Review

Song Review: NCT Dream – Smoothie

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NCT Dream - SmoothieWe’ve long since crossed the threshold of having definable NCT units with their own sound and purpose. Instead, the past five or six years have seen the rise of a standard SM Entertainment style, and when the agency does release a song that embraces a different sound it feels almost revelatory. Unfortunately, the only revelatory thing about NCT Dream’s new single Smoothie is how obnoxious and devoid of original ideas it is.

NCT Dream have some bangers in their discography and are at their best when eschewing the usual gruff NCT textures for shots of colorful melody. Smoothie doesn’t seem interested in this at all, and that’s evident from its very first moments. It’s hard to take a song seriously when it opens with a whispered “smoothie,” delivered as if it’s the most badass word to ever exist in the English language. From here, the verses continue this posturing before we move into exhausting NCT-brand chants. A brief shot of melodic drama takes us into the chorus, which is… something.

I’ve long complained about K-pop’s penchant for “catchphrase choruses,” in which one word or phrase is repeated over reheated production. Smoothie takes this to a new level of bad. Not only is the word “smoothie” incredibly awkward in this context, but it’s delivered with all the edge of a glitching voice message. Then, of course, the production throws in a requisite slurping sound effect just in case we didn’t already realize how gimmicky the whole thing is. I might be able to overlook many of these frustrations if the song itself was catchy or even listenable, but the whole thing feels like NCT running on fumes. It’s difficult to get through.

Hooks 4
 Production 6
 Longevity 7
 Bias 5
 RATING 5.5

Grade: F

52 thoughts on “Song Review: NCT Dream – Smoothie”

  2. Throughout their career there was some singles I didn’t like, but I never thought they were bad. But this one… I’m concerned for their future sound now that WISH seems to be the unit doing the more youthful concept. Looking forward for the next comeback with a different sound

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    • Then again they are the same guys who went from “My First and Last” and “We Young” to “Go”, and went the other way around from “Hot Sauce” to “Hello Future” lmao.

      I wish they did more songs like “Broken Melodies” though. 😦

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  4. Holy shit- a 5.5? I was waiting for your review, and I was even guessing that you’d put it in 6s or maybe a straight 7. But a 5.5 wasn’t expected, but I don’t blame you in the slightest bit, cause the song is… polarizing to put it at best. 🥴

    The song reminds me a lot of Baggy Jeans— tries being too serious, and ofc, the hooks as well, and the instrumental is nothing special to help it. But damn, Dreamies, what happened to the bonkers ISTJ? Or Broken Melodies? Do better 😔

    I’d personally give it a 6.75 (5, 7, 8, 7), but well, just like any other NCT release, it’s bound to age well for me (in my defense, I’ve been consuming NCT music since 2018 when I was 12, so I’ve somehow been used to it)

    Box is prolly the best song in this album. I’d give that somewhere in high-7s to 8s.

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    • Looks like they forgot to wash and peel the fruits and filter the seeds and any rough, solid particle and left it at that. (Source: someone who sometimes drinks homemade fruit juices and has to taste those seeds and any solid particles, which can be a pain in the ass to spit those seeds out when you’re just trying to enjoy fresh fruit juice)

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  8. I knew we were doomed when the SM report about the song included “repeated chanting in the chorus” 😭 we were doing so good with Broken Melodies and ISTJ… this is just HORRIBLE, that chorus really ruins the entire track. this is by far their worst single which is a shame because the concept photos were their best yet.

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  11. Also, it’s funny because I initially thought that if you ever gave a NCT song a F-grade, it’d definitely be a NCT 127 song, given they are the unit with the most polarizing sounds (Sticker and 2 Baddies say hi or greet with a broken flute). Smoothie almost sounds like it’s something 127 could release as a B-side, if not the title track. But looks like reality is always disappointing. Never again, Dream.

    (P.S, WayV, I love you music-wise, but never pull a Smoothie on us, and definitely not you, Wishies, and I have no hopes for NCT 127, they can do whatever they want, whether it’s playing a broken flute, or driving a Porsche with 2 baddies)

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      • What “those two”? The units? I mentioned all units (minus U, which doesn’t really count and DJJ is more so like a sub-sub-unit imo). Or songs? Sticker and 2 Baddies are definitely the most debatable songs in the fandom and out of it, and there are definitely more polarizing/debatable songs in 127’s discography (Cherry Bomb, Wakey Wakey and Gimme Gimme), but I only mentioned those two as examples (and I’m aware that WayV and Dream also did have polarizing songs such as Kick Back and Hot Sauce, but 127 definitely has more polarizing songs and are the most debated). And I’m also aware that 127 has some good songs too. 🙃

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      • What? I admit I find Sticker okay, but I only mentioned it as an example of a 127 song that is polarizing, like, it divided the fandom and outside it in terms of their opinions on it. This wasn’t meant to be hateful btw

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  13. That’s what was thinking.
    I’m incredibly disappointed, the teasers, the photo shoots were fantastic and now we have the song.
    OMG it’s terrible, probably the worst NCT song I heard since Sticker.
    Dreamies you have amazing voices and you are fantastic performers, please sing more and shout less.
    SM what did you do?

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  14. I feel like this will be a Hot Sauce 2.0 situtation. You either love it or hate it. I don’t think I can make myself say Smoothie isn’t a Dream song cause I don’t fully believe that. Both units can do it but the vibe will be more sexy/sultry. I’m biased but I think 127 could’ve executed this better. I don’t hate the finished product but it feels like the production is going thru the motions. 5/10

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  17. The best part of “Smoothie” is when you put it off and play “Box” from the same album (tho that “thing” going on in the instrumental can be very annoying or very cool depending to who u ask xd).

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  18. I can just let out a deep sigh. Let me just be clear: I like Sticker. A lot. I love me some broken flute, okay. I also like Hot Sauce (although less), and I just feel like I got the core idea behind both of those songs, and thus I enjoy them. But I can’t even compare Smoothie to those two, it just feels derogatory to them (at least at the moment). Also someone on reddit said that the original demo name was probably Booty or something like that😂

    I wasn’t even that disappointed today when I listened to this, because as soon as the first teaser video dropped I was already starting to dislike this, and by the time more teasers came out I already had a pretty whole picture of what this was going to sound like.

    I’m also constantly comparing these teasers to Love 119’s because I kept replaying those sound snippets from their official site over and over, and I loved every single photo too. In the end the song also came into a fair place.

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      • “I believe 2Baddies is a really deep and poetic song which depicts a man whose heart is full of love that he has two lovers and wants them to bask in his wealth together with him yet due to the society and economic hardships of the post-covid 21st he can’t afford a second porsche so each of his lovers can have one and sit in the front with him as he loves them dearly and equally, he doesn’t want one of them to sit in the back. Hence the sorrowful lyrics: 2 baddies 2 baddies 1 porsche.”

        This is a comment I read a few days ago lmao. Also Call me baby was Call me daddy originally😆

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        • Stans are both my fav and least fav part of kpop. Their dedication to defend the most ridiculous things needs to be studied. 😄 Also SM songwriters are menaces (in a good way).

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          • No no, this was completely sarcastic, I didn’t paste the emojis that were there lol. Nctzens aren’t that apologetic as much as I’ve seen, they can be really sarcastic and have a twisted humor, I mean you would need that for such songs

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  19. I swear NCT titles are just different takes on other songs in their catalog. I can hear where Doyoung and Taeil would sing and ngl, I think they would sound even better because they have more powerful, resonant voices. Taeyong would suit this song too since he has the attitude and deep growl in his voice to pull this off. Dream has great talent, but this song is not for them.

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  20. The Dreamies are so hit and miss for me.

    Some of my absolute favourite Kpop songs are theirs – Broken Melodies, in particular.

    I loved their rollout of concept photos and videos for this comeback, but the song itself just isn’t my thing.

    I want more melody please.

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  21. Regarding repeating chant choruses, “baggy baggy baggy baggy baggy baggy jeans” actually grew on me. I don’t think “Smoothie” will at all 😦

    Totally agree that they deliver “smoothie” “as if it’s the most badass word to ever exist in the English language”. It doesn’t work.

    NCT Dream sang lyrics about food with “Hot Sauce” and I think that worked because they didn’t take themselves too seriously.

    Maybe that’s the key with food in K-Pop songs*. Don’t take it too seriously and have fun with it, a-la “Patbingsu” by Billlie, or “Candy” by Baekhyun, or so many Red Velvet tracks.

    “Smoothie” takes itself too seriously. No fun, just posturing.

    *I think K-Pop songs about beverages (wine, coffee, tea, etc.) can pull off a more serious tone. EXO’s “Cream Soda” threatens to sound silly, but I think the production and delivery pulls it off.

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  22. hahaha is it that bad…? Look as a nctzen I’m here to give my take and defend my bro smoothie here a lil but all in all it’s still my opinion.

    As a seasoned nct listener who loved sticker on first listen (yes my taste in music is from that alien planet), this song is a banger to me. YES, I GET IT that everyone is sick of the repeated chanting as we have seen it baggy jeans already. In fact, I let out an “omg again” when I first heard the song. But nct being nct, some ppl need a few listens. SM should have honestly let ppl take a breath from baggy jeans before throwing a chanting chorus song to us again.

    IMO the verses were fireeee especially the pre-chorus. In fact, I love the verses and bridge compared to baggy jeans cos at least there’s some substance (?) and changes from rap to vocal which kinda takes me on a journey. You cannot deny that the vocals are top-tier and it’s clearly Jisung’s era.

    OVERALL, it’s an 8/10 for me. Probs going to a 9-10 after 2 days of listening. If baggy jeans got a C, smoothie should be given some justice. But I get the grading if this song has stuck the final chord and ppl were on their final straw to hear a song like this from nct again. ONCE AGAIN B-sides are amazing🥵

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  23. Perhaps as someone who loved Sticker from the beginning, I should not be trusted. However, I thought this song was not awful. Which is interesting, because i have the musical meaning taste of a nine year old and typically don’t listen to songs with this kind of…insinuation.

    I do see a bit of a roadblock in the way smoothie starts sounding like less of a word the more they say it. And they do say it quite a bit, so… Honestly at the beginning I was skeptical at the first little beat change, but I found myself enjoying it more as the song went on. But again, I’m a fiend over Sticker, always have been, and sometimes have an ear for some good noise music. My fatal flaw, honestly.

    I’d probably give it at least a 7.5/10, but I also tend to be generous.

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  24. i actually liked the “smoothie smoothie smoothie…” Part when jisung does it. It’s most grating with mark’s delivery. It’s a shame, it’s the only memorable part of the song but it’s also very unpleasant

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  26. id give it a solid 7 as of the moment I thinks its really close to hot sauce but BOX 8.5/10 was definitely better unfortunately, but the whole album sounds like its just missing something except carat cake a solid 10/10

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  27. It’s something. And this is speaking as a Sticker enthusiast. I will have to process this and the album, but not until after the TAN album comes out.

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  28. I have to apologize to Dem Jointz because I thought he produced this. Then I found out it was Alawn, sir did you forgot you produced, Punch, Trigger, A to Z, Mayday, New Tomorrow, Eleven, Killa..I could go on.

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  29. Sticker, Sticker, Sticker

    Baggy, Baggy, Baggy Jeans

    2 Baddies, 2 Baddies

    Go check that, check that

    Smoothie, Smoothie, Smoothie

    Disappointed, Disappointed, Disappointed

    Not surprised, Not surprised, Not surprised

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  30. I couldn’t help it. I started laughing during the chorus. It was completely lost on me. Without that it may have been salvageable, but in the end this one’s not for me. Time to go listen to the rest of the album to see if there’s any gold in there to dig out!

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  33. i admit smoothie by NCT dream could’ve been better but I think its very far from a new level of bad. The song is slowly growing on me and in my opinion I believe yes it needs improvement and lacks a lot but it’s a very creative song in my opinion and it shouldn’t be hated that bad to give it an F but everyone has their own opinions.

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