Universe (NCT album) explained
Universe |
Type: | studio |
Artist: | NCT |
Cover: | NCT - Universe.png |
Border: | yes |
Caption: | Digital cover |
Recorded: | 2021 |
Studio: | SM Studios (Seoul) |
Genre: |
|
Length: | 45:49 |
Prev Title: | Sticker |
Prev Year: | 2021 |
Next Title: | Glitch Mode |
Next Year: | 2022 |
Universe is the third studio album and ninth album overall by South Korean boy band NCT. It was released on December 14, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Similar to their previous releases NCT 2018 Empathy and NCT 2020 Resonance, NCT 2021 Universe is part of "NCT 2021" project; which saw all current NCT members from several units collaborating on a full-length release. This time, the album features 21 out of 23 members from three current units of NCT; NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. Members Lucas and Winwin were unable to participate.[2] [3] Universe is NCT's final album to feature Shotaro and Sungchan, who both withdrew from the group in May 2023.[4]
Background and release
On November 13, 2021, it was announced that NCT would reunite for a third time as NCT 2021 following their second full group project, NCT 2020 Resonance, in 2020. Five teaser videos, titled "NCT 2021 YearDream" and each labeled from Stage 0 through Stage 4, were released between November 21 and November 29. NCT groups NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV were confirmed to participate in Universe, with Winwin and Lucas being absent from the project. NCT released track videos for "Dreaming", "Miracle", and "Earthquake", by NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT 127, respectively. The music video for "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" was released on December 10. The music video for "Beautiful" was released alongside the album itself on December 14.[5]
Commercial performance
Universe surpassed more than 1.7 million pre-orders on the day of release, breaking their previous record of 1.1 million pre-orders for NCT 2020 Resonance Pt.1[6]
Accolades
Program! width="140" Date (3 total) | |
---|
Music Bank | December 24, 2021 | [7] |
December 31, 2021 | [8] |
January 7, 2022 | [9] | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from Naver and QQ Music.[11] [12]
- Rick Bridgesvocal director, background vocals
- GDLOvocal director
- Ju Chan-yang (Pollen)vocal director, background vocals
- G-highvocal director
- Seo Mi-rae (Butterfly)vocal director, pro tools operator
- Ju Dae-gwanvocal director, pro tools operator
- Nodayvocal director, background vocals
- minGtionvocal director, piano, bass, recording, digital editing
- Jisoo Parkvocal director, background vocals
- Yoo Young-jinvocal director, background vocals, digital editing, engineered for mix, mixing
- NCTvocals, background vocals
- Taeilvocals, background vocals
- Johnnyvocals, background vocals
- Taeyongvocals, background vocals
- Yutavocals, background vocals
- Kunvocals, background vocals
- Doyoungvocals, background vocals
- Tenvocals, background vocals
- Jaehyunvocals, background vocals
- Jungwoovocals, background vocals
- Markvocals, background vocals, rap making
- Xiaojunvocals, background vocals
- Henderyvocals, background vocals
- Renjunvocals, background vocals
- Jenovocals, background vocals
- Haechanvocals, background vocals
- Jaeminvocals, background vocals
- Yangyangvocals, background vocals
- Shotarovocals, background vocals
- Sungchanvocals, background vocals
- Chenlevocals, background vocals
- Jisungvocals, background vocals
- Junnybackground vocals
- Ebenezerbackground vocals
- Kenziebackground vocals
- Oiaislebackground vocals
- MarcLobackground vocals
- Dwillybackground vocals
- Justin Starlingbackground vocals
- Jeffrey Okyere-Twumasibackground vocals
- Adrian McKinnonbackground vocals
- No Min-jirecording, digital editing, engineered for mix
- Kang Eun-jirecording, digital editing, engineered for mix
- Lee Min-gyurecording, mixing, engineered for mix
- Jung Yu-rarecording, engineered for mix, digital editing
- Xu Tian Hongrecording
- On Seong-yunrecording
- Jung Ho-jindigital editing
- Kwon Yu-jindigital editing, recording
- Lee Ji-hongengineered for mix, mixing
- Jung Ui-seokmixing
- Nam Gung-jinmixing
- Kim Cheol-sunmixing
Locations
Recording
- SM Yellow Tail Studio
- SM SSAM Studio
- SM Big Shot Studio
- SM Starlight Studio
- doobdoob studio
- Studio21A
- sound POOL Studios
- SM BOOMINGSYSTEM
Editing
- SM Yellow Tail Studio
- SM SSAM Studio
- doobdoob Studio
- sound POOL Studios
- SM Starlight Studio
- SM BOOMINGSYSTEM
Mixing
- SM Blue Cup Studio
- SM Blue Ocean Studio
- SM SSAM Studio
- SM Concert Hall Studio
- SM Big Shot Studio
- SM LVYIN Studio
- SM Starlight Studio
- SM BOOMINGSYSTEM
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
Notes and References
- Web site: NCT 2021 'Universe' album: Airtime, tracklist and subunits explored. Adhya. Arpita. December 14, 2021. HITC. December 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214082207/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/12/14/nct-2021-universe-album-airtime-tracklist-and-subunits-explored/. December 14, 2021. live.
- Web site: [공식] NCT, 1년 2개월 만에 뭉쳤다…12월 14일 정규 3집 발매]. [Official] NCT, reunited after 1 year and 2 months... 3rd full album release on December 14th. Woo. Bin. November 12, 2021. Tenasia. Naver. ko. December 5, 2021.
- Web site: '2021 MAMA' NCT, '유니버스' 무대 최초 공개. '2021 MAMA' NCT unveils 'Universe' stage for the first time. Jeon. Hyo-jin. December 3, 2021. The Dong-a Ilbo. ko. December 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202235115/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/382/0000948756. December 2, 2021. live.
- Web site: Sungchan and Shotaro leave NCT, to re-debut in "new boy group". NME. May 24, 2023. Puah Ziwei.
- Web site: [오늘노래] NCT 21명의 다채로운 조합 만날 수 있는, 'UNIVERSE']. Ha. Na-young. December 14, 2021. Digital Chosun Ilbo. ko. December 29, 2021.
- Web site: NCT 'Universe' 선주문량 170만장 돌파..강력한 브랜드 파워. Newsen. December 14, 2021. ko. December 14, 2021.
- Web site: NCT, 오늘(26일) 'Beautiful' 퍼포먼스 스테이지 공개..희망찬 에너지. NCT unveils 'Beautiful' performance stage today (26th)... Hopeful energy. Min-kyung. Ji. December 26, 2021. OSEN. ko. January 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20211226011542/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004531667. December 26, 2021. live.
- Web site: 12월 5주순위. December 31, 2021. KBS. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20211231144302/https://program.kbs.co.kr/2tv/enter/musicbank/pc/board.html?smenu=a1e0fb&bbs_loc=T2000-0027-04-641103,list,none,1,0. December 31, 2021. live.
- Web site: '뮤뱅' NCT U, 'Universe'로 1위..쪼꼬미⋅원위 컴백→하이키⋅케플러 데뷔[종합]]. 'Mubang' NCT U, 1st place with 'Universe'..Jokomi・Onewe comeback→Highkey・Kepler debut [comprehensive]. Seung-hoon. Lee. January 7, 2022. OSEN. ko. January 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107115225/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004537677. January 7, 2022. live.
- Web site: The 100 best songs of 2021. Brown. August. Exposito. Suzy. Roberts. Randall. Wood. Mikael. December 20, 2021. December 20, 2021. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220211525/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-20/100-best-songs-2021-sza-kali-uchis-baby-keem. December 20, 2021. live.
- Web site: Universe - The 3rd Album. Naver Vibe. November 14, 2021. December 24, 2021. December 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211224030159/https://vibe.naver.com/album/6729268. live.
- Web site: Universe - The 3rd Album. QQ Music. November 14, 2021. December 24, 2021. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214095423/https://y.qq.com/n/ryqq/albumDetail/002N5nPx0bEiX2. live.
- Web site: Lista prodaje 5. tjedan 2022. (24.01.2022. - 30.01.2022.). February 7, 2022 . HDU. hr. February 10, 2022.
- Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums [2021/12/29 公開]]. Billboard Japan. ja. January 5, 2022.
- Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 51, 2021. Gaon Music Chart. ko. December 29, 2021.
- Billboard 200: January 1, 2022. Billboard. January 5, 2022.
- World Albums: January 1, 2022. Billboard. January 5, 2022.
- Web site: Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-12 (see #5) . . December 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112032704/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2021-12/ . January 12, 2022.
- Web site: Gaon Album Chart – December 2021. Gaon Music Chart. ko. January 5, 2022.
- Web site: 2021 Gaon Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart. ko. January 7, 2022.
- Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2022/p/5/. ja:年間 アルバムランキング 2022年度. Oricon. ja. Annual Album Ranking 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221222010622/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2022/p/5/. December 22, 2022. live. December 21, 2022.
- Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2022 . . December 9, 2022.
- Web site: Album Chart 2022. Circle Chart. https://web.archive.org/web/20230113031815/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=2022&hitYear=2022&termGbn=year&yearTime=3. January 13, 2023. live. January 14, 2023.
- Year-End Charts Top Album Sales 2022 . . December 4, 2022.