"Tempo"
Single by Exo
from the album Don't Mess Up My Tempo
Language
ReleasedNovember 2, 2018 (2018-11-02)
Recorded2018
Studio
  • The Vibe Studio
  • In Grid Studio
Genre
Length3:44
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Producer(s)
Exo singles chronology
"Electric Kiss"
(2018) 		"Tempo"
(2018) 		"Love Shot"
(2018)
Music video
"Tempo (Korean ver.)" on YouTube
"Tempo (Chinese ver.)" on YouTube

"Tempo" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on November 2, 2018, as the lead single of the band's fifth studio album Don't Mess Up My Tempo. The music video was released on the same date. The Chinese version features member Lay, who has been on an extended hiatus since "For Life" in 2016.

Background

"Tempo" was called "a rhythmical hip-hop-leaning dance track that showcases a cappella harmonies as they send warnings not to 'mess up his tempo' with their lover".[2] Billboard stated the preview "starts off with a dramatic synth melody, pulsating beat and the phrase 'I can't believe'."[3] On February 24, 2019, the Korean music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube.[4] Exo promoted the album and song with teasers throughout October 2018, including a 30-second Tempo Concept short film, showing the band as a biker gang, which was a preview of "Tempo".[3]

Accolades

Awards and nominations
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – November Nominated [5]
Soompi Awards Song of the Year Won [6]
MTV Video Music Awards Best K-pop Video Nominated [7]
Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance – Male Group Nominated [8]
Song of the Year Nominated
Music program awards
Program Date
Music Bank November 9, 2018
November 16, 2018
January 4, 2019
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Dazed The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2018 7 [9]
Billboard 18 [10]
SBS PopAsia Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018 21 [11]
BuzzFeed 30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018 12 [12]
The Young Folks The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018 17 [13]
Refinery29 Best K-pop Music Video Moments of 2018 16 [14]

Charts

Credits

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[25]

Studio

Personnel

Sales

Downloads
Region Sales
China (digital)[26] 2,292
Japan (digital)[27] 6,627

References

  1. ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/exo-love-shot-making-of-8491589/amp/
  2. ^ a b "EXO 'warns' not to mess with its tempot". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Herman, Tamar (October 21, 2018). "EXO Turn Into Bikers in 'Tempo' Teaser Video Ahead of New Album's Release". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "'Tempo' 뮤직비디오도 유튜브 조회수 1억뷰 돌파". Smentertainment.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  5. ^ "Winners Of 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards". soompi. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "Winners Of 14th Annual Soompi Awards". soompi. May 31, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  7. ^ Minsker, Evan (July 23, 2019). "MTV VMAs 2019: See The Full List of Nominees Here". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  8. ^ Kim, Dy (October 24, 2019). "2019 MAMA Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  9. ^ Glasby, Taylor (December 17, 2018). "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018". Dazed. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  10. ^ "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018: Critic's Pick". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1". SBS PopAsia. Popasia. December 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  12. ^ "30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018". BuzzFeed. January 2, 2019. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  13. ^ De La Rosa, Mansanares (December 27, 2018). "The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018". The Young Folks. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Morin, Natalie (December 28, 2018). "K-Pop's Fiercest Music Video Moments of 2018". HK01. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 45, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "EXO Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  18. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  19. ^ "Singapore Top 30 International Streaming Chart Week 45" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2018.
  20. ^ "Digital Chart – Week 45 of 2018". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Billboard Kpop Hot 100". Billboard. November 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. November 9–15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Exo Chart History: World Digital Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "2019년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  25. ^ Exo (2018). Don't Mess Up My Tempo (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
  26. ^ Tempo's Cumulative Sales in China:
  27. ^ Tempo's Cumulative Sales in Japan:
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