''We Go Up'' is the second
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. by South Korean–Chinese boy band
NCT Dream
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 rea ...
, the third and teen-aged sub-unit of the South Korean boy band
NCT. Released by
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies where it was established in 1995 by record executive and record producer Lee Soo-man. The company ha ...
on September 3, 2018 and distributed by
iriver, the album contains five new Korean songs and a
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
version of the album's eponymous single, marking it their latest release to contain a Mandarin record. The extended play was the unit's first major release to feature member Jaemin since their debut single "Chewing Gum" in August 2016; following his medical hiatus since early 2017. SM founder
Lee Soo-man
Lee Soo-man (, born 18 June 1952) is a South Korean business executive and record producer who is best known for being the founder of SM Entertainment, a multinational South Korean entertainment company based in Seoul. He has also been referred ...
served as the EP's
executive producer, with songwriters and producers such as
Kenzie, MZMC,
Bazzi, Mike Woods, Kevin White,
August Rigo
Dan August Rigo (born August 6, 1986) is a Filipino-Canadian recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter.
Early life
Rigo was born on August 6, 1986, in Toronto ...
,
The Stereotypes
The Stereotypes are a production team created in 2003, comprising Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves and Ray Charles McCullough II. In June 2010, they were listed among the "Top 10 Songwriters and Producers to Watch" in '' Billboard'' magaz ...
, Deez, Erik Lidbom,
Cazzi Opeia
Moa Anna Maria Carlebecker (born 10 November 1988), better known by her stage name Cazzi Opeia is a Swedish DJ, artist, singer and songwriter.
Life and career
1988–2015: Early life and career beginnings
Moa Anna "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker w ...
,
Anton Ewald
Anton Kim Ewald (born August 7, 1993) is a Swedish singer and dancer. He has participated in Melodifestivalen several times as both a background dancer and singer.
Career
Ewald began his career as a background dancer at Melodifestivalen. In Mel ...
, Simon Johansson, Sebastian Thott, and others participating in making the album. It was also their last release with the original seven-member line up, marking the graduation of member Mark in December 2018 as he reached the age of adulthood in South Korea.
Upon its release, ''We Go Up'' enjoyed commercial success in both NCT Dream's native country and several international component charts. It was the unit's second chart-topper on the Gaon Album Chart, following their 2017 release
''The First'', and eventually their first charting entry in Japan and United Kingdom, peaking at number eleven and ninety-seven on the
Oricon Albums Chart and the
Album Downloads component chart, respectively. The extended play also attained success in the United States, becoming their second top-five entry on the
''Billboard'' World Albums chart, peaking at number five on its first charting week. The group went on to promote the extended play's eponymous lead single through various South Korean television music programs, and has since performed the title track on all of their headlining concerts, namely ''The Dream Show'' and their
Beyond LIVE concert in May 2020.
Background and release
Originally debuted as a septet in August 2016 with the digital single "Chewing Gum", NCT Dream actively promoted as a sextet instead since February 1, 2017 due to member Jaemin's medical hiatus. Jaemin eventually rejoined the unit for their parental group's 2018 project ''
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position. Definitions of empathy encompass a broad range of social, co ...
'' single, titled "Go", which saw the group transitioning from their "youthful" image to a more "rebellious" and "defiant" approach in both music and image. SM Entertainment eventually announced the group would release a new extended play in September 2018, later revealed to be ''We Go Up''. The label further stated that member Mark would "graduate" from the unit following the EP's release in December 2018, due to him turning 19 by the time, thus reaching the age of adulthood in South Korea. An accompanying music video for the eponymous lead single was released on August 30, 2018, four days prior to the extended play's release. The EP's package came in a singular version with a CD containing all six songs, a photo booklet and several collectibles for fans.
Composition
''We Go Up'' contains five new songs recorded in Korean by the unit, while its eponymous track received a Mandarin version as the closing track. The lead single "
We Go Up
''We Go Up'' is the second extended play by South Korean–Chinese boy band NCT Dream, the third and teen-aged sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. Released by SM Entertainment on September 3, 2018 and distributed by iriver, the album co ...
" is described as a "retro vibe", urban
hip hop track that saw the members singing about team spirit, containing "tinny"
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
and "booming" bass line along with the group "serv
ngup swaggering raps and harmonious vocals". It was written by SM songwriter
Kenzie and member Mark, whom went on to co-write three additional tracks in the album, while the former also worked with producer MZMC, singer-songwriter
Bazzi, Mike Woods, and Kevin White on the song's production. Along with Mark, member Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung also took part in writing the lyrics for "Dear Dream", a hip-hop and
pop song that memorizes the graduation of Mark from the sub-unit. The unit also worked with American production team
The Stereotypes
The Stereotypes are a production team created in 2003, comprising Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves and Ray Charles McCullough II. In June 2010, they were listed among the "Top 10 Songwriters and Producers to Watch" in '' Billboard'' magaz ...
and Canadian musician
August Rigo
Dan August Rigo (born August 6, 1986) is a Filipino-Canadian recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter.
Early life
Rigo was born on August 6, 1986, in Toronto ...
on the track "1, 2, 3", a funky
R&B and
dance-pop track that sings about falling for a new crush.
Chart performance
The album entered ''Billboard''s World Albums chart at No. 5, and Heatseekers Albums chart at No.7; which marks NCT Dream's best sales week in America to date.
NCT Dream Show
NCT Dream Show was the NCT Dream's music variety show. It focused on NCT’s concept, which is sympathizing through dreaming and becoming one through music.
First Show
Second Show
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
{{NCT (band)
2018 EPs
SM Entertainment EPs
Korean-language EPs
NCT Dream albums
IRiver EPs