A Hot Comeback, NCT Dream Wow Fans with Spicy “맛 (Hot Sauce)” Music Video

By Valerie Lopez | @valschwarie   On May 10 at 6 KST, NCT Dream dropped the music video for their title track “맛 (Hot Sauce)” from their first full-length album with the same name. “맛 (Hot Sauce)” is an energetic song with smooth guitar sounds and an afrobeat influence. In the “맛 (Hot Sauce)” music video, the NCT Dream members perform and hang out inside of a Taqueria and grocery store as they model with and devour bottles of hot sauce. The music video has a commercial-like appeal, making the bottles of hot sauce stand out in the midst of the commotion. The video has some comical elements, including a scene where NCT Dream members Jaemin and Haechan pour hot sauce in their mouths and their eyes are edited to expand. On a similarly humorous note, the video ends with NCT Dream leader Mark opening a hot sauce bottle to drink it while the members urgently rise from their seats to stop him. In addition to the everyday scenery and acting moments, NCT Dream shows their powerful dance inside of a yellow room with light-up flames.  

A Worldwide Phenomenon

Just 10 hours after the release of the video, “맛 (Hot Sauce)” has accumulated 10 million views and 1.2 million likes on YouTube. The music video has received such a hot response on YouTube that it has reached the top of the Worldwide YouTube trends– the second video it took over was unsurprisingly the “맛 (Hot Sauce)” Music Video Teaser.

.@NCTsmtown_DREAM "Hot Sauce" MV is trending at #1 Worldwide on Youtube and MV Teaser at #2#NCTDREAM #맛_HotSauce #NCTDREAM_맛_HotSauce pic.twitter.com/B1ZlKIWlrm

— NCT DREAM RECORDS (@NCTDREAMRECORDS) May 10, 2021

In Addition to YouTube recognition, the release became a trending topic on Twitter. NCT Dream trended on the top two spots on the worldwide trends, the hashtag “#NCTDREAM_맛_HotSauce” even accumulating over 1 million Tweets.  

Love for the Video 

Some NCTzens could not help but list everything they love about the song and video for “맛 (Hot Sauce).”

LEE JENO'S DEEP VOICE NA JAEMIN'S VISUAL MARK LEADS THE DANCE BREAK IF YOU DON'T FIND THIS HOT I MIGHT KICK YOU OUT

— #1mark (@markedbymark) May 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/Ncitybsd/status/1391690195381231617?s=20

IT’S A LITERAL BOP🤧 especially jeno’s deep voice behhhh rawr 이 맛대로 골라 마 dish AHHHHH HOT SAUCE 깊이 DIP THAT BITCH THE VOCALS?! JISUNG’S VOICE?! CHENLE’S LINES BITCH?! HAECHAN’S HIGHNOTE?! THE DANCE BREAK?! JENO CENTER AH BASTA GAGO HOT SAUCE IS SO PERFECT 🌶🔥

— danica 𖦹 ´ ᯅ ` 𖦹 plave! (@AteDanik) May 10, 2021

mark center for dance break right after haechan high note!!!! 🥴🤯💀 pic.twitter.com/FhtRCHnByr

— ㅁㄷㅈ (@markhyuck_zone) May 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/nahyckbff/status/1391683545781866498?s=20  

Wholesome Messages for NCT Dream Members

Some fans had especially sweet things to say about their favorite members.

i just hope jeno knows his worth. i genuinely hope he knows how talented and amazing he is and how powerful and exciting his performances always are pic.twitter.com/GCcV5TjmyI

— … alice (@stonerjens) May 10, 2021

pov: you are a bottle of hot sauce #RENJUN pic.twitter.com/WsRdG0W17l

— chay♡ (@hugs4ksj) May 10, 2021

   

Appreciation for the Visuals

NCTzens took note of their favorite looks. https://twitter.com/jaemgender/status/1391765622325858309?s=20

jeno absolutely ate with this look pic.twitter.com/wmd7zPKhdQ

— thinking about jeno (@thinkabtjeno) May 10, 2021

jisung puffy cheeks pic.twitter.com/7qnlazyBAF

— 붕빵 ㄹ (@eunoicjisung) May 10, 2021

CHENLE is the standard pic.twitter.com/4NudIkzMuf

— chenle pics (@chenlespics) May 10, 2021

huang renjun is so insane for this pic.twitter.com/WZoygFQLZO

— ‏ًً (@LOOKSHRJ) May 10, 2021

 

Fiery Dancing 

Some fans loved the dance moments. https://twitter.com/jopping2fast/status/1391688995201896450 https://twitter.com/ellesmr/status/1391684868409495558?s=20 https://twitter.com/rwnetizen/status/1391782128543748101?s=20

i just find it fascinating how haechan still keeps his eyes on the camera pic.twitter.com/gdxzjV2h4B

— ؘ (@hclovsyou) May 10, 2021

renjun's killing his center part featuring his tiny waist 😙pic.twitter.com/AMXpi2slcj

— arika ♡ (@renjeonah) May 10, 2021

 

A Humorous Response

Other fans used this as an opportunity to crack jokes. 

maybe not the best in the kitchen but Mark Lee be serving it up at the dance break go off King #NCTDREAM_맛_HotSauce#TasteTheHotSauce pic.twitter.com/Ygbv1bpAJv

— ✦𝗷𝗼𝘆𝘃𝗲¹²⁽⁷⁾ (@joyvekth) May 10, 2021

you know it's gonna be a bop when haechan goes pic.twitter.com/6LeTbZ61cX

— pri (@heinn_kyaa) May 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/whitenoisce/status/1391736486651785220?s=20

peak mom jaemin pic.twitter.com/lm129VI3AM

— annika (@anekelz) May 10, 2021

the dude doesn't even eat ketchup please. 😭 pic.twitter.com/bmoXFqtSic

— DM @markwinspick for queries!~ 💚 (@markwinspickgos) May 10, 2021

THATS MY DAD https://t.co/RxyFH2JmCI

— 𓇼 (@monsieurrten) May 10, 2021

 

A New Meaning for “NCT”

NCTzens enjoy the play on words in the music video. Instead of “Neo Culture Technology” the video has a scene where NCT is “Neo Cooking Technology.” 

I know they did not just call themselves Neo Cooking Technology 😭PLS pic.twitter.com/FSFVTRJOLG

— mey🎧💚 (@asteroids_zen) May 10, 2021

From chewing gum to hot sauce.
Literally Neo Cooking Technology. pic.twitter.com/aRsn1fBxeW

— 🌊Tufan (@tufantheneo) May 10, 2021

https://twitter.com/nanad0_ongiee/status/1391811384376238083?s=20   Leading up to the release of the album and video for “맛 (Hot Sauce)”, fans have been fed lots of content. Even though the countdown for NCT Dream’s comeback is over, there is still much to see from the seven members. NCT Dream will start to promote the album on music shows and other programs. NCT Dream have even begun their very own TikTok challenge for the song and dance!  Curious about the rest of the album? Read our review of NCT Dream’s 맛 (Hot Sauce) album! Be sure to follow EnVi on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for the hottest NCT news!

Thumbnail Courtesy of SM Entertainment