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"Universe (Let's Play Ball)"
"Universe (Let's Play Ball)"
Single by NCT U
from the album Universe
Released	December 10, 2021
Recorded	2021
Studio	SM Yellow Tail Studio; SM SSAM Studio;
Genre	K-pop; hip-hop; EDM;
Length	3:51
Label	SM; Dreamus;
Composer(s)	Carlos Battey; Wayne Hector; Breyan Isaac; Alexandru Cotoi; Marcel Botezan; Dem Jointz; Ryan S. Jhun; Kenzie;
Lyricist(s)	Mark; Kenzie;
Producer(s)	Dem Jointz; Kenzie;
NCT U singles chronology
NCT singles chronology
Music video
	"Universe (Let's Play Ball)" on YouTube

"Universe (Let's Play Ball)" is a song recorded by South Korean boy group NCT U, the first unit of NCT under the management of SM Entertainment. The song was served as the lead single of NCT's third studio album Universe, and it was released on December 10, 2021, four days prior to the release of the album.

Composition and lyrics

"Universe (Let's Play Ball)" was composed by Carlos Battey, Wayne Hector, Breyan Isaac, Alexandru Cotoi, Marcel Botezan, Dem Jointz, Ryan S. Jhun and Kenzie, with the arrangement held by Issac, Cotoi, Botezan, Jointz and Kenzie.^[1]^[2] It was recorded at two SM Entertainment's recording studios, SM Yellow Tail Studio and SM SSAM Studio, and was produced by Dem Jointz and Kenzie, SM's long-time frequent collaborators.^[2] The song was composed in the key of F minor, with a tempo of 180 beats per minute.^[3]

Described as an EDM hip-hop song with catchy hook, clattering percussion,^[4] the lyrics, which were written by Kenzie and NCT U's member Mark,^[1]^[2] talk about "espousement of fearlessness in terms of pursuing what one deems as his destiny", and also "made abundantly clear that a romantic interest plays an all-important role in his perception of achieving that goal".^[5]

Music video

The music video, which was directed by Hong Jae-hwan and Beomjin, was released alongside the song by SM Entertainment on December 10.^[2] It features scenes of NCT U's members "challenging each other to a game of baseball, alongside shots of the group performing choreography".^[6]

Accolades

Music program awards for "Universe (Let's Play Ball)"
Program	Date (3 total)	Ref.
Music Bank	December 24, 2021	^[7]
	December 31, 2022	^[8]
	January 7, 2022	^[9]

Credits

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.^[2]^[10]^[11]

Studio

SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, digital editing
SM SSAM Studio – recording
SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing
Sound Pool Studio – digital editing
821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Personnel

SM Entertainment – executive producer
Lee Soo-man – producer
Lee Sung-soo – production director, executive supervisor
Tak Young-jun – executive supervisor
NCT U – vocals
- Mark – lyrics
Kenzie – producer, lyrics, composition, arrangement
Dem Jointz – producer, composition, arrangement
Breyan Isaac – composition, arrangement
Alexandru Cotoi – composition, arrangement
Marcel Botezan – composition, arrangement
Carlos Battey – composition
Wayne Hector – composition
Ryan S. Jhun – composition
Junny – background vocals
Yoo Young-jin – background vocals, music and sound supervisor
GDLO – vocal directing
Noh Min-ji – recording, digital editing
Kang Eun-ji – recording
Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
Jung Ho-jin – digital editing
Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Global Excl. US (Billboard)^[12]	146
Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[13]	61
South Korea (Gaon)^[14]	86
South Korea (K-Pop Hot 100)^[15]	96
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[16]	14

Release history

Release dates and formats for *Universe (Let's Play Ball)*
Region	Date	Format	Label(s)
Various	December 10, 2021	Digital download streaming	SM Entertainment
South Korea	December 10, 2021	CD	SM Entertainment

References

^ ^a ^b "Universe (Let's Play Ball) – NCT U/Song Information". Melon. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e NCT 2021 (2021). Universe (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Key & BPM for Universe (Let's Play Ball) by NCT U". Tunebat. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ "Song Review: NCT U – Universe (Let's Play Ball)". The Bias List. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
^ Amanda London (December 11, 2021). ""Universe (Let's Play Ball)" by NCT U". Song Meanings & Facts. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
^ Chin, Carmen (December 10, 2021). "NCT U release music video for 'Universe (Let's Play Ball)'". NME. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ Ji, Min-kyung (December 26, 2021). "NCT, 오늘(26일) 'Beautiful' 퍼포먼스 스테이지 공개..희망찬 에너지" [NCT unveils 'Beautiful' performance stage today (26th)... Hopeful energy]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^ "12월 5주순위". KBS (in Korean). December 31, 2021. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021.
^ Lee, Seung-hoon (January 7, 2022). "'뮤뱅' NCT U, 'Universe'로 1위..쪼꼬미⋅원위 컴백→하이키⋅케플러 데뷔[종합]" ['Mubang' NCT U, 1st place with 'Universe'..Jokomi・Onewe comeback→Highkey・Kepler debut [comprehensive]]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^ "Universe - The 3rd Album". Naver Vibe. November 14, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ "Universe - The 3rd Album". QQ Music. November 14, 2021. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ "NCT U Chart History: Global Excl. US". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^ "NCT U Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "2021년 51주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^ "NCT U Chart History: Billboard K-Pop 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
^ "NCT U Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.