An Introduction to EXO for blue_ant
So...you really didn't ask for this, but I kind of volunteered to do this bc EXO has really GOOD music. They fuck up, and there has been no shortage of drama and as with most SM groups (except SHINee) their fandom is fucking bonkers. I don't involve myself with EXO-L's, I just enjoy the music and the visuals.
WARNING - MEDIA HEAVY POST
EXO - 12 member boy group from SM Entertainment
Split into 2 groups of 6.
EXO-K Korean promotions
EXO-M (Mandarin) Chinese promotions
Members:
EXO-K
Suho (Leader, vocal line) - '91-liner, trained in SM for 7yrs before debut.
Baekhyun (Lead vocal) - '92-liner, part of the "Beagle Line", also starred in the theater version of "Singing in the Rain" to very good reviews.
D.O (Lead Vocal) - '93-liner, made his acting debut in 2014 in the hit SBS drama "It's Okay, That's Love" and has since been rated as one of the best idol actors ♥
Kai (Main Dancer/Rapper) - '94-liner, the "Dancing Machine" of the group, starred in the webtoon "Choco Bank".
Sehun (Dancer/Rapper) - The Maknae '94-liner, doesn't get many lines, but was a Ulzzang before being recruited by SM scouts.
Chanyeol (Rapper) - '92-liner, also a member of the "Beagle Line", writes and composes his own songs, is considered the 'Happy Virus' of EXO.
EXO-M
Kris (Leader/Rapper) - '90-liner, known for his 'cool city guy' persona, height and gigantic yaoi hands, left group in 2014, currently working in China filming movies, and appeared in a few fashion shows as a model.
Chen (Main Vocal) - '92-liner, OST King, part of SM's Dino Line (see: Kim Jonghyun, Donghae and Amber), third member of EXO Beagle Line. Appeared on King of Masked Singers.
Xiumin (Vocal) - the oldest member of EXO '89-liner, 'Hot Trend Hyung' (basically his name trends on Naver whenever he sneezes), also, nearly killed EXO-L's with his shirtless body rolling.
Luhan (Main Vocal) - '90-liner, was famous in China before being recruited by SM scouts while walking around Seoul, left group after Kris in 2014. Recently released a few singles.
Lay (Main Dancer, vocal line) - '91-liner, was a childhood star in China before being recruited by SM. He is the last remaining Chinese member of EXO.
Tao (Dancer/Rapper) - '93-liner, the maknae (in all of EXO, not just M), trained in martial arts from a young age, the latest member to leave the group (2015).
[THE MUSIC OF EXO]
THE MUSIC
[MAMA ERA]If you were into Kpop in 2012, it was hard to miss the seventeen million teasers SM released before EXO's official debut. If you choose, you can view the playlist of all 23 teasers HERE. There are quite a few of Kai ♥♥
Their prelease single was "What is Love" - the MV features all the members, but D.O and Baekhyun are the only 2 who actually sing the Korean version. Luhan and Chen sing the Mandarin version:
Mandarin version:
Their official debut was MAMA...which includes a supposed story of EXO and EXO planet. Many have tried to decipher the spoken intro, but really it's just a bunch of gobbly-gook to explain why SM gave the members powers. Interested in their powers? Click HERE.
As with the rest of EXO's releases there's a K and M version:
Korean:
Mandarin:
Their debut stage was...interesting. The MR Removed version is good for a good giggle, but now hard to find.
The follow up release was History and like the song MAMA, the lyrics have meaning beyond the typical sappy, love song lyrics of most kpop.
Korean Version:
Mandarin Version:
The debut album MAMA was only a mini, but featured solid tracks like Machine, Angel and Two Moons a rap track with members Kai, Chanyeol and Sehun, which features SHINee's Key.
[WOLF/GROWL ERA]In 2013 they came back with a full album 'XOXO' - with the title track 'Wolf'...I have nothing to add about this, because...well take a gander at the lyrics.
And the videos...
Korean:
Mandarin:
They also released drama versions...
The follow up track for their repkg of 'XOXO' was Growl, and it was a HUGE success:
Korean:
Mandarin:
At this point I feel I should mention, all of EXO is included in the MV versions of their releases. K and M both sing on the tracks for the MV's, but the album versions only include the members of either K or M.
'XOXO' was a pretty solid album, but it was obvious SM was still feeling out what genre of music EXO should lean towards. There were tracks like 3.6.5. that just didn't match with the rest of the album
But some shining stars on the B-side include:
Bonus:
I really want to know who choreographed all this hip thrusting for EXO istg
[MIRACLES IN DECEMBER mini-ERA]At the end of 2013 they released a Christmas album, 'Miracles in December'. The only miracle was the fact that they were still standing after a year long promotion.
The same name title track was met with high praise, but the stand out on the album was really 'My Turn to Cry' sung by D.O, Chen and Baekhyun:
As well as 'Christmas Day'. Here's the live version, with the RUDE choreo:
Bonus with Kai solo dance:
[OVERDOSE ERA]2014...the year it all started to fall apart.
EXO came back with the much anticipated mini album 'Overdose' (oh the irony).
Title song was 'Overdose':
Korean:
Madarin:
Other fandom loved songs include:
Promotions seemed pretty short, as the exodus from EXO began. First with Kris and later in the year Luahn. Both citing poor treatment and health problems from inadequate care from SM and SM staff.
[EXODUS/LOVE ME RIGHT ERA]Amidst the clusterfuck that was EXO and the fandom, they somehow kept touring and working on their 2nd full length album...aptly named EXODUS.
Title track- 'Call Me Baby'
Korean:
Mandarin:
I'm not gonna lie, this album was straight fire. Tracks like Transformer, What If..., My Answer, Exodus, El Dorado, Playboy (written by SHINee's Jonghyun), Hurt, Beautiful and Lady Luck (ok that's the entire album...#sorrynotsorry), honestly made CMB seem like a joke.
They released a repackaged as well - 'Love Me Right' that included new tracks Love Me Right, Tender Love, First Love and EXO 2014. All pretty solid.
The MV for LMR is trippy and makes no sense. Neither did the styling in the teasers.
Korean:
Mandarin:
[SING FOR YOU ERA]And rounding out 2015, EXO released another Christmas album, 'Sing for You'...which also included a promotional track for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Korean:
Mandarin:
I don't know if it's a Korean thing or an SM/EXO theme to release these depressing ass songs for Christmas, but they need to STOP.
The promo/collab track for Star Wars only features Kai, Sehun and Baekhyun, though all members appear on the track.
As of 2016 SM hasn't released any news about an EXO comeback, instead concentrating on solo activities (how are we still alive after Taemin???) and their hoobae group Red Velvet.
EXO - MAMA was the first kpop album I ever purchased, so I have a special place in my heart for these idiots...though they fuck up quite often (especially during their freshman year).
I hope you enjoy the best thing about EXO (imho) their music. SM is good at this pop/R&B sound and seem to have found a group of voices that fit their sound well.
WARNING - MEDIA HEAVY POST
EXO - 12 member boy group from SM Entertainment
Split into 2 groups of 6.
EXO-K Korean promotions
EXO-M (Mandarin) Chinese promotions
Members:
EXO-K
Suho (Leader, vocal line) - '91-liner, trained in SM for 7yrs before debut.
Baekhyun (Lead vocal) - '92-liner, part of the "Beagle Line", also starred in the theater version of "Singing in the Rain" to very good reviews.
D.O (Lead Vocal) - '93-liner, made his acting debut in 2014 in the hit SBS drama "It's Okay, That's Love" and has since been rated as one of the best idol actors ♥
Kai (Main Dancer/Rapper) - '94-liner, the "Dancing Machine" of the group, starred in the webtoon "Choco Bank".
Sehun (Dancer/Rapper) - The Maknae '94-liner, doesn't get many lines, but was a Ulzzang before being recruited by SM scouts.
Chanyeol (Rapper) - '92-liner, also a member of the "Beagle Line", writes and composes his own songs, is considered the 'Happy Virus' of EXO.
EXO-M
Kris (Leader/Rapper) - '90-liner, known for his 'cool city guy' persona, height and gigantic yaoi hands, left group in 2014, currently working in China filming movies, and appeared in a few fashion shows as a model.
Chen (Main Vocal) - '92-liner, OST King, part of SM's Dino Line (see: Kim Jonghyun, Donghae and Amber), third member of EXO Beagle Line. Appeared on King of Masked Singers.
Xiumin (Vocal) - the oldest member of EXO '89-liner, 'Hot Trend Hyung' (basically his name trends on Naver whenever he sneezes), also, nearly killed EXO-L's with his shirtless body rolling.
Luhan (Main Vocal) - '90-liner, was famous in China before being recruited by SM scouts while walking around Seoul, left group after Kris in 2014. Recently released a few singles.
Lay (Main Dancer, vocal line) - '91-liner, was a childhood star in China before being recruited by SM. He is the last remaining Chinese member of EXO.
Tao (Dancer/Rapper) - '93-liner, the maknae (in all of EXO, not just M), trained in martial arts from a young age, the latest member to leave the group (2015).
[THE MUSIC OF EXO]
THE MUSIC
[MAMA ERA]If you were into Kpop in 2012, it was hard to miss the seventeen million teasers SM released before EXO's official debut. If you choose, you can view the playlist of all 23 teasers HERE. There are quite a few of Kai ♥♥
Their prelease single was "What is Love" - the MV features all the members, but D.O and Baekhyun are the only 2 who actually sing the Korean version. Luhan and Chen sing the Mandarin version:
Click to view
Mandarin version:
Their official debut was MAMA...which includes a supposed story of EXO and EXO planet. Many have tried to decipher the spoken intro, but really it's just a bunch of gobbly-gook to explain why SM gave the members powers. Interested in their powers? Click HERE.
As with the rest of EXO's releases there's a K and M version:
Korean:
Mandarin:
Their debut stage was...interesting. The MR Removed version is good for a good giggle, but now hard to find.
The follow up release was History and like the song MAMA, the lyrics have meaning beyond the typical sappy, love song lyrics of most kpop.
Korean Version:
Mandarin Version:
The debut album MAMA was only a mini, but featured solid tracks like Machine, Angel and Two Moons a rap track with members Kai, Chanyeol and Sehun, which features SHINee's Key.
[WOLF/GROWL ERA]In 2013 they came back with a full album 'XOXO' - with the title track 'Wolf'...I have nothing to add about this, because...well take a gander at the lyrics.
And the videos...
Korean:
Mandarin:
They also released drama versions...
The follow up track for their repkg of 'XOXO' was Growl, and it was a HUGE success:
Korean:
Mandarin:
At this point I feel I should mention, all of EXO is included in the MV versions of their releases. K and M both sing on the tracks for the MV's, but the album versions only include the members of either K or M.
'XOXO' was a pretty solid album, but it was obvious SM was still feeling out what genre of music EXO should lean towards. There were tracks like 3.6.5. that just didn't match with the rest of the album
But some shining stars on the B-side include:
Bonus:
I really want to know who choreographed all this hip thrusting for EXO istg
[MIRACLES IN DECEMBER mini-ERA]At the end of 2013 they released a Christmas album, 'Miracles in December'. The only miracle was the fact that they were still standing after a year long promotion.
The same name title track was met with high praise, but the stand out on the album was really 'My Turn to Cry' sung by D.O, Chen and Baekhyun:
As well as 'Christmas Day'. Here's the live version, with the RUDE choreo:
Bonus with Kai solo dance:
[OVERDOSE ERA]2014...the year it all started to fall apart.
EXO came back with the much anticipated mini album 'Overdose' (oh the irony).
Title song was 'Overdose':
Korean:
Madarin:
Other fandom loved songs include:
Promotions seemed pretty short, as the exodus from EXO began. First with Kris and later in the year Luahn. Both citing poor treatment and health problems from inadequate care from SM and SM staff.
[EXODUS/LOVE ME RIGHT ERA]Amidst the clusterfuck that was EXO and the fandom, they somehow kept touring and working on their 2nd full length album...aptly named EXODUS.
Title track- 'Call Me Baby'
Korean:
Mandarin:
I'm not gonna lie, this album was straight fire. Tracks like Transformer, What If..., My Answer, Exodus, El Dorado, Playboy (written by SHINee's Jonghyun), Hurt, Beautiful and Lady Luck (ok that's the entire album...#sorrynotsorry), honestly made CMB seem like a joke.
They released a repackaged as well - 'Love Me Right' that included new tracks Love Me Right, Tender Love, First Love and EXO 2014. All pretty solid.
The MV for LMR is trippy and makes no sense. Neither did the styling in the teasers.
Korean:
Mandarin:
[SING FOR YOU ERA]And rounding out 2015, EXO released another Christmas album, 'Sing for You'...which also included a promotional track for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Korean:
Mandarin:
I don't know if it's a Korean thing or an SM/EXO theme to release these depressing ass songs for Christmas, but they need to STOP.
The promo/collab track for Star Wars only features Kai, Sehun and Baekhyun, though all members appear on the track.
As of 2016 SM hasn't released any news about an EXO comeback, instead concentrating on solo activities (how are we still alive after Taemin???) and their hoobae group Red Velvet.
EXO - MAMA was the first kpop album I ever purchased, so I have a special place in my heart for these idiots...though they fuck up quite often (especially during their freshman year).
I hope you enjoy the best thing about EXO (imho) their music. SM is good at this pop/R&B sound and seem to have found a group of voices that fit their sound well.