On June 14, 2017, NCT 127 released the mini-album Cherry Bomb and the music video for the lead single of the same name. The album has seven tracks, including the performance version of “Cherry Bomb” which was used for the music video, and has the boys exploring combinations of different genres, including EDM, hip-hop, noise pop, and electropop. 

The Music Video

“Cherry Bomb” is a perfect blend of EDM and hip-hop elements, offering each of the members time to shine and show off their rapping, singing, and performance skills, and the music video only highlights that. Much like the promotional images for this comeback, the video also features animated cherry bombs falling across the screen and being dropped from airplanes as the members dance. The choreography was created by Tony Testa, who also created the choreography for the previous NCT 127 single “Fire Truck” and has also worked with SM Entertainment labelmates SHINee on various songs, like previously mentioned comeback “Sherlock.” The music video gained more than 3 million views in the first 24 hours.

The Comeback Performances

While deemed unfit for broadcast by KBS due to mentions of violence and gory descriptions in the lyrics and therefore not performed on Music Bank, NCT 127 was allowed to perform “Cherry Bomb” on M!COUNTDOWN for their first comeback performance on June 15, 2017. The boys of NCT 127 performed in the pink and red toned outfits from the music video. The stage lights featured various shades of pink, purple, and red while the screens behind them flashed the track title and screen glitches. As the performance reached the end, sparklers shot up from the stage before disappearing for the famous v-formation choreo.

The other track they promoted during this time was “0 Mile.” This fun track saw the boys each in black suits with white button-ups under screen print sweaters. Compared to the sharper and more aggressive choreography of “Cherry Bomb,” the choreography for “0 Mile” is more upbeat and loose. During the performance, the screens behind them flashed brightly colored kaleidoscope patterns. Confetti shot up and rained down on NCT 127 during the last minute of the performance.  

The Legacy

Cherry Bomb debuted at No. 2 on the Gaon Albums Chart and Billboard U.S. World Albums Chart. It also debuted and peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard U.S. Top Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album was nominated for “Album of the Year - 2nd Quarter” at the Gaon Chart Music Awards and “Disk Bonsang” at the Golden Disc Awards, but unfortunately did not win either award.

While this comeback didn’t give the group very many music show wins, it did award them their very first win on June 22, 2017 on M!COUNTDOWN. “Cherry Bomb” was nominated for “Best Pop Song” at the Korean Music Awards and “Best Dance Performance - Male Group” at the Mnet Asian Music Awards, but did not win those either.

“Cherry Bomb” is one of NCT 127’s most well-known tracks amongst non-NCTzens and at the time of writing, the music video has over 109 million views, more than any other official NCT 127 music video on YouTube. In fact, the only NCT video with more views on the official SM Entertainment YouTube channel is NCT U’s “BOSS” with 129 million views. That’s not to say that other NCT 127 songs won’t catch up eventually. Currently, “영웅 (英雄; Kick It)” has 74 million views, roughly two-thirds the amount of views of “Cherry Bomb,” and has gained these views in only six months. The song and choreography are also well-loved by other idol groups and have been covered by other artists, most notably LOONA.