NCT Wish was formed in 2023 as the fifth (and final) subunit of the mammoth SM Entertainment group NCT, which also includes NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT U, and WayV. They’re both the news and the youngest: their six members—-Sion, Riku, Yushi, Daeyoung, Sakuya, and Ryo—-range from 18 to 23. They’re technically a J-pop group, but being owned by a kpop company and being promoted in Korea means they’re fair game for me to cover. Right, guys? Right. Glad we agree.

Here are my credentials: So, I’d consider myself a casual fan of NCT Wish (mostly of Riku). I know a bit about the rest of the members and little snippets of their songs, but I’ve been meaning to listen to them for a while, and here we are! Let’s get into it!

Single #1: Hands Up

I assumed I knew what to expect going into Hands Up. I did not. I was expecting bubblegum pop so inescapably sugary that I’d get cavities. Perhaps someone falling in love in a high school a la DAY6 or QWER. Apparently not! The song is much more hip-hop focused, like one of NCT Dream’s more “mature” titles, or one of 127’s peppier ones. But it actually reminded me most of NCT U’s Universe (Let’s Play Ball), possibly because of the unending baseball metaphors. It’s not a bad song at all, and it’s definitely elevated by how charming the music video is. I just worry that it doesn’t exactly set itself apart from the other groups in a meaningful way.

Single #2: WISH

Whatever I thought the opening of Wish was going to be, it was not “couple-arguing-while-driving-in-slow-motion nearly hit Ryo with their car, because…what? And then we immediately cut to the main hook and dancing the choreo. Despite that, though, I honestly think the music video is the best part of the song, showing Wish being a group of utterly hapless Cupids who just manage to make love happen for the people around them anyway. It’s genuinely very cute, and I’d be content to watch a whole rom com about their adventures.

As for the song itself, I have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of it. The main hook, as mentioned above, is too brash to gel with the bubbliness of most of the song, and though the chorus is miles ahead of Hands Up’s (mainly by virtue of its use of vocals and its excellent payoff), it’s not quite enough to save it. It has potential, though, and it definitely shows you who Wish are, if nothing else.

Single #3: Songbird

Songbird picks up where Wish left off, blinding-light-drenched music video and schoolboy uniforms included. The upbeat, sunny guitar and the breezy vocals are a lot of fun, and a welcome sound after my mixed feelings on the last two songs. Songbird’s chorus especially is great in a way that Wish’s only hints at. The name is such an appropriate one for a song that wears its heart on its sleeve, drifting through the clouds in a mystery machine esque pony express. (If you think I’m exaggerating, watch the video for yourself). Of course I still have my gripes—-was that rap break necessary? No.—-but this is NCT so I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised. Overall, though, I liked it.

EP #1: Steady

Clearly I’ve lost all traces of whimsy in my soul, because my first thought upon reaching the chorus of Steady was “does anyone who’s not 80 years old say ‘let’s go steady’ anymore? (The music theater fan in me wants to make a Bye Bye Birdie joke, but it’s finals week and I don’t have enough brainpower to actually make it funny.) Nevertheless, the song is peppy and bright, and though it doesn’t quite reach the heights that Songbird does, it comes close. The choice to make the main hook near-acapella was a strong one, letting the members show off their vocals. It’s a cute little song, and it gave me a few great smiles.

From the EP, I enjoyed the synthy chiptune of 3 Minutes and the gentle rhythm of Supercute.

Album #1: WISHFUL

Wishful Winter, it may surprise you to hear, is the winter wonderland song to end them all. I know. Crazy. I’m noted to be a bit of a Christmas song hater, so my enjoyment’s a touch limited, I admit it. But I can appreciate a good one when I hear it, and Wishful Winter’s a damn good one. The instrumental is lovely, as are the vocals, and l especially like the way it builds slowly, giving you time to savor it. The music video may be their most adorable, which, to be fair, is saying a lot. I don’t even particularly like children, but somehow seeing them act in this was just unbelievably cute. I wasn’t expecting to be so moved by the storyline, but I was anyway. I think this is the best of their titles so far, albeit not my favorite.

This album, as I’m learning is common for jpop, is mostly the already released singles I’ve already covered above. But from the new songs, I enjoyed the choppy brightness of Touchdown, the jaunty, coffeeshop-meets-smooth-jazz sound of Tears Are Falling, and the warmhearted, soaring album closer Our Adventures. Not only is it the first song I’d deem a hidden gem, but the song that defines the sound I wish Wish (ha!) would go for.

EP #2: Poppop

If you were online at all when Poppop came out, you’ll probably know what I mean when I tell you that the “Riku shake” was utterly inescapable on my timeline for a solid two weeks. If not, just google it. Despite that, though, I hadn’t heard more than the chorus before this review. The best way I can describe it is that the song feels fizzy, like if you shake it the right way it’ll explode like pop rocks. (Does anyone remember pop rocks? Am I old?) I love the way the pre-chorus builds, but unfortunately the chorus just doesn’t live up to it. The bridge is great too. The song is very NCT, for all the good and bad that that entails. And, perhaps needless to say, the music video is very cute.

From the EP, I enjoyed the sugary rush of Melt Inside My Pocket, the laid-back chorus of 1000, and the bubblegum pop mixed with hip-hop of Still 3PM (my hidden gem).

EP #3: COLOR

Color doesn’t waste any time, I’ll give it that; it bursts out of the gate with gusto, in a way that gets you invested before the pre-choruses pull back again. I was about to type that the song felt like it was missing something, but the post-chorus changed my mind. I love a good chant. Color’s absolutely their best title; it’s not even close. Each new part adds something new too. The vocals in that bridge are impeccable. And that high note? Yes. Just yes. This is probably my favorite song altogether—at least so far.

From the EP, I enjoyed the twinkling, peppy sound of Baby Blue, the irrepressible joy of Surf, and the excellent vocals and sweet lyrics of WICHU (my hidden gem), which reminded me a lot of NCT Dream’s Dear Dream. This is definitely my favorite EP so far.

Verdict: TL;DR

I’m glad I did this! Though a lot of NCT Wish’s music didn’t end up being for me, I still had a lot of fun watching them goof around behind the scenes. Kind of an underrated aspect of watching groups around your own age (though a bit younger in this case) is that you get their references and you laugh with them, which, believe me, I did. I watched their Question Parade and their tongue twisters videos with Hello 82, as well as some clips of them with the other NCT units, which were very sweet. All in all, time well spent.

My Top 5 songs were Our Adventures, COLOR, Tears Are Falling, Wishful Winter, and Still 3PM, with WICHU as an honorable mention. NCT Wish gets a 8 out of 10 from me. I know, I know, jail for cat mom for a thousand years. For all my grumbling, it’s rare that I’m disappointed by a group. I try to set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised. But I was. I was expecting something from the bubblegum years of NCT Dream, and that’s probably unfair. My biggest issue, besides my personal feelings, is that I don’t think NCT Wish have a clear identity compared to the other units (which have also started to blur over the years).

A lot of their best songs are their b-sides, the songs where they abandon this facade of “cool” that often falls flat and embrace the quirky, all-around-strangeness that they’re so good at. I’m hoping that songs like Color are the start of a change in that direction, but we’ll have to see.

Next time, we’re onto our last review of the year! (I know, I know, you’re screaming, you’re crying). But don’t worry, we’re not leaving the multiverse of NCT just yet. Tschüss!