What to know about NCT DREAM’s “Boogie Woogie”
- New album: NCT DREAM marks its 10th anniversary with its sixth studio album, DREAM AFTER DREAM.
- Lead single: “Boogie Woogie” pairs ’70s disco-funk influences with modern synths and lyrics about the group’s shared decade.
- Music video: The video features nostalgic settings, including a stationery store, snack bar, shopping mall, bowling alley and supermarket.
- Behind the scenes: The members describe childhood memories, playful set details and retro styling from the video shoot.
NCT DREAM began as the colorful, youthful unit within NCT, introduced 10 years ago with RENJUN, JENO, HAECHAN, JAEMIN, CHENLE and JISUNG. The group has grown into one of K-pop’s leading acts while keeping themes of youth and self-discovery in its music. Following the six members’ contract renewal with SM Entertainment, NCT DREAM opens a new chapter with its sixth studio album, DREAM AFTER DREAM, released Nov. 9.
“Boogie Woogie” is the album’s lead track, and JENO describes it to Billboard as “a celebration of the past 10 years we’ve shared with our fans, and a way for us to all have fun together.” The song’s celebratory mood and the members’ close bond are also reflected in exclusive photos from the music video set, shared with Billboard; the video was released on the same day as the album.
What makes “Boogie Woogie” a 10th-anniversary song?
“Boogie Woogie” combines ’70s disco-funk influences and modern synths to look back on NCT DREAM’s past while embracing what lies ahead. The track’s lyrics, cowritten by JAEMIN, honor the group’s decade together and the memories its members and fans have shared.
“Boogie Woogie” connects disco-funk production with lyrics celebrating NCT DREAM’s shared history.
The music video carries the same celebratory spirit. Brotherhood also runs through DREAM AFTER DREAM, including in “The Sun,” the album’s opening track, whose music video appeared a few weeks before the album’s release.
What retro settings appear in the “Boogie Woogie” video?
The video features familiar everyday locations, including a neighborhood stationery store, a Korean snack bar, a shopping mall and a bowling alley. JENO sums up its mood in three words: “retro, quirky and celebration.”
The “Boogie Woogie” video uses nostalgic locations and playful set pieces to create its retro look.
JENO tells Billboard that the sets include unexpected comic moments, such as a swing spinning 360 degrees and someone suddenly popping out of a fridge. The contrasting details give the video both a nostalgic setting and a playful tone.
See Billboard’s exclusive photos from the music video set below.
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JAEMIN
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment The “Boogie Woogie” music video brings its nostalgic locations to life with NCT DREAM’s bright, playful energy. For JAEMIN, filming in familiar surroundings brought back childhood memories. He tells Billboard: “Eating tteokbokki and fish cakes on set brought back memories of when we were younger, and for a moment, it felt like I was stepping back in time.”
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JISUNG
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment JISUNG says the gym and bowling alley scenes felt “like something straight out of a classic teen movie.” Of the different looks in the video, he names those scenes as his favorites, particularly for their “sporty and retro hip-hop vibe.”
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JENO
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment JENO on the set of NCT DREAM’s “Boogie Woogie” music video.
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RENJUN
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment Filming the “Boogie Woogie” music video brought a few amusing challenges amid its changing sets and props. At the mall, RENJUN had to walk up a descending escalator. “It was harder than I expected to keep walking against the moving escalator while trying to look natural on camera,” he recalls with a laugh.
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CHENLE
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment CHENLE says HAECHAN embodies the concept of “Boogie Woogie.” “He’s naturally playful and cheeky, but when he dances, he really knows how to bring out the rhythm and groove,” CHENLE shares. “His energy is a perfect match for the fun, upbeat disco-funk vibe of this song.”
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HAECHAN
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment HAECHAN enjoyed exploring the music video sets, and the supermarket was his favorite. “It looked like a real supermarket and was called Dream Mart,” he tells Billboard with a laugh.
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NCT DREAM
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment The Dream Mart set was decorated for NCT DREAM’s 10th anniversary, and HAECHAN says the water bottles, snacks and other shelf items were customized for the group. He enjoyed discovering the small details and says fans may enjoy spotting them too.
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CHENLE, RENJUN and JISUNG
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment CHENLE, RENJUN and JISUNG on the set of NCT DREAM’s “Boogie Woogie” music video.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment JENO, JAEMIN and HAECHAN on the set of NCT DREAM’s “Boogie Woogie” music video.
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NCT DREAM
Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment NCT DREAM on the set of the “Boogie Woogie” music video.
What is “Boogie Woogie” about?
“Boogie Woogie” celebrates NCT DREAM’s 10 years together and the memories the group has made with its fans. JAEMIN cowrote the lyrics, which express gratitude for shared experiences.
“Boogie Woogie” is a disco-funk song about NCT DREAM’s shared memories and anniversary.
What styles shape the “Boogie Woogie” music video?
The video combines nostalgic locations, retro styling and playful moments, with JISUNG highlighting the gym and bowling alley looks as sporty and retro hip-hop inspired. The album’s broader themes also include the members’ bond and their experiences over the past decade.
The “Boogie Woogie” video pairs retro settings with playful scenes and varied styling.
