NCT Dream’s Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung have long been working hard to put out this trend-setting record out into the world, and with the premiere of the ISTJ MV on July 17, 2023, at 6PM KST, they’ve accomplished the same with flying colours! With the whole MBTI ordeal having taken over Gen-Z, the musical representatives of the same modern generation of youths has painted a re-interpretation of the same concept, particularly the titular type, in their latest album.

Having previously released the single Broken Melodies, which ruminated over the melancholic longing of one’s beloved on beings departed miles apart in a long-distance relationship, the titular track has switched things to the funky mode. Although the group members have often immersed themselves in talks of MBTI on several other schedules, their newest music video marks a break away from that streak. Twisting the whole extrovert-introvert divide upside down, they’ve now escaped the holds of the 16-Type personality test.

The first few seconds of the video catch the SM Entertainment septet travel into the clownish, goosebump-worthy MBTI World, Scooby Doo style. Thereafter, the members catch the essence of the MBTI craze and how people line up one after the other to get sorted into respective personality type. Their chants, however, state otherwise and render the whole system unworthy of boxing one’s identity under the limited scope of mere 16 words.

Later visions of the same brain absorbing the definitive traits of each personality type convey the group’s message of defying and subverting the overall concept itself, pushing for unlimited potential. The choreography soon unfolds in a catch and addictive hook that almost seems to have sought inspiration for their very senior group SHINee. Not only do OT7 Dreamies repurpose the vision of what the MBTI test’s been doing, but on the same wavelength their new song has revised the 2nd Generation K-pop hype energy to its fashionably groovy contemporary counterpart, thus bridging the gap between the old sound and the modern sensibility.

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The tune’s bridge takes on a new identity altogether by breathing in a calmer and relaxed outlook, reminding one of an imagined slowed-down rendition of their Winter Special Candy. The underlying tones of the constantly running love storyline in NCT Dream’s musical narrative again shines bright, but in a more “glamorous … dangerous” visage.

The new NCT Dream ISTJ album comprises of 10 tracks led by the eponymous single. Others songs listed on tracklist are Broken Melodies (pre-release B-side), Yogurt Shake, Skateboard, Blue Wave, Poison, SOS, Pretzel, Starry Night and Like We Just Met. Dream’s third full album has again set a new record with their 4.2 million pre-orders, making it the highest pre-ordered NCT as well as SM album, and the third highest for any K-pop act.

Watch the ISTJ MV

The comeback showcase will also be held today, a few hours post the music video premiere. 7Dream (leader: Mark Lee) will again be joined by their NCT “hyung”, Doyoung, on-stage as the event’s MC. The ISTJ music video is now out on YouTube, whereas the full album is streaming on Spotify.

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