JMusic: NCT 2018 'Empathy' (Touch, Baby Don't Stop, Yestoday, GO)

Hello, my lovely readers! Man! I really have dropped the ball these past few weeks. I'm sorry that I basically disappeared. I have been feeling a little burnt out and have been distant these past few weeks. Like I said in the last Juicy Jam post, if and when you need it, take a little time to take care of yourself, to detox, and de-stress. I guess that's what I have been doing, but I missed writing about and sharing these great jams with you and so many were released while I was M.I.A.

So I thought as a little way to make up for my absence I would write about NCT's latest album drop. The Juicy Jams for this week hail from NCT 2018s' album "Empathy".

Juicy Jamsss

The first and last time I wrote about NCT, I explained the group, their members and how they work, but there is some new information! There is a member I forgot to mention because he has yet to publically debut! His name is Kun (he is a cutie!) and he will be a member of  NCT U. Though he has yet to officially debut, he was on the Chinese version of 'Without You' and you can also find him in NCT 2018's 'Black on Black'. Also, Empathy, NCT 2018's first album has dropped! As I mentioned in the previous post, it is a collaborative project between all 18 members under the overarching NCT umbrella. It features tracks between all three groups, some oldies but goldies and some singles showcasing two or three members of a group at a time. 

NCT 2018
Credit: SM Entertainment
I know its hard to see their faces, but SM so smartly released a yearbook video and pics focusing on each member. So check those out to learn who is who! 

SM Entertainment has confirmed that there will be six MV's made for Empathy. I wrote about one, 'Boss' and I will talk about four others that have been released. The mystery here is what song will have the sixth mv????? According to Tumblr, many expect it to be ' Black on Black'.

The Juicy Jams from the Empathy album that I will cover today are... NCT 127 'Touch', NCT U 'Baby Don't Stop' and 'Yestoday' and NCT Dream 'Go'. SO JUICY

NCT 127 'Touch'

With ' Touch' (aka the best GAP denim commercial ever) NCT went a different direction. The MV, released on White Day, a South Korean holiday in which men express their love for their special someones, showcased a softer side compared to the punchy, intense hip-hop stylings we saw in 'Limitless' and 'Cherry Bomb' (both are tunes you should check out). The 90's imbued pop/hip-hop track was not lacking in any department with groovy (yes, I said groovy) instrumentals, streamlined synths, and brassy beats that hid under the vocals of all nine members. The juxtaposition of the hard-hitting instrumentals despite being a light and airy song, combined with the punchy vocals, sprinkles of sonorous harmonies and artfully placed adlibs (TAEIL) gave the seemingly simple song a very full sound. The romantic and carefree vibe contrasts with their usual, but the experimental single was like a breath of fresh air and allowed for the vocalists of the group to really shine and showcase their abilities. 

Staying true to form, SM used their typical box sets for the MV but it allowed for the excellent use of color theory, making it aesthetically pleasing and giving each member some solo screentime (so you can finally get a chance learn who is who before they change their hair again!). It featured a lively and youthful NCT playing tug of war and exuberantly performing the choreography (there is a dance version as well, so you can get a better look). The pastel backgrounds, jumping in piles of feathers and the flirty bright smiles made the mv a fitting companion to the confessional lyrics and the sweet sound of the song. I couldn't help but smile as I watched this mv. I wanted to buy new jeans but it also made me the softest person ever. It was like I was invited to the best barbeque. SO WHOLESOME. SO FLUFFY.   

NCT U Ten & Taeyong 'Baby Don't Stop'

Credit: SM Entertainment
Look at that smolder

Right! So 'Baby Don't Stop' is a blessing from above (or below??) provided to us by two talented NCT U members, Ten and Taeyong. The two came together and delivered a captivating and magnetizing track. It was fitting as Ten's comeback into the k-pop scene after healing from injuries and gave us a peek into his hidden musical abilities. (We want more Ten!) The poppy, house tune immediately starts with powerful bass beats over the introduction of sensual synths, with splashes of instrumentals reminiscent of 80's nostalgia video game music and THE WHISPERS. It felt like I was being told a juicy secret. They added an intimate (and very necessary) ASMR element to the single, making it seem as though they were speaking directly to the listener of their want for them (swoons). Ten's airy, and smooth AF tenor vocals were a perfect counter to Taeyong's deep and gravelly rap. But, Taeyong also gave a little testament to his versatility when he showcased his vocal abilities. (Is there anything he can't do?)

Accompanying the music is a well-produced MV. The duet flaunted their dancing prowess with sharp yet sleek choreography in various states of undress, reminding us they are two of NCT's main dancers for a reason. Filmed in Ukraine (same place as the Boss mv), the building's architecture adds another level to the MV. It elevates the choreography and NCT as a group, challenging themselves and setting them apart from others by choosing a live location instead of building a set.



NCT U 'Yestoday'

Credit: SM Entertainment

NCT U's 'Yestoday' (after two years in the making!) is the fifth mv out of six released for the group's latest album Empathy. The track written by Taeyong was originally intended as a duet with Taeyong and Doyoung. The cleverly named track grew to include rappers Mark and Lucas, with all four of them reflecting on their regrets, past loves, and memories of yesterday while chasing after their dreams of today. 

The rap trio delivers these sentiments over a  chill-hop (a combination of r&b, jazz, hip-hop and a bit of lo-fi) vibe infused with an 90's hip-hop feel, background instrumentals that played with the stereo sound, going from ear to ear and Doyoung so smoothly executing the chorus with a silky finesse and a melody that suit him so well. As someone who slept on Doyoung's musicality, he woke me up and shined in this comeback. This song was another excellent portrayal of his talents. Of course, the rap trio killed it as they as always do with Taeyong getting the bulk of the time (understandably with it basically being his creation), and Mark slaying me (per usual) with his verse. (He is just so authentically and innately good!) Lucas, little baby Lucas came through and displayed his skill as a rapper despite just debuting. 

(WARNING: If you have yet to see this mv and suffer from photosensitive epilepsy or migraines triggered by visual patterns, do not watch or proceed with caution)

The MV matched the funky brass instrumentals well with neon, trippy animations and sprinklings of visual effects so subtle that you don't notice them unless you paying close attention. That, coupled with the old-school, grungy/garage aesthetic and the mood-lit but colorful set made for an aesthetically pleasing and mesmerizing music video. 

NCT Dream 'GO'

Credit: SM Entertainment

peep Renjun in the clout glasses. love it

Though not discussed in same detail as the other videos, NCT
Dream (my children) released an mv for their track 'GO'. The cute babies of Chewing Gum (my guilty pleasure) are no more, showing us the maturity they've gained in the two years since in Go. Though I am not their target audience, I have a soft spot for them and enjoy many elements of the song and these boys can sing! Here are some gifs and

the mv for your viewing pleasure!

Well, that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope it makes up (even a little) for my absence. If you gained a little more of an understanding and appreciation of NCT and how they work, or if you're new to the group and developed some, then I did my job! I was thoroughly pleased by this comeback and concept and SM did a lot of work providing behind the scenes clips and vlives to make fans feel a little closer and learn a little more. If you'd like to watch those, they can be found on the SM youtube and vlive channels) Go give the album a listen if you have not, there is something for everyone on there, all of them 👌👌👌 I have to say my favorite song from Empathy, musically is 'Yestoday' and visually is Boss (I'm a sucker for sharp, group choreography). 

As usual, thank you for reading! Until next time!

Jen M. :)