On May 4, 2025, SM Entertainment announced that Chenle, a member of the K-pop group NCT, will be releasing his highly anticipated Chinese special album titled Lucid on May 5.
The album, which is a collaboration with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), will be available on major Chinese music platforms including QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, and Bodiem Music, as well as in physical format in China.
The album features three beautifully crafted Chinese-language tracks, with the title track “Lucid” delivering a profound message of overcoming loneliness and finding a moment of brilliance.
The song is enhanced by soaring strings and Chenle’s emotionally charged high notes, creating a powerful, evocative listening experience.
Another standout track on the album is “Tear Bridge,” a heartfelt remake of the 2003 drama Someday or One Day’s original soundtrack.
The new version, with its blend of strings, piano, and wistful guitar melodies, intensifies the emotional depth of the piece.
Chenle’s delicate and restrained delivery on this track marks its first remake in over two decades, adding fresh nuance and a sense of emotional resonance.
The third track, “Cosmic Joke,” features a collaboration with Chinese singer Zhu Bichang.
The song reflects on the internal struggle of letting go of a dream, captured through a clash between idealism and reality.
This track also reunites Chenle with Zhu Bichang, whom he previously worked with on a Chinese television program years ago, adding a nostalgic element to their collaboration.
In addition to the album release, the music video for “Lucid” will premiere on May 5 at 12:22 p.m. KST, streamed on NCT and NCT Dream’s official YouTube channels, giving fans a chance to visually experience the track’s emotive depth.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the album’s release, with Lucid promising to showcase Chenle’s vocal talents and emotional maturity through his poignant musical expressions.
The collaboration with notable Chinese artists and the deep emotional connection embedded in the tracks are sure to resonate with both his international and Chinese fanbases.
