The War/The Power of Music

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Album Summary

“The War,” EXO’s fourth studio album was released digitally on July 18th, and physically on July 19th, 2017. The repackage titled “The War: The Power of Music” was released on September 5th, 2017. The studio album and its succeeding repackage were released by SM Entertainment under Genie’s Music distribution.The debut studio album was released and distributed on multiple digital music streaming applications: YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, QQ Music, MelOn, Genie, and Naver. The studio album was simultaneously released in Korean and Mandarin in all regions. SM Entertainment confirmed the release of EXO’s next album on June 15th, 2017. They followed this confirmation with the announcement that member Lay would not be able to participate in the production and promotion of this album on June 23rd. Promotions for this album included an increase in social media presence marked especially by the unveiling of EXO’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts where new album logos were featured. SM also released unique teasers for the repackaged edition of the album “The Power of Music” with messages such as “Total Eclipse,” “Parallel Universe,” and “Power RF 05,” wherein the first teaser’s coincidentally debuted on the same date of their first song “What is Love” and the Solar eclipse of August 21st, 2017. Through the course of their independent press conference members expressed their gratitude at the nominal achievement of 800,000 physical copies. Live music show performances included the debuts of “Ko Ko Bop” and “The Eve” starting on July 20nd and concluded on August 13th. EXO also performed these new songs in Hong Kong as part of SM Town Live World Tour VI and during the Music Bank World Tour in Jakarta. The debut performance of “Power” occurred at EXO’s mini fan meeting the day prior to the beginning of the group’s promotion of their repackaged album “The War: The Power of Music” on September 7th. On September 15, Exo also performed “Ko Ko Bop”, “The Eve” and “Power” during Lotte Duty Free Family Festival in Seoul.

Achievements 

  • “The War” recorded a pre-order amount of 800,000 physical copies, the highest number of pre-orders at the time for a K-pop album. Within one week of its release, the album sold over 600,000 physical copies and became the best-selling album in one week on the South Korean album sales chart Hanteo, surpassing the record of 522,300 copies held by Ex’Act, Exo’s previous album.
  • 24 days after being released, “The War” became EXO’s fourth consecutive studio album to have sold over a million copies.
  • “The War” reached number one on iTunes in 51 countries in total, including in Israel, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Romania, Philippines, Taiwan, Ireland, Poland, Mexico, and more; 43 countries at the same time. “The War” was subsequently selected as Apple Music’s “The Best of the Week”.
  • Within the span of 24 days, EXO recorded album sales of approximately 1,012,021 copies, making The War the second fastest album in Gaon Chart history to achieve this milestone, as observed Osen. EXO was ultimately dubbed as quadruple million-sellers for having four albums with over 1,000,000 sales.
  • “The War” topped the Billboard World Album Chart for two consecutive weeks, and the South Korean Gaon Album Chart for three consecutive weeks.
  • The War: The Power of Music topped the South Korean Gaon Album Chart for two consecutive weeks. Additionally, the Korean and Chinese versions of the album debuted at number one and two respectively on the YinYueTai China Weekly Albums Chart.
  • The album reached number one on iTunes in 41 countries in total, including in Spain, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Hong Kong, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Mexico, and Malaysia. The album also made it to the Top 10 on the iTunes charts in 67 countries, including in the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, France, and Germany. Additionally, the album topped Xiami Music’s K-Pop chart.
  • On January 16, 2018, “Power” became the first K-pop song to play at The Dubai Fountain at Burj Khalifa Lake, Dubai. Seven members of the group traveled to Dubai to view the first showing. The song’s initial run was extended from January to March. It was also brought back from September until November of the same year.

Accolades 

  • “The War” considered 11th of Billboard’s 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2017 
  • “The War” considered 3rd of Affinity Magazine’s Top 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2017 
  • “The War” considered 1st of Interpark’s Best Albums of 2017 
  • “The War” considered 4th of SBS PopAsia’s 2017 Best Albums

Charts

Weekly

  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #2 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #2 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Gaon’s South Korean Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #2 on Gaon’s South Korean Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Gaon’s South Korean Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #2 on Gaon’s South Korean Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Oricon’s Japan Western Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #4 on Oricon’s Japan Western Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #7 on Oricon’s Japan Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #35 on Oricon’s Japan Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #24 on SNEP’s French Digital Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #36 on SNEP’s French Digital Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” peaked at #10 on Billboard’s US Digital Albums Chart 
  • “The War” peaked at #3 on Billboard’s US Independent Albums Chart 
  • “The War” peaked at #28 on Billboard’s US Top Current Albums Chart 

Monthly 

  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Oricon’s Japan Western Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #10 on Oricon’s Japan Western Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #22 on Oricon’s Japan Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #1 on Gaon’s South Korean Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #2 on Gaon’s South Korean Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #2 on Gaon’s South Korean Monthly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #4 on Gaon’s South Korean Monthly Albums Chart

Year-End

  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #7 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #8 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #13 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #24 on Yin Yue Tai’s Chinese Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #2 on Gaon’s South Korea Album Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #23 on Gaon’s South Korea Album Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Korean vers.) peaked at #7 on Gaon’s South Korea Album Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #64 on Gaon’s South Korea Album Chart
  • “The War” (Korean vers.) peaked at #7 on Billboard’s US World Albums Chart
  • “The War” (Chinese vers.) peaked at #7 on Billboard’s US World Albums Chart

Combined Versions

  • “The War” peaked at #1 on South Korea’s Gaon Weekly Album Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” peaked at #1 on South Korea’s Gaon  
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #92 on Ultratop Flanders’ Belgian Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #76 on Billboard’s Canadian Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #24 on SNEP’s French Digital Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (combined) peaked at #36 on SNEP’s French Digital Weekly Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #11 on Billboard’s Japan Albums Chart
  • “The War: The Power of Music” (combined) peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Japan Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #4 on RMNZ’s New Zealand Heatseekers Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #93 on OCC’s Scottish Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #27 on OCC’s UK Downloaded Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #14 on OCC’s UK Independent Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #2 on OCC’s UK Independent Album Breakers Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #87 on Billboard’s US 200 Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #3 on Billboard’s US Independent Albums Chart
  • “The War” (combined) peaked at #1 on Billboard’s US World Albums Chart

Side Tracks 

  • “Ko Ko Bop” peaked at #2 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 
  • “Power” peaked at #3 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 
  • “The Eve” peaked at #5 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 
  • “Sweet Lies” peaked at #5 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 
  • “Boomerang” peaked at #11 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 
  • “Forever” peaked at #24 on Billboard’s US World Digital Song Sales Chart 

Awards 

  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on MBC’s Show Champion (July 26th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on MBC’s Show Champion (August 2nd, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on Mnet’s M Countdown (July 27th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on Mnet’s M Countdown (August 3rd, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on Mnet’s M Countdown (August 10th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on KBS’ Music Bank (July 28th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on KBS’ Music Bank (August 4th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on MBC’s Show Music Core (July 29th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on MBC’s Show Music Core (August 5th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on MBC’s Show Music Core (August 12th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on SBS’ Inkigayo (July 30th, 2017) 
  • “Ko Ko Bop” won first place on SBS’ Inkigayo (August 6th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on MBC’s Show Champion (September 13th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on MBC’s Show Champion (September 20th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on Mnet’s M Countdown (September 14th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on KBS’ Music Bank (September 15th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on KBS’ Music Bank (September 22nd, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on MBC’s Show! Music Core (September 16th, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on MBC’s Show! Music Core (September 23rd, 2017) 
  • “Power” won first place on SBS’ Inkigayo (September 17th, 2017) 

Features included on this EP:

  1. “The Eve” (전야 (前夜)”
  2. “Ko Ko Bop”
  3. “What U Do?’
  4. “Forever”
  5. “Diamond” (다이아몬드)”
  6. “Touch It” (너의 손짓)”
  7. “Chill” (소름
  8. “Walk on Memories” (기억을 걷는 밤)
  9. “Going Crazy” (내가 미쳐)
  1. “The Eve” (破风)
  2. “Ko Ko Bop” (叩叩趴)
  3. “What U Do?” (可爱·可恶)
  4. “Forever” (我加你等于永远)
  5. “Diamond” (C乐章)
  6. “Touch It” (指语)
  7. “Chill” (寒噤)
  8. “Walk on Memories” (梦回暮夜)
  9. “Going Crazy” (疯语者)

Additional features included on the repackaged EP:

  1. “Power”
  2. “Sweet Lies”
  3. “Boomerang” (부메랑)
  1. “Power” (超音力)
  2. “Sweet Lies” (甜蜜謊言)
  3. “Boomerang” (愛迴旋)