WayV is one of four fixed subunits of NCT (which also includes NCT Dream, NCT 127, NCT Wish). They’re technically both a Mandopop band and a K-pop band, but for our purposes here, they’re k-pop. They debuted in 2019, with seven members: Kun, YangYang, WinWin, Ten, Hendery, Xiaojun, and Lucas, the last of which left the group in 2021.

Here are my credentials: This is a redo of my first WayV deep dive, written in 2024. I knew next to nothing about them then, but in the time since, I’ve become a casual fan. And, seeing as WayV are embarking on a tour soon, I thought that now would be a good time to go back through their discography. Let’s get into it!

Single #1: The Vision

Regular was WayV’s debut, and my first thought when listening to it, both times, is that it sounds very similar to NCT 127. What I didn’t know the first time is that it’s actually a Mandarin cover of the 127 song Regular. As their songs go, it’s one of my favorites; it has a good build-up, a good pay-off, and, somewhat cringy bragging aside, is pretty solid. But I can’t really tell anything about WayV from this: who are they? What is their sound? It’s a perfectly fine song with good performances, but I can’t help but feel that debuting with a cover sets you up for failure, or at least for dulling your early investment.

From the single, I enjoyed the mix between a more emotional appeal and a harsher delivery in Come Back. Dream Launch is your obligatory end-of-release quasi-ballad, but I’m not mad at it.

EP #1: Take Off

Take Off is a WayV original, as far as I know, but it continues the NCT 127 sound of Regular, unfortunately for someone like me who isn’t that much of a fan of it. There are good parts to the song—chiefly the pre-chorus and the bridge–but unfortunately, they don’t quite meld together. And my criticism of this sound isn’t a criticism of WayV themselves or their talents. They sell this style well. But basically no one could make me like a song like this.

Single repackages aren’t as common as album repackages, but Take Off contains all the tracks from Regular plus three more. Of the new songs, i enjoyed the EDM beat and excellent layered vocals of Say It and the acoustic driven Let Me Love U (a complete departure from their sound this far but not a bad one).

EP #2: Take Over The Moon

Love Talk is probably one WayV’s most well-known titles, with its famous (or infamous) hook of “touch me, tease me, fill me up”. It’s all in English, but is surprisingly pretty good, though I’m surprised the censors let it air with those lyrics. I really want WayV to do what NCT 127 did with Highway To Heaven where they attempt to explain the lyrics without saying “sex”, as if that’s even possible. It’s definitely one way to get the public’s attention, I suppose. As for the song itself, I did like it, but I think that that very popularity made me expect something life-changing when it’s very much not.

Moonwalk had me cautiously optimistic from the title, since I love a good Michael Jackson inspired k-pop song as much as anybody. And while it’s not that, in a way, it’s better. t creeps along with this great sense of anticipation and power—that manages to be confident without yelling at me about it, imagine!—before exploding in a chorus that pays that forward with some great vocals. This is a perfect example of the “NCT” sound completely succeeding, while not sacrificing the good parts of it. And that electric guitar riff in the bridge while the dance break happens? Taemin would be proud. While I could somewhat guess who was singing when in their earlier songs, Moonwalk was the first time I could tell easily; it feels like everything just fell into place. It’s no wonder, then, that it’s the first WayV song I can confidently say I love.

From the EP, Take Over The Moon, *cue joke about the minions and whatever*, I enjoyed the bombastic go for broke sound of Yeah Yeah Yeah, the gorgeous vocals of Face to Face (Tennie my beloved). I remember liking We Go Nanana from last time and it didn’t disappoint. With a bouncy, jazzy beat and an infectious level of energy, it just gets you up.

Album #1: Awaken The World

Turn Back Time is…loud. It’s very loud. There’s elements of a good song in there, sure, like the off-kilter, somewhat disconcerting electronic beat, or the delightfully dramatic hook, or the great guitar riff in the bridge, which I wish lasted longer. They’re just not the majority. I really love that chorus; it has such power in it, and really makes the most of WayV’s talents. But the rest of the song is just a bunch of empty rap-heavy posturing. and it annoys me, because it had the chance to be better.

From the album, I enjoyed the moody After Midnight, with its pared back verses and its gentle, synthy choruses, Up From Here’s lovely strings—which I think was a guzheng?—and Domino’s strong instrumental hook. I also quite liked the interlude and wished it hadn’t been so short.

EP #3: Kick Back

I remembered disliking Kick Back in my first review, so I admit that I wasn’t too enthused about relistening to it. And I’m afraid that, while they’ve softened, my feelings haven’t changed much. Kick Back embodies all the things I dislike about NCT 127 songs: good ideas and solid parts undercut by an anti-drop chorus that leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth. How do I fall for this every time? It’s kind of embarrassing on my part, honestly.

I know that many Wayzennies are partial to the b-side Action Figure from this EP, but personally I preferred the dramatic, sweeping Horizon, my hidden gem.

Next time, we’re onto Part 2. Tschüss!