"Sticker" is a song recorded by South Korean boy group NCT 127 for their third studio album of the same name. Composed by frequent production group and collaborator Dem Jointz, Calixte, Prince Chapelle, Ryan S. Jhun and Yoo Young-jin with lyrical composition by the latter and members Taeyong and Mark, the "experimental" hip-hop track was released digitally on September 17, 2021 as the lead single from the album by SM Entertainment. An accompanying music video was released on the same release date, which depicts a "futuristic/space cowboy" concept.

"Sticker"
iScream remixes cover
Single by NCT 127
from the album Sticker
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
StudioSM Booming System, Seoul
Genre
Length3:47
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
NCT 127 singles chronology
"Save"
(2021)
"Sticker"
(2021)
"Favorite (Vampire)"
(2021)
NCT singles chronology
"Hello Future"
(2021)
"Sticker"
(2021)
"Favorite (Vampire)"
(2021)
Music video
"Sticker" on YouTube

"Sticker" became the group's second top-five hit on the Gaon Digital Chart, while becoming their eleventh top-five entry on the US World Digital Song Sales chart. It is also NCT 127's first entry on the Global 200 chart, where it peaked at number 101. "Sticker" achieved ten wins in South Korean music programs, becoming the most-awarded song by NCT 127 and by an NCT sub-unit.[2]

Background

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"Sticker" was composed by Dem Jointz, Calixthe, Prince Chapelle, Ryan S. Jhun, Yoo Young-jin.[3][4] Dem Jointz had also co-produced NCT 127's previous singles "Cherry Bomb," "Kick It," and "Punch."[5] The song features a prominent flute sound and a "minimal" and "subdued" production.[6] The group found the song surprising and difficult to master. Member and co-lyricist Taeyong noted in a behind-the-scenes video that he felt that he was "being punished" and "rebuked" for a song for the first time due to its difficulty in pulling off the song.[7] Member and vocalist Doyoung shared it was their first time where they "dived deep" with Yoo Young-jin while recording the song, with Yoo encouraging the group's rappers Taeyong and Mark to write the song's rap lyrics to "bring out the NCT vibe" with the group in mind.[6][8] In an interview on The Travis Mills Show, member Johnny said listeners can expect to be surprised with the flute melody, while Mark described it as a song that "has a lot of impact and a lot of dynamics" that they have "never touched before."[9] Dem Jointz attributed the song's odd structure to “just being different. You want to stand out, but at the end of the day, you still want everybody to get what you’re doing." He also added that the flute sound "makes you get down and boogie." He ultimately called it one of his favorite tracks, saying that he "feels as strong about this record as I do [for] 'Kick It.'"[5]

Critical reception

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"Sticker" was ranked amongst the best K-pop songs of 2021 by Lifestyle Inquirer (5th),[10] Tonplein (22nd),[11] NME (24th),[12] Paper (26th),[13] Teen Vogue and Tone Deaf (both unranked).[14][15]

Commercial performance

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In South Korea, the song debuted at number 17 on the Gaon Digital Chart for the issue dated October 12–18, 2021 and peaked at number 5 in its second week.[16][17] It also debuted at number 1 both on the component Download Chart and on the component BGM Chart.[18][19] The song also debuted at number 144 on the component Streaming Chart and peaked at number 37 in its second week.[20][21] It debuted at number 25 and number 55 on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and Japan Hot 100, respectively, for the issue dated October 2.[22][23] In Singapore, the song debuted at number 16 on the RIAS's Top Regional Chart for the issue dated September 17–23.[24] In the United States, the song debuted at number 5 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart for the issue dated October 2.[25] It also debuted at number 101 on the Billboard Global 200 and at number 53 on the Billboard Global Excl. US during the same week.[26][27] In Singapore, the song debuted at number 16 on the RIAS's Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated September 17–23.[28]

Music video

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The music video for "Sticker" was released at 13:00 KST on September 17, 2021, alongside the single and album release. The high-budget music video depicts a "futuristic/space cowboy" concept with colorful set designs, use of CGI, camerawork transitions, and the members singing and dancing throughout different sets.[29] The set is noted for its city-style, video game elements, and use of neon lights accompanied by CGI, which NME describes as "Las Vegas-esque."[30] On YouTube, "Sticker" became the fastest music video by an SM Entertainment artist to surpass 1 million views, which it achieved in only 21 minutes, despite its 13:00 KST release when most fans from Asia are still at school or work.[31] It also surpassed 27 million views and 1.4 million likes within 24 hours, breaking the record for the second most-viewed NCT music video in the first 24 hours at the time, and the most for NCT 127, until the release of "2 Baddies" in 2022.[32]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sticker.[4]

Studio

Personnel

Accolades

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"Sticker" won 10 first place 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 and Song of the Year – September at the 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards.[33][34]

Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
M Countdown September 23, 2021 [35]
September 30, 2021 [36]
October 7, 2021 [37]
Music Bank September 24, 2021 [38]
October 1, 2021 [39]
Show! Music Core September 25, 2021 [40]
October 2, 2021 [41]
The Show September 28, 2021 [42]
Show Champion September 29, 2021 [43]
Inkigayo October 3, 2021 [44]

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Sticker"
Region Date Format Label
Various September 17, 2021

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NCT 127 drops 3rd studio album 'Sticker'". The Korea Times. September 17, 2021. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "NCT 127 Achieves All-Kill With First Inkigayo Win". EnVi Media. 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. ^ "Credits / Sticker - The 3rd Album". Tidal. May 10, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Sticker (photobook). NCT 127. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2021. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b Gilpin, Davonna (September 19, 2021). "Creative Spotlight: How Dem Jointz Found a Producer's Playground in K-Pop". ENVI Media. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Bell, Crystal (September 17, 2021). "NCT 127 Shared How "Sticker" Takes Their Sound to the Next Level". Teen Vogue. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Raj, Tanu I. (October 28, 2021). "NCT 127 on "Favorite (Vampire)" & Always Trying to Get Better". Nylon. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Ko, Seung-ah (September 17, 2021). ""'영웅'보다 더 노력" NCT 127, 공백기 깬 독보적 네오함…'스티커'(종합)" ["Needed more effort that 'Kick It,'" NCT 127's unique neo-sound 'Sticker' that broke their hiatus]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  9. ^ Chin, Carmen (September 23, 2021). "NCT 127's Mark and Johnny say 'Sticker' brings a "different type of impact"". NME. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Cruz, Amrie (December 15, 2021). "The best of K-drama and K-pop in 2021". Lifestyle Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  11. ^ Yang, So-ha (December 17, 2021). 2021년 케이팝 트랙 결산 [2021 K-Pop Track Settlement]. Tonplein (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Daly, Rhian (December 19, 2021). "The 25 best K-pop songs of 2021". NME. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Bell, Crystal (December 31, 2021). "The 40 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021". Paper. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "The 54 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021". Teen Vogue. December 17, 2021. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
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  17. ^ a b "2021년 39주차 Digital Chart" [Week 39 of 2021 Digital Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "2021년 38주차 Download Chart" [Week 38 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "2021년 38주차 BGM Chart" [Week 38 of 2021 BGM Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "2021년 38주차 Streaming Chart" [Week 38 of 2021 Streaming Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "2021년 39주차 Streaming Chart" [Week 39 of 2021 Streaming Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Billboard K-pop 100 – Week of October 2, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of October 2, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  24. ^ "RIAS Top Charts – Week 38 (17 – 23 Sep 2021)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ a b "World Digital Song Sales – Week of October 2, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Billboard Global 200 – Week of October 2, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  27. ^ "Billboard Global Excl. US – Week of October 2, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "RIAS Top Regional Chart – Week 38 (17 – 23 Sept 2021)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. October 17–23, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "NCT 127 Goes Wild Wild West in "Sticker" Music Video". EnVi Media. 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  30. ^ "NCT 127 play futuristic cowboys in music video for 'Sticker'". NME. 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  31. ^ "@NCTsmtown_127 "Sticker" becomes the fastest NCT music video to hit 15,000,000 views on YouTube (12 hours)". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  32. ^ "NCT 127 Stick to Top of Charts with Double Million Selling Album". EnVi Media. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ "11th GaonChart Music Awards – 올해의 가수 (디지털음원) 후보자" 11th GaonChart Music Awards – 올해의 가수 (디지털음원) 후보자 [11th Gaon Chart Music Awards – Artist of the Year (Digital Music) Nominees] (in Korean). Gaon Chart Music Awards. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  35. ^ Jo, Eun-mi (September 23, 2021). "'엠카' NCT127, 'Sticker'로 첫 1위..다음주 키→양요섭→NCT127·ITZY 컴백 예고[종합]" ['M Countdown' NCT 127, first 1st place with 'Sticker'... Next week Key→Yang Yo-seob→NCT 127·ITZY comeback notice [General]]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021 – via Naver.
  36. ^ Kang, Min-kyung (September 30, 2021). "NCT 127, '엠카' 2주 연속 1위+음악방송 6관왕 "시즈니 응원 덕" [★밤TView]" [NCT 127, 1st place two weeks in a row on 'M Countdown' + 6 music show trophies' "Thanks to NCTzens support" [★밤TView]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021 – via Naver.
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  42. ^ Kim, Mi-ji (September 28, 2021). "'더쇼' NCT 127, 'Sticker'로 1위..양요섭→노라조 컴백[종합]" ['The Show' NCT 127 wins 1st place with 'Sticker'..Yoseob Yang → Norazo Comeback [General]]. X Sport News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021 – via Naver.
  43. ^ "SHOW CHAMPION 411회 TOP5" [SHOW CHAMPION Episode 411 TOP 5]. MBC Plus (in Korean). September 29, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
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  45. ^ "Circle Chart" 2021년 09월 Digital Chart [September 2021 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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