"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 second studio album by South Korean boy band NCT, an unlimited group project under the management of SM Entertainment. Similar to their previous release NCT 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, and WayV, while introducing two new NCT members, namely Shotaro and Sungchan.[2][3] It would also be the final NCT album to feature Lucas 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 through music 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]
Background and release
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 groups NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV were confirmed to be part of Resonance, with WayV's Xiaojun, Hendery, and Yangyang officially being inducted in NCT through the project. Two new NCT members, Sungchan and Shotaro, would debut with Part 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 a V Live broadcast where Sungchan and Shotaro were officially introduced to the public.[11]
In accordance to 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 edition and the international edition.
On November 9, SM Entertainment confirmed that the second part of the album would be released on November 23, 2020. Previously, during the announcement for Resonance Pt. 1, the company stated that the NCT 2020 Project would consist of two parts.[14]
Recording and production
Member Doyoung 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 to Empathy, 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 that Resonance marks as a progression of Empathy, explaining, "Our music is so different too, because now we are in the pandemic, 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 of Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin, and Shotaro.[17] The hip-hopdance track "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" was co-written by rappers Penomeco and Damian, while music was composed by Sonny 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" for NCT Dream, which served as Mark's return to the Dream unit; "Nectar" for WayV; and "Music, Dance" for NCT 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 on Resonance 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 and Chenle, 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 a new retrohip hopR&B song featuring Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, and Sungchan;[20] its lyrics are about creating new and unique values. "Work It" is an electronic dance song recorded by Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, and Jisung while "Raise The Roof", sung by Taeil, Yuta, Johnny, Kun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung, is a hip hop track that uses oriental 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-tempo pop song that utilizes retro and modern bass sounds while "I.O.U" is a lo-fi hip hop track recorded by Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung, Yangyang, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung. Two additional instrumental tracks are included: "Interlude: Present to Future" and "Outro: Dream Routine".
Accolades
Part 1 won Album Bonsang at the 35th Golden Disc Awards. "Make a Wish (Birthday Song)" was named one of the best K-pop songs of 2020 by Dazed (13) and BuzzFeed (26).[21][22]Paper included "From Home" in their list of The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 at number 15.[23]
^Mina, Gong (November 5, 2020). [단독]NCT 2020, 23일 정규 2집 파트2 컴백..'더블 밀리언셀러' 노린다[★FOCUS] [NCT 2020, 2nd regular album Part 2 comeback on the 23rd... Aiming for 'Double Million Seller']. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020 – via Naver.
^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. Retrieved January 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. Retrieved October 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. Retrieved October 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. Retrieved December 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. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^年間 アルバムランキング 2021年度 [Yearly album ranking – 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
