Song Review:: NCT Dream (NCT): Beat It Up- Beat It Up

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  • Release date: 2025 November 17

  • Album tracklist: Beat It Up, Rush, Cold Coffee, Butterflies, Tempo, TRICKY

  • Album runtime: 19 minutes

 Okay, now that I'm done with the KGMA posts, I can get back to regularly scheduled programming. Whew! Thanks for being patient with me! Okay! So! NCT Dream! Great runtime! Love that!

This is actually a fascinating blend of an instrumental. First of all, just because it's so present, I acknowledge that the "beat it up" part that is obviously part of the instrumental is...a good connecting tissue that sometimes is layered up over the other instruments and sometimes is tucked back underneath. I appreciate it for what it is and does. I just can't stand the sound of it. And because I'm so aware of it, that's basically all I can hear. Which is a problem. I think there's exactly one spot where it isn't present at all. There's another spot late in the song where that rhythm is still there, it's just taken by an instrument instead so it's not as distinct. Am I spending a lot of time on this? Yes. I don't like it, but I do acknowledge that the different ways that it comes out, instead of being at the same prominence layer in the instrumental, is something that I do like. 

There's quite a lot of rapping in this song, which generally speaking is something I expect from the older three NCT groups. It is what it is. But it's okay because this feels like a workout song, and those need the harder beats and the harder vocals. The vocals almost flex with vibrato, almost. You can just hear some on one of them, and ironically not with the high note that's held, which would normally be the best place to put some vibrato. But, it's fine because this is has quite a lot of variation in range, from volume to tone, and that's basically what I look for. 

There have been quite a lot of boxing music videos to come out this year. Is there something I don't know? This one falls a bit more on the vibes and visuals side of things, which is fine. The production quality is great here. Honestly, that's as expected of SM, but we both know that they're not great at giving all their groups the quality and time that they necessarily deserve. However, I just really want to point out that last chorus choreography. Wow. WOW. The stages are going to be incredible. I really hope they get a win so that I am forced to watch the stage.



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