NCT 127 – Highway To Heaven

“Those marketing teams have realised that they can sell more records if they also translate things to English.”

Tom: It’s time to talk about K-pop.

Tim: Sure, why not.

Tom: Specifically, NCT 127, who are [checks notes] the “second sub-unit of NCT”. Korean boy bands are basically franchises, explicitly put together by managers and marketing teams rather than trying to maintain the illusion of just being, well, a band of friends.

Tim: Points for openness, I guess?

Tom: Anyway, those marketing teams have realised that they can sell more records if they also translate things to English.

Tom: And I’m glad they did, because that is a really solid track, backed up with the sort of dance routines in the music video that we just don’t see from western bands any more.

Tim: You’re entirely right about that – production’s good, melody’s on point, choreography’s top notch. This is an excellent piece of marketing.

Tom: The lyrics aren’t great, and there’s an argument that it’s probably better in the original Korean — but with a chorus that good, I’m not sure I can really complain about it.

Tim: I got one – wouldn’t mind a key change. Aside for that, though: nope.