The Code (EP)

The Code
EP by
ReleasedNovember 7, 2017 (2017-11-07)
Recorded2017
GenreK-pop
Length24:00
LanguageKorean
Label
Monsta X chronology
The Clan Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter
(2017)
The Code
(2017)
The Connect: Dejavu
(2018)
Singles from The Code
  1. "Dramarama"
    Released: November 7, 2017

The Code is the fifth extended play by the South Korean boy group Monsta X. It was released by Starship Entertainment and distributed by LOEN Entertainment on November 7, 2017. It consists of seven tracks, including the title track "Dramarama".

Background and release

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In October, Monsta X had announced the comeback, through the official SNS channel, alongside the personal photos of intense colors and visuals. In the released image, the dreamy color and close-up of each member's face were included in the background, with some sensuous typography and part of the seven logos for each member,[1] while subsequently released the story images for each member, ahead of their comeback.[2]

The group's comeback showcase was held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung District, Seoul on the same day of the comeback.[3]

The EP was released in two versions; DE:code and Protocol Terminal.

Critical reception

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"Dramarama" received critical praise, alongside the music video, with Taylor Glasby of Dazed describing both of them as "intriguing and alluring", noting the music video's concept of time travel with ambiguous meaning while praising the song's ability to highlight the "individual signatures" of the group members.[4] Writing for Rolling Stone, Kim Jae-ha added that the song's "throbbing bass line", "funky rhythms", and "searing guitars", intensified its "hypnotic incantation" effect to the listeners.[5]

Listicles

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Name of critic or publication, name of listicle, name of work and rank
Critic/Publication List Work Rank Ref.
Song
Dazed The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2017 "Dramarama" 10 [4]
Rolling Stone The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music 74 [5]
Tone Glow The 50 Best K-pop Songs of 2017 48 [6]

Commercial performance

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As of 2022, the EP had sold over 170,000 units in South Korea.[7] It also peaked at number one on the weekly Gaon Album Chart.[8]

"Dramarama" debuted at number seven on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart upon its release while the song "From Zero" debuted at number one in 2020.[9] It had marked the group's first-ever weekly music show win, achieving it on The Show.[10]

Track listing

[edit]
The Code track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementsLength
1."Dramarama"
  • A-Dee
  • Stereo 14
3:06
2."Now or Never"
  • 별들의전쟁 (Galactika)
  • Jooheon
  • I.M
  • 별들의전쟁 (Galactika)
  • 별들의전쟁 (Galactika)
3:11
3."In Time"
  • Jooheon
  • Ye-Yo!
  • Jooheon
  • Ye-Yo!
  • Jooheon
  • Ye-Yo!
3:08
4."From Zero"
  • Wonho
  • Rich Jang
  • Brother Su
  • Wonho
  • Rich Jang
3:26
5."X"
  • Oh Min-ju
  • Jooheon
  • I.M
  • 어벤전승
  • 어벤전승
3:46
6."Tropical Night" (열대야)
  • Crucial Star
  • Kooky
  • Kooky
3:44
7."Deja Vu"
  • Flow Blow, JJ Evans, Shin Hyuk
  • Flow Blow
3:36
Total length:24:00

Charts

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Album

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Songs

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Weekly chart

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Sales

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Region Sales
South Korea (Gaon)[18] 175,902
Japan (Oricon)[19] 5,006

Accolades

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Music program award for "Dramarama"
Program Date Ref.
The Show November 14, 2017 [10]

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Golden Disc Awards 2018 Disc Daesang The Code Nominated [20]
Disc Bonsang Won
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2018 Mwave Global Fans' Choice "Dramarama" Nominated [21]

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for The Code
Region Date Format Label
South Korea November 7, 2017
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kim, Eun-ji (March 12, 2018). '컴백' 몬스타엑스(MONSTA X), 개별 티저 이미지 공개…기대감 ↑ ['Comeback' MONSTA X releases individual teaser images... anticipation ↑]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2018 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Kim, Eun-yoo (November 2, 2017). 몬스타엑스(MONSTA X), 미니 앨범 '더 코드(THE CODE)' 스토리 이미지 공개!. News Free Zone (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  3. ^ Kim, Hwi-seon (November 7, 2017). [★포토]몬스타엑스, 'THE CODE'로 컴백 [[Photo] MONSTA X, comeback with 'THE CODE']. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2017 – via Naver.
  4. ^ a b Glasby, Taylor (December 7, 2017). "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2017". Dazed. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Kim, Jae-ha (July 20, 2023). "The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "The 50 Best K-pop Songs of 2017". Tone Glow. February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Cumulative sales for The Code:
  8. ^ a b 2017년 51주차 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Monsta X Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Shin, A-ram (November 15, 2017). 몬스타엑스(MONSTA X), 데뷔 후 첫 1위…‘꽃길 시작’. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  11. ^ "Top Albums Téléchargés". SNEP (in French). Retrieved November 11, 2017.[dead link]
  12. ^ Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2017/11/22 公開. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  13. ^ 週間 アルバムランキング - 2017年11月20日付. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  14. ^ "Monsta X Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "Monsta X Chart History: World Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  16. ^ 2017년 11월 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  17. ^ 2017년 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  18. ^ Cumulative sales for The Code:
  19. ^
  20. ^ Mathew, Ilin (January 10, 2018). "Golden Disc Awards 2018: BTS, IU bag grand prize; Complete winners list". International Business Times, India Edition. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "2018 MAMA Winners". Mwave. Retrieved December 20, 2018.