What’s the point in having all these subunits when their releases are gonna end up sounding and looking the same?

Ummmmm, No. a Reach.

Have you actually listened to their discography though?

Quote from butterbutterfly

Have you actually listened to their discography though?

I swear this is weird. Why do people keep bringing this topic for NCT from time to time when they don't have even 1% idea of how distinctive each unit is.

No, they definitely do not sound the same.

Someone always brings up the "the sub-units will end up sounding the same" bs whenever one of them makes a comeback. It's getting redundant by now.

people claim all sm groups sounds the same so i guess sm should just also drop the idea of having groups altogether

Do you really mean the songs "sound the same" or "are very interchangeable" between the sub-units?

I don't think they sound the same.

Quote from yutazenn

people claim all sm groups sounds the same so i guess sm should just also drop the idea of having groups altogether

The way everyone considers SM groups NCT shows how much they love NCT.

I personally find recent sm bg songs sound pretty interchangeable so not much of a reach to me.

Quote from nityasingh

The way everyone considers SM groups NCT shows how much in love they are with NCT.

And the way people claim every SM title track nowadays sounds like a NCT song just proves how much their sound has been strongly established in the Kpop music industry. They have an entire genre

Quote from butterbutterfly

And the way people claim every SM title track nowadays sounds like a NCT song just proves how much their sound has been strongly established in the Kpop music industry. They have an entire genre

They listen to NCT every day that even if another BG music is playing all they can hear is NCT NCT NCT NCT.

I haven't done this in a while so...

Quote from DMV2DMZ

Do you really mean the songs "sound the same" or "are very interchangeable" between the sub-units?

I'm assuming the latter.

I tried going thru some of the NCT records a coupla months back, but I was mostly focusing on NCT 127 (listened to Empathy & Resonance as well). So I don't know how the subunits are supposed to differ. I will say that based on the teaser, the track does sound like it could easily have been given to 127 without anyone batting an eye.

So I'm genuinely asking what the difference in sound is supposed to be.

Quote from quark12395

So true. Not a single difference.

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I AM CRYING, if someone says ATLANTIS AND HOUSE PARTY IS similar.

The way WayV has its own distinctive genre which is their signature mark and yet people wanna clown with EVERY NCT UNIT SOUNDS SAME OR SM BGS= NCT DRAFTS.

I'll be honest DONT CALL ME was not a typical SHINEE sound but it wasn't NCT draft either. It clearly was an experimental track with lots of mix and matching of instruments.

Only people who know nothing about Dream's discography would say this

Quote from butterbutterfly

And the way people claim every SM title track nowadays sounds like a NCT song just proves how much their sound has been strongly established in the Kpop music industry. They have an entire genre

Throwback to that time someone made a thread to lament about how all SM BGs sound like NCT now and how all NCT songs are the same and their main argument was that Make A Wish and Resonance sounded similar

Quote from chounim

Only people who know nothing about Dream's discography would say this

Throwback to that time someone made a thread to lament about how all SM BGs sound like NCT now and how all NCT songs are the same and their main argument was that Make A Wish and Resonance sounded similar

WTF SOMEONE REALLY SAID MAW AND RESONANCE ARE SIMILAR?

Quote from butterbutterfly

And the way people claim every SM title track nowadays sounds like a NCT song just proves how much their sound has been strongly established in the Kpop music industry. They have an entire genre

The way people associate "noise" music with NCT and now so many groups also have "noise" music show you the impact is real

A reach with your example of NCT. Their subunits actually do have pretty distinctive sounds.

Quote from yutazenn

people claim all sm groups sounds the same so i guess sm should just also drop the idea of having groups altogether

Every act under SM should become a NCT sub-unit

Lol I just get into NCT and I only hear some song from NCT and all subgroup sound already so special for me

I heard the executives' plan is to dissociate SM Entertainment from LSM due to all his scandals and rebrand it as NCT Entertainment.

Quote from omnimorphism

I heard the executives' plan is to dissociate SM Entertainment from LSM due to all his scandals and rebrand it as NCT Entertainment.

Does that mean all "SM stans" will become NCT stans instead?

Quote from Mark-Lee

Does that mean all "SM stans" will become NCT stans instead?

Yes, it's all part of the NCT world domination

Quote from tenfour

I'm assuming the latter.

I tried going thru some of the NCT records a coupla months back, but I was mostly focusing on NCT 127 (listened to Empathy & Resonance as well). So I don't know how the subunits are supposed to differ. I will say that based on the teaser, the track does sound like it could easily have been given to 127 without anyone batting an eye.

So I'm genuinely asking what the difference in sound is supposed to be.

While there's undoubtedly a common NCT sound within their discography (because they're under the same brand after all), most of their overall sound leans into different directions. NCT 127 is definitely more EDM, hip-hop/trap driven, NCT Dream leans more into (bubblegum) pop (mainly their earlier sound, nowadays it sounds more like a more "mature" pop sound) while WayV is unmistakably the R&B-oriented unit. You can hear this difference in sound very clearly if you listen to their full albums.

The best way to truly grasp a group's sound is through their b-sides. This applies to other groups from different companies as well.

Comparing title tracks is tricky because usually SM uses the same structures and producers. At the end of the day, a Moonshine song is always going to sound like a Moonshine song, no matter who sings it. Take RV's Naughty and SJ D&E's No Love as an example.

I'm curious as to what songs in specific made you feel this way. Can you name examples? There are indeed some NCT Dream songs that would also fit 127's sound (as there are some 127 ballads that sound like EXO's, mainly because the same songwriters were involved), but it's definitely not every case lol.

Quote from chounim

Only people who know nothing about Dream's discography would say this

Throwback to that time someone made a thread to lament about how all SM BGs sound like NCT now and how all NCT songs are the same and their main argument was that Make A Wish and Resonance sounded similar

Most people claiming the same as OP have probably never even heard a WayV song.

Quote from nityasingh

WTF SOMEONE REALLY SAID MAW AND RESONANCE ARE SIMILAR?

Girlie deadass went like "ARE WE REALLY GOING TO ACT LIKE MAW AND RESONANCE DON'T SOUND SIMILAR"

These people don't even pay attention to what they're hearing but they still want to run their mouths.

Quote from butterbutterfly

While there's undoubtedly a common NCT sound within their discography (because they're under the same brand after all), most of their overall sound leans into different directions. NCT 127 is definitely more EDM, hip-hop/trap driven, NCT Dream leans more into (bubblegum) pop (mainly their earlier sound, nowadays it sounds more like a more "mature" pop sound) while WayV is unmistakably the R&B-oriented unit. You can hear this difference in sound very clearly if you listen to their full albums.

The best way to truly grasp a group's sound is through their b-sides. This applies to other groups from different companies as well.

Comparing title tracks is tricky because usually SM uses the same structures and producers. At the end of the day, a Moonshine song is always going to sound like a Moonshine song, no matter who sings it. Take RV's Naughty and SJ D&E's No Love as an example.

I'm curious as to what songs in specific made you feel this way. Can you name examples? There are indeed some NCT Dream songs that would also fit 127's sound (as there are some 127 ballads that sound like EXO's, mainly because the same songwriters were involved), but it's definitely not every case lol.

Most people claiming the same as OP have probably never even heard a WayV song.

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Even the Dream songs that people claim sound like 127's (which amount to just one : Go lol) doesn't sound like 127 at all to me.

Quote from butterbutterfly

While there's undoubtedly a common NCT sound within their discography (because they're under the same brand after all), most of their overall sound leans into different directions. NCT 127 is definitely more EDM, hip-hop/trap driven, NCT Dream leans more into (bubblegum) pop (mainly their earlier sound, nowadays it sounds more like a more "mature" pop sound) while WayV is unmistakably the R&B-oriented unit. You can hear this difference in sound very clearly if you listen to their full albums.

Thank you for this, really helpful.

I guess the confusion I might have with the explanation is the R&B stuff, because NCT127 seems to swing pretty evenly between trap and R&B on their albums, but I guess their R&B songs are a little more askew and WayV is more straightforward? Keep in mind I don't think I've heard a single WayV song (except for the ones that showed up on Empathy or Resonance).

Anyway, as for what makes me think that the upcoming song could be a 127 song, well it has that "experimental, hip-hop-infused pop" vibe a lot of 127's titles have. In particular it reminds me of Fire Truck. But then it's just a teaser, so whatever.

Finally, which one is Ten in?

Dream in a Dream is an absurdly beautiful song.

Quote from chounim

Girlie deadass went like "ARE WE REALLY GOING TO ACT LIKE MAW AND RESONANCE DON'T SOUND SIMILAR"

These people don't even pay attention to what they're hearing but they still want to run their mouths.

Girlie should have also included Raise the Roof, 90s Love and Work it to increase the weight of her point.

Quote from chounim

Even the Dream songs that people claim sound like 127's (which amount to just one : Go lol) doesn't sound like 127 at all to me.

I wasn't thinking of Go actually, more 119 or Beautiful Time (it would have fit well into Neo Zone - obviously with some adaptations needed), but if we're going case by case we'd be grasping at straws lol. That's the point I'm trying to make.

Oh and don't forget Chewing Gum too

Quote from tenfour

Thank you for this, really helpful.

I guess the confusion I might have with the explanation is the R&B stuff, because NCT127 seems to swing pretty evenly between trap and R&B on their albums, but I guess their R&B songs are a little more askew and WayV is more straightforward? Keep in mind I don't think I've heard a single WayV song (except for the ones that showed up on Empathy or Resonance).

Anyway, as for what makes me think that the upcoming song could be a 127 song, well it has that "experimental, hip-hop-infused pop" vibe a lot of 127's titles have. In particular it reminds me of Fire Truck. But then it's just a teaser, so whatever.

Finally, which one is Ten in?

Dream in a Dream is an absurdly beautiful song.

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I would say WayV's sound is the most different from the remaining units (and honestly, personally it's the sound that resonates the least with me). I would say it's more like "chill" R&B? I would suggest you to listen to their first full album Awaken the World. It's a very solid album and their overall sound is shown in a very straightforward way.

There was another snippet going around the internets and it sounded more retro 2000's boyband style to me. I think the snippet from the MV teaser might have been a dance break section. It'll be interesting to see how the song actually sounds in full. But like I said, I'm fully expecting a mix of genres because it's a typically SM thing to do for title tracks.

Some snippets for the b-sides came out and they sounded very much like Dream to me too.

Ten is in WayV and yes, Dream in a Dream is gorgeous.

I felt like that Boom boom song from NCT dream could be an NCT 127 song

Kick Back from Way V could be an NCT U (or maybe 127?) song

Cherry Bomb by NCT 127 could have suited NCT U and 90s love by NCT U could have been an NCT 127 track

Well NCTU isnt fixed anyway

So it can't have a distinct sound based on the members

When NCT127 released Touch everyone was saying they'd swapped with NCT dream (I guess dream released Go at that time?)

Both NCT 127 and Way V released Come Back and Regular I think?

But I couldn't tell you which unit was more suitable for that song

All their units have rap and mark is everywhere, bless him

Quote from butterbutterfly

I wasn't thinking of Go actually, more 119 or Beautiful Time (it would have fit well into Neo Zone - obviously with some adaptations needed), but if we're going case by case we'd be grasping at straws lol. That's the point I'm trying to make.

Oh and don't forget Chewing Gum too

I would say WayV's sound is the most different from the remaining units (and honestly, personally it's the sound that resonates the least with me). I would say it's more like "chill" R&B? I would suggest you to listen to their first full album Awaken the World. It's a very solid album and their overall sound is shown in a very straightforward way.

There was another snippet going around the internets and it sounded more retro 2000's boyband style to me. I think the snippet from the MV teaser might have been a dance break section. It'll be interesting to see how the song actually sounds in full. But like I said, I'm fully expecting a mix of genres because it's a typically SM thing to do for title tracks.

Some snippets for the b-sides came out and they sounded very much like Dream to me too.

Ten is in WayV and yes, Dream in a Dream is gorgeous.

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Apparently Chewing Gum sounds similar to Cherry Bomb

Quote from chounim

Only people who know nothing about Dream's discography would say this

Throwback to that time someone made a thread to lament about how all SM BGs sound like NCT now and how all NCT songs are the same and their main argument was that Make A Wish and Resonance sounded similar

LOL that comment was too much.

Someone call me when Dream and WayV sound like 127, and I'll officially stan them too...

Quote from tenfour

I'm assuming the latter.

I tried going thru some of the NCT records a coupla months back, but I was mostly focusing on NCT 127 (listened to Empathy & Resonance as well). So I don't know how the subunits are supposed to differ. I will say that based on the teaser, the track does sound like it could easily have been given to 127 without anyone batting an eye.

So I'm genuinely asking what the difference in sound is supposed to be.

Quote from miss-z

I think this is a better way of putting things, I think the songs are more interchangeable between groups

I pondered on this a few times before, now that I "rewinded" a little, for almost every group currently on SM's id0l roster. Pro: It keeps production costs low (Con) at the expense of highlighting what would make a song shine based on the strengths of who is performing it.

"Don't Call Me" is the perfect example. Boa, SHINee, and NCT should give distinct flavor or color to the song: solo, strong solo vocals and 2-3 part harmonies, and big unison choruses respectively. Having SHINee sing the chorus like NCT overlooks SHINee's unique "seasoning". Understanding the strengths of 23 NCT members isn't as easy as giving them whatever's "on the menu" for the day.

I know SM is patterning the "SM/NCT-verse" after the Marvel Universe. Marvel Studios movies all have a polished cinematic appeal, but you can't interchange or mistake a Dr. Strange, Ant-Man, or Blade movie.

It's something SM needs to be more mindful of in the future especially for the NCT "brand".

Typical "suits" aren't going to be aware of these kind of nuances though.

Quote from DMV2DMZ

"Don't Call Me" is the perfect example. Boa, SHINee, and NCT should give distinct flavor or color to the song: solo, strong solo vocals and 2-3 part harmonies, and big unison choruses respectively. Having SHINee sing the chorus like NCT overlooks SHINee's unique "seasoning". Understanding the strengths of 23 NCT members isn't as easy as giving them whatever's "on the menu" for the day.

I know SM is patterning the "SM/NCT-verse" after the Marvel Universe. Marvel Studios movies all have a polished cinematic appeal, but you can't interchange or mistake a Dr. Strange, Ant-Man, or Blade movie.

It's something SM needs to be more mindful of in the future especially for the NCT "brand".

Typical "suits" aren't going to be aware of these kind of nuances though.

Where? To me it's where it sounded more like typical SHINee sound, along with the bridge.