NCT's Mark finally officially released his highly anticipated first solo album titled 'The Firstfruit' on April 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM KST. This album is an important milestone in Mark's career, because in addition to being his full solo debut, this album also showcases various sides of his musicality that have not been fully explored with the group.
Along with the release of his album, Mark also launched a music video for the title track titled '1999.' As reported by Soompi on Tuesday April 8, 2025, '1999' is an energetic and colorful pop song. The music combines a grand orchestra, funky guitar strumming, brass section beats, and catchy whistling—making it a work rich in musical elements.
Lyrically, this song is a form of Mark's expression of enthusiasm in starting his journey as a soloist. He describes this moment as a rebirth in 1999, which is indeed the year of his birth in the real world. This song also reflects Mark's great ambition to become a pop icon of this generation.
The music video for '1999' adds a unique and interesting layer to the story. Wrapped in a sci-fi feel, the video depicts an alternate version of 1999 where the world is in a state of panic due to the Y2K bug. In this scenario, Mark comes from the year 2025 and appears as a superstar who saves society from information chaos.
This time travel concept gives a futuristic yet fun feel to Mark's solo debut which is full of inspirational messages . The album 'The Firstfruit' itself contains 13 songs, including 'Toronto's Window,' 'Flight to NYC,' 'Righteous,' 'Fraktsiya,' 'Raincouver,' 'Loser,' 'Watching TV,' '+82 Pressin',' '200,' 'Journey Mercies,' 'Mom's Interlude,' and 'Too Much.'
The songs showcase a variety of musical colors and styles, reflecting Mark's personal journey from past to present. Not only getting attention from the artistic side, 'The Firstfruit' also made an impressive achievement.
Based on the Hanteo Chart report quoted from Allkpop on the same Tuesday, this album managed to record sales of around 274 thousand copies on the first day of its release. The figure makes 'The Firstfruit' the album with the second highest first-day sales among NCT members, only below Taeyong with his album 'Shalala.'
'1999' is not just a regular pop song. This song carries a nostalgic feel as well as a spirit of empowerment. The song starts off with a melancholic tune, taking us back to our childhood and memories of 1999 as a symbol of the beginning of a life full of possibilities.
However, as the song progresses, the lyrics change to become more upbeat and confident. Mark voiced his determination to break through the boundaries of the music industry, encouraging the younger generation to not be afraid to pursue their dreams.
The repeated chorus with the word '1999' seems to be a mantra of self-resurrection, inviting us to start again with new enthusiasm. This song is not only a celebration of Mark's journey, but also an invitation for everyone to celebrate their own life process.
The closing or outro reinforces the themes of empowerment and legacy, leaving the impression that everyone has the potential to create change. In closing, Mark's journey from past to present is not only a personal story, but also a mirror for many people who are struggling to find their identity and place in the world.
With his solo debut, Mark proves that he is not only a group idol, but also a solo artist with a strong character and deep message. 'The Firstfruit' is a promising start and well worth checking out for anyone looking for music that is upbeat, reflective and hopeful.
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