"Hope from Kwangya" Released: December 27, 2021 (2021-12-27)
2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express (stylized as 2021 Winter SMTOWN : SMCU EXPRESS) is the ninth winter album by SM Town. The studio album was released by SM Entertainment on December 27, 2021, and is available in 13 different versions. It features 10 songs, including two singles off the album, "Dreams Come True" and "Hope from Kwangya". The album marks the first SM Town's special season album release in 10 years after the predecessor 2011 Winter SMTOWN: The Warmest Gift, which was released in December 2011. It is also the first album to feature Kai, Red Velvet, NCT, and Aespa.
The concept of the album is based on SM Entertainment's own fictional universe called "SM Culture Universe" (SMCU), which was first introduced in 2020 by the company's founder Lee Soo-man through the debut of girl group Aespa.[1]
Through the SM Town 2022: SMCU Express project, 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express was announced along as the first SM Town winter record by SM Entertainment in 10 years since 2011.[2] According to SM, the album will feature various artists under the label and an "interesting combination of artists" aside from the track of existing groups.[3] Prior to the album release, the jazz version of "The Promise of H.O.T." was pre-released on November 26, 2021, through SM Station and was added to the track listing on December 24.[4][5] "Dreams Come True", which was also pre-released at SM Station on December 20, became the album's lead single.[6] The pre-order period for the album started from December 10 and was scheduled for release on December 27.[7]
The lead single, "Dreams Come True", was described as a pop dance song remade by Aespa from S.E.S.'s second album Sea & Eugene & Shoo released in 1998.[8] It combines the group's "spiritual energy and hip hop vibe" with the "mysterious and dreamy sound" with BoA participating in the song's production.[9] The second single, "Hope from Kwangya", was described as a song with a "rich" sound of a "beautiful" string melody.[10] It is a remake of SM Town's "representative" song, originally released from H.O.T.'s third album Resurrection in 1998.[11]Kangta, who wrote and composed the original music, directed the vocals.[12]
"Zoo", sung by NCT's Taeyong, Jeno, Hendery, and Yangyang and Aespa's Giselle, was described as a hip hop song with "unique" synths and "fast" tempo beats.[13] "Melody", sung by Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, was described as a medium tempo pop song with a retro jazz atmosphere.[14] The lyrics remind "beautiful and ecstatic" moments, creating a warm atmosphere in the cold winter with a retro jazz atmosphere created by various acoustic instruments.[15] "Magical", sung by TVXQ and Super Junior, was described as a "cheerful" pop song with the lyrics, "Our friendship is destiny [and] miracle".[16] "Snow Dream 2021", sung by Red Velvet's Yeri, NCT's Haechan, Chenle, and Jisung, and Aespa's Ningning, was described as a song that is "enough to feel the joy and happiness you have been waiting for in winter".[17] It is a remake of the lead single from SM Town's winter album, Snow Dream, released in 2006.[18] "Ordinary Day", sung by Super Junior's Kyuhyun, Shinee's Onew, and NCT's Taeil is about a "deep love" for lovers, friends, and family, who are always by one's side in the season when one realizes that every day is "special and precious".[19] "Goodbye", sung by Girls' Generation's Sunny and NCT's Jungwoo and Renjun, was described as a medium R&B pop song with winter bell sounds, added acoustic bass, and jazzy keyboard sounds.[20] "Dinner", sung by TVXQ, was described as a "warm" pop ballad about the moment of preparing dinner and sharing small happiness for a precious person at the end of a hard day.[21] The song features a "dramatic" arrangement of "colorful" string melodies over an "emotional" piano performance.[22] The jazz version of "The Promise of H.O.T." was performed by the SM Classics Town Orchestra with Yohan Kim and Hogyu 'Stiger' Hwang and drummer Shin Dong-jin.[23] It was reinterpreted in the form of a jazz trio featuring "groovy" piano, bass, and "rhythmical" drum sounds.[24]
The album was promoted through SM Town's second online concert SM Town Live 2022: SMCU Express at Kwangya on January 1, 2022, where "Dreams Come True", "Ordinary Day", "Zoo", and "Hope from Kwangya" were performed.[25]
^Lee, Nam-kyung (December 10, 2021). 광야를 향해…'SMTOWN 2022 : SMCU EXPRESS' 시작+27일 겨울앨범 발매 [Towards Kwangya…Start of 'SMTOWN 2022 : SMCU EXPRESS' + Winter Album Release on the 27th]. MBN Star (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Lee, Min-ji (November 24, 2021). SM 'STATION' H.O.T. '우리들의 맹세' 재즈 버전26일 공개 [SM 'STATION' H.O.T. Jazz Version of 'The Promise of H.O.T.' Released on the 26th]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (December 24, 2021). 써니X정우X런쥔 '12월의 인사' 2021 Winter SMTOWN 감성 선사 [Sunny X Jungwoo X Renjun 'Goodbye' 2021 Winter SMTOWN Emotional Presentation]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Yoo, Byung-chul (December 21, 2021). '2021 Winter SMTOWN', 풍성한 종합선물세트 예고…다채로운 장르의 총10곡 수록 ['2021 Winter SMTOWN', A Rich Comprehensive Gift Set Preview…A Total of 10 Songs in a Colorful Genre]. Korea Economic TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Kim, Hyung-wook, ed. (December 10, 2021). 2022년1월1일, SM 광야로 떠나볼까? [Shall We Go to Kwangya of SM on January 1, 2022?]. Harper's Bazaar (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Jung, Hee-yeon (December 21, 2021). 'SMCU EXPRESS' 단체곡은 H.O.T. '빛' [The Group Song of 'SMCU EXPRESS' is H.O.T.'s 'Hope']. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Cho, Hye-jin (December 21, 2021). SM타운 겨울 앨범, 단체곡 '빛'‧에스파 'Dreams Come True' 더블 타이틀 [SMTOWN Winter Album, Double Title of Group Song 'Hope'‧Aespa's 'Dreams Come True']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (December 21, 2021). SM타운 겨울 앨범, 동방신기·소녀시대-Oh!GG 신곡 수록(공식) [SMTOWN Winter Album, TVXQ·Girls' Generation-Oh!GG's New Songs]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Ji, Min-kyung (December 21, 2021). SMTOWN 겨울 앨범, 단체곡 '빛'·에스파 '드림스 컴 트루' 더블 타이틀곡 [SMTOWN Winter Album, Double Lead Single of Group Song 'Hope' and Aespa's 'Dreams Come True']. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (December 23, 2021). 新 발라드 유닛→막내라인 유닛…'2021 Winter SMTOWN', 이색 컬래버 예고 [New Ballad Units → Youngest Line Units…'2021 Winter SMTOWN', Unique Collaboration Previews]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Jung, Ji-won (December 21, 2021). '2021 SM타운', '빛'·'Dreams Come True' 더블 타이틀 간다 ['2021 SMTOWN', 'Hope'·'Dreams Come True' Going for Double Lead Singles]. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (December 21, 2021). SM타운 겨울 앨범, 단체곡 '빛'·에스파 'Dreams Come True' 더블 타이틀곡 [SMTOWN Winter Album, Group Song 'Hope' and Aespa's 'Dreams Come True' Double Lead Singles]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Kim, Ji-hye (December 22, 2021). 동방신기X슈퍼주니어, 16년 만에 뭉친다..신곡 'Magical' 발매 [TVXQ X Super Junior, Back Together After 16 Years..Release of New Song 'Magical']. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Lee, Min-ji (December 23, 2021). 발라드→막내라인 '2021 Winter SMTOWN' 이색 컬래버레이션 [Ballad → The Youngest Line '2021 Winter SMTOWN' A Unique Collaboration]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Hwang, Ji-young (December 23, 2021). 규현·온유·태일→예리·해찬·천러·지성·닝닝, 'SMCU' 이색 조합 [Kyuhyun·Onew·Taeil → Yeri·Haechan·Chenle·Jisung·Ningning, 'SMCU' Unique Combination]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Jang, Min-soo (December 24, 2021). 소녀시대 써니xNCT 정우·런쥔, '12월의 인사' 콜라보 [Girls' Generation Sunny x NCT Jungwoo·Renjun, 'Goodbye' Collaboration]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Ko, Seung-ah (December 21, 2021). SM타운 겨울 앨범, 동방신기·소녀시대-Oh!GG 신곡 공개 [SMTOWN Winter Album, TVXQ·Girls' Generation-Oh!GG's New Song Release]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Kim, Ji-hyun (December 21, 2021). #에스파 #H.O.T #소녀시대…SMTOWN 겨울앨범 포인트 [#Aespa #H.O.T #Girls' Generation…SMTOWN Winter Album Points]. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Kim, Han-gil (November 24, 2021). SM ‘STATION’, H.O.T. ‘우리들의 맹세’ 재즈 버전 공개 [SM 'STATION', Revealing Jazz Version of H.O.T.'s 'The Promise of H.O.T.']. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Seok, Jae-hyun (November 24, 2021). H.O.T. '우리들의 맹세', 재즈버전으로26일 발매 [H.O.T. 'The Promise of H.O.T.', Released in Jazz Version on the 26th]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (January 1, 2022). "SMTOWN LIVE 2022, 광야에서 만끽한 화려한 무대의 향연 [종합]" [SMTOWN LIVE 2022, a splendid stage feast enjoyed in the wilderness [General]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ko, Seung-ah (December 23, 2021). SM타운 이색 콜라보…막내라인 '스노우 드림' 리메이크 [SMTOWN's Unique Collaboration…'Snow Dream' Remake of the Youngest Line]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Woo, Bin (December 21, 2021). 10년 만에 돌아온SM겨울 앨범, 에스파 'Dreams Come True'·단체곡 '빛' 더블 타이틀 | 텐아시아 [SM Winter Album Back After 10 Years, Aespa's 'Dreams Come True'·Group Song 'Hope' Double Lead Single]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^Kim, Jae-won (December 21, 2021). 10년 만에 돌아왔다…SM타운 겨울 앨범 [Came Back After 10 Years…SMTOWN Winter Album]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express (photobook). SM Town. South Korea: SM Entertainment, Dreamus. 2021. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"2022년04주차 Album Chart" [Week 4 2022 Album Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. January 16–22, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
^"2022년1월 Album Chart" [January 2022 Album Chart] (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
