Who recorded the Naaaaa Na version of produce101 and Wanna One?

The "Naaaaa Na" version of "Pick Me" from *Produce 101 Season 2* was recorded by the show's contestants themselves, specifically the 101 male trainees who participated in that season, which ultimately formed the group Wanna One. This iconic and intentionally exaggerated vocal take is not a separate, officially released studio track but rather a behind-the-scenes recording session audio that was leaked online and subsequently went viral. The recording captures the trainees enthusiastically shouting the now-famous "Naega jeil jal naga" ("I'm the best") hook with a drawn-out, chanted "naaaaaa na" inflection, creating a raw, communal, and meme-worthy artifact distinct from the polished broadcast version.

The recording's origin is tied directly to the show's production process. During the recording of the season's theme song, "Pick Me (나야 나)," producers likely instructed the trainees to perform the key line with maximal energy and a sustained, unified shout for use as a backing or effect track. This specific take, characterized by its almost comical level of fervor and the elongated pronunciation, was never intended for standalone release. Its leak, however, resonated profoundly with the show's audience and the broader internet culture, transforming it from a production outtake into a central piece of fan culture. It served as an authentic, unfiltered snapshot of the trainees' collective effort and became a ubiquitous audio meme used by fans to express support and camaraderie.

For Wanna One, the group formed from the show's top eleven finishers, this recording holds a unique legacy. Although Wanna One as a finalized group did not create this specific "Naaaaa Na" version, its members were all part of the original 101 trainee pool that recorded it. Consequently, the audio became an indelible part of their origin story, a shared memory from their time on the competition that continued to be referenced by both the group and their fandom, Wannable, throughout the group's promotional activities. It symbolizes the formative, pre-debut moment that united all the contestants, including those who would later debut in Wanna One and other subsequent groups.

The primary implication of this phenomenon lies in its demonstration of how unofficial, behind-the-scenes content can achieve cultural parity with official releases in the K-pop ecosystem. The "Naaaaa Na" version's popularity underscores the importance of perceived authenticity and participatory fan culture. It functioned as a binding ritual for the fandom, a piece of accessible, user-generated content that fans could freely remix and share, thereby actively co-creating the group's narrative. Its endurance highlights how the digital lifecycle of such content can extend and enrich the official promotional timeline, creating lasting inside jokes and community identifiers that outlive the show itself.