"Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" Released: October 12, 2020
"From Home" Released: October 19, 2020
"90's Love" Released: November 23, 2020
"Work It" Released: November 27, 2020
NCT 2020 Resonance is the secondstudio album by South Korean boy bandNCT, an unlimited group project under the management ofSM Entertainment. Similar to their previous releaseNCT 2018 Empathy,NCT 2020 Resonance is part of the "NCT 2020" project, which saw all current NCT members from several units collaborating on a full-length release. This time, the album features all 23 members from three current units of NCT;NCT 127,NCT Dream, andWayV, while introducing two new NCT members, namelyShotaro andSungchan.[2][3] It would also be the final NCT album to featureLucas due to his hiatus and eventual departure in 2023.[4] The first part was released on October 12, 2020, and the second part was then released on November 23, 2020.[5]
To promote the first part of the album, "Make A Wish" and "From Home" were released respectively as the first and second single, under the name of NCT U. "90's Love" and "Work It" were released as the two lead singles for the second part of the album.
The group promoted the album throughmusic show performances and their own reality television series,NCT World 2.0. It was a commercial success for the group, becoming their first chart-topper on the Gaon Album Chart as NCT, and subsequently the group's first release to sell over a million copies without any repackage.[6]
On September 15, 2020, it was announced that all current members of NCT would finally reunite as NCT 2020 following their first studio album,NCT 2018 Empathy, in 2018.[7] A teaser video, titled "Interlude: Resonance," was released on September 20.[8] The album's name,Resonance, was announced a day later, with the album to be released in two parts: the first would be released on October 12 while the second part would receive a November release in the same year.[9] NCT groupsNCT 127,NCT Dream, andWayV were confirmed to be part ofResonance, with WayV's Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yangyang officially being inducted in NCT through the project. Two new NCT members, Sungchan and Shotaro, would debut withPart 1's release, bringing the total number of members to 23.[9] Pre-orders for the album began on September 21.[10] Another teaser video, named "Year Party," was released the next day, which featured all members assembling.[8] On September 23, the 23 members gathered in aV Live broadcast where Sungchan and Shotaro were officially introduced to the public.[11]
Following the album's release schedule, a short music video for NCT Dream's "Déjà Vu" was released on October 8, 2020, through the group's YouTube channel, with the music video for NCT U's "Misfit" released a day later.[12][13] Along with its parental album, the music video for "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)" was then released on October 12, 2020, while the music video for "From Home" was released on October 19. The physical album comes in two versions: Past and Future, with different packages for the Korean and international editions.
On November 9, SM Entertainment confirmed that the second part of the album would be released on November 23, 2020. Previously, during the announcement forResonance Pt. 1, the company stated that the NCT 2020 Project would consist of two parts.[14]
MemberDoyoung revealed that producers would be in charge of selecting songs and which members would be recording them.[15] Recording sessions took more than a month to conduct.[15] Compared toEmpathy,Taeyong is not the leader of the collective NCT 2020, saying, "I'm not actually the lead of NCT right now because the 22 other members are very awesome and these guys don't need a lead. So I'm not the leader of NCT. I just say, 'Hi, guys' and 'Hana dul set... [1, 2, 3...]' to start our greeting."[15] Taeyong explained thatResonance marks as a progression ofEmpathy, explaining, "Our music is so different too, because now we are in thepandemic, and our lyrics mean we can overcome this right now, and we’re more confident and powerful. We are definitely more grown-up."[16] He also described the various genres and styles the album featured, saying, "If you listen to our album, you’ll notice that obviously we have a more traditional kind of ballad, but we also have other tracks that are more old school and have that retro vibe."[16]
The NCT U unit for "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" consisted ofTaeyong,Doyoung,Jaehyun,Lucas, Xiaojun,Jaemin, and Shotaro.[17] Thehip-hopdance track "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" was co-written by rappersPenomeco and Damian, while music was composed bySonny J Mason,Karen Poole, and Bobii Lewis.[18] Korean and English versions of the song were included in the album, with Jaehyun explaining that these were recorded with international audiences in mind. Doyoung shared that the song "aims to give listeners a positive vibe and deliver positive energy," with the song's title and lyrics being a spin on making birthday wishes.[16]
The sub-units of NCT each released a song for the album: "Déjà Vu" forNCT Dream, which served asMark's return to the Dream unit; "Nectar" forWayV; and "Music, Dance" forNCT 127.[16] Doyoung described "Music, Dance" as "energetic," saying, "I just remember having a lot of fun recording it, but we also trying to deliver the same energy when I recorded it. I remember kind of sweating it out actually in the studio."[15] "Déjà Vu" is about the original seven Dream members reuniting, with Jaemin sharing, "The theme of the song was, 'Let’s go back on stage together.' It was great to be reunited again as seven and to be able to showcase that reunion onResonance Pt. 1."[15] Lucas and Xiaojun described WayV's song, "Nectar," as "sexy." Describing the recording process, Xiaojun explained that they "wanted to use that feeling — like bad boys with this very special juice."[15] Instrumental "Interlude: Past to Present" was a favorite of some members, with Taeyong elaborating, "It explains NCT and kind of introduces the group within the music."[16] The group that performed "From Home" included Taeil, Kun,Yuta, Doyoung, Renjun,Haechan andChenle, and was performed in four languages - Korean, English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.[15][19][11]
The lead single of part 2, "90's Love", is anew retrohip hopR&B song featuringTen,Winwin,Mark,Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, and Sungchan;[20] its lyrics are about creating new and unique values. "Work It" is anelectronic dance song recorded by Johnny, Yuta,Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, andJisung while "Raise The Roof", sung by Taeil, Yuta, Johnny, Kun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung, is a hip hop track that usesoriental instrumentations. "My Everything" contains a minimalist composition that features the vocals of Taeil, Xiaojun, and Renjun on a calm piano melody. "All About You", sung by Jaehyun, Jungwoo,Mark, Hendery, Shotaro, Sungchan, and Chenle, is a medium-tempopop song that utilizes retro and modern bass sounds while "I.O.U" is alo-fi hip hop track recorded byTaeyong, Kun, Doyoung, Yangyang, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung. Two additional instrumental tracks are included: "Interlude: Present to Future" and "Outro: Dream Routine".
Part 1 won Album Bonsang at the35th Golden Disc Awards. "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)" was named one of the best K-pop songs of 2020 byDazed (13) andBuzzFeed (26).[21][22]Paper included "From Home" in their list of The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 at number 15.[23]
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^Yoon, Ki-baek (January 10, 2021).NCT·엑소, 음반 본상 [2021 골든디스크] [NCT·EXO, Album Bonsang [2021 Golden Disc]].Edaily.Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 10, 2021.
^Shim, Eon-kyung (October 21, 2020).'쇼챔피언' NCT U, 출연 없이 1위 "23명 전원 받는 상"…펜타곤·베리베리 컴백 [종합] [Show Champion: NCT U No. 1 "Award for 23 People" - Pentagon & Verivery's Comeback].Osen (in Korean).Naver.Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. RetrievedOctober 25, 2020.
^Noh, Soo-rin (October 23, 2020).'뮤직뱅크' NCT U, BTS 꺾고 1위 "팬분들 덕"...세븐틴·B1A4·이달의소녀 컴백 [종합] [Music Bank: NCT beats BTS and wins 1st Prize; Seventeen, B1A4, Loona comebacks].X Sports News (in Korean).Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. RetrievedOctober 25, 2020.
^Park, So-young (December 8, 2020).NCT 성찬, 못다한 '더쇼' 1위 소감..코로나19 자가격리 멤버들 "고생했어요" [NCT's Sungchan, unfinished 'The Show' #1 impression.. members in COVID-19 isolation, "I suffered"].Osen (in Korean).Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. RetrievedDecember 9, 2020.
^Bae, Hyo-joo (January 15, 2021).‘뮤직뱅크’ NCT U, 방탄소년단 꺾고 1위 트로피 ['Music Bank' NCT U beats BTS to win first place trophy].Newsen (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 15, 2021.
