"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
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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]
On August 12, 2020, the music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube , becoming their eleventh to do so.[ 2]
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]
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]
Credits and personnel
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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[ 16]
Studio
Personnel
^ " '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 .
^ "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 .
^ " "K-POP KING" EXO, The 6th Album "OBSESSION" Comeback Countdown!" . SM Entertainment . Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ "2020 MAMA Nominees" . mama.mwave.me . Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-10-29 .
^ "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 .
^ "The 20 best K-pop songs of 2019" . Dazed . December 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ "Best K-pop Music Videos of 2019" . BuzzFeed . January 1, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2020 .
^ " '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 .
^ " '뮤직뱅크' 엑소, '옵세션' 방송 출연없이 1위..박진영김재환스트레이키즈 컴백(종합)" . Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019 .
^ "엑소, '음악중심' 1위.."엑소엘 사랑한다" " . 10asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2019 .
^ " '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 .
^ "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 .
^ Exo (2019). Obsession (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment ; Dreamus . Credits.
^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2019/12/9" . Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2019 .
^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart" . Recorded Music NZ . December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2019 .
^ "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 .
^ "Digital Chart – Week 48 of 2019" . Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2019 .
^ "Billboard Kpop Hot 100" . Billboard . December 7, 2019. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020 .
^ "Official Independent Singles Breakers Chart Top 20" . officialcharts.com . Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2020 .
^ "Exo Chart History: World Digital Song Sales" . Billboard . Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2019 .
^ "Gaon Digital Chart - December 2019" . Gaon Music Chart . Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2020 .
^ "2020년 Digital Chart" . Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021 .
^ Cumulative sales for "Obsession":
^ "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 .