Since their 2016 debut, I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for NCT to revisit the sprawling sound of Without You. It’s still my favorite NCT track (and the only time a debut song has topped my year-end list). Beautiful isn’t nearly as amazing, but its vocal-heavy drive occupies similar territory.
This is the second release from NCT 2021’s Universe album — another compilation of tracks spawned from the collective’s various units. Beautiful brings everyone together, singing and dancing like a K-pop version of High School Musical. I’m here for the cheese, especially when it’s bolstered by the songwriting power of Yoo Young-Jin. It’s fantastic to hear NCT’s roster of strong vocalists emote over a song with more pep than a typical winter ballad. The instrumental surges on a rhythmic piano riff and swoops of sentimental strings. This arrangement is predictable, but not unwelcome. In fact, it sounds like something SM might have offered in the mid-2000’s.
Beautiful makes plenty of room for chorused vocals. The hook is sung in unison, giving the melody added heft. Even so, the song’s biggest standouts come courtesy of individual voices. NCT’s vocalists aren’t always given the chance to flex their skills in sustained ways, and Beautiful‘s melody could stand to be even more stirring. I wish its final minute went full throttle on the bombast rather than spinning its wheels. But, I’ll take a sweet, corny shot of motivation any day (minus the spoken word intro, please). If nothing else, Beautiful showcase’s NCT’s versatility — an asset that’s often lost within their mix-and-match, sound-alike units.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
It’s hard for me to decipher why I like this when I usually don’t like ballads. Other than the piano, it never really built to something, and it should be kind of boring.
But something about is really……..crunchy..? That’s the best way I can describe it. Because of that crunch, it seems a lot more bright than it is. Really, with a little more synths, energy and dynamic, this could have been as good as Lady. 8.5 for me too (9,8,8,9)
Even then, this is by far one of the best songs on the album, mainly because, the album wasn’t great.
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I take back everything bad I’ve said about it. I can’t stop replaying it
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I usually dont like ballad or some “inspiring song” but this song is something else for me. The song is, what can I say, beautiful. I like it, super like it.
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(renjun said) beautiful existed before nct debuted and they were supposedly gonna use it for nct u’s debut but in the end they decided to use the song for nct
(he then said he really liked the song ever since then)
SOURCE: https://twitter.com/HRJFEED/status/1468198850997338113?s=20
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[bit more detailed trans]
Renjun: “there’s a song called ‘Beautiful’ in Universe album. the lyric is so healing, im gonna do a big spoiler now. this song has existed even before nct debuted. originally, nct’s 1st U supposed to debut w/ this song, but eventually it was released in 2021 album”
SOURCE:https://twitter.com/haechanvirus/status/1468202876031823876?s=20
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Interesting! They definitely made the right choice to debut with Without You.
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Without You is my all time fav NCT song. Unrivaled!
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As others have commented, I like this way more than I should given my general lack of interest in ballads. Part of that is the peppy chugging rhythm you mention, Nick, and that awesome wall of voices in the chorus (if you’ve got 23-minus-2 you better use them!).
I think my attention was also captured by the fun challenge of listening for all the different individual voices, which, understandably, change up about every 3 seconds.
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I really like the chorused vocals, and some of the individual voices grabbed me, but this is the style of song where I’d prefer to hear the same two or three great voices rather than tiny snippets of however many voices ranging from great to passable.
Also, that into was so schmoopy I almost threw my iPad across the room, /shudder
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I love the unison singing in the chorus. It sounds empowering and hopeful. I also like some of the real-world shots. Wish that they could have taken it further like Suju & SNSD’s SEOUL.
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I love the unison singing in the chorus. It sounds empowering and hopeful. I also like some of the real-world shots. Wish that they could have taken it further like Suju & SNSD’s SEOUL.
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I think it’s corny, with an extra side of schmoopy corn.
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Per your tweet just now, not from my perspective, with the exception of “Miracle”. I’ve been told I should check out WayV so maybe this will prompt me to do that after the new year.
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“Good Night” made it on the sleepy bedtime late night playlist, where I will doubtless go “this is nice, who is this?” the next time I hear it.
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Hmm.. I don’t have a sleepy bedtime playlist so we shall see…
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For me, Dreaming is the only song I even like on the album. Miracle was a bit too chill.
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“Miracle” won me over with the Cassio-ish line that comes in at 0:10 – plenty of k-hip-hop has g-funk influences but that line sent me right back to “Ain’t Nothin But A G Thang”. “Dreaming” isn’t bad on second listen – the music box intro and bells are nice – but either the verses are a little too chill or the drop is a little too loud. It feels a bit like an SF9 track though, isn’t isn’t a bad thing.
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Wayv have a similar vibe to NCT crossed with the SuperM / SHINee sound.
May I suggest “Turn back time” and “Electric Hearts”. As a plus, Wayv has my bad boy Lucas and my good boy Ten.
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Turn back time is honestly the best wayv song for me. That absolutely towering chorus and that electric guitar are insane.
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Obviously. Top 10 past year for me
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It’s openly sweet and cheesy but it warms my heart, and it’s always a joy to hear the vocalists shine. I don’t think this will get on my playlist, but it warmed my heart.
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The guitar reminded me of without you too. This song is sappy and the chorus has a *beautiful* wall of voices but that said, it still felt more like an advertisement than anything.
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I was wondering what the melody reminded me of, particularly the chorus – it was Lucky One by Taylor Swift! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LtQxA_ooLk
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