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"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.

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

Reception

Accolades

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Studio

• In Grid Studio – recording
• The Vibe Studio – recording
• doobdoob Studio – digital editing
• SM Big Shot Studio – engineered for mix
• SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing
• Sterling Sound – mastering

Personnel

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Lee Soo-man – producer
• Exo – vocals, background vocals
• Penomeco – Korean lyrics
• JQ – Korean lyrics
• Yoo Young-jin – Korean lyrics, music and sound supervisor
• Arys Chien – Chinese lyrics
• Jamil "Digi" Chammas – producer, composition, arrangement
• Leven Kali – producer, composition, background vocals
• MZMC – composition
• Adrian McKinnon – composition, background vocals
• Jeremy "Tay" Jasper – composition
• Deez – vocal directing
• Onestar – vocal directing
• Andrew Choi – background vocals
• Jeong Eun-kyung – recording
• Kwak Jeong-shin – recording
• Jeong Mo-yeon – recording
• Jang Woo-young – digital editing
• Lee Min-gyu – engineered for mix
• Jung Eui-seok – mixing
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

Charts

Sales

References

1. Shin, Tae-hyun (November 1, 2018). "[포토]엑소 'DON'T MESS UP MY TEMPO'" [ 'DON'T MESS UP MY TEMPO]. Edaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Naver.
2. Melendez, Monique (December 12, 2018). "EXO's 'Love Shot' Album: The Producers & Songwriters Break Down Every Song". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
3. ^ "EXO 'warns' not to mess with its tempo". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
4. ^ Herman, Tamar (October 21, 2018). "EXO Turn Into Bikers in 'Tempo' Teaser Video Ahead of New Album's Release". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
5. "'Tempo' 뮤직비디오도 유튜브 조회수 1억뷰 돌파". Smentertainment.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
6. Glasby, Taylor (December 17, 2018). "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018". Dazed. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
7. "The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2018: Critic's Pick". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
8. "PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1". SBS PopAsia. Popasia. December 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
9. "30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018". BuzzFeed. January 2, 2019. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
10. De La Rosa, Mansanares (December 27, 2018). "The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018". The Young Folks. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
11. Morin, Natalie (December 28, 2018). "K-Pop's Fiercest Music Video Moments of 2018". HK01. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
12. "Winners Of 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards". soompi. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
13. "Winners Of 14th Annual Soompi Awards". soompi. May 31, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
14. Minsker, Evan (July 23, 2019). "MTV VMAs 2019: See The Full List of Nominees Here". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
15. Kim, Dy (October 24, 2019). "2019 MAMA Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
16. Exo (2018). Don't Mess Up My Tempo (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
17. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 45, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
18. "EXO Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
19. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
20. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
21. "Singapore Top 30 International Streaming Chart Week 45" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2018.
22. "Digital Chart – Week 45 of 2018". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
23. "Billboard Kpop Hot 100". Billboard. November 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
24. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
25. "Exo Chart History: World Digital Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
26. "2019년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
27. Cumulative sales in China:
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 5, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
    • "Tempo on YinYueTai's China V Chart". YinYueTai. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
28. Cumulative sales in Japan:
    • "2018/11/12 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
    • "2018/11/19 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
    • "2018/11/26 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
    • "2018/12/03 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
    • "2018/12/10 付け Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard. December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.

• 2018 singles
• 2018 songs
• Exo songs
• Songs in Korean
• SM Entertainment singles
• Billboard Korea K-Pop number-one singles
• Songs written by Yoo Young-jin