NCT U - The 7th Sense

I. Introduction

"The 7th Sense (일곱 번째 감각)" is the debut single from NCT and its rotational sub-unit, NCT U. It was released on April 9, 2016.

II. Background & Release

NCT (엔시티) or Neo Culture Technology is a boy group under SM Entertainment. The group structure of NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the original concept of NCT was an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and it is comprised of several individual subunits. Currently there are 20 members in NCT, making up four individual subunits, but there have been as many as 23 members.

In January 2016, the group's concept was teased at an SM conference with special teaser videos about NCT. The first NCT unit was announced on April 4, 2016. At the time of the song's release, NCT U was the first and only NCT sub-unit. It was and remains a special promotional unit with rotational members. Members are chosen to perform based on the song and concept, and the groups are often heavily performance-driven. In addition to recording and performing in music videos, NCT U groups also perform on music shows and other performances within the same grouping.

"The 7th Sense (일곱 번째 감각)" is a hip-hop focused song with a large emphasis on dance. Members of the group are some of NCT's best dancers, rappers and vocalists. Two of the group's rappers, Taeyong and Mark, co-wrote portions of the song. The group includes: Taeyong, Mark, Jaehyun and Doyoung, who would join NCT 127 and Ten, who would later join WayV. Taeyong and Mark are main rappers, Jaehyun, Doyoung and Ten are main vocalists in their respective units. Mark is also in NCT Dream.

This song was performed on music shows with the group's single released the following day, the vocally driven "Without You." Both of these songs would be re-released in 2018 as part of the all-unit NCT 2018 Empathy album and project.

All of the members in this NCT unit would appear in the second season of NCT Life after the release of their first singles as part of promotional support before the next two sub-units would debut in July.

III. Tracklist

IV. Spotify Playlist

V. Videos

The 7th Sense

The 7th Sense - Performance Version

MV Commentary:

Performances:

Debut Performance - Music Bank - April 15

Music Bank - April 29

Trailers: pre-debut NCT

VI. Concept Photos

VII. Reception

The song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard World Songs chart, as well as charting on the Korean Gaon charts at #111.

On launch, it was named by SBS Pop Asia and Dazed Digital amongst the top K-pop songs of the year. It would go on to be named by Billboard in its 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s list and Medium's 25 Best K-Pop songs of the 2010s.

VIII. Trivia

- Members of this group would go on to debut at different times in NCT sub-units: Taeyong, Jaehyun and Mark debuted in NCT 127 in July 2016, Doyoung in NCT 127 in January 2017 and Ten in WayV in January 2019. Although not a part of a fixed group, Ten continued to perform in NCT U sub-units and solo work, including the 2018 all-unit NCT 2018 Resonance album and project, as well as appear in the NCT Life TV series.

- Members of this group performed together in SM's pre-debut group SM Rookies. Additionally they all appeared in the first seasons of the TV show NCT Life together.