Kick It (NCT 127 song)
"Kick It" | ||||
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![]() iScream remix cover | ||||
Single by NCT 127 | ||||
from the album Neo Zone | ||||
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Released | March 6, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label |
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Composer(s) |
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Lyricist(s) |
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NCT 127 singles chronology | ||||
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NCT singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"영웅 (英雄; Kick It)" on YouTube |
"Kick It" (Korean: 영웅; Hanja: 英雄; RR: Yeong-ung; lit. Hero) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127. It was written by Wutan, Rick Bridges and Danke of Lalala Studio, composed by Dem Jointz, Deez, Mayila Jones, Rodnae "Chikk" Bell, Ryan S. Jhun and Yoo Young-jin, and arranged by Jointz, Deez and Yoo. Described as a "high-energy" song with "inspirational lyrics" that portrays the group's musical identity, it was released as the lead single from their second studio album Neo Zone on March 6, 2020 by SM Entertainment. An accompanying martial arts-themed music video premiered two days prior.
Music critics noted the song's "darkness" and "anthemic" return, in contrast to their previous singles, and believed it contributed to the group's musical diversity. Commercially, the song became NCT 127's first top-thirty entry on
Background and release
After wrapping up promotional activities in the United States by the end of November 2019, SM Entertainment uploaded a music video for "Dreams Come True", along with the release announcement for Neo Zone on January 27, 2020.[1] The label further confirmed that member Jungwoo would return to the group following his hiatus since August 2019.[2] On February 12, a "timeline" video for the album was posted on the group's social media accounts, including a release schedule and confirmation of the title of the lead single as "영웅 / 英雄 (Kick It)".[3] Following video previews of other album tracks, the music video teaser for "Kick It" was uploaded on the official SM Town channel on March 3, 2020.[4][5] The full video premiered one day later and was released digitally alongside the rest of Neo Zone on March 6, 2020.[5][6]
Composition
Writing and development
"Kick It" was composed by American producer Dem Jointz, South Korean songwriter Deez, Ryan S. Jhun, Mayila Jones and Rodnae "Chikk" Bell, with Yoo Young-jin contributing to co-composition and arrangement. The song marked the second time that Dem Jointz, Deez and Yoo wrote together for the boy group since "Cherry Bomb" in June 2017. In an interview with music critic Kim Young-dae in March 2020, Deez stated that "Kick It" was originally prepared to "gird the loins" for "Cherry Bomb 2.0", opining that the outcome ended up being "stronger" than the 2017 single. He further revealed that the production team had to "revise and multiply" the song many times from end of December 2019 to early February 2020. Dem Jointz created the song's beat loop, and Deez focused on the R&B arrangement, having constructed the bridge and dance break sections with the goal of "maintaining" the "harmonic vocal color" and "extensively energetic" chord work to bring out a "trendy and old-school" feel to the song. Members Taeyong and Mark mostly rapped their respective parts in one-takes to their preferences, and the qualified cuts were arranged later.[7]
Music and lyrics
Musically, SM Entertainment described the song as a "powerful"
Lyrically, the song sees the members overcome their own "fears and traumas."[11] The group also compares themselves to Bruce Lee when onstage, mentioning him in chantings such as "Bass kicks swingin' like Bruce Lee" and referring to Jeet Kune Do and his film Enter the Dragon.[12] The song was penned by Wutan, Rick Bridges and Lalala Studio writing team member Danke.[13]
Music video
Directed by South Korean
Promotion
Following the music video release, the group shared their first performance for "Kick It" as NCT 127 The Stage through their official channel on March 5.
As part of the group's promotions in the United States, the song was first performed on March 10 at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where NCT 127 became the very first K-pop act to perform at the event.[20][21] It was reported that the group would embark on their first U.S. arena tour, Neo City – The Awards, to promote the single and Neo Zone album starting from June 6 at New York City's Madison Square Garden; the tour was subsequently postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.[22][23][24]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
IZM[25] | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Following its initial release, "Kick It" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Giving the song three stars out of five, writer Hwang Sun-eob of
Another review from SoundDigest called the track "rambunctious", while writer Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum from
Accolades
"Kick It" received one music show award on the March 27, 2020, broadcast of
Commercial performance
"Kick It" saw an improvement in chart performance compared to the group's previous releases, debuting and peaking within the top five of all digital real-time music charts in South Korea and reaching number one position on
Elsewhere, the song debuted at number three on the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart, NCT 127's eighth top-five entry and third to debut and peak at the same position, following "Cherry Bomb" (2017) and "Superhuman" (2019).[44] It also became their fourth appearance on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and third on the New Zealand's Hot 40 Singles Chart, peaking at number eighty-four and number thirty-eight, respectively.[45][46]
Remixes
With the EDM label
Formats and track listing
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Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Kick It and Punch.[49][50]
Studio
- SM Booming System – digital editing, engineered for mix
- Golden Bell Tree Sound – recording
- SM LVYIN Studio – digital editing, engineered for mix
- doobdoob Studio – digital editing
- SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing
- 821 Sound – mastering
Personnel
- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Soo-man – producer
- Lee Sung-soo – production director
- Kim Young-min – executive supervisor
- Nam So-young – executive supervisor
- NCT 127 – vocals
- Wutan – lyrics
- danke (Lalala Studio) – lyrics
- Rick Bridges – lyrics
- Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy Jr. – composition, arrangement
- Deez – composition, arrangement, vocal directing
- Mayila Jones – composition
- Rodnae "Chikk" Bell – composition
- Ryan S. Jhun – composition
- Yoo Young-jin – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, background vocals, recording, digital editing, engineered for mix, music and sound supervisor
- Kim Kwang-min – recording
- Lee Ji-hong – digital editing, engineered for mix
- Jang Woo-young – digital editing
- Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
- Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
Charts
Weekly chart
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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Japan ( Japan Hot 100)[45]
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84 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[46] | 38 |
Singapore (RIAS Regional)[51] | 16 |
South Korea ( Gaon)[38]
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21 |
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[43] | 9 |
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[44] | 3 |
Monthly chart
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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South Korea (Gaon)[41] | 36 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Various | March 6, 2020 | SM | |
May 8, 2020 |
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See also
References
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Neo Zone: The Final Round (photobook). NCT 127. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2020. Credits.)
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "RIAS Top Charts – RIAS". March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2020.