"Obsession"
Single by Exo
from the album Obsession
ReleasedNovember 27, 2019
Recorded2019
StudioSM LVYIN Studio, Seoul
Genre
Length3:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dem Jointz
Exo singles chronology
"Bird"
(2019) 		"Obsession"
(2019) 		"Don't Fight the Feeling"
(2021)
Music video
"Obsession" on YouTube

"Obsession" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on November 27, 2019, as the lead single of their sixth studio album Obsession. The music video was released on the same date.

Background and composition

Produced by Dem Jointz, who also co-wrote with Cristi "Stalone" Gallo, Asia'h Epperson, Ryan S. Jhun, Adrian McKinnon, Arys Chien, Kenzie and Yoo Young-jin, "Obsession" is described as a hip-hop dance track featuring repeating spell-like vocal samples over a heavy beat, as well as an addictive R&B infused chorus. The lyrics convey a straightforward monologue of ones willingness to escape from the darkness of an awful obsession.[1]

Music video

On August 12, 2020, the music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, becoming their eleventh to do so.[2]

Promotion

Exo promoted the album and song with teasers throughout November 2019, including a minute-long EXODEUX concept trailer, which showcases the member's "X-Exo" alter-ego's, as well as a music video teaser which was released 6 hours before the music video.[3][4]

Accolades

Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2020 MTV Video Music Awards Best K-pop Nominated [5]
Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance – Male Group Nominated [6]
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019 1 [7]
Dazed The 20 best K-pop songs of 2019 13 [8]
Refinery29 16 [9]
BuzzFeed Best K-pop Music Videos of 2019 2 [10]
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Music Bank (KBS) December 6, 2019 [11]
December 13, 2019 [12]
Show! Music Core (MBC) December 7, 2019 [13]
December 14, 2019 [14]
Show Champion (MBC) December 11, 2019 [15]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] 33
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] 21
Singapore (RIAS Regional)[18] 5
South Korea (Gaon)[19] 13
South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[20] 5
UK Independent Singles Breakers (OCC)[21] 17
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[22] 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[23] 26

Year-end charts

Chart (2020) Position
South Korea (Gaon)[24] 151

Sales

Region Sales
Japan[25] 5,099
United States[26] 2,000

Credits

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[27]

Studio

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "'왕의 귀환' 엑소, 27일 정규 6집 발매 "타이틀곡 'Obsession'"". Naver (in Korean). November 11, 2019. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "톱스타뉴스 "1억뷰 넘어서 10억뷰까지"…엑소(EXO) 'Obsession' 뮤직비디오, 역대 11번째로 1억뷰 돌파". topstarnews. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  3. ^ ""K-POP KING" EXO, The 6th Album "OBSESSION" Comeback Countdown!". SM Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Herman, Tamar (November 7, 2019). "EXO Prepare to Fight in Captivating Concept Trailer Video For 'Obsession' Album: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Hosken, Patrick (July 30, 2020). "Your 2020 VMA Nominations Are Here: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, And The Weeknd Lead The Pack". Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "2020 MAMA Nominees". mama.mwave.me. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  7. ^ "The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 29, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "The 20 best K-pop songs of 2019". Dazed. December 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Morin, Natalie (December 19, 2019). "The Best K-Pop Songs Of 2019". Refinery29. Archived from the original on January 7, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Best K-pop Music Videos of 2019". BuzzFeed. January 1, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "'뮤직뱅크' 엑소, '옵세션' 컴백과 동시 1위…"연말 책임지겠다" [종합]". mydaily.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 20, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "'뮤직뱅크' 엑소, '옵세션' 방송 출연없이 1위..박진영김재환스트레이키즈 컴백(종합)". Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  13. ^ "엑소, '음악중심' 1위.."엑소엘 사랑한다"". 10asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  14. ^ "'음악중심' 엑소 'Obsession', 2주 연속 1위 …박진영·스키즈 컴백 [종합]". xportsnews (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "엑소, 2019년 마지막 '쇼챔피언'서 1위…세정·리미트리스 컴백 [종합]". xportsnews (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2019/12/9". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  18. ^ "Singapore Top 30 Regional Streaming Chart Week 49". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Digital Chart – Week 48 of 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "Billboard Kpop Hot 100". Billboard. December 7, 2019. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  21. ^ "Official Independent Singles Breakers Chart Top 20". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "Exo Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart - December 2019". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  24. ^ "2020년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  25. ^ Cumulative sales for "Obsession":
  26. ^ "EXO's 'Obsession' Leads K-Pop Group to Fourth Billboard 200 Entry, No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  27. ^ Exo (2019). Obsession (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
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