NCT member Mark has embarked on a new challenge as a solo artist.
Mark released his first solo album 'The Firstfruit' and the music video for the title track '1999' on various music streaming sites at 6 p.m. on the 7th.
Mark's first solo album 'The Firstfruit' features a total of 13 tracks themed around four cities that represent his journey: his hometown of Toronto, his first place of migration New York, Vancouver where he spent his school years, and Seoul, where he is pursuing his dream as an artist.
Mark has created a musical autobiographical story that captures his journey from the year 1999 when he was born to the present moment of debuting as a solo artist. Following the tracklist in order allows listeners to experience an immersive feeling as if walking alongside Mark's life, showcasing a harmonious blend of music and narrative.
The title track '1999' is a pop genre song that creates a lively atmosphere with a grand orchestration, funky guitar sounds, brass session, whistle, and a variety of instrumental sounds. The tight rap and the ability to freely navigate between falsetto reveal a fresh charm that has not been seen in Mark before.
The lyrics express the joy of this moment, in which he bears the first fruit of his solo album, as if he is celebrating the year 1999 again and convey his ambition to become an artist who decorates the end of the century, having been born in the last year of the century.
"The sun I raised for 10 years / Can't be modest / Got a call / From my Maker / Told me wake up, I said okay / Today, the Taeyang / Looks young, I feel reborn / Used to think but now I know baby / 1-9-9-9 / 1999, I feel it again (uh huh huh) / Today I feel so new, feels like '99 (World, listen to me) / '99, yeah, '99 / '99, yeah, '99 (yeah) / '99, yeah, '99 yeah / 1-9-9-9"
The music video released alongside the album narrates the story of Mark, who becomes a superstar rescuing citizens deceived by false information in a chaotic world of the year 1999, coming from 2025. Mark's cheerful performance transforming into various characters offers a fun experience akin to watching a musical.
In this way, Mark announced the beginning of his journey as a solo artist with an album reminiscent of a movie. Anticipation is already growing for the music world of solo Mark, which will unfold in full.
[Photo] Music video capture.
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