Obsession (Exo song)

"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.

"Obsession"
Single by Exo
from the album Obsession
Language	Korean Mandarin
Released	November 27, 2019
Recorded	2019
Studio	SM LVYIN (Seoul)
Genre	K-pop hip hop R&B
Length	3:23
Label	SM Dreamus
Composer(s)	Cristi "Stalone" Gallo Asia'h Epperson Adrian McKinnon Dwayne Allen Abernathy, Jr. Ryan S. Jhun Yoo Young-jin
Lyricist(s)	Kenzie Arys Chien
Producer(s)	Dem Jointz
Exo singles chronology
"Bird" (2019) "Obsession" (2019) "Don't Fight the Feeling" (2021)
Music video
"Obsession" on YouTube

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

The music video was directed by labelmate Shindong.^[2]

On August 12, 2020, the music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, becoming their eleventh to do so.^[3]

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.^[4][5]

Accolades

Awards

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	MTV Video Music Awards	Best K-pop	Nominated	[6]
	Mnet Asian Music Awards	Best Dance Performance – Male Group	Nominated	[7]

Year-end lists

Critic/Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Billboard	The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019	1	[8]
Dazed	The 20 best K-pop songs of 2019	13	[9]
Refinery29		16	[10]
BuzzFeed	Best K-pop Music Videos of 2019	2	[11]

Music program awards

Program	Date	Ref.
Music Bank	December 6, 2019	[12]
	December 13, 2019	[13]
Show! Music Core	December 7, 2019	[14]
	December 14, 2019	[15]
Show Champion	December 11, 2019	[16]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[17]

Studio

• SM LVYIN Studio – recording, digital editing
• SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing
• 821 Sound – mastering

Personnel

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Lee Soo-man – producer
• Lee Sung-soo – production director
• Exo – vocals
  • Baekhyun – background vocals
  • Chen – background vocals
• Kenzie – Korean lyrics, vocal directing
• Arys Chien – Chinese lyrics
• Dem Jointz – producer, composition, arrangement
• Cristi "Stalone" Gallo – composition, background vocals
• Asia'h Epperson – composition
• Adrian McKinnon – composition
• Ryan S. Jhun – composition
• Yoo Young-jin – composition, music and sound supervisor
• Lee Ji-hong – recording, digital editing, engineered for mix
• Noh Min-ji – recording
• Jung Eui-seok – mixing
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Obsession" Chart (2019) Peak position Japan (Japan Hot 100)[18] 33 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 21 Singapore (RIAS Regional)[20] 5 South Korea (Gaon)[21] 13 South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[22] 5 UK Indie Breakers (OCC)[23] 17 US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[24] 1

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for "Obsession" Chart (2019) Peak position South Korea (Gaon)[25] 26 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Obsession" Chart (2020) Position South Korea (Gaon)[26] 151

Sales

Sales for "Obsession"

Region	Sales
Japan[27]	5,099
United States[28]	2,000

Release history

Release history for "Obsession"

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	November 27, 2019	Digital download streaming	SM Dreamus
Various			SM