Exist (album)

Exist is the seventh studio album by South Korean boy band Exo. It was released on July 10, 2023, by SM Entertainment. Exist is the group's first album to be promoted as a seven-member group, as member Kai is currently undergoing mandatory military service^[2] The album features vocal performances from all eight Korean members, including Kai.^[3]

Exist
Digital cover
Studio album by Exo
Released	July 10, 2023 (2023-07-10)
Genre	K-pop R&B
Length	28:25
Language	Korean
Label	SM Kakao
Exo chronology
Don't Fight the Feeling (2021) Exist (2023)
Singles from Exist
"Let Me In" Released: June 12, 2023 (2023-06-12) "Hear Me Out" Released: June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30) "Cream Soda" Released: July 10, 2023 (2023-07-10)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
NME	^[1]

Background and release

Exist is Exo's seventh Korean studio album and eighth overall. The album features nine songs, including two pre-release singles; "Let Me In", released on June 12, 2023, and "Hear Me Out", released on June 30, 2023. The third single and title track, "Cream Soda", was released alongside the album.

In January 2023, the group's leader, Suho, announced that the group is set to release new music after spring.^[4]

On June 9, SM announced that Exo will release their seventh studio album on July 10.^[5] On June 12, SM announced the album's title release date, along with a video featuring Exo's updated logo. It was also announced that they would be releasing the pre-release single, "Let Me In" on the same day.^[6][7]

The album was released for pre-order on June 12, and is available in three photobook versions, eight digipack and eight SMini versions.^[8]

Composition

The album opens with the title track "Cream Soda", a dance-pop song with an exotic rhythm and upbeat brass, keyboard and drum instrumentation. It features sensual vocals, and lyrics that compare the soft yet thrilling moment of falling in love to cream soda.^[9] The following track, "Regret It" is an energetic R&B song with a groovy 808 bass beat and colorful synths. Member Chanyeol participated in writing the lyrics, which express the intense emotions of a moment without regret.^[10] The third track which is also the second pre-release single, "Hear Me Out", is an R&B song with an old school vibe. The lyrics express the honest feelings of someone who is hesitant before starting a relationship.^[11] "Private Party" is an R&B dance song that combines powerful bass drums, dreamlike synth, vocal chops and whistling. The lyrics depict the tense attraction between two people at a private party.^[12] "Cinderella" is a synthpop song featuring an explosive drop created by pluck synth riffs and drums. Its lyrics are inspired by the tale of Cinderella, who has to leave at 12 o'clock, but doesn't want to lose someone who she was meant to be with.^[12] "No Makeup" is an R&B song with a trap beat, and lyrics stating the subject of the song's natural appearance is beautiful enough without any makeup.^[13] "Love Fool" is an R&B pop song with retro synth production. The lyrics express ones determination to not give up on love, even in situations where they cannot easily reveal their inner feelings.^[10] "Another Day" is an alternative pop song with a laid-back rhythm, 808 bass, and keyboard layering. The lyrics urge the listener to not get stuck in the past, and to greet every new day with excitement.^[13] The album closes with the first pre-release single "Let Me In", an R&B ballad with a dreamy sound and vocals that express understated emotions, with lyrics that compare a lover to a blue ocean and a longing to be together endlessly even if they fall into the deep end.^[14]

Commercial performance

Prior to its release, Exist received 1.6 million pre-orders within a 28-day period, breaking Exo's previous personal record of 1.2 million with Don't Fight the Feeling (2021).^[15]

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s Global Music Report for 2023, Exist was the eighth best-selling album worldwide, having sold 2.3 million units.^[A][16]

Track listing

Exist track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Cream Soda"	Moon Seol-li	Tre Jean-Marie Kwame "KZ" Kwei-Armah Jr. Ebenezer Fabiyi Bobby Candler Adrian Mckinnon	Jean-Marie Kwei-Armah Imlay	3:05
2.	"Regret It"	Jang Sang-min (Lalala Studio) Loey	Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy Jr. Lucky Daye Prince Charles Jeremy "Tay" Jasper Adrian Mckinnon	Abernathy Jr.	2:55
3.	"Hear Me Out"	Park Ji-hyun (Artiffect) Kim Dong-hyun	Tave Jeremy "Tay" Jasper Tavaughn Young Adrian Mckinnon George Carroll Sade Munirah Grades Yakob Jack Ro Michael Orabiyi	Grades Yakob Ro Scribz Riley Tave	3:24
4.	"Private Party"	Moon Seol-li	Brandon Arreaga Landon Sears Rudy Sandapa Kaelyn Behr MZMC	Fuego Sandapa MZMC	3:09
5.	"Cinderella"	Moon Seol-li	Jackson Morgan Brandon Arreaga Kyle Buckley Charles Roberts Nelsen MZMC	Pink Slip Inverness MZMC	2:34
6.	"No Makeup"	Moon Seol-li	Greg Bonnick Hayden Chapman Adrian Mckinnon Sevn Dayz	LDN Noise	3:24
7.	"Love Fool"	Cha Yu-bin (Verygoods)	John Mars Christian Fast Jimmy Claeson	Mars	3:22
8.	"Another Day"	Mola ChaMane K. Nita	Matthew Grant Robin Ellingsen Balazs Harko	Nita Maria Hazell Grant Harko	3:11
9.	"Let Me In"	Enzo	Je'Juan Antonio Hassan Ashi Jr. Jayden Henry Jordain Johnson Kelsey Merges Noah Barer Kaelin Ellis Hautboi Rich	Barer Ellis	3:17
Total length:					28:25

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Exist Chart (2023) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[17] 5 Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)^[18] 7 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[19] 4 South Korean Albums (Circle)^[20] 1 Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[21] 17 UK Album Downloads (OCC)^[22] 33 UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC)^[23] 13

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for Exist Chart (2023) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[24] 13 South Korean Albums (Circle)^[25] 4 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Exist Chart (2023) Position South Korean Albums (Circle)^[26] 18

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Exist

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan	—	11,899^[27]
South Korea (KMCA)^[29]	Million	1,738,208^[28]
South Korea (KMCA)^[31] SMC version	Platinum	277,446^[30]
Summaries
Worldwide (IFPI)	—	2,300,000^[16]

Release history

Release history for Exist

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	July 10, 2023	CD SMC	SM Kakao
Various		Digital download streaming

Notes

1. The IFPI Global Albums chart ranks, in order, the albums that generated the most money globally across streaming, download, and physical record sales (combined) in a calendar year. The Global Album Sales Chart measures global unit sales across all physical formats, as well as full album downloads.

References

1. Delgado, Sara (July 19, 2023). "EXO – 'Exist' review: a deceptively minimalist homecoming". NME. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
2. "EXO's Kai to enlist in the military next week". NME. May 4, 2023. from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
3. Park Hanbit Nuri (June 9, 2023). 엑소, 7월 10일 완전체로 컴백 [EXO to comeback as a full group on July 10th]. GQ Korea (in Korean). from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
4. Kim Yu-rim (January 5, 2023). '군백기' 끝난 엑소, 완전체로 돌아온다 [EXO is back as a whole group after Baekhyun's military service]. MoneyS (in Korean). from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023 – via Naver.
5. Jung Ji-won (June 9, 2023). [단독] 엑소, 7월 10일 가요계 컴백 확정 [[Exclusive] EXO confirms comeback in music industry on July 10th]. Joy News (in Korean). from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
6. Baek Ji-eun (June 12, 2023). 엑소, 7월 10일 '엑지스트' 컴백확정...'렛미인' 선공개. Chosun (in Korean). from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
7. Cho Jae-yong (June 12, 2023). 엑소, 7월 10일 컴백 카운트다운...오늘(12일) 'Let Me In' 음원·MV 선공개 [EXO, July 10 comeback countdown...Today (12th) 'Let Me In' sound source and MV pre-release]. Singles List (in Korean). from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
8. 엑소 (EXO) - 정규 7집 [EXIST] (Photo Book Ver.) [3종 세트]. Synnara (in Korean). June 12, 2023. from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
9. Gong Mi-na (July 3, 2023). 엑소, 7집 타이틀곡은 '크림 소다'...쿨하고 섹시한 여름맛 [EXO's 7th album title song is 'Cream Soda'... cool and sexy summer taste]. SpoTV News (in Korean). from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023 – via Naver.
10. Park Dong-seon (July 4, 2023). 엑소, 솔직강렬 11년 R&B 바이브 예고...'EXIST' 프리뷰 공개 [EXO, frankly intense 11-year R&B vibe preview... 'EXIST' preview released]. ET News (in Korean). from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023 – via Naver.
11. Ahn Ha-na (June 30, 2023). 엑소, 선공개곡 'Hear Me Out' 발매...바이브가 느껴지는 R&B [EXO releases pre-released song 'Hear Me Out'...R&B with a vibe]. Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023 – via Naver.
12. Han Hae-seon (July 6, 2023). 엑소엘 모여라! 엑소 정규 7집 팝업스토어 11일 오픈 [Gather EXO-L! EXO's 7th regular album pop-up store opened on the 11th]. Star News (in Korean). from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Naver.
13. Jeong Jin-ah (July 5, 2023). 엑소, 정규7집 '엑지스트'로 보여줄 확신의 '보컬 맛집' [EXO's 7th regular album 'Exist', a confident 'vocal restaurant']. Newsis (in Korean). from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Naver.
14. Kim Min-ji (June 12, 2023). 엑소, 오늘 신곡 '렛 미 인' 선공개→7월10일 정규 7집 '엑지스트' 발매 [EXO, pre-release new song 'Let Me In' today → July 10th regular 7th album 'Exist' release]. News1 (in Korean). from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023 – via Naver.
15. Lee Nam-kyung (July 10, 2023). 엑소 컴백→선주문 160만 장 돌파...오늘(10일) 'EXIST' 카운트다운 라이브 진행 [EXO comeback→1.6 million pre-orders exceeded...Today (10th) 'EXIST' countdown live]. Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023 – via Naver.
16. "Taylor Swift, Seventeen and Morgan Wallen top IFPI Global Album Charts" (Press release). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 28, 2024. from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
17. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-08-07" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
18. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-08-07" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
19. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 2, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
20. "Circle Album Chart – Week 28, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
21. "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 30". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
22. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
23. "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
24. (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
25. "Circle Album Chart – July 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023.
26. "Album Chart 2023". Circle Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
27. Cumulative sales of Exist on Oricon:
    • [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking on July 24, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
    • オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年07月31日付 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking on July 31, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
28. Cumulative sales of Exist:
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 28, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 29, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 30, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 3, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 31, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 32, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 18, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 33, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 34, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
29. "South Korean album certifications – Exo – Exist" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved September 7, 2023.
30. Cumulative sales of Exist (SMC version):
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 28, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023. (See #4)
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 29, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2023. (See #13)
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 30, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 3, 2023. (See #8)
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 31, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023. (See #25)
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 33, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 31, 2023. (See #44)
    • "Circle Album Chart – Week 34, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 31, 2023. (See #48)
31. "South Korean album certifications – Exo – Exist (SMC)" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved September 7, 2023.