Maps of Music

Obsession (2019)

Where the lyrics of Obsession take you, and where it was really made.

The album was released while the group was split: two members were serving mandatory military service and one was promoting solo work in China.

Key places

Recording studio in Seoul (2019)

Recording site doobdoob Studio — The album is linked to Doobdoob in Seoul as its recording location, the studio listed for this release. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Obsession is the sixth studio album by South Korean boy band Exo
• Released 27 November 2019 by SM Entertainment
• Pre-order began 1 November, available in three versions: EXO, X-EXO, and Obsession
• The Obsession version was released 4 December
• Ten tracks, including the lead single "Obsession"

Background

• Sixth Korean studio album and seventh overall
• Follows the studio album repackage Love Shot, released December 2018
• First album without Xiumin and D.O., who were completing mandatory military service
• Promoted as a six-member group; Lay was promoting solo activities in China
• The group's most recent album to contain a Chinese version of the lead single
• Title track "Obsession" is a hip hop dance song with repeating spell-like vocal samples and a prominent heavy beat
• "Trouble" is a dance song with trap and reggae elements, about falling deeply for someone with no exit
• "Jekyll" is a dance pop song with heavy drums, 808 bass, and dynamic vocal composition
• "Groove" is a song with strings, flute, and a rhythmical chorus
• "Ya Ya Ya" is a hip hop dance song with heavy 808 bass and an addictive chorus
• "Baby You Are" is a dance pop song with a romantic vibe and folk instrumentation
• "Non Stop" is a dance-funk song with prominent brass and guitar
• Comeback showcase Exo The Stage was held 29 November, where the lead single was performed for the first time

Recording

• Recording location linked to Doobdoob in Seoul

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed by SM Entertainment in 2011, debuted in 2012 as a South Korean-Chinese boy band based in Seoul.
• Debuted with twelve members split into Exo-K and Exo-M, performing in Korean and Mandarin respectively.
• Kris, Luhan, and Tao left the group individually amid legal disputes with SM Entertainment in 2014 and 2015.
• Exo has performed exclusively as one group since the 2014 EP Overdose, though its music continues to use multiple languages.

Members

• The group currently consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun.
• Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin formed the sub-unit Exo-CBX in 2016; Sehun and Chanyeol formed Exo-SC in 2019.

Career

• The first studio album XOXO (2013) sold over one million copies, making Exo the first Korean act to do so in twelve years.
• Exist (2023) is their best selling album in South Korea, with over 2 million copies sold.
• Exo won five consecutive Album of the Year awards at the MAMA Awards and two consecutive Artist of the Year awards at the Melon Music Awards.
• Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018) became their highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200, debuting at number 23.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Billboard ranked Obsession the 4th best K-pop album of 2019
• MTV included "Baby You Are" in its list of the best K-pop B-sides of 2019
• BuzzFeed mentioned "Groove" in its year-end list of K-pop releases that helped define the year
• Billboard's ranking placed the album fourth among K-pop albums of 2019
• The MTV and BuzzFeed mentions both came from lists compiled at the end of 2019, the year of release

Records

• Released 27 November 2019 by SM Entertainment
• Pre-order began 1 November 2019
• Sixth Korean studio album and seventh overall for the group
• Ten tracks, including the lead single "Obsession"
• Three versions: EXO, X-EXO, and Obsession, the last released 4 December
• The lead single has a Chinese version on the album
• First release by the group as six members, without Xiumin and D.O., who were serving mandatory military service
• Lay was promoting solo activities in China at the time

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Ya Ya Ya" samples SWV's "You're the One" from 1996.
• "Obsession" was performed for the first time at the Exo The Stage showcase on 29 November.
• Lay was promoting solo activities in China while the album was being promoted.
• Xiumin and D.O. were completing mandatory military service during the album's release.
• "Trouble" is one of the tracks that mixes trap and reggae elements.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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