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Wishful

Wishful is the debut studio album by boy band NCT Wish, the Japan-based unit of boy group NCT. It was released digitally on November 27, 2024, followed by a physical release in Japan on December 25, through SM Entertainment and Avex Trax. Comprising thirteen tracks, the album is led by the single "Wishful Winter", and includes tracks from the group's previously released maxi singles – "Hands Up", "Wish" and "Songbird".

Background and release

On October 8, 2024, it was announced through NCT's Japanese website that NCT Wish will be releasing their first Japanese studio album Wishful on December 25. The album will include their six previously released Japanese tracks in addition to seven new songs,[1] including the full version of "NASA", which was originally released in shortened form in a January 2024 performance video.

Wishful was released to digital download and streaming services on November 27, 2024, along with the album's title track, "Wishful Winter", and its accompanying music video.[2]

Composition

The album's title track, "Wishful Winter" is described as a pop ballad with arpeggio piano, strings, and harmonies "reminiscent of bells". The song's lyrics reflect on the band "granting wishes on Christmas."[3]

Promotion

The band promoted the album with the "Log In" Asia tour. The tour began on November 3 in Ishikawa, continuing to several other cities in Japan throughout November and December. In 2025, the tour visited Seoul and other regions of Asia.[4]

To commemorate the release of Wishful, a limited-time Christmas-themed collaboration project event was held between November 30 and December 25 at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. [5] The event consisted of a limited time shopping campaign with exclusive novelty items, the mall was adorned throughout the whole event to celebrate the release of the album. A Christmas tree was also placed as part of the event.[6] On December 23, a release event named "NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas party in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza ~Wishescome true~" took place in the shopping mall. The event attracted 5,000 fans.[7] Riku, who had been on a health hiatus since October 2024 was absent from the event. [8]

Track listing

Wishful track listing[9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Wishful Winter"
  • D&H (Purple Night)
  • Soorin
Lee3:08
2."Wish"
  • Kenzie
  • Dress
3:05
3."Songbird"Toyosaki
  • Honey Noise (The Hub)
  • Brown Panda (The Hub)
  • Jacob Aaron (The Hub)
  • Frankie Day (The Hub)
  • Honey Noise
  • Brown Panda
3:01
4."Far Away"
  • Yuki Fujiwara
  • Tan
  • Roughley
3:04
5."We Go!"Meg.Me
  • Simon Janlöv
  • Daniel Caesar
Janlöv3:02
6."Touchdown"
  • Kenzie
  • Adrian McKinnon
  • Jop Pangemanan
  • Akta
  • Kenzie
  • McKinnon
  • Pangemanan
  • Ludvig Evers (Moonshine)
  • Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine)
  • Moonshine
  • Kenzie
3:12
7."Hands Up"
  • Kenzie
  • H. Toyosaki
  • Kenzie
  • Evers
  • Gusmark
  • McKinnon
Moonshine3:14
8."Sail Away"Meg.Me
Mason3:25
9."Choo Choo"Takahishi Shiho
  • Viktorovitch
  • Mars
3:34
10."NASA"D&H
  • Greg Bonnick
  • Hayden Chapman
  • Jeremy "Tay" Jasper
  • Justin Starling
  • Young Chance
  • Shorelle
LDN Noise3:03
11."P.O.V"Meg.Me
  • Jake K. (Artiffect)
  • Hyun
Jake K.3:01
12."Tears Are Falling"Irodori Kaoru
  • Christopher Lund Nissen
  • Nicklas Sahl
  • Jeppe London Blisby
  • Rick Bridges
Blisby3:05
13."Our Adventures"Mahiro
  • Sqvare
  • Avenue 52
  • Nild
Nild2:52
Total length:40:51

Notes

Charts

Release history

Release history for Wishful
Region Date Format Label
Various November 27, 2024
Japan December 25, 2024

References

  1. ^ "NCT WISH Japan 1st Album "WISHFUL" to be released on Wednesday, December 25th!". NCT Japanese Profile. October 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Kyung, Ji-min (November 1, 2024). "NCT WISH, 27일 日 첫 정규 앨범 'WISHFUL' 발표" [NCT WISH to release first full album 'WISHFUL' on the 27th]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Yoo, Ji-hye (November 20, 2024). "NCT 위시, '윈터송 강자' 될까…日 신곡 '위시풀 윈터' 27일 공개" [Will NCT Wish become a 'winter song powerhouse'?... New Japanese song 'Wishful Winter' to be released on the 27th]. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Kyung, Ji-min (October 16, 2024). "NCT WISH, 亞 투어 'LOG in' 개최..글로벌 루키 행보" [NCT WISH, Asia Tour 'LOG in' Held.. Global Rookie Steps]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "「NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza」 開催！". Mitsui Shopping Park (in Japanese). November 14, 2024. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. ^ "NCT WISHをイメージした約6ｍの巨大クリスマスツリーやクリスマスイベントを実施「NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza」開催！" [A huge 6m Christmas tree inspired by NCT WISH and a Christmas event will be held at "NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza"!]. PR Times (in Japanese). November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "『NCT WISH』5000人にクリスマスプレゼント…アルバム特典には企画映像も盛りだくさん「ずっとしてみたかったパン作り」" ["NCT WISH" Christmas present for 5,000 people... Album bonuses include a variety of special videos: "I've always wanted to try making bread"]. Chunichi.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  8. ^ "NCT JP Website" (in Japanese). avex entertainment Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  9. ^ "NCT WISH Japan 1st Album 「WISHFUL」 最新ビジュアル・TRACKLIST公開！" [NCT WISH Japan 1er album "WISHFUL" TRACKLIST！]. NCT Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  10. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-01-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-01-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of January 1, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-12" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.