NCT WISH Drops Vibrant New Track ‘PopPop’ Celebrating Youthful Love and Dreamy Aesthetics
NCT WISH Returns with ‘PopPop’: A Fresh Take on First Love
NCT WISH has officially entered the spotlight with their bright, feel-good dance-pop title track “PopPop.” The song is a sonic burst of youthful energy, fusing a vivid melody with the group’s signature refreshing style. Its lyrics capture that magical moment of falling in love—when even the most familiar places feel brand new, like scenes from an animated dreamscape.
From Studio to Stage: Emotional Connection and Performance Power
Member Jaehee shared, “The lyrics ‘PopPop’ kept replaying in my head. The lyrics across the album are beautiful—it honestly makes your heart flutter.” Riku added, “Listening to ‘PopPop’ made my heart race. It’s a love story with sweet, exciting lyrics that really resonated with me.”
The music video, filmed across picturesque locales in Thailand and Korea, tells the story of main character Shion realizing his romantic feelings. Packed with sunshine and visual flair, “PopPop” captures a cinematic innocence, using colorful looks and expressive, playful choreography. “The dance is powerful yet fun, and we tried to match the refreshing concept with vibrant expressions,” the group explained.
A Full Album Steeped in Emotion
Beyond the title track, fans are falling for track 4, “1000,” which recounts the heartfelt tradition of folding a thousand origami cranes for someone you love. “The lyrics talk about folding 1,000 cranes for someone—that’s such a dedicated kind of love,” said Shion. Jaehee agreed, “That level of devotion is adorable and touching. We want to show the same care for our fans, like folding cranes with love.”
Defining Their Unique ‘WISH’ Identity
NCT WISH has carved its niche with a distinct ‘refreshing’ sound, which the group sees as their signature. Even the album’s angel-themed covers reflect this concept. “Seeing angel wings gives off that ‘WISH’ vibe—we think our cuteness is our charm,” said Ryo. Sakaya and Shion chimed in, saying, “Fans love the cute concepts right now, and so do we.”
Balancing this soft charm, the group also dreams of showcasing a more powerful side on stage. Ryo mentioned, “I’d love to try a cool concept one day. Watching NCT 127 sunbaes in concert gave me big dreams.” Shion added, “We want to blend NCT’s bold hip-hop spirit with our refreshing twist.”
From Trainees to Trendsetters
Formed from a mix of SM Rookies and survival-audition winners, NCT WISH has now stepped into ‘senior’ territory. With SM Entertainment celebrating its 30th anniversary, they watched future trainees perform onstage and reflected on how far they’ve come. “It was touching to see the younger ones perform, especially those we trained with,” said Shion, who also danced a duet with BoA during the SM 30th concert.
This milestone marks just one of many growth moments. “From our 2023 pre-debut to now, it’s been a journey of constant improvement,” said Jaehee. Yuushi shared, “I can catch choreography faster now thanks to Shion’s guidance.” Riku and Sakaya noted visual and health transformations too—“I’ve switched from bread to rice!” Sakaya laughed.
Globalization with Heart — Language, Lyrics, and Love
NCT WISH includes several Japanese members, whose Korean fluency has notably improved. “I never trained before debut, so learning Korean came from talking to my members and watching content,” said Ryo. “My pronunciation felt tough, but I work to make it more natural with each album,” added rapper Riku, citing “paper crane” (‘hakjong-i’) as the hardest word to pronounce.
A Love Letter to Their Fans: The ‘Sijeuni’
Sijeuni (the group’s official fandom name) serve as the heartbeat of NCT WISH’s journey. From lyrics to slogans, their love for fans is ever-present. “We receive so much love—we want to return it,” said Shion. Fundamentally, every track ties back to emotions inspired by their fans.
“When I’m on stage, I see fans’ eyes and feel the love,” said Jaehee. “They hold up signs like ‘Thank you for singing’—it makes me want to do better.” Ensuring their connection stays strong, the group aims to continue evolving while staying true to their fans.
The Road Ahead: Ambitions for 2025
With the release of their new album, NCT WISH is diving headfirst into comeback promotions. “We’d love to become a ‘first-tier’ K-pop group by 2025,” they shared. Shion added, “We hope to win first place on music shows, surpassing our last release,” while Jaehee concluded, “This album is so special—I want it playing everywhere.” With hearts full of hope, the group beams with eager energy, ready to rise as global artists with refreshing emotion and unwavering devotion.
