Beautiful Christmas: The Magical Story Behind Red Velvet & Aespa's First-Ever Collab

"Beautiful Christmas" made history when it debuted on December 14, 2022. The song represents the first time SM Entertainment's powerhouse groups Red Velvet and aespa joined forces. This dance carol appeared on SMTOWN's ninth winter album and brought both prominent K-pop groups together for a festive celebration.

The song features a cheerful swing rhythm backed by piano instrumentals. Its music video captures holiday magic through scenes of Christmas tree decorating and gift exchanges. The track blends English and Korean lyrics that create a captivating musical experience and highlight the season's joy.

SM Entertainment included this song in their annual holiday project, which showcases 58 artists from their roster. The complete "2022 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU PALACE" album came out on December 26, 2022. Fans enjoyed a free online concert on January 1, 2023, which concluded the celebrations.

The Birth of a K-pop Christmas Miracle

SM Entertainment thrilled fans with a groundbreaking announcement on December 10, 2022. The company revealed the first-ever collaboration between their leading girl groups as part of their winter album project "2022 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU PALACE."

How the collaboration came together

SM Entertainment brought together two generations of K-pop talent in this strategic move. This project stands as the most important milestone between the groups. The only previous connection was when some members worked together in GOT the Beat.

Behind-the-scenes preparation process

Both groups deepened their commitment to create the perfect holiday atmosphere. Backstage footage showed the members in cozy pajamas as they gathered in circles to capture the authentic holiday spirit. The team worked hard to blend the unique vocal styles of both groups perfectly.

Member reactions to the project announcement

The members could barely contain their excitement about working together. Their genuine reactions included:

Winter's love for Christmas shone through as she admitted to playing carols from October
Wendy shared her childhood Christmas memories with a playful doubt about Santa's existence
The rest of the members showed pure joy about performing together in festive outfits

Korean netizens praised the collaboration worldwide. They loved:

The groups' visual harmony
The seamless blend of nine members
The natural chemistry they shared during interactions

Creating the Perfect Beautiful Christmas Scene

The "Beautiful Christmas" set transformed into a magical winter wonderland through careful attention to detail. A stunning all-white Christmas tree with sparkling ornaments became the visual centerpiece. The cozy fireplace with flickering candles added warmth to the scene. Both indoor and outdoor settings featured snow-covered trees and custom-built snowmen that enhanced the festive mood.

Set design and visual concept development

The set designers turned the 2022 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Palace into an exclusive holiday party venue. Sweet pastels mixed beautifully with traditional Christmas colors. This blend created a perfect balance between modern and classic holiday aesthetics.

Costume and styling choices

The wardrobe choices displayed amazing designer pieces:

Yeri's Shushu/Tong brown check minidress with an Area crystal-embellished belt
Karina's bow-embellished tweed minidress from Area
Winter's strapless taffeta mini dress from Bernadette
Ningning's ostrich-feather cropped top from Styland

Choreography creation process

The choreography brought out the song's positivity and upbeat energy. Simple, joyful movements captured the holiday spirit instead of complex formations. The performance featured energetic group numbers that let both groups show their unique styles while staying in perfect harmony.

These elements came together to create a cohesive visual experience that captured the essence of a Beautiful Christmas celebration. Each aspect was carefully designed to work in harmony with the others.

Musical Magic: Crafting the Perfect Holiday Sound

This joyful musical collaboration combines powerful vocals with unique production to create an energetic holiday anthem. The song takes a free-spirited approach to festive sounds that could light up the Macy's parade stage with its theatrical performance.

Composing the beautiful christmas lyrics

Both groups poured their strengths into creating a festive atmosphere through the songwriting process. The track makes its mark with references to classic holiday songs, much like traditional Christmas carols but adds a modern K-pop flavor.

Vocal arrangement and recording sessions

Both groups showed their vocal power during recording sessions. Some standout performances include:

Wendy's expert control of high notes
Ningning's powerful vocal climax in the finale
Nine voices that blend into perfect harmony

Blending distinct group styles

The production team combined Red Velvet and aespa's unique musical identities perfectly. Each group managed to keep their signature sound while creating something fresh and exciting. SM Entertainment proved its expertise at bringing artists together. Both groups are prominent for their vocal talents and combined their styles naturally for this instant holiday hit.

Jazz elements in the song let vocalists display their theatrical side. This creates a perfect mix of traditional holiday music and modern K-pop production. The chorus shines brightest as their voices merge, setting a new measure for K-pop holiday collaborations.

Impact on K-pop Christmas Culture

Red Velvet and aespa's joint venture "Beautiful Christmas" topped Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart. This was the first time either group reached No. 1. The song performed better than their previous releases, with aespa's highest at No. 6 and Red Velvet's "Feel My Rhythm" at No. 16.

Setting new standards for holiday collaborations

"Beautiful Christmas" shows SM Entertainment's skill at bringing groups together. The project sets a new standard for holiday releases in K-pop. It proves that when groups work together, they can achieve remarkable commercial success.

Fan reactions worldwide

Fans around the world loved "Beautiful Christmas" and shared their excitement:

The nine members' voices blended perfectly together
The song brought back memories of classic SM holiday releases
Fans want to see more projects between these two groups

Influence on future cross-group projects

This soaring win has created new opportunities for future K-pop group partnerships. Industry experts say other K-pop companies could benefit from this approach, just as SM Entertainment did with SuperM and GirlsOnTop. The project has sparked talks about summer collaborations and other seasonal releases between K-pop groups.

"Beautiful Christmas" now serves as a model for different generations of K-pop artists. They can work together successfully while keeping their own unique styles.