Universe is the third studio album and ninth album overall by South Korean boy band NCT. It was released on December 14, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Similar to their previous releases NCT 2018 Empathy and NCT 2020 Resonance, NCT 2021 Universe is part of "NCT 2021" project; which saw all current NCT members from several units collaborating on a full-length release. This time, the album features 21 out of 23 members from three current units of NCT; NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. Members Lucas and Winwin were unable to participate.[2][3]Universe is NCT's final album to feature Shotaro and Sungchan, who both withdrew from the group in May 2023.[4]
Background and release
On November 13, 2021, it was announced that NCT would reunite for a third time as NCT 2021 following their second full group project, NCT 2020 Resonance, in 2020. Five teaser videos, titled "NCT 2021 YearDream" and each labeled from Stage 0 through Stage 4, were released between November 21 and November 29. NCT groups NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV were confirmed to participate in Universe, with Winwin and Lucas being absent from the project. NCT released track videos for "Dreaming", "Miracle", and "Earthquake", by NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT 127, respectively. The music video for "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" was released on December 10. The music video for "Beautiful" was released alongside the album itself on December 14.[5]
Commercial performance
Universe surpassed more than 1.7 million pre-orders on the day of release, breaking their previous record of 1.1 million pre-orders for NCT 2020 Resonance Pt.1[6]
Accolades
Music program awards for "Universe (Let's Play Ball)"
^Woo, Bin (November 12, 2021). "[공식] NCT, 1년 2개월 만에 뭉쳤다…12월 14일 정규 3집 발매" [[Official] NCT, reunited after 1 year and 2 months... 3rd full album release on December 14th]. Tenasia (in Korean). Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (December 3, 2021). "'2021 MAMA' NCT, '유니버스' 무대 최초 공개" ['2021 MAMA' NCT unveils 'Universe' stage for the first time]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
^Ji, Min-kyung (December 26, 2021). "NCT, 오늘(26일) 'Beautiful' 퍼포먼스 스테이지 공개..희망찬 에너지" [NCT unveils 'Beautiful' performance stage today (26th)... Hopeful energy]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^"12월 5주순위". KBS (in Korean). December 31, 2021. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021.
^Lee, Seung-hoon (January 7, 2022). "'뮤뱅' NCT U, 'Universe'로 1위..쪼꼬미⋅원위 컴백→하이키⋅케플러 데뷔[종합]" ['Mubang' NCT U, 1st place with 'Universe'..Jokomi・Onewe comeback→Highkey・Kepler debut [comprehensive]]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.