"Beatbox" is a song that was recorded by South Korean boy group NCT Dream. It was released as the lead single from the repackaged version of their second studio albumGlitch Mode (2022) on May 30, 2022, alongside an accompanying music video. The song was written by Jeong Ha-ri and was composed by Brice Fox, Emily Kim, Jurek Reunamaki, and Michael Jade, who worked on the arrangement with Imlay. It is a hip hop, R&B and teen pop song with lyrics influenced by the themes of old-school hip hop.
In South Korea, "Beatbox" topped the Gaon Digital Chart. NCT Dream was set to perform the song on several South Korean television shows, but had to cancel due to two members testing positive for COVID-19. The song still won five music programs awards. Critics commented positively on "Beatbox"'s concept and its originality, despite being heavily influenced by the 90s' aesthetic and musical themes.
Background and release
In January 2022, SM Entertainment confirmed that NCT Dream would release their second studio album in March.[1] Following several sets of teasers, Glitch Mode was released on March 28.[2][3][4] On May 9, SM Entertainment confirmed that the repackaged version of Glitch Mode, titled Beatbox, would be released on May 30. It would feature four new tracks, including "Beatbox", which would serve as the lead single.[5] Starting on May 14, teaser images were released through the group's social media platforms.[6] On May 30, the song was released with an accompanying music video.[7] The English version of the song was released on March 21, 2023.[8]
Composition
"Beatbox" was written by Jeong Ha-ri and was composed by Brice Fox, Emily Kim, Jurek Reunamaki, and Michael Jade, who worked on the arrangement with Imlay.[9] It is a hip hop, R&B and teen pop song featuring beatboxing samples with lyrics inspired by the themes typical of old-school and 90s hip hop.[10][11] The song was composed in the key of E minor with a tempo of 94 beats per minute.[12]
Commercial performance
In South Korea, "Beatbox" debuted at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for the issue dated May 29–June 4, 2022.[13] The song also debuted atop the component Download Chart.[14] It also debuted at number two and 55 on the component BGM Chart and Streaming Chart, respectively.[15][16] "Beatbox" reached number 12 on the Billboard South Korea Songs.[17] In Japan, the song peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart for the issue dated June 11, 2022.[18] In Singapore, it peaked at number 17 on the RIAS Top Regional chart.[19] In the United States, "Beatbox" peaked at number 9 on the US World Digital Song Sales chart.[20] The song debuted at number 147 on the Billboard Global Excl. US for the issue dated June 11, 2022.[21]
Multiple critics commented positively on "Beatbox" and its place in NCT Dream's discography, saying that it embodies the group's "youthful" concept. Choi Ha-na of TV Daily expressed her approval of the group's "two-track strategy", that is NCT Dream's habit to release an "experimental" song, sonically similar to the other NCT units, followed by a song conceptually closer to their original sound, which allows them to try new things while keeping the public's attention on them.[26] Jeong Ha-eun of Sports Seoul also noted how the "hopeful, bright and energetic energy" expressed through some of NCT Dream's songs differs from the other units, thus helping them appeal to a different type of public.[27] Lee Min-ji of Newsen pointed out how NCT Dream first introduced old-school hip-hop songs like "Beatbox" in their discography in 2018 with their single "We Go Up" and praised this choice, as it fits them well.[28] A music critic writing for Weekly Donga said that, while K-pop acts often use the 90s' aesthetic and musical themes, NCT Dream managed to be original by creating a song with a modern R&B and teen pop sound that includes popular elements such as a whispered hook, while keeping the lyrical themes of the period.[11]
^Yoon, Joo-oh (January 27, 2022). SM "NCT DREAM, 3월 목표로 새 앨범 준비 중" [공식입장] [SM "NCT DREAM, preparing a new album with the goal of March" [Official Position]]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (March 15, 2022). NCT DREAM, 세련된 카리스마 티저 공개 [NCT DREAM reveals stylish charismatic teaser]. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^Lee, Seung-hoon (May 16, 2022). NCT DREAM, 긍정 에너지 풀충전..리패키지 타이틀곡 'Beatbox'로 쿨한 매력 만끽 [NCT DREAM, full charge of positive energy.. Enjoy cool charm with the repackage title song 'Beatbox']. OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^Kim, Soo-jin (May 30, 2022). NCT DREAM,정규 2집 리패키지 앨범 선주문만 무려 140만장 [NCT DREAM, 2nd regular repackage album pre-order alone 1.4 million copies]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^곡 정보 - Beatbox [Song Information - Beatbox]. Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^Jang, In-young (May 16, 2022). NCT 드림, 2집 리패키지 30일 발매…타이틀곡 '비트박스' [NCT Dream, 2nd album repackage released on the 30th... Title song 'Beatbox']. News1. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^ ab1990년대를 대하는 신선한 방식, NCT 드림의 'Beatbox' [A fresh way to deal with the 1990s, NCT Dream's 'Beatbox']. Weekly Donga (in Korean). June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^"Beatbox". Musicstax. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^ ab2022년 23주차 Digital Chart [Week 23 of 2022 Digital Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^Kim, Hyeon-jeong (June 11, 2022). NCT DREAM, 日 NHK 음악 방송 'Venue101' 출연 [NCT DREAM to appear on Japanese NHK music show 'Venue101']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (June 2, 2022). NCT DREAM, 음악 방송 출연…'비트박스' 컴백 무대 [NCT DREAM to appear on music shows... 'Beatbox' comeback stage]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^Ahn, Tae-hyun (June 3, 2022). NCT 드림 제노·천러, 코로나19 확진…이번주 일정 취소 [NCT Dream Jeno and Chenle confirmed Corona 19... Cancel this week]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^Choi, Ha-na (June 5, 2022). 엔시티 드림이 '7 드림 바이브'를 지키는 방법 [가요공감] [How NCT Dream keeps '7 Dream Vibe' [Gayo Sympathy]]. TV Daily (in Korean). Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^Jeong, Ha-eun (May 30, 2022). 또 한 번 세상을 흔들어 볼게" NCT DREAM이라 가능한 '비트박스'[SS신곡] ["I'll shake the world again" 'Beatbox' possible because of NCT DREAM [SS new song]]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^Lee, Min-ji (May 30, 2022). 미쳐버릴 합" NCT DREAM, 필승 장르 올드스쿨 'Beatbox'[들어보고서] [I'm going crazy" NCT DREAM, the winning genre Old School 'Beatbox' [Listen]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved June 23, 2022.
^Park, Jung-min (June 12, 2022). '인기가요' NCT DREAM, 출연 없이 1위…버추얼 가수 사공이호 지상파 데뷔 ['Inkigayo' NCT DREAM, 1st place without appearance... Virtual singer Sakong Leeho makes his terrestrial debut]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^Kim, Han-gil (June 11, 2022). NCT DREAM, 오늘(11일) 日 '베뉴101' 출연 [NCT Dream to appear on 'Venue 101' in Japan today (11th)]. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
^Park, Soo-min (June 8, 2022). '쇼챔피언' NCT 드림, 컴백 동시에 1위..코로나 확진 '소감無'[★밤TView] ['Show Champion' NCT Dream, 1st place at the same time as comeback... Corona confirmed 'No feelings']. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
^Yeon, Hwi-sun (June 11, 2022). '음중' NCT드림, 출연 없이도 1위...김재환 스페셜MC 성공적 [종합] ['Umjung' NCT Dream, 1st place without appearing... Kim Jae-hwan Special MC Successful [Comprehensive]]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
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