"Hot Sauce" was composed by Martin Wave, Tinashe Sibanda, Philip Kembo, Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell, John Mitchell, Ninos Hanna, Yoo Young-jin, while production was handled by Lee Soo-man.[3][4] Musically, the song is described as "Latin music with Afrobeat-tinged hip-hop song".[5] It features a "minimal track contrast with repetitive chanting and chilling vibes in the chorus".[6] The track was composed in the key of F-sharp major, with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[7]
Critical reception
Kim Sung-yeop of IZM noted the song as it "expresses only the passionate energy and playful, kitsch charm of NCT Dream", adding that it does not match any of the group's existing styles and has a clear presence as the first song to mark a new beginning.[8] Rhian Daly of NME described the track as "vibrant and exuberant", further adding that "the very SM experimentalism that courses through it elevates it into something more weighty and developed".[9]
On the year-end charts, Hot Sauce became NCT Dream and NCT's first entry on the yearly Gaon Digital Chart.
Music video
The music video for "Hot Sauce" is set in a taqueria where the group are tasting their own specialty hot sauce and begins pouring the spicy dressing all over their food.[27][28] Following the music video's release, Gladys Yeo of NME described it as a "vibrant and whimsical video".[28] Tássia Assis of Teen Vogue noted the "psychedelic TV ad-meets-taquería" of the visual.[29] NCT Dream released two dance practice videos on May 23, 2021.
Global entertainment company SmartStudy released a Pinkfong-style version of "Hot Sauce" on May 28, 2021, at 7:00PM KST (UTC+09:00).[39] According to the chief executive officer of SmartStudy, Kim Min-seok, said that they "have created a special gift for all families and fans out there, regardless of age", further adding that they are "always looking to create opportunities" where they can bring joy to their fans around the world and across generations.[40] The version features a special episode of NCT Dream appearing as Pinkfong dinosaur characters that crash-landed in the Age of Dinosaurs.[41] Korean and English versions of the animation videos were released.[42]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Hot Sauce.[4]
^ abHot Sauce (photobook). NCT Dream. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2021. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^2021년 20주차 Download Chart [2021, Week 20 Download Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 9–15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^2021년 20주차 BGM Chart [2021, Week 20 BGM Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 9–15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^2021년 20주차 Streaming Chart [2021, Week 20 Streaming Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 9–15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^2021년 21주차 Streaming Chart [2021, Week 21 Streaming Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 16–22, 2021. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^Cho, Eun-mi (May 19, 2021). '쇼챔' NCT DREAM '맛' 컴백 첫 1위..오마이걸 컴백→우주소녀 더블랙 데뷔 [NCT DREAM's 'Hot Sauce' Wins 1st Place for the First Time in 'Show Champion', OH MY GIRL's Comeback → WJSN THE BLACK's Debut]. HeraldPop (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
^Shin, So-won (May 20, 2021). 엔시티드림 1위 트로피 "우리 7명 1위, 처음이다" ('엠카') [NCT DREAM's 1st Place Trophy on 'M Countdown', "Seven of us are number one for the first time."]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
^Kim, Soo-hyung (May 27, 2021). "시즈니♥" '음방6관왕' NCT DREAM, 5월 마지막 1위로 막방→오마이걸도 굿바이 ('엠카') ["NCTzen♥" '6 Music Show Awards' NCT DREAM Wins 1st Place at Last Broadcast → OH MY GIRL's Goodbye Stage on 'M Countdown']. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
^Jung, Hye-yeon (June 3, 2021). '엠카' NCT DREAM, '맛' 트리플크라운 달성..마마무→투바투 컴백 [NCT DREAM's 'Hot Sauce' Triple Crown on 'M Countdown', MAMAMOO → Tomorrow X Together Comeback]. HeraldPop (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
^5월 3주 뮤직뱅크 <k-차트> 순위 세부 [Music Bank's <k-Chart> Ranking for the Week of May 3]. Digital KBS (in Korean). May 25, 2021. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^Lee, Ha-na (May 22, 2021). '음중' NCT DREAM 1위 "처음으로 이룬 것 많아"‥태민 입대 앞두고 컴백 [NCT DREAM Wins 1st Place in 'Show! Music Core' "First time we've achieved a lot", Taemin Comeback Before Joining the Army]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^Lee, Mi-young (May 23, 2021). NCT DREAM, '인기가요' 첫 1위…"멤버들에게 고맙다" [NCT DREAM's 1st Win on 'Inkigayo', "Thanks to the members."]. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^Yong, Won-jung (May 27, 2021). NCT DREAM 멤버들, 핑크퐁 캐릭터로 탄생...'맛' 애니영상 공개 [NCT DREAM Members, Born as Pinkfong Characters, Release of 'Hot Sauce' Animation Film]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.