NCT 2020 Resonance
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 21 members from three current units of NCT; NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV, while introducing two new NCT members, namely Shotaro and Sungchan. The first part was released on October 12, 2020, and  the second part was then released on November 23, 2020. 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. 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. A teaser video, titled "Interlude: Resonance," was released on September 20. 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. 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. Pre-orders for the album began on September 21. Another teaser video, named "Year Party," was released the next day, which featured all members assembling. On September 23, the 23 members gathered in a V Live broadcast where Sungchan and Shotaro were officially introduced to the public. 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. 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. Recording and production. Member Doyoung revealed that producers would be in charge of selecting songs and which members would be recording them. Recording sessions for the album took more than a month to conduct, which is longer than the individual NCT groups would typically undergo. 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." 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." 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." The NCT U unit for "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" consisted of Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin, and Shotaro. The hip-hop dance title track "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)" was co-written by rappers Penomeco and Damian, with music from Sonny J Mason, Karen Poole, and Bobii Lewis, and arrangement production from Mason. 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. 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. 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." "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"." 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 ." 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." 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. The lead single of part 2, "90's Love", is an old school hip hop R&B song featuring Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, and Sungchan, with exciting upbeats, groovy drums, and bass lines. The atmosphere's sound harmonizes with a "newtro" (new retro) style, and the  lyrics contain a message to create new values unique to NCT by remembering and reinterpreting everything as valuable as it transcends time and space. In addition, "Work It" is an attractive electronic dance song with an energetic bass line, a solid synth sound with an exciting rhythm, and an addictive hook. Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, and Jisung participated, and the lyrics are valuable, expressing the members' commitment to take one step further toward an enterprising future. "Raise The Roof", sung by Taeil, Yuta, Johnny, Kun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung, is a hip hop song that combines  a unique rhythm and oriental sound. This hip hop song is characterized by a magnificent chant of a chorus, and the lyrics that the influence grows like resonance and spreads widely when the powers of each are united are eye-catching. The emotional ballad song "My Everything", which has an attractive minimalist track composition, with the characteristic vocals of Taeil, Xiaojun, and Renjun on a calm piano melody. It evokes a faint sensibility by depicting the story of waiting in the same place with the heart. "All About You", sung by Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, Hendery, Shotaro, Sungchan, and Chenle, is  a refreshing medium-tempo pop song based on retro and modern bass sounds, and the sweet voices of the members captivate the ears. Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung, Yangyang, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung sing the lo-fi hip hop song "I.O.U", with unique rap and vocal harmonization, which expresses the excitement of a boy running to confess the day of the first snow. In addition, two additional instrumental tracks are included. "Interlude: Present to Future", a performance song that depicts the transition of time from the present to the future – the present is expressed in the trap hip hop genre with a rhythmic  lead sound and a gliding bass, and the future is a synth source through techno music that combines effects, arpeggio lead sound, and distortion bass. It is expressed as a space opera, providing an atmosphere that transcends time and space. "Outro: Dream Routine" is a distorted bass riff, which contains the group's aspirations for future activities. Track listing. Credits adapted from Naver. Personnel. Credits adapted from Naver and QQ Music. Track listing is based on "Resonance Pt. 2". Locations. Recording Editing Mixing