brings a fresh perspective to the original, resonating with both long-time K-pop enthusiasts and new fans in Seoul and beyond.

"Forever" originally emerged as part of a larger project in the early 2000s. Recording for the album that would include "Forever" began in mid-1999 at Abbey Road Studios. The production process extended through August and September, with sessions taking place at various studios including Steelworks Studios and Whitfield Street Studios. However, the album's completion was delayed due to the group members' individual projects and tour commitments.

Yoo Young-jin, a prominent figure in the K-pop industry, played a crucial role in the creation of "Forever." As a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, and vocal trainer, Yoo has been instrumental in shaping the sound of numerous SM Entertainment artists. His work spans across generations of K-pop, including groups like H.O.T., S.E.S, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, and more recently, aespa.

"Forever" found a new life as part of SM Entertainment's winter album tradition. The song was included in the "2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace" album, released on December 26, 2022. This album concept continued from its predecessor, "2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express," and featured collaborations between various SM artists. The album brought together 58 artists from the label, showcasing the unique combinations that SM Entertainment is known for.

On January 29, 2021, SM Entertainment made a surprising announcement that aespa would be making a comeback with "Forever," a remake of Yoo Young-jin's single from the 2000 SM Entertainment holiday album "Winter Vacation in SMTown.com". The group's official Twitter account promoted the hashtag #늘_네_옆에_난_서있을게 (#I_will_always_stand_by_your_side), building anticipation for the upcoming release.

To generate excitement for the new single, SM Entertainment released a series of concept photos. On February 1, 2021, the first set of photos featuring Karina and Ningning was unveiled. The following day, concept photos for Winter and Giselle were shared with the public. These images showcased the members in various winter-themed settings, aligning with the song's description as having a "cozy winter mood".

"Forever" was officially released as a digital single on February 5, 2021, by SM Entertainment. This release marked aespa's second digital single since their debut. The song was made available for digital download and streaming platforms, allowing fans worldwide to access the new content easily. As part of the promotional strategy, SM Entertainment announced that the group would release a series of performances for the single in the following days, each with different concepts.

Aespa's remake of "Forever" is a mid-tempo R&B ballad that showcases the group's vocal abilities. The song has a tempo of 184 beats per minute and is composed in the key of D-flat major. This musical style allows for a softer, more emotional delivery compared to the group's previous hard-hitting tracks.

The instrumental arrangement of "Forever" features a prominent acoustic guitar sound, complemented by string instruments playing in the background. This combination creates a warm, intimate atmosphere that aligns with the song's wintry theme and romantic lyrics. The acoustic elements provide a perfect backdrop for the members' voices to shine.

Each member of aespa brings a unique vocal color to the song, contributing to its overall appeal. Winter's voice has been described as soothing, with a balance of innocence and maturity. Ningning's charming vocals add a bright quality to the track, while Giselle's more mature tone suits the song's emotional depth. Karina surprises with an innocent-sounding voice that contrasts with her mature visuals.

The remake offers an excellent opportunity to showcase aespa's vocal abilities, with the members delivering impressive runs and demonstrating their polish throughout the song. Their performances include patented Yoo Young-Jin vocal techniques, paying homage to the original while establishing their own musical identity.

The lyrics of "Forever" paint a vivid picture of a love that feels destined and unbreakable, starting from the very first moment the two lovers meet. The imagery of a snowy day and moonlight sets a serene and almost magical backdrop, emphasizing the purity and timelessness of their connection .

The song's winter theme creates a cozy and romantic atmosphere, perfectly aligning with the narrative of enduring love. The snowy setting serves as a metaphor for the purity and beauty of the relationship described in the lyrics.

The chorus of the song, with its repeated use of the word 'forever,' underscores the singer's desire to give only the best to their beloved. The lyrics express a longing to fill their partner's life with happiness and beauty, promising to stand by their side through all of life's challenges . This promise of eternal support and companionship is a central theme, highlighting the depth of the singer's commitment.

The singer offers their shoulder to lean on, wanting to be a source of comfort and strength for their partner. This aspect of the song adds a layer of realism, recognizing that true love is not just about the good times but also about being there for each other during tough times . The repeated assurances of 'forever' serve as a reminder of the enduring nature of their love, making "Forever" a touching ode to everlasting devotion.

The music video for aespa's "Forever" was released on February 5, 2021, on SM Entertainment's YouTube channel. The visual concept of the video aligns perfectly with the song's winter theme, depicting the group in a picturesque winter wonderland. The production company Sunnyvisual directed the video, bringing to life a magical and enchanting atmosphere that complements the song's romantic lyrics.

One of the most striking elements of the music video is its use of snow globe imagery. The visual portrays aespa members inside a snow globe, with snow gently falling outside. This creative choice adds a whimsical and dreamy quality to the video, enhancing the overall winter aesthetic. In an interesting twist, the video also shows the ae versions of the group members observing their human counterparts from outside the snow globe, creating a unique interplay between the real and virtual worlds.

Aespa's performance of "Forever" at the Second World Cultural Industry Forum (WCIF) showcased the group's embrace of cutting-edge technology. The stage production combined Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies to create an immersive visual experience. This performance, which also included their hits "Black Mamba" and "Next Level," demonstrated how AR and XR can enhance live music presentations, offering audiences a new way to engage with the artists and their music.

The music video has garnered significant attention, accumulating more than 46 million views on YouTube. This popularity reflects the successful integration of aespa's unique concept with innovative visual storytelling techniques, setting a new standard for K-pop music video production.

Aespa's promotional activities for "Forever" focused on engaging fans through various performance versions and innovative stage presentations. The group's approach to promotion demonstrated their versatility and commitment to providing diverse content for their audience.

Following the release of "Forever," aespa unveiled a series of performance videos, each with a unique concept. On February 6, 2021, the group released the "Cozy Winter Cabin" version, featuring the members in a snug cabin setting with snow falling outside. This was followed by the "Glitter Snowball" version on February 8, and the "Romantic Street" version on February 10. These varied performances allowed fans to experience the song in different visual contexts, enhancing the overall promotional strategy.

Aespa showcased their technological prowess during their appearance at the Second World Cultural Industry Forum (WCIF). The group performed "Forever" alongside their hits "Black Mamba" and "Next Level" on a stage that combined Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies. This innovative performance demonstrated aespa's commitment to pushing boundaries in live presentations, offering audiences a unique and immersive experience.

The group's promotional strategy for "Forever" differed from typical K-pop comeback campaigns. As a special non-promotional single, "Forever" did not receive the same intense streaming focus from fans as title tracks usually do. This approach allowed for a more organic spread of the song, relying on its quality and the group's growing popularity rather than concentrated streaming efforts. The release of multiple performance versions served to maintain fan interest and engagement throughout the promotional period.

"Forever" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Ruby C from NME gave the song a three-star review, noting that aespa added a "feminine touch" to their rendition. She praised the remake for doing justice to the original while being more believable due to aespa's "sweet, girlish charms". Ye-eun Kim, writing for Hypebae, described "Forever" as a "fresh, love-themed track" that showcases a different side of the virtual hybrid K-pop group. Irene Chou of The Brown Daily Herald commended the song's "soft ballad's late-winter feel" and highlighted the group's "impressive" vocals and "flawless execution of eye-catching choreography".

The song made its mark on international charts, debuting at number eleven on the US World Digital Song Sales chart. This achievement marked aespa's second entry on this particular chart, demonstrating their growing global appeal.

Fan reactions to "Forever" were mixed but largely positive. Many fans expressed surprise at the song's softer style, contrasting sharply with aespa's previous hard-hitting tracks. One fan commented on the unexpected nature of the release, stating, "This has caught me completely off guard... I don't even know what to say". Another fan praised the song's lyrics and described it as empowering, saying, "I love that song a lot... I feel like it's kind of an empowering song".

However, some fans had reservations about the song's release timing and overall impact. A critical fan noted that the song felt disjointed, especially considering its Christmas-like theme being released in February . Despite these criticisms, many appreciated the opportunity to hear aespa's vocal abilities in a different musical context.