Maps of Music

Universe (2021)

Where the lyrics of Universe take you, and where it was really made.

Universe drew more than 1.7 million pre-orders on its release day, beating NCT's own previous record of 1.1 million set by NCT 2020 Resonance Pt.1.

Key places

SM Studios in Seoul (2021)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album's recording is linked to SM Studios in Seoul. The marker sits at the city centre, not at the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.

Album story

Overview

• Universe is the third studio album and ninth album overall by South Korean boy band NCT
• Released December 14, 2021 by SM Entertainment; distributed by Dreamus
• Part of the NCT 2021 project, which follows NCT 2018 Empathy and NCT 2020 Resonance
• 21 of 23 members from three current units take part: NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV
• Lucas and Winwin did not take part
• Last NCT album to feature Shotaro and Sungchan, who both withdrew from the group in May 2023

Background

• On November 13, 2021, NCT announced it would reunite for a third time as NCT 2021
• Five teaser videos titled "NCT 2021 YearDream", labeled Stage 0 through Stage 4, were released from November 21 to 29
• Track videos were released for "Dreaming" (NCT Dream), "Miracle" (WayV), and "Earthquake" (NCT 127)
• The music video for the title track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" was released on December 10
• The music video for "Beautiful", the second title track, was released with the album on December 14
• The album has two double title tracks, "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" and "Beautiful"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• NCT (Korean: 엔시티; an initialism for Neo Culture Technology) is a South Korean boy band formed and managed by SM Entertainment.
• Introduced in January 2016, the group was conceived with an unlimited number of members divided into separate sub-units.
• The name came from the presentation title "SMTOWN: New Culture Technology 2016" delivered by founder Lee Soo-man at the SM Coex Artium.
• NCT was SM Entertainment's first idol group debut in nearly two years and its first boy group debut since Exo in 2012.

Members

• The group consists of 23 members across seven sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, NCT Wish, and NCT JNJM.
• Members previously worked in the industry before joining, including as child actors, singers, and TV hosts.
• Five sub-units were fixed at 2023, and the group is known for its versatility in music, vocal and rap ability, and powerful performances.

Career

• NCT U debuted on April 9, 2016, followed by NCT 127 on July 7, 2016, and NCT Dream on August 24, 2016.
• WayV, a China-based sub-unit, debuted on January 17, 2019; NCT DoJaeJung on April 17, 2023; NCT Wish on February 28, 2024; and NCT JNJM on February 23, 2026.
• Four full-group albums were released: Empathy (2018), Resonance (2020), Universe (2021), and Golden Age (2023).
• As of June 2024, NCT had recorded more than 45 million album sales in Korea, making it the best-selling K-pop artist of all time.
• Resonance earned the group its first Daesang at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Surpassed more than 1.7 million pre-orders on the day of release
• Broke the group's previous record of 1.1 million pre-orders for NCT 2020 Resonance Pt.1

Records

• Gaon Chart (South Korea): weekly number 1 for December 26 to January 1, and monthly number 1 for December
• Ranked fifth on the Gaon year-end chart despite being released in December
• Billboard 200 (United States): number 20
• Billboard World Albums Chart: number 1
• Oricon weekly album ranking (Japan): number 1, the group's first number 1 on that chart
• Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales and HOT Albums: number 1 for two consecutive weeks
• United World Chart (MediaTraffic): number 1 for two consecutive weeks
• iTunes top albums chart: number 1 in around 30 countries and regions
• 37th Golden Disc Awards: Album Division Grand Prize
• 12th Circle Chart Music Awards: Artist of the Year, Album Division (first quarter)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album has 13 tracks in total, including two double title tracks, "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" and "Beautiful"
• Five teaser videos titled "NCT 2021 YearDream" were released from November 21 to 29, before the album came out
• Shotaro and Sungchan are on this album and it is the last NCT album they appear on, since both left the group in May 2023

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact