The War (album)

The War
Korean version digital cover artwork
Studio album by Exo
Released July 18, 2017 (2017-07-18)
September 5, 2017 (2017-09-05) (repackaged edition)
Recorded 2017
Studio SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length 31:35
41:53 (repackaged edition)
Language
Label SM
Producer Lee Soo-man (exec.)
Exo chronology
For Life
(2016)		 The War
(2017)		 EXO PLANET #3-The EXO'rDIUM[dot]
(2017)
Singles from The War
  1. "Ko Ko Bop"
    Released: July 18, 2017
Repackage album cover
Singles from The War: The Power of Music
  1. "Power"
    Released: September 5, 2017

The War is the fourth studio album by South Korean-Chinese boy band Exo. It was released digitally on July 18, 2017 and physically on July 19, 2017 by SM Entertainment under Genie Music's distribution. The album includes a total of nine tracks including the lead single "Ko Ko Bop". The War received the highest number of pre-orders at the time for a K-pop album, at more than 800,000 physical copies.[1] 24 days after being released, it became EXO's fourth consecutive studio album to have sold over a million copies.[2] The album was re-released under the title The War: The Power of Music on September 5, 2017.[3] This was the first Exo release not to feature member Lay, who began an indefinite hiatus shortly before the music video for "Ko Ko Bop" was filmed.[4]

Background and release

On June 15, 2017, it was confirmed by S.M. Entertainment that Exo will be releasing a new album sometime in mid-July.[5][6] On June 23, S.M. Entertainment announced that member Lay would be unable to participate in the production and promotion of the album.[7][8]

On July 8, Exo's official Twitter account was made public, through which S.M. Entertainment revealed the first teaser video for the album. Also on July 8, Exo 's official Instagram account opened by posting the three versions of Exo's new album logo. On July 10, the album's title was announced to be The War.[9]

From July 9 to July 16, the album's track list was revealed one by one through a series of teaser videos each featuring one member. The album and its title track's music video were released on July 18.

SM started releasing teasers of the repackaged edition of the album with the message "The Power of Music". The first teaser titled #Total_Eclipse was released on August 21, 2017 at the same time as when the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 happened.[10][11] The second teaser was released on August 28 titled #Parallel_Universe.[12][13][14]

The third teaser titled "Power #RF_05" was released on August 30.[15] On the same day, the title of the re-packaged album was revealed to be The War: The Power of Music and that it will be released on September 5, 2017 with 12 tracks including the title track "Power".[16][17] SM started releasing teaser images of each member from August 30.[18][19] On August 31, it was revealed that the album will include new three songs "Power", "Sweet Lies", and "Boomerang", along with the original nine songs of The War.[20] On September 4, a poster of the repackaged album and "Power" music video teaser were released.[21][22] The repackaged album and its three new tracks were released on September 5.[3]

Promotion

On July 18, Exo held a press conference in the morning where they expressed their gratefulness for achieving more than 800,000 pre-orders. Chanyeol commented, "I think it's an honor to be making new records throughout our lives. I want to say thank you."[23] The group also held a live broadcast titled "Ko Ko Bop on One Night Summer" where they talked about the album and the music video shooting.[24]

Exo started performing "Ko Ko Bop" and "The Eve" on South Korean music shows on July 20 and ended their promotions on August 13.[25] EXO also performed their new songs in Hong Kong during the SM Town Live World Tour VI on August 5 and during the Music Bank World Tour in Jakarta on September 2.

On September 6, Exo held a mini fan meeting where they performed "Power" for the first time. The group started promoting the repackaged edition The War: The Power of Music by performing "Power" on South Korean music shows on September 7.[20] On September 15, EXO also performed "Ko Ko Bop", "The Eve" and "Power" during Lotte Duty Free Family Festival in Seoul.

Singles

The lead single "Ko Ko Bop" debuted at number one on the Melon Realtime Chart, making them the first K-pop group to enter the chart at the top after chart changes were implemented on February 27, 2017. The other album tracks debuted in the top nine.[26] It was reported that multiple servers crashed, due to the number of fans streaming at the same time.[27] "Ko Ko Bop" additionally topped 155 iTunes charts worldwide, including K-pop charts and general pop charts, as well as all-genre single charts.[28][29]

"Ko Ko Bop" topped Gaon Digital Chart for four non-consecutive weeks. EXO also became the first male group to chart at number one on Gaon for four weeks.[30] The song also ranked number one on the Gaon Monthly Chart for August, making EXO the first group in 2017 and the fifth boy group since 2012 to top the chart.

On September 14, EXO's song "Power" recorded the highest score of all time on M Countdown with 11,000 points, making EXO one of two artists to achieve a perfect score after the system changes were implemented in June 2015. The win also marks their 100th win on music shows.[31]

Commercial performance

The War

Prior to its release, The War received a record-breaking pre-order by retail outlets of 807,235 physical copies, making it the K-pop album with the highest number of pre-orders at that time.[1][32] Within one week after its release, the album sold over 600,000 physical copies and became the fastest-selling recorded by the South Korean album sales chart Hanteo, surpassing the previous record of 522,300 copies also held by Ex'Act.[33] The War topped the Billboard World Album Chart for two consecutive weeks, and the South Korean Gaon Album Chart for three consecutive weeks.[34]

The War reached number one on iTunes in 51 countries in total, including in Israel, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Romania, Philippines, Taiwan, Ireland, Poland, Mexico, and more; 43 countries at the same time.[35] Apple Music selected The War as "The Best of the Week".[36]

According to Osen, Exo have recorded album sales of approximately 1,012,021 copies in the span of 24 days, making The War the second fastest album in Gaon Chart history to achieve this milestone. Exo became the second South Korean artist to achieve four million sellers in a row.[37]

The War: The Power of Music

The War: The Power of Music topped the South Korean Gaon Album Chart for two consecutive weeks.[38][39] Additionally, the Korean and Chinese versions of the album debuted at number one and two respectively on the YinYueTai China Weekly Albums Chart.[40][41]

The album reached number one on iTunes in 41 countries in total, including in Spain, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Hong Kong, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Mexico and Malaysia. The album also made it to the Top 10 on the iTunes charts in 67 countries, including in the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, France and Germany.[42] Additionally, the album topped Xiami Music's K-Pop chart.[43]

Track listing

The War – Korean version
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Eve" (전야 (前夜); Jeonya)Hwang Yoo-bin
2:56
2."Ko Ko Bop"
3:10
3."What U Do?"Kenzie
3:51
4."Forever"Kenzie
3:51
5."Diamond" (다이아몬드; daiamondeu)Jo Yoon-kyung
3:31
6."Touch It" (너의 손짓 neoui sonjit)
  • Kim Jong-dae
  • Jo Yoon-kyung
3:30
7."Chill" (소름; soreum)
  • Park Chanyeol
  • Seo Ji-eum
  • Darius Bryant
  • Julien Maurice Moore
  • G.Soul
  • Tay Jasper
  • Otha "Vakseen" Davis III
  • MZMC
  • Droyd
3:08
8."Walk on Memories" (기억을 걷는 밤; gieogeul geonneun bam)Lee Seu-ran
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Wassily Gradovsky
3:52
9."Going Crazy" (내가 미쳐 naega micheo)
  • JQ
  • Seolim
  • Shim Jae-won
  • Shaun
  • Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III
  • Paul "Marz" Thompson
  • MZMC
  • Otha "Vakseen" Davis III
3:46
Total length:31:35
The War: The Power of Music – Korean version
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Eve" (전야 (前夜); Jeonya)Hwang Yoo-bin
2:56
2."Power"
  • JQ
  • Kim Hye-jung (makeumine works)
  • Greg Bonnick
  • Hayden Chapman
  • James Matthew Norton
  • LDN Noise
3:42
3."Sweet Lies"
3:36
4."Ko Ko Bop"
3:10
5."What U Do?"Kenzie
3:51
6."Forever"Kenzie
  • Kenzie
  • LDN Noise
  • Adrian Mckinnon
3:51
7."Boomerang" (부메랑; Bumelang)Jo Yoon-kyung
3:00
8."Diamond" (다이아몬드; daiamondeu)Jo Yoon-kyung
3:31
9."Touch It" (너의 손짓 neoui sonjit)
3:30
10."Chill" (소름; soreum)
  • Darius Bryant
  • Julien Maurice Moore
  • G.Soul
  • Tay Jasper
  • Otha "Vakseen" Davis III
  • MZMC
  • Droyd
3:08
11."Walk on Memories" (기억을 걷는 밤; gieogeul geonneun bam)Lee Seu-ran
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Wassily Gradovsky
3:52
12."Going Crazy" (내가 미쳐 naega micheo)
  • JQ
  • Seolim
  • Shim Jae-won
  • Shaun
  • Wilbart "Vedo" McCoy III
  • Paul "Marz" Thompson
  • MZMC
  • Otha "Vakseen" Davis III
3:46
Total length:41:53

Charts

Sales

Country Sales Total
The War The War: TPOM
Korean
version		 Chinese
version		 Korean
version		 Chinese
version
China (Xiami)[64] 363,324+191,645+190,456+113,858+ 859,283+
Japan (Oricon)[65] 43,147+7,595+—— 50,742+
South Korea (Gaon)[66] 966,437+133,818+471,476+57,993+ 1,629,724+
US (Billboard)[67] 7,000+—— 7,000+

Awards and nominations

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2017 19th Mnet Asian Music Awards "Ko Ko Bop" Best Male Dance Nominated
"Power" Best Music Video Nominated
The War Qoo10 Album of the Year Won
"Ko Ko Bop" Qoo10 Song of the Year Nominated
9th Melon Music Awards Best Male Dance Won
Song of the Year Nominated
The War Album of the Year Nominated
Interpark Best Book Awards Best Album Won
2018 32nd Golden Disc Awards Disc Bonsang Won
Disc Daesang Nominated
27th Seoul Music Awards The War Bonsang Award Won

Accolades

Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2017 11 [68]

Music program awards

Song Program Date
"Ko Ko Bop" Show Champion (MBC) July 26, 2017
August 2, 2017
M Countdown (Mnet) July 27, 2017
August 3, 2017
August 10, 2017
Music Bank (KBS) July 28, 2017
August 4, 2017
Show! Music Core (MBC) July 29, 2017
August 5, 2017
August 12, 2017
Inkigayo (SBS) July 30, 2017
August 6, 2017
"Power" Show Champion (MBC) September 13, 2017
September 20, 2017
M Countdown (Mnet) September 14, 2017
Music Bank (KBS) September 15, 2017
September 22, 2017
Show! Music Core (MBC) September 16, 2017
September 23, 2017
Inkigayo (SBS) September 17, 2017

Release history

Edition Date Region Format Label
The War July 18, 2017 South Korea Digital download
Worldwide SM Entertainment
July 19, 2017 South Korea CD
July 21, 2017 Japan SM Entertainment
The War: The Power of Music September 5, 2017 South Korea Digital download, CD
Worldwide SM Entertainment

References

  1. 1 2 Park, Soo-in (2017-07-17). "엑소 '더 워', 선주문량 80만장 돌파‥앨범 사상 최다 수치". 헤럴드 팝POP (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  2. ↑ ""넘사벽 원톱"..엑소, 쿼드러플 밀리언셀러 달성..신기록" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  3. 1 2 "EXO Goes All Out Teasing Fans With Upcoming 'Power' Release". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  4. ↑ "[단독] 엑소, 레이 제외한 8인조로 7월 컴백 :: 네이버 TV연예". Naver. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  5. ↑ Kim Won-gyeom (June 16, 2017). "엑소, 7월 새 앨범…1년 만에 컴백". Sports DongA (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  6. ↑ Hwang Mi-hyun (June 6, 2017). "SM "엑소 7월? 여름 컴백 준비 중…일정 미정"". News1 (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  7. ↑ "[단독] 엑소, 레이 제외한 8인조로 7월 컴백" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  8. ↑ "엑소, 레이 없이 8인조 7월 컴백 "레이 中활동 집중"(공식) - 스타뉴스". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  9. ↑ Park Soo-jung (July 10, 2017). "엑소, 7월 18일 정규 4집 컴백..카이 티저 공개". The Korea Herald (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  10. ↑ SMTOWN (2017-08-21), The Power of Music #Total_Eclipse, retrieved 2017-08-30
  11. ↑ "[엑's 이슈] 엑소 新세계관은 개기일식?…'Total Eclipse' 의미심장 티저" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  12. ↑ SMTOWN (2017-08-28), The Power of Music #Parallel_Universe, retrieved 2017-08-30
  13. ↑ "'코코밥'과 완전 다른 분위기…엑소, 리패키지 'Parallel Universe' 티저공개" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  14. ↑ "[V Report Plus] EXO hints at repackaged album via teaser video". Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  15. ↑ SMTOWN (2017-08-29), POWER #RF_05, retrieved 2017-08-30
  16. ↑ ""쿼드러플 '파워'"..엑소, 9월 5일 정규 4집 리패키지 발매" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  17. ↑ "EXO to release repackaged 'The War' on Tuesday". Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  18. ↑ "[공식]엑소 카이X세훈, 리패키지 티저 공개…찬열, 작사 참여" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  19. ↑ ""초능력 POWER"…엑소 시우민·첸, 티저 이미지 공개" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  20. 1 2 "EXO's repackaged edition of 'The War' to include three new songs". Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  21. ↑ "엑소 컴백 D-1, 오늘(4일) '파워' MV 티저 공개." (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  22. ↑ SMTOWN (2017-09-04), EXO_Power_Music Video Teaser, retrieved 2017-09-04
  23. ↑ "[SS현장]엑소, 야외 회견 '비' 돌발변수에 "형, 누나들" 초능력 친화력 선봬". 스포츠서울 (in Korean). 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  24. ↑ "[V라이브 종합] "1억하트 돌파" 엑소, 기록은 계속된다" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  25. ↑ "엑소 측 "20일 '엠카'서 '코코밥' 첫 무대 펼친다"" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  26. ↑ "[엑's 초점] "역시 기록제조기"…엑소, 음원차트 개편 후 1위 진입 최초 아이돌" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  27. ↑ "멜론 멈추게 한 엑소의 힘... '코코밥' 대박 히트 조짐". 한국스포츠경제 (in Korean). 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  28. ↑ "EXO's Ko Ko Bop Tops 155 iTunes Charts Worldwide". 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  29. ↑ "[뮤직톡톡] 엑소, 엑소의 벽 넘었다…역대 초동 기록 경신" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  30. ↑ Gaon Weekly Digital Chart
    • "2017 Gaon Digital Chart - Week 29". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
    • "2017 Gaon Digital Chart - Week 30". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
    • "2017 Gaon Digital Chart - Week 31". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
    • "2017 Gaon Digital Chart - Week 33". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  31. ↑ "엑소, 국내 음악 방송 통산 100회 1위 기록... 신곡 'Power', '엠카운트다운'도 1위 ::" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  32. ↑ ""역사는 시작됐다"…엑소 'THE WAR', 선주문량 80만장 돌파". Osen (in Korean). 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  33. ↑ "[뮤직톡톡] 엑소, 엑소의 벽 넘었다…역대 초동 기록 경신" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  34. ↑ "가요계는 엑소 천하, 정규 4집 'THE WAR' 美 빌보드 월드 앨범 차트 2주 연속 1위" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  35. ↑ "EXO's The War Tops iTunes in 35 Countries". 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  36. ↑ News, Blasting. "Supergroup Exo's new album 'The War' named US Apple Music 'Best of the Week'". Blasting News. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  37. ↑ "[연예수첩] 엑소, 정규 앨범 4장 연속 100만 장 이상 판매 돌파" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-15.
  38. ↑ "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  39. ↑ "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  40. ↑ "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  41. ↑ "周榜 - 专辑销量榜 - 音悦Tai - 让娱乐更美好". vchart.yinyuetai.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  42. ↑ "역시 엑소 '파워'…전세계 아이튠즈 33개국 1위" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  43. ↑ "엑소, 리패키지도 파워↑..가온 앨범 종합 차트 1위" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  44. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "YinYueTai Album Charts - July, 2017". July 17–23, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
    • "YinYueTai Album Charts - September, 2017". September 4–10, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  45. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "French Album Charts – Week 29, 2017". July 21, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
    • "French Album Charts – Week 36, 2017". September 8, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  46. ↑ Chated versions:
    • "Oricon Weekly Charts - The War (Chinese Version)". July 25, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
    • "Oricon Weekly Charts - The War (Korean Version)". September 18, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  47. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "Oricon Western Albums Weekly Chart - The War (Korean Ver.)". July 31, 2017. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
    • "Oricon Western Albums Weekly Chart - The War (Chinese Ver.)". August 7, 2017. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  48. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "The War - 2017 Gaon Album Chart - Week 29". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
    • "The War: The Power of Music - 2017 Gaon Album Chart - Week 36". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Oricon Monthly Charts, July, 2017". Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  50. ↑ "Oricon Western Albums Montlhy Chart - July, 2017". Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  51. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "The War - Gaon Album Chart - July, 2017". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-11.
    • "The War: The Power of Music - Gaon Album Chart – September, 2017". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  52. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart – Year 2017". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  53. ↑ "World Albums Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  54. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Exo – The War - The 4th Album" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  55. ↑ "Exo Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  56. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Téléchargés". SNEP. July 21, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
    • "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Téléchargés". SNEP. September 8, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  57. ↑ Charted versions:
    • "The War - Billboard's Japan Hot Albums". July 31, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
    • "The Power of Music - Billboard's Japan Hot Albums". September 18, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  58. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  59. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  60. ↑ "UK Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Recorded Music NZ. July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Exo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  62. ↑ "Exo Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  63. ↑ "Exo Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  64. ↑ Cumulative sales for The War:
    • "Xiami Music: The War (Korean Version)". Xiami (in Chinese). September 3, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
    • "Xiami Music: The War (Chinese Version)". Xiami Music (in Chinese). Xiami. September 3, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
    • "Xiami Music: The War: The Power of Music (Korean Version)". Xiami (in Chinese). September 9, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
    • "Xiami Music: The War: The Power of Music (Chinese Version)". Xiami (in Chinese). September 9, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  65. ↑ "재팬 - 오리콘 위클리 싱글/앨범/DVD/블루레이 차트 1~100위 (갱신완료)". theqoo.net (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  66. ↑ Cumulative sales for The War and The War: The Power of Music:
    • "2017 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
    • "2017 Album Chart (Foreign)". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
    • "July 2018 Album Chart". Gaon Album Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2018.
    • "July 2018 Album Chart (Foreign)". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  67. ↑ "EXO Soar to New High on Billboard 200 With 'The War'". July 24, 2017.
  68. ↑ Tamar, Herman (December 14, 2017). "The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
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