Perfume (NCT DoJaeJung song)

"Perfume" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT DoJaeJung for their debut extended play (EP) of the same name. Composed by Styalz Fuego, MZMC, Brandon Arreaga, Colin Magalong, Landon Sears, and Kaelyn Behr, with lyrics written by Kim Su-min, the song was released on April 17, 2023, by SM Entertainment. An accompanying music video was released on the same date. "Perfume" is described as an R&B electropop song that expresses mature and sensuous messages of "wanting to leave a scent to a significant other".

"Perfume"
iScreaM Vol.24: Perfume Remixes cover
Single by NCT DoJaeJung
from the EP Perfume
LanguageKorean
ReleasedApril 17, 2023
Genre
Length2:47
LabelSM
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Kim Su-min
Producer(s)
NCT singles chronology
"Beatbox (English version)"
(2023)
"Perfume"
(2023)
Music video
"Perfume" on YouTube

"Perfume" received positive reviews from music critics and became a commercial success.[1][2] It debuted at number four on the Circle Digital Chart, making NCT DoJaeJung the fastest NCT sub-unit to earn a top-five single in South Korea.[3] It also debuted at number one on Circle Download Chart and Circle BGM Chart.[4] Remixes by Jafunk, and Bronze and Jason Lee, titled iScreaM Vol.24: Perfume Remixes, were released on July 13.[5]

Background and composition

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"Perfume" was composed by Brandon Arreaga, Colin Magalong, Landon Sears, Kaelyn Behr, and MZMC, with the lattermost also producing the song alongside Styalz Fuego.[6] It marks MZMC's first production under SM Entertainment following his hiatus from the company in 2020.[7] "Perfume" is an R&B electropop song, consisting of rhythmic slab guitar, synth pad, boom bap rhythm sound, and groovy electric bass line. The members' a cappella vocals and harmonies are also highlighted in the song. The lyrics, which were written by Kim Su-min, describe the "desire to leave one's scent to their loved one so they would not be forgotten."[8]

Music video

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The music video for "Perfume" was released on April 17, 2023, alongside the single and album release.[9] It was filmed in Bangkok, Thailand and featured the members dancing in outdoor vibrant sets, as well as the interiors and exteriors of a mansion.[10] The first part of the music video is set in daylight, with the members wearing light-colored outfits, while the latter shows the members in darker and sexier outfits in the nighttime. One section also features them riding in a red 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible and taking mugshots. The music video also stars a woman, shown to be gifted a set of perfumes by the members.

Critical reception

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On NME's midyear list of the best K-pop songs of 2023, Ivana E. Morales wrote that the song "a luxurious, aural throwback to the ’90s, swimming in gorgeous vocals and enthralling transitions, making it an elegant detour" and called it "one of the greatest K-pop gifts from this year so far".[11]

Accolades

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Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Music Bank April 28, 2023 [12]
Show! Music Core April 29, 2023 [13]
Year-end lists for "Perfume"
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Dazed Top 50 best K-pop tracks of 2023 41 [14]
Grammy 15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm N/A [15]
NME The 50 best songs of 2023 45 [16]

Track listing

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  • Digital download and streaming (iScreaM Vol.24: Perfume Remixes)
  1. "Perfume" (Jafunk remix) – 2:48
  2. "Perfume" (Bronze & Jason Lee remix) – 3:11

Charts

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Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Perfume.[20]

Studio

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  • SM LVYIN Studio – recording
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording
  • SM Concert Hall – mixing
  • 821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Personnel

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Perfume"
Region Date Format Version Label
Various April 17, 2023 Original SM
July 13, 2023 Remixes

References

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  1. ^ Writer, Aurora Silavong, Staff (18 April 2023). "NCT DoJaeJung 'Perfume - The 1st Mini Album' review: Catchy, silky-smooth songs". The Daily Beacon. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "NCT DOJAEJUNG - 1883 Magazine". 2023-04-25. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. ^ "CIRCLE CHART - 써클차트". circlechart.kr. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  4. ^ "NCT 도재정 'Perfume' 써클차트 음원 부문 2관왕" [NCT DoJaeJung win "double crown" in music charts for "Perfume"]. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  5. ^ Lee, Yoo-min (July 12, 2023). "[공식] NCT 도재정 '퍼퓸' 리믹스 공개". Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  6. ^ Perfume, 2023-04-17, archived from the original on 2023-04-19, retrieved 2023-04-20
  7. ^ "MZMC". Genius. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  8. ^ "NCT 도재정, 'Perfume'으로 가요계 홀린다..감각적 유혹" [NCT DoJaeJung will captivate the music industry with "Perfume"]. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  9. ^ NCT DOJAEJUNG 엔시티 도재정 'Perfume' MV, archived from the original on 2023-04-20, retrieved 2023-04-20
  10. ^ Yeo, Gladys (2023-04-17). "NCT DOJAEJUNG debut with charming 'Perfume' music video". NME. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  11. ^ "The 15 best K-pop songs of 2023 – so far". NME. 2023-06-28. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  12. ^ Hwang Hye-jin (April 28, 2023). "전세계 시즈니 감사합니다" NCT 유닛 도재정 '뮤직뱅크' 1위[종합] ["Thank you Czennies all over the world" NCT Unit Dojaejung 'Music Bank' 1st Place [Comprehensive]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Lee Ha-na (April 29, 2023). ‘음악중심’ NCT 도재정 1위 “시즈니 자랑스러워”‥태양·우즈 컴백[종합] [‘Music Core’ NCT DoJaeJung 1st place “I’m proud of nctzens” ‥Taeyang·Woods comeback [Comprehensive]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Glasby, Taylor (December 15, 2023). "From Jung Kook to NewJeans and aespa, we look back on the K-pop tracks that ruled the last 12 months". Dazed. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Assis, Tássia (December 21, 2023). "15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm: From Seventeen's "Super (손오공)" to NewJeans' "Super Shy"". grammy.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "The 50 best songs of 2023". NME. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 18 (28 Apr - 4 May 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Digital Chart – Week 16 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "Digital Chart – April 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  20. ^ NCT DOJAEJUNG (2023). Perfume (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.