I. Introduction
Universe is NCT's third full studio album and was released on December 14, 2021 with a pair of title tracks, "Universe (Let's Play Ball" and "Beautiful." It is part of the NCT 2021 project which saw 21 of the 23 current NCT members collaborate on a full-length album release. Members of NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV participated in the album, as well as Sungchan and Shotaro, who do not have a defined unit as of December 2021.
II. Background
Universe was first announced during the June SM Summit, with members teasing its release for months prior to launch. It was formally announced on November 12, 2021 with a teaser image. After that, more teaser images of the group were dropped.
This was the third all-unit event, following NCT 2018 Empathy and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and 2. Members participate in all-unit songs, as well as within the sub-units, NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream and WayV. NCT U units are rotational and dependent on the song.
The first concept film came out on November 21 that referenced NCT's lore. A second concept film came out on November 23. Another one was released on November 25. Teasers for NCT DREAM's song "Dreaming" were released starting on November 30. The track video for it was released on December 1. Teasers for WayV's English-language song "Miracle" were dropped starting on December 2. The track video for it came out on December 3. Teasers for NCT 127's track Earthquake were dropped the next day. The track video for that came out on December 5. NCT U was up next on December 6 for their track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)". The full MV and song were pre-released on December 10. NCT U later performed "Universe" for the first time at MAMA 2021. Teasers for the full NCT group's song "Beautiful" were released on December 11. The full album and MV for Beautiful were dropped on December 14.
21 of 23 members participated in NCT 2021: Lucas was on hiatus while Winwin had a conflict with his filming schedule in China. Ten was absent from some of the promotions due to promotional schedules in China, but did participate in songs and MVs for the album.
III. Track List
| Title | Members | Lyrics | Composition | Arrangement |
Length |
| New Axis |
(NCT U) Taeyong, Mark, YangYang | Rick Bridges, Mark, Taeyong |
G'harah "PK" Degeddingseze, Jayrah Gibson | 80hdmuzic |
2:11 |
|
***Universe (Let's Play Ball) |
(NCT U) Doyoung, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiaojun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, YangYang, Shotaro | KENZIE, Mark |
Marcel Botezan, SICKOTOY, Wayne Hector, Breyan Isaac, Carlos Battey, Ryan S. Jhun, Dem Jointz, KENZIE |
Marcel Botezan, SICKOTOY, Breyan Issac, Dem Jointz, KENZIE |
3:51 |
| Earthquake | NCT 127 | Park Sung Hee |
Ludwig Evers (Moonshine), Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine) DEEZ, Bobii Lewis, Ebenezer Olaoluwa Fabiyi | DEEZ, Moonshine |
3:28 |
| OK! | (NCT U) Taeyong, Yuta, Ten, Mark, Hendery, Jeno, YangYang | KENZIE | Hautboi Rich, Timothy "Bos" Bullock, Tay Jasper, Maurice Moore, KENZIE | Timothy "Bos" Bullock |
3:49 |
| Birthday Party |
(NCT U) Johnny, Yuta, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jaemin, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung | Rick Bridges |
LunchMoney Lewis, Jason Silber, Adrian McKinnon, Tay Jasper |
Brian White, JulianBeatz, TheOnlyDiet, Tay Jasper, LunchMoney Lewis |
3:18 |
| Know Now |
(NCT U) Renjun, Doyoung, Sungchan, Johnny, Jaemin, Jeno, YangYang, Mark | Jo Yoon Kyung, Mark |
David Wilson, MarcLo, Tia Scola | dwily |
3:48 |
| Dreaming | NCT Dream | Rick Bridges, Lee Ji yoon |
Rick Bridges, Scott Quinn, Sam Klempner, Hight | Sam Klempner | 3:10 |
| Round&Round | (NCT U) Taeil, Ten, Jaehyun, Xiaojun, Haechan, Sungchan |
1월8일 (January 8th) |
Shaquille, SAN, Fascinador, M30, PRNCE | Fascinador, M30, PRNCE |
3:28 |
| Miracle | WayV (5 only - Kun, Ten, Xiaojun, Hendery, YangYang) | Adrian McKinnon, Jeffry Okyere-Twumasi, Justin Starling, Hayden Chapman, Greg Bonnick |
Adrian McKinnon, Jeffrey Okyere-Twumasi, Justin Starling, Hayden Chapman, Greg Bonnick | LDN Noise | 3:10 |
| Vroom | (NCT U) Kun, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Hendery, Shotaro, Chenle, Jisung | Song Yoo |
SamUIL | SamUIL | 3:45 |
| Sweet Dream |
(NCT U) Taeil, Kun, Jaehyun, Haechan, Chenle | JUNNY, minGtion |
JUNNY, minGtion | JUNNY | 3:32 |
| Good Night |
(NCT U) Taeil, Doyoung, Xiaojun, Renjun |
NIve | MooF, NIve | NIve, MooF |
3:58 |
| Beautiful | (NCT 2021) All members | Yoo Young Jin, Johnny, Taeyong, Jeno, Mark, Hendery |
Yoo Young Jin, Yoo Han Jin |
Yoo young Jin, yoo Han Jin |
4:21 |
IV. Spotify Playlist
V. Videos
VI. Concept Photos
VII. Reception
Universe sold over 1.7 million pre-order copies, which was higher than their two previous albums. "Beautiful" debuted at #6 on Bugs, #95 on MelOn, and #127 on Genie. On Hanteo, the album sold over 630,000 copies. The album also debuted at #1 on iTunes Worldwide and 30 different regions, as well as debuting at #2 on iTunes United States.
WayV became the first Chinese group to debut a song on MelOn Top 100 with "Miracle." The song also debuted in the top 10 of the Chinese Tencent and QQ charts.
