WayV - Awaken The World


  • I. Introduction

    Awaken the World is the first full album from the permanent NCT sub-unit, WayV. It was released on June 9, 2020 with the lead single "Turn Back Time."


    II. Background & Release

    The group teased the album by debuting two tracks "Bad Alive" and "Turn Back Time" during its May 3 Beyond Live online concert. Its promotions were limited to Korea due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


    On May 30, a teaser video was released leading to a mobile game to rescue the group. The music video teaser was released on June 8, with the album and lead single "Turn Back Time" the following day.


    All of the songs on the album are in Mandarin, however, the group did release two digital singles, which were the album's songs in other languages. The group released a Korean version of the title track on the album, "Turn Back Time" digitally, as well as its accompanying music video on June 18. It also released a digital English version of another song on the album, "Bad Alive" on July 29, 2020. The group performed the digital Korean and English versions of these two songs on Korean music shows.

    III. Tracklist

    Title Lyrics Music Arrangement Length
    超时空 回 (Turn Back Time) Yen Yun Nong Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), Jeremy "Tay" Jasper, Adrian McKinnon Moonshine, Yoo Young-jin 3:38
    Bad Alive Pan Yan Ting Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Deez, Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Deez 3:49
    执迷 (Unbreakable) Pan Yan Ting Ronny Vidar Svendsen, Harambasic, Deez, Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III, Cazzi Opeia (Sunshine) Ronny Vidar Svendsen, Deez 3:37
    After Midnight Liu Yuan Harold "Alawn" Philippon, Taylor Jones, Ryan S. Jhun Harold "Alawn" Philippon 3:29
    Interlude: Awaken the World SQUAR (Blur) SQUAR (Blur) 0:53
    Only Human Pan Yan Ting, Hendery, Yangyang Greg Bonnick, Hayden Chapman, Jeremy "Tay" Jasper, Dylan Huling LDN Noise 3:32
    多米诺 (Domino) Lin Xinye E. Kidd Bogart, Jakob Hazell, Svante Haldin, Tiyon "TC" Mack, Rick Bridges, Linnea Sodahl E. Kidd Bogart, Jakob Hazell, Svante Haldin, Tiyon "TC" Mack 3:16
    浪漫发酵 (Up from Here) Pan Yan Ting Candace Sosa, Johan Gustafsson, Pontus Petersson (The Kennel), Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young Candace Sosa, Johan Gustafsson, Pontus Petersson (The Kennel), Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young 4:01
    Electric Hearts Pan Yan Ting, Hendery, Yangyang Nicky van der Lugt Melsert, Adrian McKinnon, Jeremy "Tay" Jasper, Ryan S. Jhun, MZMC Nicky van der Lugt Melsert, Adrian McKinnon, Jeremy "Tay" Jasper, Ryan S. Jhun, MZMC 3:25
    Stand by Me DeerJenny, Hendery Henrik Nordenback, Christian Fast, Didrik Thott Henrik Nordenback 3:32


    IV. Digital Downloads/Streaming

    Title Lyrics Music Arrangement
    Turn Back Time (Korean Version) Kang Sun-Jeong, Oh Min-joo, Park Seong-hee Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), Jeremy "Tay" Jasper, Adrian McKinnon Moonshine, Yoo Young-jin 3:38
    Bad Alive (English Version) Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III, Pan Yan Ting Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Deez, Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III Mike Daley, Mitchell Owens, Deez 3:39


    V. Spotify Playlist

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    VI. Videos

    Turn Back Time MV

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    Turn Back Time MV - Korean

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    Bad Alive (English Version) MV

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    VII. Reception

    WayV earned its first top-three entry on Tecent Music's UNI chart and the Gaon Album Chart, including being #3 in in the monthly chart. The album also reached #9 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums and Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. It also entered the U.S. Billboard World Albums Chart at #12. It also reached #1 on iTunes in 21 countries.


    The lead single "Turn Back Time" was certified Gold on QQ Music Popularity Chart, as well as the first top three entry into the UNI Chart. It also ranked #12 on U.S. Billboard World Digital Songs.WayV later released an English version of "Bad Alive" that ranked #1 on QQ Music's Digital Sales chart, earning Gold certification hours after it was released and ranking #6 on the weekly chart.


    Refinery 29 considered "Bad Alive" one of the best songs of the year, while MTV and Buzz Feed also listed songs from the album on their year-end lists of best k-pop songs ("Domino" and "Turn Back Time.")

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