EX'ACTly what I'm looking for! (But we're always looking for EXO) - Album Review

EX'ACT Ranking

We're still celebrating EXO's comeback with a rank of their album! We'll also quickly review each song on the album.

Rhea's Rank

9. Artificial Love

This song kinda reminded me of SHINee (omg, please don't hate me haha). Same as White Noise, its going to take me a while to get into the song. 

8. White Noise

It is still taking me a while to get into this song, but sooner or later I'll get into it. 

7. Cloud 9

I didn't like this song at first, but it did get catchy. It is a little from what EXO is known for too, but they can work with it!

6. They Never Know

The song title caught my attention first, and I'm just like what do they never know?! lol But the vocals in the song is amazing as well. Did I already say how many feels this album gives?!

5. One and Only

Just like Stronger, this song gave me so many feels. Its about EXO singing these kind of songs makes me fall in love with them all over again <3 haha.

4. Stronger

I have a soft spot for slow songs and this song omg gave me so many feels. I also love the english in this song, its absolutely perfect!

3. Heaven

I fell in love with this song when they performed it at their comeback showcase and omg, its so beautiful! Chanyeol did a great job writing the lyrics! 

2. Lucky One

This song was a little different from EXO's style, but they definitely fit it! I love the feel of the song, its still upbeat and its one of those songs you can't stop dancing to (especially that head bobbing parts lol).

1. Monster

I absolutely love this song for its super upbeat and powerful! Especially the choreography for the song is amazing, it is so intricate and fun to follow along! 

Kristine's Rank 

9. Stronger

I get a feeling that this song is supposed to be empowering, like your love makes me a better person. But, I'm not feeling it as much as the other songs. 

8. One and Only 

Ahhhhh. This song sounds so cute, like you found your one true love. It feels like a wedding song doesn't it?

7.  White Noise

I haven't really looked at the lyrics of this song, but I feel like it's about getting lost or going on autopilot. 

6. They Never Know

I appreciate that it sort gives me a throw back to 90's R&B! But they never know what?! 

5. Monster

I always have this song in my head. I really enjoy this song because the lyrics make it seem like it's a sequel to "Growl." Plus, the choreography is great!!

4. Artificial Love

I think I like this song cuz I'm very SM biased. Even though this doesn't sound like a typical EXO song, this song seems like their style. 

3. Heaven

Composer Chanyeol is my favorite version of Chanyeol. How could I not include this in my top 3?! I love this song cuz like "Cloud 9," the song reminds me of falling in love. 

2. Cloud 9

This songs really makes me feel like I'm on cloud 9. It reminds me of the fuzzy feels and happiness I get when I have a crush on someone. 

1. Lucky One

I really enjoy this song! It's a new side to EXO. This R&B song with a hint of an 80's beat really impressed me. 

So basically, EX'ACT is my style. It definitely beat EXODUS as my favorite album. 

Please check out the songs, read the translations and check out their live performances, then let us what you think of the songs and/or what your top EXO songs are! Don't forget to keep supporting EXO! 

Flashback Friday: Moonlight (EXO's crying song)

Moonlight - EXO

To be honest, I like the Mandarin version better (but that’s because I’m EXO M biased lol). It might also because I really like Chen’s and Luhan’s vocals together. This was my favorite sad EXO song until “Sing for You” came along. But “Sing for You” isn’t really a sad song haha.

I remember the first time I heard this song, the timbre (or feeling of the song if you will) was very melancholic. I imagined a guy trying his hardest to hold onto someone, who was leaving. He was trying so desperately grasp on someone who could not be his. Since he has finally accepted that he can’t have what isn’t his, he is saying his final goodbye. It was really sad, but I usually obsess over songs that are bittersweet. 

I guess it was really fitting that this song came out when the EXO tragedy came. 

This song came out around finals time and I ended up crying when I first read the lyrics. The story I imagined was so heart wrenching! I was probably very emotional since I was stressed with finals, so I was prone to crying. It was also around the time when Kris left. I am a Meigeni/Kris stan, so I was very anxious with all the updates about this guy. In a way, the song was a reminder of what I suspected the reason for Kris leaving the group. I feel like the EXO members hold this song very close to their heart too. They were losing a group mate and their careers were probably at stake. 

The story illustrated by “Moonlight” is what seems to be a guy who fell in love with an angel. She is a being out of this world and brings awe and wonder to this man’s life. He could never think of reaching her level, but he thinks about her constantly as the angel becomes a part of his everyday life. Along the way, he fell in love and he knows that their relationship is something that can’t be. The guy wants to protect the angel from getting hurt since she seems to be troubled. It becomes painful when he tries to get closer, getting to know her. He knows that he has to stop so that both of them won’t have endure the pain anymore, so the guy instead choses to keep the angel in his memory.

I still enjoy listening to the song even though I get a mix of emotions. It makes me glad that I don’t understand Chinese fully because reading the lyrics brought tears to my eyes again. I would love to see a drama based off “Moonlight,” but it might require a tragic ending to follow with the bitter and melancholic mood of the song. 

In conclusion, my overactive imagination makes me keep “Moonlight” in a very special place in my heart. 

Please check out the song and read the translation, then let us know your interpretation or what you thought of the song. 

-Kristine

A Lifesaver, Lightsaber Lightsaber! (EXO Review)

LIGHTSABER - EXO

Just before the Star Wars release in December, EXO joins the craze and releases their collaboration song/film Lightsaber! For all you Star Wars fans and EXO fans, you are in for a treat with this song! 

First in foremost, lets talk about the collaboration film. Kai, Sehun and Baekhyun were amazing actors! Who knew Baekhyun could get angry under all that funny and innocent image, but what was up with his bright red hair?! Thats okay, it is not toned down. I love how they were able to squeeze in a Kai dance scene as he was preparing himself for battle. I really wished that they had a least a scene where they were fighting with those lightsabers and I was a little disappointed not seeing all the members. I was also surprised that they didn’t put the whole song in the film. When I first saw the video I thought the song was only 2 minutes long, but thankfully it wasn't! But overall I am proud of these three and I’m pretty sure it got all their fans fangirling/fanboying all over them. I mean come on, who did not love all these scenes!? Baekhyun walking down the aisle with the lollipop in his mouth, Kai in his suit looking clean and slick waiting for the elevator and Sehun “driving” the motorcycle and talking his helmet off trying to look cool, they all looked so good! 

On to the song itself! OMG I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE SONG WHEN I HEARD IT IN THE TEASER. Chanyeol’s rap was just amazing! In my opinion it was the best out of all their songs ever released (please don’t hate me haha). I loved how it fit with the beat of the song, it was just so catchy.  He did a great job and also Sehun's rap. This song really had that EDM feel, which is very appropriate for this century since it is the “go to music” genre nowadays. Even though I do not listen to that kind of music, this song is an big exception. I absolutely love Kyungsoo & Baekhyun’s vocals! Their voices were so angelic, I loved how it was mixed into the song. Especially Kyungsoo's lines before Chanyeol's rap, it was like the perfect place before the rap! I love the transition from something sweet and angelic to something fast and upbeat. All the members did a great job in the song and they all added something different. My favorite part of the whole song is of course the chorus! The chorus is very catchy, easy to follow and can easily get stuck in your head. The song is about protecting someone, being their lifesaver, which is perfect for Star Wars! Everything about this song is pure perfection. EXO most definitely does not disappoint when it comes to releasing new songs. Although this song was a little different from Kai's teaser back during their MAMA era, this version in my opinion is better. I really love the background music compared to the one in the teaser. I am glad and excited that they were able to have this collaboration. Who wants them to perform this live?! I really hope they do!

Wouldn’t it be great if those not in Korea heard this song before the Star Wars movie in the theater?! I know I would be jumping up and down in my seat haha. I will be very jealous if they did that in Korea, I would have to go to Korea just to experience it! Did you love the song as much as I did? Compared to Kai’s teaser, do you like that version of Lightsaber or do you love the new version? Leave your comments below and don’t forget to check it out if you haven’t yet! You can also support EXO by buying the song on iTunes.

- Rhea