BTS NCT DREAM: May set to be big month for K-pop fans
May is going to be a big month for K-pop fans, with a plethora of stars sharpening themselves up to return to the stage with new songs. Among them are BTS, NCT DREAM and OH MY GIRL, which will vie for the top spots on the global music charts.
1. NCT DREAM (May 10)
Boy band NCT DREAM is set to unleash its first full-length album, “Hot Sauce,” on May 10.
The 10-track album, fronted by the namesake hip-hop lead single, is the seven-piece act’s first release since the return of member Mark. NCT DREAM initially followed an age-based “graduation” system, so the rapper “graduated” from the group in 2018 when he turned 20. But last year, he came back to the team, following the elimination of the system.
The album offers songs of various genres and vibes, according to its record label, SM Entertainment. It will include the R&B pop song, “Rainbow” and the dance pop track, “Diggity,” among others. In the case of “Rainbow,” Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung made a rap for it.
To whet fans’ appetites, SM has floated teasers based on diverse concepts ― including the “Crazy Jalapeno” and “Boring Jalapeno” versions ― on social media platforms.
2. OH MY GIRL (May 10)
OH MY GIRL ― comprised of Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Jiho, Binnie, and Arin ― is also scheduled to put out its eighth EP, “Dear OH MYGIRL,” on May 10.
The EP, which will be led by “DUN DUN DANCE,” also carries five additional pieces, including, “DEAR YOU,” “QUEST” and “SWAN.”
The band’s agency, WM Entertainment, disclosed teaser images on Twitter Sunday, featuring the members posing for photos in a vintage-style room.
Expectations are higher than ever for “Dear OH MYGIRL,” since it is the group’s first EP in Korea since the success of its songs, “Nonstop” and “Dolphin,” last year. Both of those numbers hit 100 million streams on Gaon, one of the most trustworthy album/streaming charts here.
3. BTS (May 21)
K-pop phenomenon BTS will take the baton on May 21 and shake the global music scene again with its English single, “Butter.”
The seven-piece act took to Weverse ― a fan community platform created by its management company HYBE ― to unveil a teaser featuring seven different props, including balloons, candy, and a camera, without offering any hints about what these objects mean.
In its April 27 statement, HYBE revealed that “Butter” is a dance pop-based track with a cheerful mood.
“It is a summer song highlighting the members’ tenderness and charisma,” the company said.
“Butter” is BTS’s second English-language single following “Dynamite” (2020), a song that led BTS to become the first K-pop act to dominate the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
The K-pop super group recently earned four nominations in the upcoming 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), slated for May 23. It was nominated in the categories of Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Social Artist, and Top Selling Song.
4. TXT (May 31)
TXT, another boy band managed by HYBE, will be the last player in the lineup for May. The five-member band is poised to drop its second studio album, “The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE,” on May 31, but more details about the release have been kept under wraps.
HYBE only hinted that TXT’s upcoming release will “mark the beginning of the new series,” in which the members will showcase their broader musical canvases.
Most of TXT’s previous works, such as “The Dream Chapter: Star” (2019) and “The Dream Chapter: Magic” (2019), have revolved around the theme of chasing your dreams and mental growth.
Source: The Korea Times