Don't Fight the Feeling

Don't Fight the Feeling is the seventh EP by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo. It was released by SM Entertainment on June 7, 2021, and marketed as a "special album" and a gift for fans.[1] The album marks the group's first new material since their 2019 studio album Obsession, and features the return of members Xiumin, Lay, and D.O. since Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018). Don't Fight the Feeling topped the Gaon Album Chart and has sold over one million copies, the sixth among Exo's albums to have reached this milestone.

Don't Fight the Feeling
Digital cover
EP by
ReleasedJune 7, 2021 (2021-06-07)
Genre
Length17:09
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Exo chronology
Exo Planet #5 – Exploration
(2020)
Don't Fight the Feeling
(2021)
Exist
(2023)
Singles from Don't Fight the Feeling
  1. "Don't Fight the Feeling"
    Released: June 7, 2021

Background and release

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In mid-2020, two Exo members–Chen and Suho–went on hiatus to enlist for their mandatory military service.[2][3] A few months later, two previously enlisted members–Xiumin and D.O.–who had been inactive since the group's fifth studio album Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018), were discharged and resumed activities with the group.[4][5] On April 8, 2021, nine years since Exo's debut date, the group uploaded a video in which active members–Xiumin, Chanyeol, Baekhyun, D.O., Kai, and Sehun–commemorated the anniversary and revealed that they have been preparing for their next release.[6]

On May 10, Exo announced the release of a "special album" titled Don't Fight the Feeling. Beginning on May 24, futuristic promotional images and videos for the EP were gradually released.[7] On May 26, Lay, who had also been inactive since Don't Mess Up My Tempo, was announced to have participated on the project.[8][9] Lay did not meet up with the members at any point working on the album as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] On June 7, Don't Fight the Feeling and the music video for the title track were released simultaneously.

Don't Fight the Feeling contains five tracks including the title track, which was described as a dance song with a "cheerful rhythm".[11] Physically, the EP was released in four editions, including two photobook editions, a jewel case edition, and an Expansion edition. The Expansion edition itself has six versions, each featuring one of the participating members–minus Lay–on the cover.[12]

 
Album title logo with a 8-bit style used in albums and merches

Commercial performance

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Prior to its release, Don't Fight the Feeling received 1.2 million pre-orders within a 27-day period, breaking Exo's previous personal record of 1.1 million with Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018).[13] On June 14, eight days after being released, the album was announced to have sold over one million copies, surpassing Don't Mess Up My Tempo–which took ten days to do so–to become Exo's fastest-selling album.[14] This is the group's sixth album to have crossed the one million sales mark.[14]

Don't Fight the Feeling debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart.[15] In Japan, it peaked at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart,[16] and at number six on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.[17] In the US, the album debuted at number eight on the Billboard World Albums chart.[18]

Track listing

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Don't Fight the Feeling track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Don't Fight the Feeling"Kenzie
  • Mike Jiminez
  • Damon Thomas
  • Tesung Kim (Iconic Sound)
  • Tha Aristocrats
  • Tiyon "TC" Mack
  • Moon Kim
Tha Aristocrats2:56
2."Paradise" (Korean파라다이스; RRParadaiseu)
  • Brandon Arreaga
  • Edwin Honoret
  • Jake Torrey
  • Michael Matosic
Brandon Arreaga3:37
3."No Matter" (Korean훅!; RRHuk!)Mok Ji-min (lalala Studio)
  • Skylar Mones
  • Andreas Öberg
3:42
4."Runaway"Seo Ji-eumRice n' Peas3:27
5."Just as Usual" (Korean지켜줄게; RRJikyeojulge; lit. I'll Protect You)Thama (Devine Channel)
  • San (Vendors)
  • Fascinador (Vendors)
  • Zenur (Vendors)
  • Shaquille Rayes
Vendors3:27
Total length:17:09

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications for Don't Fight the Feeling
Region Certification Certified units/sales
China 503,481[24]
Japan 49,184[25]
South Korea (KMCA)[27] Million 1,326,189[26]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME     [28]

Accolades

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Accolades for "Don't Fight the Feeling"
Song Program Date
"Don't Fight the Feeling" Music Bank (KBS) June 18, 2021

Release history

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Release history and formats for Don't Fight the Feeling
Region Date Format Label
South Korea June 7, 2021
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming
October 25, 2021[29] LP[30]

References

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  1. ^ Abanes, Mariel (May 11, 2021). "EXO announce new special album 'Don't Fight The Feeling'". NME. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "'엑소 의리 최고' 첸, 멤버들 배웅 속 현역 입대(Ft.수호 휴가) [★해시태그]" [EXO's Chen enlists in active duty and sent off by members]. XSports News (in Korean). October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Kim, Eunji (May 14, 2020). "수호 입대, 엑소 3번째 군복무…"엑소엘 사랑해"" [Suho becomes third EXO member to enlist, "I Love You, EXO-Ls"]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. ^ Choi, Heejae (November 23, 2020). "엑소 시우민, 말년 휴가 중 12월 6일 미복귀 전역..코로나19 여파 [공식입장]" [EXO's Xiumin is on final holiday due to COVID-19 protocols; will return on December 6th]. XSports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Daum.
  5. ^ Lee, Gyu-Lee (January 25, 2021). "EXO's D.O. discharged from military service". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Hankook Ilbo.
  6. ^ Hwang, You-mee (April 8, 2021). "EXO to release album to mark 9th anniversary". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Hwang, You-mee (May 24, 2021). "EXO floats teasers for special album". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Mulenga, Natasha (May 26, 2021). "EXO's Next Comeback Will Include Member Lay Zhang". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "Lay Zhang appears in EXO's teaser photo for 'Don't Fight the Feeling' comeback". GMA Network. May 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "Lay Zhang on Reuniting with EXO". YouTube. November 30, 2022. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Exo Lysn app post (May 24, 2021). Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  12. ^ EXO|韓国スペシャルアルバム『DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING』 [EXO | Korean Special Album 'DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING'] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Hwang, You-mee (June 7, 2021). "EXO's special album sells 1 million in preorders". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "EXO adds another million-seller with latest album". Yonhap News Agency. June 14, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021 – via The Korea Herald.
  15. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart – Week 24, 2021". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-06-28" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/06/28 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Exo Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "Albumit 23/2021" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 26. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  21. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  22. ^ 年間 アルバムランキング 2021年度 [Yearly album ranking – 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  23. ^ "2021년 Album Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Don't Fight the Feeling - Special Album". Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  25. ^ "Weekly album ranking — June 21, 2021" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  26. ^ "2021년 08월 Album Chart". Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  27. ^ "South Korean album certifications – Exo – Don't Fight the Feeling" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  28. ^ Mulenga, Natasha (June 14, 2021). "EXO – 'Don't Fight The Feeling' review: a seamless transition into the next phase of the boyband's journey". NME. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  29. ^ "EXO - Special Album [DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING] (LP Ver.) (Limited Edition)". ktown4u.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  30. ^ @smglobalshop (June 28, 2021). "EXO Special Album 'DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING' LP Ver" (Tweet). Retrieved July 5, 2021 – via Twitter.