"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 +Year-end lists Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.DazedThe 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2018 7Billboard 18SBS PopAsiaTop 100 Asian pop songs of 201821BuzzFeed30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 201812The Young FolksThe 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 201817 Refinery29 Best K-pop Music Video Moments of 2018 16
Accolades +Awards and nominations Year Organization Award Result 2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – November align="center" Soompi Awards Song of the Year align="center" MTV Video Music Awards Best K-pop Video align="center" Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance – Male Group align="center" Song of the Year align="center"
+Music program awards Program Date Music BankNovember 9, 2018November 16, 2018January 4, 2019
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
Weekly charts + Chart (2018) Peak position France Download (SNEP) 182 Malaysia (RIM) 2 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) 25 Singapore (RIAS) 11 South Korea (Gaon) 4 South Korea (K-pop Hot 100) 1 US World Digital Songs (Billboard) 2
Year-end charts + Chart (2019) Position South Korea (Gaon) 101
Sales +DownloadsRegion SalesChina (digital)Cumulative sales in China:
2,292Japan (digital)Cumulative sales in Japan:
6,627
Release history + Release history for "Tempo" Region Date Format Label South Korea November 2, 2018 Various SM
References