Hot Sauce (song)

Summary

"Hot Sauce" (Korean; RRMat; lit. Flavor) is a song recorded by South Korean boy group NCT Dream for their first studio album of the same name. It was released digitally on May 10, 2021, by SM Entertainment. It became the first trilingual song to enter the Billboard Global 200.[2]

"Hot Sauce"
iScreaM project cover
Single by NCT Dream
from the album Hot Sauce
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedMay 10, 2021 (2021-05-10)
Genre
Length3:15
Label
Composer(s)
  • Martin Wave
  • Tinashe Sibanda
  • Philip Kembo
  • Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell
  • John Mitchell
  • Ninos Hanna
  • Yoo Young-jin
Lyricist(s)
NCT Dream singles chronology
"Ridin'"
(2020)
"Hot Sauce"
(2021)
"Hello Future"
(2021)
NCT singles chronology
"Kick Back"
(2021)
"Hot Sauce"
(2021)
"Save"
(2021)
Music video
"Hot Sauce" on YouTube

Composition edit

"Hot Sauce" was composed by Martin Wave, Tinashe Sibanda, Philip Kembo, Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell, John Mitchell, Ninos Hanna, Yoo Young-jin, while production was handled by Lee Soo-man.[3][4] Musically, the song is described as "Latin music with Afrobeat-tinged hip-hop song".[5] It features a "minimal track contrast with repetitive chanting and chilling vibes in the chorus".[6] The track was composed in the key of F-sharp major, with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[7]

Critical reception edit

Kim Sung-yeop of IZM noted the song as it "expresses only the passionate energy and playful, kitsch charm of NCT Dream", adding that it does not match any of the group's existing styles and has a clear presence as the first song to mark a new beginning.[8] Rhian Daly of NME described the track as "vibrant and exuberant", further adding that "the very SM experimentalism that courses through it elevates it into something more weighty and developed".[9]

"Hot Sauce" was ranked among the best K-pop songs of 2021 by Spotify (5th),[10] Billboard (7th),[11] Young Post (8th),[12] and Dazed (20th).[13] CNN Philippines included it as a honorable mention.[14]

Commercial performance edit

"Hot Sauce" debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart with chart issue dated May 9–15, 2021, giving the group their first number-one song on the chart.[15][16] It also debuted atop the Download Chart and BGM Chart.[17][18][19] The song debuted at number 37 on the component Streaming Chart, and peaked at number 31.[20][21] The song entered the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 at number 39, and peaked at number 18.[22][23]

In the United States, "Hot Sauce" debuted at number eight on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales.[24] The single debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Global 200 making it the first song in three languages to enter the chart.[25] The song also debuted at number 51 on the Billboard Global Excl. US.[26]

On the year-end charts, Hot Sauce became NCT Dream and NCT's first entry on the yearly Gaon Digital Chart.

Music video edit

The music video for "Hot Sauce" is set in a taqueria where the group are tasting their own specialty hot sauce and begins pouring the spicy dressing all over their food.[27][28] Following the music video's release, Gladys Yeo of NME described it as a "vibrant and whimsical video".[28] Tássia Assis of Teen Vogue noted the "psychedelic TV ad-meets-taquería" of the visual.[29] NCT Dream released two dance practice videos on May 23, 2021.

Accolades edit

"Hot Sauce" received eight music program awards, including a triple crown on M Countdown. It was nominated for Best Dance Performance – Male Group at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[30]

Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Show Champion May 19, 2021 [31]
M Countdown May 20, 2021 [32]
May 27, 2021 [33]
June 3, 2021 [34]
Music Bank May 21, 2021 [35]
May 28, 2021 [36]
Show! Music Core May 22, 2021 [37]
Inkigayo May 23, 2021 [38]

Pinkfong version edit

Global entertainment company SmartStudy released a Pinkfong-style version of "Hot Sauce" on May 28, 2021, at 7:00PM KST (UTC+09:00).[39] According to the chief executive officer of SmartStudy, Kim Min-seok, said that they "have created a special gift for all families and fans out there, regardless of age", further adding that they are "always looking to create opportunities" where they can bring joy to their fans around the world and across generations.[40] The version features a special episode of NCT Dream appearing as Pinkfong dinosaur characters that crash-landed in the Age of Dinosaurs.[41] Korean and English versions of the animation videos were released.[42]

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Hot Sauce.[4]

Studio edit

  • SM Booming System – recording, mixing, engineered for mix, digital editing
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, engineered for mix
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing
  • 821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Personnel edit

  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • Lee Soo-man – producer
  • NCT Dream  – vocals
  • Moon Yeo-reum – lyrics
  • Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics
  • Martin Wave – composition, arrangement
  • Tinashe Sibanda – composition
  • Philip "Dr. Chaii" Kembo – composition, arrangement
  • Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell – composition
  • John Mitchell – composition
  • Ninos Hanna – composition
  • Yoo Young-jin – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, recording, mixing, engineered for mix, digital editing, music and sound supervisor
  • Bantu – arrangement
  • Kenzie – vocal directing
  • Junny – background vocals
  • No Min-ji – recording, engineered for mix
  • Jung Yu-ra – digital editing
  • Jeong Eui-seok – mixing
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts edit

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Hot Sauce"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 10, 2021

References edit

  1. ^ "NCT Dream talk new album "Hot Sauce interview". 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ Dailey, Hannah (February 28, 2022). "NCT Dream Tease Second Album 'Glitch Mode,' Talk Pressures About Upcoming Release". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Credits / Hot Sauce - The 1st Album". Tidal. May 10, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Hot Sauce (photobook). NCT Dream. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2021. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Dong, Sun-hwa (May 10, 2021). "Why is 'Hot Sauce' so precious to NCT DREAM?". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Hong, Hye-min (April 21, 2021). NCT DREAM, 새 타이틀 곡은 '맛' [NCT DREAM, New Title Track 'Hot Sauce']. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Key & BPM for Hot Sauce by NCT DREAM". Tunebat. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Kim, Sung-yeop (May 2021). "Neo Music Communication IZM" 맛 (Hot Sauce) 리뷰 [Hot Sauce Review]. IZM (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  9. ^ Daly, Rhian (May 14, 2021). "NCT Dream – 'Hot Sauce' review: a spicy and sweet smorgasbord from the youngest of SM's boyband clan". NME. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (December 21, 2021). "Spotify names aespa's 'Next Level' as the best K-pop song of 2021". NME. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 17, 2021. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Tamang, Angelika; Mook, Janice; Lu, Clara Ki (December 20, 2021). "15 best K-pop songs of 2021: BTS' Butter, Lisa's Lalisa, IU's Celebrity, Itzy's Loco and more". Young Post. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "The best K-pop tracks of 2021". Dazed. December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Our favorite K-pop songs of 2021". CNN Philippines. December 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
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  19. ^ 2021년 20주차 BGM Chart [2021, Week 20 BGM Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 9–15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  20. ^ 2021년 20주차 Streaming Chart [2021, Week 20 Streaming Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 9–15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  21. ^ 2021년 21주차 Streaming Chart [2021, Week 21 Streaming Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 16–22, 2021. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  22. ^ "Billboard K-Pop 100 – The Week of May 22, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Billboard K-Pop 100 – The Week of May 29, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  24. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (May 24, 2021). "Monsta X, Baekhyun, NCT Dream And Arash Refresh Nearly Half Of This Week's World Songs Chart". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  25. ^ Frankenberg, Erik (May 19, 2021). "NCT Dream Celebrates First Trilingual Hit on Global 200 With 'Hot Sauce'". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  26. ^ "Billboard Global Excl. US – The Week of May 22, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  27. ^ Mamo, Heran (May 10, 2021). "NCT Dream Drop 'Hot Sauce' Debut Album & Music Video: Stream Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Yeo, Gladys (May 10, 2021). "Watch NCT Dream take over a taqueria in whimisical 'Hot Sauce' music video". NME. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  29. ^ Assis, Tássia (May 10, 2021). "NCT Dream Is All Grown Up and Ready to Show What They Can Do". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  30. ^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (November 3, 2021). "Here are the nominees for the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards – BTS, IU, TXT, DAY6, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, NCT 127, AESPA, and more". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  31. ^ Cho, Eun-mi (May 19, 2021). '쇼챔' NCT DREAM '맛' 컴백 첫 1위..오마이걸 컴백→우주소녀 더블랙 데뷔 [NCT DREAM's 'Hot Sauce' Wins 1st Place for the First Time in 'Show Champion', OH MY GIRL's Comeback → WJSN THE BLACK's Debut]. HeraldPop (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  32. ^ Shin, So-won (May 20, 2021). 엔시티드림 1위 트로피 "우리 7명 1위, 처음이다" ('엠카') [NCT DREAM's 1st Place Trophy on 'M Countdown', "Seven of us are number one for the first time."]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  33. ^ Kim, Soo-hyung (May 27, 2021). "시즈니♥" '음방6관왕' NCT DREAM, 5월 마지막 1위로 막방→오마이걸도 굿바이 ('엠카') ["NCTzen♥" '6 Music Show Awards' NCT DREAM Wins 1st Place at Last Broadcast → OH MY GIRL's Goodbye Stage on 'M Countdown']. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
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