Wishful
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Wishful
| type = album
| artist = NCT Wish
| cover = NCT Wish - Wishful.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Digital cover
| released = {{Start date|2024|11|27}}
| recorded =
| genre = J-pop
| length = 40:51
| language = Japanese
| label =
| prev_title = Steady
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title = Poppop
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = NCT
| type = album
| prev_title = Frequency
| prev_year = 2024
| title = Wishful
| year = 2024
| next_title = Poppop
| next_year = 2025
}}
{{Extra album cover
| type = album
| cover = Nctwish_wishful_physical.jpeg
| border = yes
| caption = Physical cover
}}
{{Singles
| type = album
| single1 = Hands Up
| single1date = October 8, 2023
| single2 = Wish
| single2date = February 28, 2024
| single3 = Songbird
| single3date = June 25, 2024
| single4 = Wishful Winter
| single4date = November 27, 2024
}}
}}
Wishful is the debut studio album by boy band NCT Wish, the Japan-based unit of boy group NCT. It was released digitally on November 27, 2024, followed by a physical release in Japan on December 25, through SM Entertainment and Avex Trax. Comprising thirteen tracks, the album is led by the single "Wishful Winter", and includes tracks from the group's previously released maxi singles – "Hands Up", "Wish" and "Songbird".
Background and release
On October 8, 2024, it was announced through NCT's Japanese website that NCT Wish will be releasing their first Japanese studio album Wishful on December 25. The album will include their six previously released Japanese tracks in addition to seven new songs,{{cite web |date=October 8, 2024 |title=NCT WISH Japan 1st Album "WISHFUL" to be released on Wednesday, December 25th! |url=https://nct-jp.net/en/news/detail.php?id=1119824 |website=NCT Japanese Profile}} including the full version of "NASA", which was originally released in shortened form in a January 2024 performance video.
Wishful was released to digital download and streaming services on November 27, 2024, along with the album's title track, "Wishful Winter", and its accompanying music video.{{Cite web |last=Kyung |first=Ji-min |date=2024-11-01 |title=NCT WISH, 27일 日 첫 정규 앨범 'WISHFUL' 발표 |trans-title=NCT WISH to release first full album 'WISHFUL' on the 27th |url=https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/music/2024/11/01/5XEX65W2RSAHIXJYNBX5ZGP7IE/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}}
Composition
The album's title track, "Wishful Winter" is described as a pop ballad with arpeggio piano, strings, and harmonies "reminiscent of bells". The song's lyrics reflect on the band "granting wishes on Christmas."{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Ji-hye |date=2024-11-20 |title=NCT 위시, '윈터송 강자' 될까…日 신곡 '위시풀 윈터' 27일 공개 |trans-title=Will NCT Wish become a 'winter song powerhouse'?... New Japanese song 'Wishful Winter' to be released on the 27th |url=https://sports.donga.com/ent/article/all/20241120/130463228/1 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Dong-A Ilbo |language=ko}}
Promotion
The band promoted the album with the "Log In" Asia tour. The tour began on November 3 in Ishikawa, continuing to several other cities in Japan throughout November and December. In 2025, the tour visited Seoul and other regions of Asia.{{cite web | title=NCT WISH, 亞 투어 'LOG in' 개최..글로벌 루키 행보 | trans-title=NCT WISH, Asia Tour 'LOG in' Held.. Global Rookie Steps | last=Kyung | first=Ji-min | website=OSEN | date=2024-10-16 | url=https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112437264 | language=ko | access-date=2024-10-28}}
To commemorate the release of Wishful, a limited-time Christmas-themed collaboration project event was held between November 30 and December 25 at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. {{cite web|title=「NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza」 開催！|url=https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/divercity-tokyo/event/2906955.html |date=November 14, 2024|website=Mitsui Shopping Park|access-date=March 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202141406/https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/divercity-tokyo/event/2906955.html |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |language=ja}} The event consisted of a limited time shopping campaign with exclusive novelty items, the mall was adorned throughout the whole event to celebrate the release of the album. A Christmas tree was also placed as part of the event.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=NCT WISHをイメージした約6ｍの巨大クリスマスツリーやクリスマスイベントを実施「NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza」開催！ |trans-title=A huge 6m Christmas tree inspired by NCT WISH and a Christmas event will be held at "NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza"!|url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000141.000009950.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=PR Times |language=ja-JP}}
On December 23, a release event named "NCT WISH WISHFUL Christmas party in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza ~Wishescome true~" took place in the shopping mall. The event attracted 5,000 fans.{{cite web|title=『NCT WISH』5000人にクリスマスプレゼント…アルバム特典には企画映像も盛りだくさん「ずっとしてみたかったパン作り」|trans-title="NCT WISH" Christmas present for 5,000 people... Album bonuses include a variety of special videos: "I've always wanted to try making bread"|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1003522 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Chunichi.co.jp |language=ja-JP}} Riku, who had been on a health hiatus since October 2024 was absent from the event. {{cite web | publisher=avex entertainment Inc| url=https://nct-jp.net/news/detail.php?id=1120957 | title=NCT JP Website| access-date=2025-04-17| language=ja}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Wishful track listing{{cite web | title=NCT WISH Japan 1st Album 「WISHFUL」 最新ビジュアル・TRACKLIST公開！ | trans-title=NCT WISH Japan 1er album "WISHFUL" TRACKLIST！ | website=NCT Japan |language=ja | url=https://nct-jp.net/en/news/detail.php?id=1120425 | access-date=2024-10-31}}
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title_width = 25%
| lyrics_width = 25%
| music_width = 25%
| extra_width = 25%
| title1 = Wishful Winter
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|D&H (Purple Night)|Soorin}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Lee Joo-hyoung|Kyle Wong|Mayu Wakisaka}}
| extra1 = Lee
| length1 = 3:08
| title2 = Wish
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Jeanjinn Jane|Toyosaki}}
| music2 = {{hlist|Dress|Kenzie|Heon Seo|Jane|George Gershwin|Ira Gershwin}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Dress}}
| length2 = 3:05
| title3 = Songbird
| lyrics3 = Toyosaki
| music3 = {{hlist|Honey Noise (The Hub)|Brown Panda (The Hub)|Jacob Aaron (The Hub)|Frankie Day (The Hub)}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Honey Noise|Brown Panda}}
| length3 = 3:01
| title4 = Far Away
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Yuki Fujiwara}}
| music4 = {{hlist|Tim Tan|Daniel Roughley|William Segerdahl|153/Joombas}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Tan|Roughley}}
| length4 = 3:04
| title5 = We Go!
| lyrics5 = Meg.Me
| music5 = {{hlist|Simon Janlöv|Daniel Caesar}}
| extra5 = Janlöv
| length5 = 3:02
| title6 = Touchdown
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Adrian McKinnon|Jop Pangemanan|Akta}}
| music6 = {{hlist|Kenzie|McKinnon|Pangemanan|Ludvig Evers (Moonshine)|Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine)}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Moonshine|Kenzie}}
| length6 = 3:12
| title7 = Hands Up
| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Kenzie|H. Toyosaki}}
| music7 = {{hlist|Kenzie|Evers|Gusmark|McKinnon}}
| extra7 = Moonshine
| length7 = 3:14
| title8 = Sail Away
| lyrics8 = Meg.Me
| music8 = {{hlist|Cazzi Opeia|Emily Yeonseo Kim|Sonny J Mason}}
| extra8 = Mason
| length8 = 3:25
| title9 = Choo Choo
| lyrics9 = Takahishi Shiho
| music9 = {{hlist|Alexander Karlsson|Alexej Viktorovitch|John Mars}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Viktorovitch|Mars}}
| length9 = 3:34
| title10 = NASA
| lyrics10 = D&H
| music10 = {{hlist|Greg Bonnick|Hayden Chapman|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Justin Starling|Young Chance|Shorelle}}
| extra10 = LDN Noise
| length10 = 3:03
| title11 = P.O.V
| lyrics11 = Meg.Me
| music11 = {{hlist|Jake K. (Artiffect)|Hyun}}
| extra11 = Jake K.
| length11 = 3:01
| title12 = Tears Are Falling
| lyrics12 = Irodori Kaoru
| music12 = {{hlist|Christopher Lund Nissen|Nicklas Sahl|Jeppe London Blisby|Rick Bridges}}
| extra12 = Blisby
| length12 = 3:05
| title13 = Our Adventures
| lyrics13 = Mahiro
| music13 = {{hlist|Sqvare|Avenue 52|Nild}}
| extra13 = Nild
| length13 = 2:52
| total_length = 40:51
}}
=Notes=
- "Wish" contains sampled elements from "Love Is Here To Say" (1980), as written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, and performed by The Singers Unlimited.
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Wishful ! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Oricon|2|date=2025-01-06|rowheader=true|access-date=January 7, 2025}} |
| scope="row"| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-01-06 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2025-01-06/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=January 7, 2025 |language=ja |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250107042938/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2025-01-06/ |archive-date=January 7, 2025}}
| 2 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2025&month=01&day=06|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of January 1, 2025|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=January 9, 2024}}
| 4 |
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Wishful ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-12 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-12/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=January 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250108043002/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2024-12/ |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |language=ja}}
| 6 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for Wishful ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label |
| scope="row" | Various
| November 27, 2024 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Japan
| December 25, 2024 |