Regular-Irregular | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 12, 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2018 | |||
Studio | SM, Seoul, South Korea | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:01 | |||
Language |
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Label | ||||
Producer |
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NCT 127 chronology | ||||
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NCT chronology | ||||
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Singles from Regular-Irregular | ||||
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Repackaged edition cover | ||||
Singles from Regulate | ||||
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Regular-Irregular is the first studio album by South Korean boy band NCT 127,the second sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. Described as a multi-genre concept album with a total of eleven tracks,the album was released by SM Entertainment on October 12,2018,and distributed by IRIVER. This marks NCT 127's first Korean major release in a year and four months since their previous EP, Cherry Bomb ,which was released in June 2017. [1] It is also their first release as a ten-member group since the addition of Jungwoo in September 2018. [2] [3] It is also the group's last release to date to feature member Winwin,as he would focus his promotions on WayV following the album's release.
Upon its release,Regular-Irregular attained commercial success in both South Korea and other countries. The album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart and became one of the few releases to stay longer than a single week at No. 1 in 2018. Additionally,it debuted at No. 86 on the US Billboard 200 in the week of October 27,2018,thus becoming NCT 127's first entry on the chart. [4] It is also the group's highest charting release on the UK and France's download albums charts and first entry on the Australian Digital Albums chart.
The album's repackage,Regulate,was released on November 23,2018,along with its lead single,"Simon Says". [5]
On September 17,a teaser video was released on the group's Twitter account which shows flashes of the words "regular" and "irregular",as well as a new NCT 127 logo. Later that day,SM Entertainment announced the addition of Jungwoo to the group and that NCT 127 would release its first full-length album Regular-Irregular on October 12. [6] Following the announcement,NCT 127 entered the Billboard's Social 50 at number five for the week of September 29. [7] Photo and video teasers were released from September 18 up to October 11. [8]
On October 8,NCT 127 released the music video of the English version of their new single "Regular",which marks the group's first English-language song. [9] The music video for the Korean version of "Regular" was released on October 11,2018. [10] The album was released on October 12,2018. [11]
On November 13,2018,NCT 127 announced the release of the album's repackage,Regulate with teasers of the members. [12] The album and its lead single,"Simon Says",released on November 23,2018. [5] [13]
The album's theme revolves around the exploration reality and dreams. The album incorporates several genres;such as pop,dance,R&B,ballad and hip-hop. [11]
"Regular" is described as a high-energy hip hop track with sensual Latin vibes that incorporates Spanish lyrics. [9] Billboard noted that unlike many Korean songs re-released by K-pop bands in other languages,the English version of "Regular" differentiates itself from the Korean version through the content of their lyrics. [11] The Korean one addresses their current state as a group trying to make its way in the world,in contrast to the hopeful,goal-oriented swagger expressed in the English alternative. While both versions focus on money,the Korean addresses the reality of their world versus the luxurious lifestyle expressed in the English. [11] [14]
The sixth track,"Interlude:Regular to Irregular" contains the music used in the video "NCT 2018 Yearbook #1" as well as a rearranged version of a future bass composition (titled "The 7th Sense –Reverse") by Korean electronica musician Hitchhiker that was performed by the sub-unit in the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards. The track also contains narrations done in Korean (by new member Jungwoo),Japanese (by Yuta) and Mandarin (by Winwin),as well as a verse from the American author Edgar Allan Poe's 1849 poem "A Dream Within a Dream" narrated by member Johnny. The eighth track,"Come Back",is a Korean version of the originally released Japanese track off their debut Japanese EP Chain. The bonus track,"Run Back 2 U",is the full version of the demo song originally titled "Bassbot" previously performed by NCT members Johnny,Taeyong,Yuta,Ten and Jaehyun and then-SM trainee Hansol in a pre-debut video under the company's pre-debut group SM Rookies in 2015.
NCT 127 kick-started promotions for the album in the U.S. with television promotions and a partnership with Apple Music. [15] [16]
They performed their new single "Regular" as well as "Cherry Bomb" on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! outdoor concert series stage on October 8,marking their U.S. television debut; [17] [18] The group also appeared at the 2018 American Music Awards. [19] They performed at ABC's Mickey's 90th Spectacular TV special on November 4. [20]
NCT 127 was also announced as Apple Music's 'Up Next' Artist;the group was featured on Apple-based platforms,including a short film exploring the band and their music,an Apple Music–only choreography video,and a Beats 1 interview. [21] [22]
On November 22,it was announced that member Winwin would not participate in promotions for Regulate as he was preparing for the group's Chinese activities. [23]
NCT 127 performed "Simon Says" on Music Bank,Inkigayo,and Show! Music Core,as well as the Korean version of "Chain" on The Show and Show Champion.
In a positive review,Billboard praised the album for showcasing both the group's artistry and skill through its diversity of sounds and experimental approach towards an album concept,helping to solidify their style. [11]
On December 10,it was announced that "Simon Says" had become the group's first song to chart at number one on the US Digital Song Sales chart. [24]
Credits adapted from Naver
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "City 127" (Korean : 지금 우리; RR : Jigeum Uri;lit. Now We) |
|
| 3:19 | |
2. | "Regular" |
|
| 3:37 | |
3. | "Replay (PM 01:27)" (sung by Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, and Haechan) |
| 3:39 | ||
4. | "Knock On" |
|
|
| 3:25 |
5. | "No Longer" (Korean : 나의 모든 순간; RR : Naui Modeun Sungan;lit. All My Moments) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan) |
|
| 4:57 | |
6. | "Interlude: Regular to Irregular" (Narrated by Johnny, Yuta, Winwin, and Jungwoo) |
|
| 3:10 | |
7. | "My Van" (Korean : 내 Van; RR : Nae Van) (sung by Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Mark) | 3:26 | |||
8. | "Come Back" (Korean : 악몽; RR : Akmong;lit. Nightmare) |
|
| 3:25 | |
9. | "Fly Away with Me" (Korean : 신기루; RR : Sin-gilu;lit. Mirage) |
|
|
| 3:32 |
10. | "Regular" (English version) |
|
| 3:39 | |
11. | "Run Back 2 U" (Bonus track) |
|
| 3:39 | |
Total length: | 40:02 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "City 127" (Korean : 지금 우리; RR : Jigeum Uri;lit. Now we) |
|
| 3:19 | |
2. | "Regular" |
|
| 3:37 | |
3. | "Replay (PM 01:27)" (sung by Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, and Haechan) |
| 3:39 | ||
4. | "Welcome to My Playground" |
| 3:59 | ||
5. | "Knock On" |
|
|
| 3:25 |
6. | "No Longer" (Korean : 나의 모든 순간; RR : Naui Modeun Sungan;lit. All My Moments) (sung by Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Haechan) |
|
| 4:57 | |
7. | "My Van" (Korean : 내 Van; RR : Nae Van) (sung by Taeyong, Yuta, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Mark) | 3:26 | |||
8. | "Interlude: Regular to Irregular" (Narrated by Johnny, Yuta, Winwin, and Jungwoo) |
|
| 3:10 | |
9. | "Simon Says" |
|
| 3:19 | |
10. | "Come Back" (Korean : 악몽; RR : Akmong;lit. Nightmare) |
|
| 3:25 | |
11. | "Fly Away with Me" (Korean : 신기루; RR : Sin-giru;lit. Mirage) |
|
|
| 3:32 |
12. | "Chain" (Korean version) |
| 3:43 | ||
13. | "Regular" (English version) |
|
| 3:39 | |
14. | "Run Back 2 U" (Bonus track) |
|
| 3:39 | |
Total length: | 51:00 |
Credits adapted from Xiami. [26]
Recording
Editing
| Mixing
|
Chart (2018) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Regular- Irregular | Regulate | |
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA) [27] | 19 | — |
French Download Albums (SNEP) [28] | 43 | — |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [29] | 6 | — |
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [30] | 24 | — |
South Korean Albums (Gaon) [31] [32] | 1 | 2 |
UK Download Albums (OCC) [33] | 42 | — |
US Billboard 200 [34] | 86 | — |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [35] | 5 | 46 |
US World Albums (Billboard) [36] | 2 | 9 |
US Top Album Sales ( Billboard ) [37] | 23 | — |
Chart (2018) | Position | |
---|---|---|
Regular- Irregular | Regulate | |
South Korean Albums (Gaon) [38] | 17 | 29 |
US World Albums (Billboard) [39] | 14 | — |
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Singapore (RIAS Regional) [40] | 6 |
South Korea (Gaon) [41] | 92 |
South Korea (Kpop Hot 100) [42] | 16 |
US World Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [43] | 2 |
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [44] | 37 |
South Korea (Kpop Hot 100) [45] | 39 |
US World Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [46] | 1 |
Region | Sales |
---|---|
Japan (Oricon) | 28,435 [47] |
South Korea (Gaon) | 370,616 [48] |
United States ( Billboard ) | 8,000 [49] |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
South Korea (KMCA) [50] Regular-Irregular | Platinum | 250,000^ |
South Korea (KMCA) [51] Regulate | Platinum | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks | 15 | [52] |
Critic/Publication | List | Work | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
MTV | The 18 Best K-pop B-sides Of 2018 | "Come Back" | 5 | |
Song | Program | Date |
---|---|---|
"Regular" | The Show (SBS MTV) | October 16, 2018 |
October 23, 2018 | ||
M! Countdown (Mnet) | October 25, 2018 | |
Music Bank (KBS) | October 26, 2018 |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
South Korea | October 12, 2018 |
|
|
United States | |||
Various |
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NCT is a South Korean boy band formed and managed by SM Entertainment. Introduced in January 2016, the group currently consists of 20 members and divided into five different sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT DoJaeJung. They are notable for their versatility in music, vocal and rap abilities, and powerful performances, and have been cited as K-pop's "most experimental boy band" due to their concept of having limitless members. As of May 2023, NCT has recorded more than 28 million album sales across all sub-units, making them the best-selling act under SM Entertainment and one of the best-selling K-pop artists of all-time.
NCT 127 is the first fixed and second overall sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT, formed and managed by SM Entertainment. The current lineup consists of nine active members: Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, and Haechan. NCT 127 are known for their experimental hip hop-based music, which they refer to as "neo music", while majority of their album tracks are R&B with pop and ballad. They are also noted for their vocal and rap abilities, as well as their choreographies and performances. After debuting in 2016, they broke into the domestic mainstream in 2017 with "Cherry Bomb", now recognized as one of their signature songs, and received greater international attention following the release of "Kick It" in 2020.
The discography of the South Korean boy group NCT consists of three studio albums and thirteen singles. The multi-national and unlimited boy group was formed and managed by the Korean entertainment company SM Entertainment in 2016. This page compiles the discography of NCT as a whole group. NCT had their first major release with NCT 2018 Empathy in 2018, featuring a total of eighteen members at the time under the name NCT 2018, marking the first singular-year project to involve all current members and sub-units of NCT. It was also the first NCT release to receive a platinum KMCA certificate following its introduction in the same year. They have subsequently released two more studio albums.
"The First" is the debut double A-side single by South Korean-Chinese boy band NCT Dream, the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. It was released on February 9, 2017 with "My First and Last" serving as the single's title track.
NCT Dream is the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT, formed by SM Entertainment in 2016. They were initially intended to be the teenaged unit of NCT with an admission-and-graduation system, in which members would leave after reaching age of majority, prior to re-branding in 2020. The sub-unit debuted on August 25, 2016, with the single "Chewing Gum" and a lineup of seven members—Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung—whose average age was 15.6 years old. In late 2018, the group's leader Mark graduated from NCT Dream but returned in 2020 when began promoting as a fixed seven-member group.
Mark Lee, professionally known as Mark, is a Canadian rapper, singer, dancer and songwriter based in South Korea. He is a member of the South Korean boy band NCT and its fixed sub-units NCT 127 and NCT Dream, as well as the South Korean supergroup SuperM.
Cherry Bomb is the third extended play by NCT 127, the Seoul-based sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. It was released by SM Entertainment on June 14, 2017, and distributed by Genie Music. The EP includes a total of seven tracks.
NCT 2018 Empathy is the debut studio album by South Korean Boy band NCT, an unlimited group project under the management of SM Entertainment. Containing a total of fourteen tracks with twelve of which were released as singles from 2016 to 2018, the album marked the first group release with eighteen members from three different units participating at the time, while being the first release to officially introduce three new members Kun, Jungwoo and Lucas. With the group's label founder Lee Soo-man serving as the executive producer, composition and production for the album was contributed by Matt Schwartz, Tommy $trate, The Stereotypes, Timothy 'Bos' Bullock, Deez, Yoo Young-jin, Ryan S. Jhun, MZMC, Adrian McKinnon, Shin Hyuk, Josh Cumbee, Andrew Choi, Sara Forsberg, LDN Noise, and others. It was released on March 14, 2018, by SM Entertainment and iriver Inc along with the album's fourth single "Touch" by the Seoul-based unit NCT 127 and "Black on Black", the first single featuring all eighteen members of the group at that time.
"Touch" is a song recorded by the South Korean, Seoul-based unit NCT 127 for their parental unlimited boy band NCT's first studio album NCT 2018 Empathy (2018). Co-produced by production team LDN Noise, Deez and Adrian McKinnon with lyrics from Jo Yoon-kyung, Kim Min-ji and Shin Jin-hye, the '90s-imbued tropical house track was released digitally on March 14, 2018, as the fourth single from Empathy by SM Entertainment with iRIVER Inc as the distributor. An accompanying music video was premiered a day prior to both the single and the album's scheduled digital release. The song was later re-recorded and released as the first single from the unit's first Japanese studio album Awaken (2019) on September 16, 2018 by Avex Trax.
Chain is the debut Japanese extended play by South Korean boy band NCT 127, the multi-national and second sub-unit of NCT. The five-track extended play was released on May 23, 2018 by their Japanese record label Avex Trax. With SM Entertainment's founder Lee Soo-man serving as the executive producer, the electropop, hip-hop and R&B record featured composition from production team Caesar & Loui, Kanata Okajima, 250, Albin Nordqvist, Kenzie, Mike Daley, MZMC, Harvey Mason Jr., J Que, Kevin Randolph, Mitchell Owens, Deez, Tay Jasper, Andrew Choi, MEG.ME and others. It was preceded by the Japanese version of "Limitless" as the first single on November 4, 2017, followed by the eponymous second single on May 8, 2018. To further promote the release, the group had their first showcase tour prior to its release.
South Korean boy band NCT 127 have released five studio albums, four reissues, three live albums, seven extended plays, and nineteen singles. The group debuted in 2016 with their eponymous extended play and its lead single "Fire Truck" as a sub-unit of NCT. It was followed by two extended plays, Limitless and Cherry Bomb, released in 2017. Each spawned one single: "Limitless" and "Cherry Bomb". The following year, the group recorded a single, "Touch", for NCT's first studio album as a complete group, titled NCT 2018 Empathy. In May 2018, they debuted their first Japanese-language extended play, Chain. Its lead single of the name was their first song to chart on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. In October 2018, they released their first studio album, Regular-Irregular, and its lead single of the same name. The album was their first release to appear on the Billboard 200, charting at number 86. Regular-Irregular was followed shortly afterwards by the album's reissue, Regulate, and its lead single "Simon Says". That same year, they released a digital-exclusive Up Next extended play for Apple Music.
Lee Tae-yong, known mononymously as Taeyong, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is a member and leader of South Korean boy band NCT under SM Entertainment, having debuted in the group's first sub-unit, NCT U, in 2016 and becoming the leader of its second sub-unit, NCT 127, later that year. In 2019, he debuted as a member of the South Korean supergroup SuperM, a joint project under SM Entertainment and Capitol Records, and released his first solo single, "Long Flight". As a songwriter, Taeyong has participated in writing over 40 songs in four languages, released mostly by NCT's various units and himself as a soloist.
Neo Zone is the second Korean studio album by the South Korean boy band NCT 127. Preceded by the music video release for "Dreams Come True" on NCT 127 Day, January 27 (1/27), the 13-track album was released through SM Entertainment and Capitol Music Group on March 6, 2020. Neo Zone contains various musical genres from hip hop, R&B, funk, to electro-pop, which aimed to create a soundscape that broadened the group's sonic vision. The repackaged version of the album, titled NCT #127 Neo Zone: The Final Round, was released on May 19, 2020.
"Kick It" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127. The song was written by Wutan, Rick Bridges and Danke of Lalala Studio, while the music was composed by Dem Jointz, Deez, Mayila Jones, Rodnae "Chikk" Bell and Ryan S. Jhun, with the arrangement was handled by Jointz, Deez and Yoo Young-jin. Described as a "high-energy" song with "inspirational lyrics" that portrays the group's musical identity, it was released as the lead single from their second studio album Neo Zone on March 6, 2020 by SM Entertainment. An accompanying martial arts-themed music video premiered two days prior.
"Cherry Bomb" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127, the Seoul-based unit of boy group NCT, for their third eponymous extended play (2017) under SM Entertainment. The song was written by Jennifer Decilveo, Deepflow, Lim Jung-hyo, Oh Min-joo, Taeyong and Mark, whilst music composition was handled by numerous producers, including Dem Jointz, Deez, Michael Woods, Kevin White, Andrew Bazzi and MZMC. It has been described as a hardcore hip-hop track that contains a "colorful" composition, utilizing "complex synth and bass-infused" instrumentations. The accompanying music video premiered alongside the release of the single.
NCT 2020 Resonance is the second studio album by South Korean boy band NCT, an unlimited group project under the management of SM Entertainment. Similar to their previous release NCT 2018 Empathy, NCT 2020 Resonance is part of the "NCT 2020" project; which saw all current NCT members from several units collaborating on a full-length release. This time, the album features all 23 members from three current units of NCT; NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV, while introducing two new NCT members, namely Shotaro and Sungchan. It would also be the final NCT album to feature Lucas due to his hiatus and eventual departure in 2023. The first part was released on October 12, 2020, and the second part was then released on November 23, 2020.
Sticker is the third Korean-language and fourth overall studio album by South Korean boy band NCT 127. It was released on September 17, 2021, by SM Entertainment, distributed by Dreamus in South Korea and Virgin Music in United States. It follows their Japanese-language EP Loveholic, released in February 2021, and previous Korean-language studio album Neo Zone, released in March 2020. On October 25, the group released a repackaged version of Sticker, titled Favorite, which features three new tracks, including the lead single "Favorite (Vampire)".
"Sticker" is a song recorded by South Korean boy group NCT 127 for their third studio album of the same name. Composed by frequent production group and collaborator Dem Jointz, Calixte, Prince Chapelle, Ryan S. Jhun and Yoo Young-jin with lyrical composition by the latter, member Taeyong and Mark, the "experimental" hip-hop track was released digitally on September 17, 2021 as the lead single from the album by SM Entertainment. An accompanying music video was released on the same release date, which depicts a "futuristic/space cowboy" concept.
"Favorite (Vampire)" is a song that was recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127 and was released as the lead single from the repackaged edition of their third studio album Sticker (2021) on October 25, 2021. It is primarily a Pop and R&B track that incorporates hip-hop and trap-inspired production. It is characterized by whistle sounds and "rich harmonic vocals". its lyrics was written by Kenzie, who also composed the song alongside Darkchild and Rodnae "Chikk" Bell and was arranged by Kenzie and Darkchild.
"2 Baddies" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127. It was written by Sokodomo, Haeil, and Xinsayne, while production was handled by Aron Bergerwall, Louise Lindberg, Tony Ferrari, Parker James, Cazzi Opeia, Ellen Berg, and IMLAY. Described as an "intense hip-hop dance song", it features lyrics about achieving success by running towards one's goal regardless of the judgment of others. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album of the same name on September 16, 2022 by SM Entertainment. An accompanying music video was released a day prior.