The First (single album)

"The First" is the debut double A-side single by South Korean-Chinese boy band NCT Dream, the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy band NCT. It was released on February 9, 2017 with "My First and Last" serving as the single's title track.

The First
Single album by NCT Dream
Released	February 9, 2017 (2017-02-09)
Recorded	2016–2017
Language	Korean
Label	SM Entertainment
NCT Dream chronology
The First (2017) We Young (2017)
NCT chronology
Limitless (2017) The First (2017) Cherry Bomb (2017)
Singles from The First
"Chewing Gum" Released: August 24, 2016 "My First and Last" Released: February 9, 2017

Background and release

NCT's third unit, NCT Dream, consists of seven members: Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung. They debuted with the digital single "Chewing Gum" on August 24, 2016.^[1][2]

On February 1, 2017, NCT Dream announced that they would be releasing their first single, "The First". SM Entertainment announced that Jaemin will not be participating in this comeback due to his health problems.^[3]

Described as a lively dance track with a light-hearted melody and a pounding bass, "My First and Last" served as the album's title track and was released on February 9, in both Korean and Mandarin versions. The album also includes a cover of Lee Seung-hwan's 1993 hit song "Dunk Shot".^[4][5]

Promotion

The group had their first comeback stage on Mnet's M Countdown on February 9 where they performed "My First and Last" and "Dunk Shot".^[6]

Commercial performance

"The First" debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart on the chart issue dated February 5–11, 2017.^[7] It placed at number 40 on Gaon's year-end chart.^[8] After years from its release, the album re-entered on the Gaon Chart at number 12 for the month of February, 2021.^[9]

Track listing

The First track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"My First and Last" (Korean: 마지막 첫사랑; RR: Majimak Cheotsarang; lit. Last First Love)	Jeon Gan-di Mark	August Rigo Justin Davey Ryan S. Jhun	August Rigo Justin Davey Ryan S. Jhun	3:22
2.	"My First and Last" (Chinese: 最后的初恋; pinyin: Zuìhòu De Chūliàn; lit. 'The Last First Love')	Arys Chien	August Rigo Justin Davey Ryan S. Jhun	August Rigo Justin Davey Ryan S. Jhun	3:22
3.	"Dunk Shot" (Korean: 덩크슛; RR: Dunkeusyut)	Kim Kwang-jin [ko]	Kim Kwang-jin [ko]	Kenzie	3:54
4.	"Chewing Gum"	Jo Yoon-kyung Moon Seol-ri Jung Min-ji Mark	Thomas Troelsen Kenzie	Thomas Troelsen Kenzie	3:21
5.	"Chewing Gum" (Chinese: 泡泡糖; pinyin: Pàopaotáng)	Arys Chien	Thomas Troelsen Kenzie	Thomas Troelsen Kenzie	3:21
Total length:					17:19

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Xiami.^[10]

• G-High – vocal directing (track 1-2), recording (track 1-2), digital editing (track 1-2)
• Kenzie – vocal directing (track 3-5), background vocals (track 3-5)
• MQ – rap directing (track 4-5)
• NCT Dream – vocals, background vocals
  • Mark – vocals, background vocals (track 3), rap making (track 3)
  • Renjun – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Jeno – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Haechan – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Jaemin – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Chenle – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Jisung – vocals, background vocals (track 3)
• Onestar – background vocals (track 1-2)
• August Rigo – background vocals (track 1-2)
• Kye Bum-joo – background vocals (track 3-5)
• Choi Hoon – bass performer (track 3)
• Hong Joon-ho – guitar performer (track 3)
• Lee Min-gyu – recording (track 3-5), digital editing (track 3-5)
• Jeong Eun-gyeong – recording (track 3-5), digital editing (track 4-5)
• Lee Chang-seon – recording (track 3)
• Jung Eui-seok – recording (track 4), mixing (track 4-5)
• Jang Woo-yeong – digital editing (track 4)
• Nam Gung-jin – mixing (track 1)
• Jin NamKoong – mixing (track 2)
• Goo Jong-pil (BeatBurger) – mixing (track 3)

Locations

Recording

• SM Big Shot Studio
• SM Blue Cup Studio
• SM Blue Ocean Studio
• SM Yellow Tail Studio
• MonoTree Studio
• In Grid Studio
• prelude Studio

Editing

• SM Big Shot Studio
• SM Yellow Tail Studio
• MonoTree Studio
• doobdoob Studio
• In Grid Studio

Mixing

• SM Concert Hall Studio
• SM Yellow Tail Studio
• SM Blue Cup Studio

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for The First Chart (2017) Peak position South Korea (Gaon Album Chart)[7] 1 Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for The First Chart (February 2017) Peak position South Korea (Gaon Album Chart)[11] 6

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for The First Chart (2017) Peak position South Korea (Gaon Album Chart)[8] 40

Accolades

Music program awards

Song	Program	Date
"My First and Last"	The Show (SBS MTV)	February 14, 2017
		February 21, 2017
		February 28, 2017

References

1. "NCT DREAM, 데뷔곡 '츄잉검' 25일 '엠카'서 첫선". Naver (in Korean). Star Money. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
2. "NCT Dream releases new music video". The Korea Herald. August 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
3. "SM releases statement regarding NCT Dream's Jaemin". SBS. February 2, 2017. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
4. "NCT Dream Charm With Funk and Pop in 'My First & Last' Video: Watch". Billboard. February 8, 2017. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
5. "NCT Dream drops first album, new tracks". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
6. "SF9 and NCT DREAM Perform Comeback Stages on ′M COUNTDOWN′". Mwave. February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
7. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 06, 2017". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
8. "Gaon Album Chart – 2017". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
9. "Gaon Album Chart – February, 2021". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
10. "The First - The First Single Album". Archived from the original on June 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Xiami Music.
11. "Gaon Album Chart – February, 2017". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2022-02-19.