Tempo (Exo song)

"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.

"Tempo"
Single by Exo
from the album Don't Mess Up My Tempo
Released	November 2, 2018
Genre	Dance[1] progressive pop
Length	3:44
Label	SM iriver
Producer(s)	Jamil "Digi" Chammas
Exo singles chronology
"Electric Kiss" (2018) "Tempo" (2018) "Love Shot" (2018)
Music video
"Tempo (Korean ver.)" on YouTube "Tempo (Chinese ver.)" on YouTube

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".[1] Billboard stated the preview "starts off with a dramatic synth melody, pulsating beat and the phrase 'I can't believe'."[2] On February 24, 2019, the Korean music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube.[3] 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".[2]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018) Peak position France (SNEP)[4] 182 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[5] 26 Malaysia (RIM)[6] 2 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[7] 25 Singapore (RIAS)[8] 11 South Korea (Gaon)[9] 4 South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[10] 1 UK Indie (OCC)[11] 27 US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[12] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2019) Position South Korea (Gaon)[13] 101

Sales

Downloads

Region	Sales
China (digital)[14]	2,292
Japan (digital)[15]	6,627

Awards and nominations

Awards Year Organization Award Result Ref. 2019 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – November Nominated [16] 14th Annual Soompi Awards Song of the Year Won [17] 36th MTV Video Music Awards Best K-pop Nominated [18] 21st Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance – Male Group Nominated [19] Song of the Year Nominated Year-end lists Critic/Publication List Rank Ref. Dazed The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2018 7 [20] Billboard 18 [21] SBS PopAsia Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018 21 [22] BuzzFeed 30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018 12 [23] Korea Portal Top 10 K-Pop Songs Of 2018 7 [24] The Young Folks The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018 17 [25] HK01 20 Must Listen to K-Pop Songs of 2018 17 [26] Refinery29 Best Kpop Music Video Moments of 2018 16 [27] Spotify Best of 2018: K-Pop 3 [28] Music program awards Program Date Music Bank (KBS) November 9, 2018 November 16, 2018 January 4, 2019 References http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/11/02/exo-warns-not-to-mess-with-its-tempo.html https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8480933/exo-tempo-teaser-video-new-album "'Tempo' 뮤직비디오도 유튜브 조회수 1억뷰 돌파". SM Entertainment. Retrieved 2019-02-26. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 45, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 13, 2018. "EXO Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2018. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved November 13, 2018. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018. "Singapore Top 30 International Streaming Chart Week 45" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2018. "Digital Chart – Week 45 of 2018". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 15, 2018. "Billboard Kpop Hot 100". Billboard. November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 February 2019. "Exo Chart History: World Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2018. "2019년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 30, 2019. Tempo's Cumulative Sales in China: "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 5, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 12, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 26, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. December 3, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. December 17, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019. Tempo's Cumulative Sales in Japan: "2018/11/12 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018. "2018/11/19 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018. "2018/11/26 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018. "2018/12/03 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018. "2018/12/10 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018. "Winners Of 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards". soompi. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019. "Winners Of 14th Annual Soompi Awards". soompi. May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019. Minsker, Evan (July 23, 2019). "MTV VMAs 2019: See The Full List of Nominees Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2019. Kim, Dy (October 24, 2019). "2019 MAMA Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. Retrieved October 25, 2019. Glasby, Taylor (December 17, 2018). "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018". Dazed. Retrieved December 18, 2018. "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018: Critic's Pick". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018. "PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1". SBS PopAsia. Popasia. December 24, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2019. "30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed News. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019. Rapir, Jessica (December 21, 2018). "Top 10 K-Pop Songs Of 2018: BTS's 'Fake Love,' Red Velvet's 'Bad Boy,' iKON's 'Love Scenario,' BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' & More". Korea Portal. Retrieved December 30, 2018. De La Rosa, Mansanares (December 27, 2018). "The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018". The Young Folks. Retrieved December 30, 2018. Yuyuan, Li (December 31, 2018). "盤點2018年20首必聽k-pop冠軍歌 　BTS、EXO等天王之年". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved January 5, 2019. Morin, Natalie (December 28, 2018). "K-Pop's Fiercest Music Video Moments of 2018". HK01. Retrieved January 10, 2019. "Best of 2018: K-Pop". Spotify. Retrieved May 10, 2019.