#exo japan debut 7th year anniversary

[baconnotbaekhyun]

🫶🏽

[berrysherrypop]

For Those New To EXO!

EXO was originally divided as EXO-K and EXO-M: “K” stood for Korean and “M” for Mandarin. One sub-unit would promote in Korea and the other would promote in China). They debuted as 12 members in 2012 with 6 per sub-unit, but two membersleft in the year 2014 (names: Kris and Luhan) and one left in 2015 (name: Tao). The reasons as to why they left are due to personal issues, health issues, and conflict with their company. A lot of fans left during those years and many people believed that they'd flop after these events. Many didn’t even believe in EXO’s success even before they lost members, that they wouldn’t become so popular. Obviously, the opposite happened.

There are only 9 members now. Ordered from oldest to youngest: Xiumin (3/26/1990), Suho (5/22/1991), Lay (10/7/1991), Baekhyun (5/6/1992), Chen (9/21/1992), Chanyeol (11/27/1992), D.O (1/12/1993), Kai (1/14/1994), Sehun (4/12/1994).

EXO debuted with the concept of being “aliens” with superpowers; coming from Exoplanet, they’re protectors of the tree of life and have come to earth in order to protect the heart of the tree of life and now earth from the red force. Each member has their own power and symbol: Xiumin-Ice, Suho-Water, Lay-Healing, Baekhyun-Light, Chen-Lightning, Chanyeol-Fire, D.O-Force/Earth, Kai-Teleportation, and Sehun-Wind. (They also each have their own number for clothing/jerseys). This superpower concept has remained in each comeback, and they’re one of the only (if not, the) groups to have such a foundation and artistic style based on the same concept for so long.

Despite people’s pessimistic view of the group, EXO was a really hyped up group by their company with a total of 23 teasers starting on December 21, 2011. Each teaser was made to slowly reveal who is who in the band, their concept, and their capabilities as rookies. This was done until March 21, 2012, and during that time two music videos were made prior to debut. Those music videos were not yet their official debut.

Side note: EXO-M only had 4 Chinese members: Kris, Luhan, Lay, and Tao. Xiumin and Chen were also in EXO-M but they are Korean.

Another side note: they still do create Chinese versions of their songs, they also had a Japanese debut in 2015 so they also have some Japanese discography as well.

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: A sub-unit of EXO, EXO-CBX, debuted in 2016 and the member Lay also had his solo debut the same year (Lay’s solo discography are all written, arranged, and produced by him). EXO-CBX consists of the members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin.

LAST SIDE NOTE: The EXO fandom is called EXO-L. The 'L' stands for Love. In the alphabet, the letter “L” is the 12th letter (for twelve members) and links the letters K (EXO-K) and M (EXO-M). EXO-Ls are considered to be a sub-unit of EXO so: EXO-K + EXO-L + EXO-M = One. Therefore, the band's slogan "WE ARE ONE!" means that the band members and the fans are ONE. EXO-Ls are in charge of promoting worldwide Love for EXO-K and EXO-M."

EXO MUSIC VIDEOS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:

What Is Love (January 30th, 2012)

History (March 9th, 2012)

MAMA (April 8th, 2012) - Their official debut song/anniversary date.

Wolf (May 30th, 2013) - first time promoting as a whole group.

Growl (August 1st, 2013 and for the 2nd version, which has a different visual theme, August 20th, 2013)

Miracles in December (December 4th, 2013) - Winter M/V.

Overdose (May 6th, 2014)

Call Me Baby (March 30th, 2015)

Love Me Right (June 3rd, 2015) - there's a Japanese version which is their Japan debut single (Love Me Right ~Romantic Universe~).

Lightsaber (November 11th, 2015) - promotional single for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Sing For You (December 10th, 2015) - Winter M/V.

Lucky One (June 9th, 2016) - Double Title Album.

Monster (June 9th, 2016) - Double Title Album.

Lotto (August 18th, 2016)

Dancing King (September 17th, 2016) - a collaboration with Yoo Jae Suk, a single for SM Station Season 1.

Coming Over (November 18th, 2016) - Japan comeback single and also a short video.

For Life (December 19th, 2016) - Winter M/V.

Ko Ko Bop (July 18th, 2017)

Power (September 5th, 2017)

Electric Kiss Short Version (December 5th, 2017) -Title track for their first full Japanese Album.

Universe (December 26th, 2017) - Winter M/V

Don’t Mess Up My Tempo (Novermber 2nd, 2018) - the first comeback to feature member Lay since For Life in 2016.

EXO-CBX Music Videos:

Hey Mama! (October 31st, 2016) - Sub-unit debut song.

The One (November 6th, 2016) - first shown during their concert tour Exo Planet #3-The Exordium, which lead to suspicions of the sub-unit, which was also later confirmed after the three members sang an OST (original soundtrack) for a K-Drama (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo) with the title "For You".

Crush U (December 25th, 2016) - a remake of the original soundtrack for the game Blade & Soul, performed first on November 18th.

Ka-Ching! (May 1st, 2017) - short music video for their Japanese debut.

Blooming Day (April 10th, 2018) - Korean comeback.

Horololo (April 24th, 2018) - released prior to their Japanese comeback in May.

LAY’S SOLO WORK:

Monodrama (May 27th, 2016) - SM Station solo song, prior to his solo debut and the first Chinese song of SM station.

what U need? (October 7th, 2016) - The music video was released on his birthday as a gift for his fans and for the promotion of his solo album later that month.

Lose Control (October 28th, 2016) - His solo debut with Lose Control being the title track and name of his EP.

I Need U (September 25th, 2017) - pre-released single from his Lay 02 Sheep album, it was dedicated to his grandparents for their 50th anniversary and was actually written at the same time as “what U need?” since it is a response to the 2016 single.

Sheep (October 7th, 2017) - title track for his second album Lay 02 Sheep.

Goodbye Christmas (December 22nd, 2017) - title track of his winter extended play Winter Special Gift.

Give Me A Chance (October 7th, 2018) - pre-release single for his album Namanana.

NAMANANA (October 19th, 2018) - title track for the third album. It’s also his official U.S. debut under the name Lay Zhang. Each song on the album is both in Chinese and English, totaling to a count of 22 tracks.

EXO is a group that has broken multiple records: fastest selling concerts (0.2 seconds), youngest group ever to perform at Tokyo Dome, best selling artist in Korea for 4 years in a row, 4 million sellers, etc. Even individually, members have broken records (Lay’s Lose Control EP broke seven out of eight Guinness World Records on the YinYueTai China Weekly Charts). They’ve made monumental achievements not only as an idol group but have given great contributions to the Hallyu wave (performed at the Pyeongchang Olympics closing ceremony, first artist/k-pop act/non-royal to be displayed on the led screens of the Burj Khalifa, etc.).