Wikipedia

Rover (EP)

Rover is the third extended play by South Korean singer Kai, released on March 13, 2023, by SM Entertainment. The EP contains six tracks including the lead single of the same name. The physical album is available in five versions (two "Photobook" versions, one "Sleeve" version, one "Digipack" version, and one "SMini" version).

Rover
A spiral of concentric black and white circles with Kai walking on top of them, with the title superimposed
Digital cover
EP by
Kai
ReleasedMarch 13, 2023 (2023-03-13)
Studio
  • Big Shot
  • Blue Cup
  • Concert Hall
  • Doobdoob
  • Embassy
  • Sound POOL
  • SSAM
  • Starlight
Genre
Length18:10
LanguageKorean
Label
Kai chronology
Peaches
(2021) 		Rover
(2023)
Singles from Rover
  1. "Rover"
    Released: March 13, 2023

Background and release

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In February 2023, SM confirmed that Kai plans to release a new solo album.[1] On February 17, SM announced that his new EP, Rover, would be released on March 13.[2]

The music video for "Rover" was inspired by two movies: Billy Elliot (2000) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).[3]

A promotional video entitled "FILM : KAI #Rover" for the EP was released on Exo official YouTube channel on March 20, featuring performances for each of the EP's b-sides.[4]

Composition

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The lead single "Rover" is a dancehall song featuring heavy bass, marimba, bells and various percussions. The lyrics sing of throwing off the restraints of others' viewpoints and living freely as a 'wanderer'.[5] "Black Mirror" is an R&B hip hop song with lyrics that question the lifestyle of modern humans reliant on the stimulating, provocative content on social media.[6] "Bomba" is a dance genre song with reggaeton beats.[6] "Slidin'" is an R&B soul genre song that features elegant arpeggio synth sounds and rhythmical drums. The lyrics compare falling in love at first sight with someone that you run into by chance to one's clothes becoming wet from a sudden downpour.[7] "Say You Love Me" is a hip-hop R&B song accompanied by drums and 808 bass. The lyrics make use of candid, straightforward expressions to depict one's desire for the other to confirm their interest in an honest manner.[7] "Sinner" is a pop genre song with piano and synthesizer as accompaniments. The lyrics express the desire to remain trapped in an exhausting type of love where both exhilaration and pain coexist.[7]

Commercial performance

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The album debuted at #1 on the Circle Weekly Album Chart (March 12–18) while the lead single Rover topped the Circle Weekly Download Chart in the same week.[8] The album topped the iTunes Top Albums chart in 40 regions, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.[9] Additionally, the lead single Rover debuted at #12 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales.[10]

Reception

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David Opie from Paste named Rover the 10th best K-pop album of 2023, who praised the record's production and sensuality. He named "Bomba" and "Sinner" as the EP's standouts.[11]

Track listing

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Track listing for Rover
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Rover"Park Tae-won
  • Cristian Tarcea
  • Dara
  • Valentina Nikova
  • YNGA
  • Young Chance
  • Gabriel Brandes
  • Tarcea
  • Imlay
2:54
2."Black Mirror"Mia (153/Joombas)
  • John "Jbl8ze" Eley
  • Jordan Dollar
  • Castle
  • Eley
  • Dollar
  • Castle
2:55
3."Slidin'"Lee Yeon-ji (PNP)
Riley2:43
4."Bomba"
  • RGB (Lalala Studio)
  • Kim Su-min (Artiffect)
  • Sam Klempner
  • Michael Matosic
  • Jake Torrey
Klempner3:07
5."Say You Love Me"Danke (Lalala Studio)
  • Vinny "Vinnyforgood" Verdi
  • Michael "Trupopgod" Jiminez
  • Miguel Jiminez
  • Dominique Logan
  • Darius Logan
  • Verdi
  • Trupopgod
3:06
6."Sinner"Hwang Yu-bin (Verygoods)
  • Koen van de Wardt
  • Ruben Pol
  • Wardt
  • Pol
3:22
Total length:18:10

Credits

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Credits adapted from EP's liner notes.[12]

Studio

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  • SM Starlight Studio – recording (track 1), mixing (track 3), engineered for mix (track 1), digital editing (track 1, 3)
  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording (track 3, 5), digital editing, engineered for mix (track 2)
  • SM Big Shot Studio – recording (track 4), mixing (track 5), engineered for mix (track 4–5), digital editing (track 5)
  • Doobdoob Studio – recording, digital editing (track 2, 4, 6)
  • Sound Pool Studio – recording (track 3, 5–6)
  • Embassy Studio – recording (track 2–3)
  • SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing (track 1)
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing (track 4)
  • SM Lvyin Studio – mixing, engineered for mix (track 6)
  • SM Ssam Studio – engineered for mix (track 3)
  • SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing (track 2)
  • 821 Sound Mastering – mastering (all tracks)

Personnel

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  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • Lee Sung-soo – production director, executive supervisor
  • Tak Young-jun – executive supervisor
  • Yoo Young-jin – music and sound supervisor
  • Kai – vocals (all tracks), background vocals (track 4–6)
  • Park Tae-won – lyrics (track 1)
  • Mia (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 2)
  • Lee Yeon-ji (PNP) – lyrics (track 3)
  • RGB (Lalala Studio) – lyrics (track 4)
  • Kim Su-min (Artiffect) – lyrics (track 4)
  • Danke (Lalala Studio) – lyrics (track 5)
  • Hwang Yu-bin (Verygoods) – lyrics (track 6)
  • Cristian Tarcea – composition, arrangement (track 1)
  • Dara – composition (track 1)
  • Valentina Nikova – composition (track 1)
  • YNGA – composition (track 1)
  • Young Chance – composition (track 1), vocal directing (track 1, 4), background vocals (track 1, 4–5)
  • Gabriel Brandes – composition (track 1)
  • Imlay – arrangement (track 1)
  • John "Jbl8ze" Eley – composition, arrangement (track 2)
  • Jordan Dollar – composition, arrangement (track 2)
  • Castle – composition, arrangement (track 2)
  • Talay Riley – composition, arrangement (track 3)
  • Steve "Tave" Octave – composition (track 3)
  • Sam Klempner – composition, arrangement (track 4)
  • Michael Matosic – composition (track 4)
  • Jake Torrey – composition (track 4)
  • Vinny "Vinnyforgood" Verdi – composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • Michael "Trupopgod" Jiminez – composition, arrangement (track 5)
  • Miguel Jiminez – composition (track 5)
  • Dominique Logan – composition (track 5)
  • Darius Logan – composition (track 5)
  • Koen van de Wardt – composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Ruben Pol – composition, arrangement (track 6)
  • Chancellor – vocal directing (track 2–3, 5), background vocals, recording (track 2–3)
  • Rick Bridges – vocal directing (track 2)
  • Kim Yeon-seo – vocal directing (track 5–6)
  • Bob Matthews – keyboard (track 4)
  • Jeong Yu-ra – recording (track 1), mixing (track 3), engineered for mix (track 1), digital editing (track 1, 3)
  • Noh Min-ji – recording (track 3, 5), digital editing, engineered for mix (track 2)
  • Lee Min-gyu – recording (track 4), mixing (track 5), engineered for mix (track 4–5), digital editing (track 5)
  • Eugene Kwon – recording, digital editing (track 2, 4, 6)
  • Jung Ho-jin – recording (track 3, 5–6)
  • Kim Cheol-sun – mixing (track 1)
  • Jung Eui-seok – mixing (track 4)
  • Lee Ji-hong – mixing, engineered for mix (track 6)
  • Kang Eun-ji – engineered for mix (track 3)
  • Nam Koong-jin – mixing (track 2)
  • Lee Yong-jin – digital editing (track 3)
  • Woo Min-jeong – digital editing (track 4)
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

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Sales

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Sales for Rover
Region Sales
Japan[18] 4,055
South Korea[19] 247,222

Release history

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Release history for Rover
Region Date Format Label
Various March 13, 2023
South Korea CD
March 17, 2023 SMC

References

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  1. ^ Cho Yong-jun (February 14, 2023). "EXO's Kai to release a new album in mid-March". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "엑소 카이, 새 미니앨범 '로버' 발매…예약판매 시작" [EXO's Kai, new mini-album 'Rover' to be released... Reservation starts]. Newsis (in Korean). February 17, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  3. ^ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (March 13, 2023). "Kai changes his identity in music video for 'Rover'". NME. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Ji Min-kyung (March 20, 2023). 엑소 카이, 오늘(20일) ‘FILM : KAI’ 공개..퍼포먼스 하이라이트 담았다 [EXO's Kai, 'FILM: KAI' released today (20th).. Performance highlights included]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Lee, Min-ji (February 27, 2023). "엑소 카이 타이틀 곡 'Rover' 자유분방 와일드 힙 예고" [EXO's KAI's title song, "Rover" a preview of free-spirited wild hip]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  6. ^ a b Kim, Won-hui (March 2, 2023). "카이, 솔직담백 '로버'" [Kai, honest talk 'Rover']. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. ^ a b c Han, Hae-seol (March 3, 2023). "'컴백 누드 천사' 엑소 카이, 'Rover' 다양한 장르 담았다!" ['Comeback Nude Angel' EXO Kai, 'Rover' has a variety of genres!]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Kim Jin-seok (March 23, 2023). 엑소 카이, 써클차트 앨범·다운로드 차트 1위 [EXO's Kai, No. 1 on the Circle Chart Album/Download Chart]. JTBC News (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  9. ^ 엑소 카이, 미니 3집 ‘Rover’ 아이튠즈 전 세계 40개 지역 1위…글로벌 인기 입증 [EXO Kai, 3rd mini album 'Rover' iTunes ranked #1 in 40 regions worldwide... Proof of global popularity]. Wow TV (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  10. ^ "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Opie, David (December 21, 2023). "The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023". Paste. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Kai (2023). Rover (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
  13. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-04-10/p/2" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-04-10" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of April 5, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 11, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Circle Album Chart – March 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  18. ^ オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年03月27日～2023年04月02日 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking March 27, 2023 to April 2, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  19. ^ Accumulated sales for Rover:
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