"Wolf" (Korean: 늑대와 미녀; RR: Neukdaewa Minyeo; lit. The Wolf and the Beauty; Chinese: 狼与美女; pinyin: Láng yǔ Měinǚ) is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on May 30, 2013, as the lead single of their first studio album XOXO. It was released in both Korean and Chinese versions by their label SM Entertainment, and was their first song recorded by all twelve members.
| "Wolf" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Exo | ||||
| from the album XOXO | ||||
| Language | ||||
| Released | May 30, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Composer(s) |
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| Lyricist(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Exo Korean and Chinese singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Wolf" (Korean Ver.) on YouTube "Wolf" (Chinese Ver.) on YouTube | ||||
Background
edit"Wolf" was composed by Will Simms, Nermin Harambašić from Dsign Music and S.M. Entertainment resident songwriter Kenzie. Kenzie also provided the lyrics for the Korean version of the song while Zhou Weijie penned the lyrics for the Mandarin Chinese version, "狼与美女". Yoo Young-jin provides background vocals. The song is produced by Will Simms and Kenzie, and is described as a Dubstep inspired Hip-hop song that tells a tragic love story between a werewolf and a beauty.
The dance for the song was choreographed by Tony Testa. In several shows such as Arirang's After School Club, the members explain that the dance has 3 elements: the trees and forest, the caves, and the wolf itself. Member Kris revealed that it took them approximately 3 to 4 months to get the choreography down, due to its level of difficulty.
A demo version of the song was leaked in February 2013, in response to which producer Ryan Jhun later gave a warning to illegal downloaders on May 29, 2013, "...I will report it to FBI and service department for all links...".[1]
Release and promotions
editOn May 30, 2013, the Korean and Chinese versions of the music video for "Wolf" were released.[2]
EXO started promoting for the song on Korean music program on May 30, 2013.[3]
Both song versions were released digitally on June 3, 2013. The first performance of the Mandarin version of the song was aired on a popular Chinese variety show Happy Camp in mid-June.[4]
Music videos
editOn May 30, 2013, the Korean and Chinese versions of the music video for "Wolf" were released.[5] The music videos features the performance of the song by the members.
Reception
editThe song reached number ten on Gaon Digital Chart, number 25 on Korea K-Pop Hot 100, and number four on Billboard US World Digital Songs.
"Wolf" earned EXO their first win on South Korean music programs. It won first place 4 times in total.
Credits and personnel
editCredits adapted from album's liner notes.[6]
Studio
edit- SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, mixing
- SM Big Shot Studio – recording, digital editing
- SM Blue Ocean Studio – recording
- Sonic Korea – mastering
Personnel
edit- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Soo-man – producer
- Kim Young-min – executive supervisor
- Exo – vocals
- Baekhyun – background vocals
- Chen – background vocals
- Chanyeol – background vocals
- D.O. – background vocals
- Zhou Weijie – Chinese lyrics
- Kenzie – producer, Korean lyrics, composition, arrangement, vocal directing, background vocals
- Will Simms – producer, composition, arrangement
- Nermin Harambasic – composition
- Yoo Young-jin – background vocals
- Gu Jong-pil – recording, mixing
- Lee Min-kyu – recording, digital editing
- Lee Seung-ho – recording
- Jeon Hoon – mastering
Charts
editSales
edit| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon)[10] | 534,603 |
| United States (Nielsen)[11] | 36,000 |
Accolades
edit| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Myx Music Award | Favourite K-Pop Video | Won | [12] |
| Program | Date |
|---|---|
| June 14, 2013 | |
| June 15, 2013 | |
| June 16, 2013 | |
| June 19, 2013 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | May 30, 2013 |
References
edit- ^ "EXO's producer gives illegal downloaders a warning". Allkpop. May 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ "EXO releases "Wolf" MV!". Allkpop. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ "EXO to become "Wolf" boys for their title track + first comeback stage on May 30th | allkpop.com". allkpop. Archived from the original on 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "EXO to head to China for their first performance of "Wolf" on 'Happy Camp'". Seoul: Allkpop. May 28, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ "EXO releases "Wolf" MV!". Allkpop. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
- ^ Exo (2013). Wolf (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment. Credits.
- ^ "2013 Gaon Digital Chart – Week 24". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100 – June 15, 2013". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-07-19. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – August, 2016". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ Cumulative sales for "Wolf":
- "Online Download – June 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- "Online Download – July 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- "Online Download – August 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- "Online Download – 1st week September 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- "Online Download – 2nd week September 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
- ^ "EXO's 'Obsession' Leads K-Pop Group to Fourth Billboard 200 Entry, No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ "Myx Music Awards 2014 Favorite K-Pop Video goes to Wolf by EXO". soompi. March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.