Rising stars of K-pop NCT DREAM achieved a milestone with their new winter song Candy, which was digitally released on December 16, 2022.The song topped Melon's Top 100 chart within a day of its release, making them the third boy band to achieve the feat this year. BTS and BIGBANG are the other two boy bands to take the No.1 spot with their songs Yet to Come and Still Life respectively.Candy also broke into the top 10 on Melon’s 24Hits chart within 24 hours, to claim the 9th spot following the likes of BIGBANG and BTS earlier this year.Apart from dominating domestic charts, the song also fared well internationally, topping iTunes charts in 16 countries all over the world.NCT DREAM Charts 🍬@chartsnctdream.@NCTsmtown_DREAM's “Candy”, BIGBANG's “Still Life” and BTS' “Yet To Come” are the only boy groups' songs to reach #1 on MelOn TOP100 in 2022.1642893.@NCTsmtown_DREAM's “Candy”, BIGBANG's “Still Life” and BTS' “Yet To Come” are the only boy groups' songs to reach #1 on MelOn TOP100 in 2022. https://t.co/RgocDP9B5YNCT DREAM achieves new highs with Candy album salesTriple million seller NCT DREAM proved its selling power once again by achieving new highs with their comeback. Anticipation for Candy among fans was high as it sold over two million copies in pre-orders.The physical version of the album was released on December 19, 2022. According to data released by Hanteo, the group surpassed its own record by selling over 761,609 copies on the first day of release. Their earlier release, Glitch Mode, recorded over 703,700 units in first-day sales.NCT DREAM Charts 🍬@chartsnctdream.@NCTsmtown_DREAM's “Candy” (736K) becomes their highest 1st day of sales on Hanteo, surpassing “Glitch Mode” (703K).2052752.@NCTsmtown_DREAM's “Candy” (736K) becomes their highest 1st day of sales on Hanteo, surpassing “Glitch Mode” (703K). https://t.co/lJ5oumm4ZoCandy is the group's first-ever holiday release. It contains a title track of the same name, which is a remake of a popular H.O.T. song, as well as B-sides Tangerine Love, Take My Breath, Moon, Walk With You, and Graduation.Fans react to NCT DREAM'S nostalgic b-side graduationThe seven-member group had their first official comeback performance at the 2022 KBS Song Festival. They also performed on MBC’s Music Core, giving their fans a treat.However, fans were quick to notice that group members Haechan and Renjun were brought to tears while performing Graduation on Music Core.mah #ThankYouJinni@yamakominNCT DREAM CANDY PERFORMANCE pt1NCT DREAM CANDY PERFORMANCE 💚pt1 https://t.co/Qu0p3pF7DKFor the unversed, the word graduation has a special meaning for NCT DREAM, whose members were originally meant to graduate out of the group once they turn 19 (international age.)Though the system was discontinued, the members said during promotions that their new song will create a new positive meaning for the word and help them "graduate from graduation."ㅎ@Ieemarkeesnct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful225848758nct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful https://t.co/vPbefyJyqQFans reacted emotionally to the track as 2022 would be the year all the original members would have graduated if the system stayed. Praising the band's intentions behind the song, they took to Twitter to share their favorite lyrics from the sentimental song.One fan described it as a "bittersweet song," while another said it felt like a "coming-of-age" story.NANATION ; 나나 🍓@NANATlONThis is such a bittersweet song tbh. Fans that went through those eras would totally understand how painful it felt and the uncertainty we faced. Sweet is because the system has ended and they are back as 7 together as one group twitter.com/ieemarkees/sta…ㅎ@Ieemarkeesgraduation — nct dream6416graduation — nct dream https://t.co/LNAJe3foc0This is such a bittersweet song tbh. Fans that went through those eras would totally understand how painful it felt and the uncertainty we faced. Sweet is because the system has ended and they are back as 7 together as one group twitter.com/ieemarkees/sta…syakela@shakwakaee“this year would’ve been the year there’d be no more og nct dream members if the graduation system stayed” twitter.com/ieemarkees/sta…ㅎ@Ieemarkeesnct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful11nct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful https://t.co/vPbefyJyqQ“this year would’ve been the year there’d be no more og nct dream members if the graduation system stayed” twitter.com/ieemarkees/sta…ana | ia@marceallasneit's giving coming-of-age story and haechan as main character twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…ㅎ@Ieemarkeesnct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful225858758nct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful https://t.co/vPbefyJyqQit's giving coming-of-age story and haechan as main character twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…🌻🐱🐯| Phantom 🎭@markleeswaysI don't even know what to say.. everything about graduation is sad but so so so beautiful. Dreamies their vocals are insane!! I really don't know what to say but 🏾🏾🏾 to them really twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…ㅎ@Ieemarkeesnct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful225858758nct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful https://t.co/vPbefyJyqQI don't even know what to say.. everything about graduation is sad but so so so beautiful. Dreamies their vocals are insane!! I really don't know what to say but 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 to them really 😭 twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…𝓝𝓪𝓵 💐 jfb guys@jeddonq“We’re graduating from graduation” - JENO twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…ㅎ@Ieemarkeesnct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful225848758nct dream's graduation stage is so beautiful https://t.co/vPbefyJyqQ“We’re graduating from graduation” - JENO 🐶💙 twitter.com/Ieemarkees/sta…abita@juxn_kimThose dark nightsRemember, it's only usWhat's left after we let it all go isThe warmth of our hands, and usHelppㅠㅠ twitter.com/captainuwu/sta…Dyva🌸@captainuwuGraduationㅡNCT DREAMLyrics translation"I'm going to send this long night awayBecause I know your love so wellSo I'm not afraid anymore""What's left after we let it all go is,The warmth of our hands, and us."ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ beautiful song ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ48682889GraduationㅡNCT DREAMLyrics translation"I'm going to send this long night awayBecause I know your love so wellSo I'm not afraid anymore""What's left after we let it all go is,The warmth of our hands, and us."ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ beautiful song ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ❤❤❤ https://t.co/Ha6X6t3WaxThose dark nightsRemember, it's only usWhat's left after we let it all go isThe warmth of our hands, and us💚Helppㅠㅠ twitter.com/captainuwu/sta…Despite being a b-side track, Graduation quickly grew to be a fan favorite for the nostalgic sentiment attached to it and surpassed 90,000 real-time listeners on Melon.