"Universe" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on December 26, 2017, as the lead single of their sixth extended play Universe. It was released in both Korean and Chinese versions by their label SM Entertainment.
Background and release Produced by Shin Hyuk and MRey, "Universe" is described as a soft pop-rock ballad, with lyrics about how a person will search the universe just to find their lover. The song was released on December 26 with the album.
Music video The Korean and Chinese music videos for "Universe" were released on December 26, 2017. It features Exo "melancholically reflecting on the caffeinated beverage and performing different activities that serve as metaphors for the tightly-wound, messy emotions described in the lyrics".
The Korean music video has over 44 million views on YouTube.
Promotion
Exo performed "Universe" for the first time on December 31 on MBC's year-end show, MBC Gayo Daejejeon. The song was also performed during Nature Republic's Green Nature Exo Fan Festival on February 3, 2018.
Commercial performance "Universe" debuted at number two on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart. It also topped the Billboard Korea Kpop Hot 100 for the first week of 2018.
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Studio SM LVYIN Studio – recording SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing Sterling Sound – mastering
Personnel SM Entertainment – executive producer Lee Soo-man – producer Yoo Young-jin – music and sound supervisor Exo – vocals Chen – background vocals Sarah Yoon – Korean lyrics Xiao Han – Chinese lyrics Hyuk Shin – producer, composition, arrangement Marco "MRey" Reyes – producer, composition, arrangement JJ Evans – composition Jeff Lewis – composition Seo Mi-rae – vocal directing, background vocals, Pro Tools operating, digital editing Lee Ji-hong – recording Nam Koong-jin – mixing Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2017–18) Peakposition China (Billboard V Chart) 7 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100) 65 South Korea (Kpop Hot 100) 1 South Korea (Gaon Digital Chart)2
Monthly charts Chart (2018) PeakpositionSouth Korean (Gaon Digital Chart)21
Yearly charts Chart (2018) PeakpositionSouth Korean (Gaon Digital Chart)69
Sales
Downloads Region Sales South Korea 140,698+
Accolades
YearAwardCategoryResult2017Gaon Chart Music AwardsSong of the Year – December2018Korea Popular Music AwardsBest Digital Song2019Golden Disk AwardsDigital Bonsang
Music program awards Program Date Music Bank (KBS) January 5, 2018 January 12, 2018 Show! Music Core (MBC) January 6, 2018
Release history RegionDateFormatLabel South Korea December 26, 2017 VariousSM
References