NCT Dream is one of several units of NCT, the others being NCT 127, NCT U, NCT Wish, and WayV. NCT Dream debuted in 2016, at around ages 14-16 (and now, no longer being that young, I wince internally). They have seven members: Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, Haechan, Jisung, and Renjun.

So, here are my credentials. NCT Dream was actually one of the first reviews I wrote, back many months ago, when I was a pretty casual fan. By the end of that review, though, between reality shows and their talents, I was absolutely a DreamZen. Now, I’m rewriting this one since they’re making a comeback in a couple weeks, and I’m even seriously considering going to their concert this year. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane!

Single #1: The First

Chewing Gum was NCT Dream’s debut, eight years ago now, and it’s bizarre to see them so…small? Their faces are all completely recognizable, of course, but there’s no denying how young they were when looking at them in those outfits. The song itself has a nice mix of hip-hop and singing, but it’s definitely not as much my style as their later work. For obvious reasons, it feels childish, and I’ve never been that big a fan of sing talk. I did like the rap though, a bit surprisingly.

My First & Last reminded me of SHINee in their peak, so right away, I liked its frizzy production, pulsing beat, and sunny attitude, and appreciated that it was less bubblegum than Chewing Gum was. My favorite part was probably the repetition in the outro, which felt a bit like an old-fashioned fade-out. The music video is also quite funny, though I missed Jaemin’s presence. I also enjoyed the catchiness of the b-side, Dunk Shot and its behind-the-scenes, which I didn’t know was a cover until this re-do deep dive.

What stuck out to me the most in these early songs is how distinctive and honestly great their voices are, even as young as they were. (I know I keep emphasizing age here, but being a celebrity at 14…just let that sink in.) The voices who stood out the most, though, are probably Mark and Haechan. Haechan’s voice has a great balance of nasality and chest voice, and as a singer myself, I think he has great control. Mark’s is very different from that, but unlike many rappers, I almost always enjoy his parts in the songs; his breaks are good, he has flow, and a good singing voice too.

EP #1: We Young

We Young, despite its somewhat silly intro (and hook, let’s be honest with ourselves here), manages to balance the youthful feeling and their talents well. It’s absolutely a summer song, knowing this and just feeling like fun. It feels like a day at the beach or a road trip, and also a bit like Seventeen. Sidenote: someone was tripping when they created this MV, but I’m honestly not mad at it? I liked the animation and its whimsy; it went well with their cartoony style, and I feel like more music videos in k-pop should include it.

From the 1st EP, We Young, I enjoyed the hand clapping percussion and “light of my life” hook in La La Love, and the gentle guitar in Walk You Home. However, the anthemic energy of Trigger The Fever got my attention, and it became my hidden gem (which makes sense, since it was actually a special single for the FIFA World Cup in 2018). Joy is a special single for Christmas that’s a mash up of a dozen different famous holiday songs, and so I won’t be too harsh on it, but I also won’t be listening to it by choice.

Single #2: GO

Go, NCT Dream’s song for NCT’s collaborative 2018 album Empathy, takes a sharp turn away from the Dream that we’ve seen so far, and a sharp turn into a sing-talk chorus that just falls flat on the ears. After all the beautiful harmonizing and the floating melodies, the hip hop beat and pop-trap mix feels especially harsh. It’s not that it couldn’t have worked for them; it’s just that this song isn’t that good. 

EP #2: We Go Up

We Go Up follows the hip-hop sound that Go established, with very rap-heavy verses that leave something to be desired for melody, as far as I’m concerned. The pre-chorus and chorus, though less melodic than My First & Last or Dunk Shot’s, is alright, and I enjoy their lightweight, breathy energy, I just wish that that carried through to the rest of the song.

From the EP, We Go Up, I enjoyed the surprisingly gentle sing-talk of 123 and the outro of Beautiful Time, but my hidden gem was Dear Dream; it’s very sweet and makes me smile, especially the “I’ll be your home” hook.

Single #3: Candle Light

Candle Light is a special single, written when Mark left the group due to becoming an adult. (He did return, although not for two years, and his absence is clearly felt; the songs feel a bit less full.) It follows in the footsteps of some of their best songs: the nostalgic, feel good, and somewhat understated ones, with a stripped back production that allows the Dreamies’ voices to carry the weight and harmonize together, turning something average into something quite good. It’s the kind of song that feels warm and comforting, and the music video reminds me of Singin’ In The Rain with its allusions to silent movie filmmaking. 

Fireflies, which I didn’t realize the first time I’d heard it was actually an NCT Dream release, is also sweet; the full chorus is a welcome return to form and it becomes almost anthemic in its later moments. It builds on the best of their talents. Funny story, I was a student when it first came out, and I used “firefly” as the name for a school project I was assigned.

EP #3: We Boom

Boom is probably NCT Dream’s most popular release, and it’s easy to see why. It takes the confidence and the more mature energy of Go, returning to the hip-hop sound but making it far less painful on the ears. Though the choruses are alright, and I admit the song has grown on me since the first time I heard it, it’s also not close to their best. In fact, I’d argue that the best part is those pre choruses and the bridge, which give them the chance to exercise their voices. That high note before the last chorus is great.

From the EP, We Boom, I enjoyed the ad-libs in Stronger’s chorus, the acoustic guitar and layers of harmonizing in Bye My First, and the great synths-meet-brass style of Dream Run (my hidden gem, going straight on the rollerskating playlist). Overall, though, this EP isn’t as strong as We Young.

EP #4: Reload

Ridin’ is more similar to Boom than Go, which I’m definitely thankful for. Though it’s not their best, it has a good flow, good energy, a strong pre-chorus build-up and a non-anti-drop chorus. But again I’m reminded that they have so much potential that isn’t being used. That chorus is almost great and usually I can articulate better what my issue with something is, but here all I can say is that something stops me from liking it more.

From the EP, Reload, I enjoyed the different layers of harmonizing in Quiet Down and especially the slowly growing warmth of Puzzle Piece, which felt like a sort of follow-up to Candle Light.

Next time, we’ll be doing Part 2 of this deep dive. Tschüss!