Rover (EP) explained

Rover
Type:EP
Artist:Kai
Cover:Kai - Rover.jpg
Alt:A spiral of concentric black and white circles with Kai walking on top of them, with the title superimposed
Caption:Digital cover
Genre:
Studio:
  • Big Shot
  • Blue Cup
  • Concert Hall
  • Doobdoob
  • Embassy
  • Sound POOL
  • SSAM
  • Starlight
Length:18:10
Language:Korean
Label:
Prev Title:Peaches
Prev Year:2021

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).

Background and release

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

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. "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. "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.

Commercial performance

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

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]

Credits

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

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[13] 19
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[14] 8
South Korean Albums (Circle)[15] 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Circle)[16] 8

Sales

Region! scope="col"
Sales
Japan[17] 4,055
South Korea[18] 247,222

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
Various<-- Inclusive of South Korea -->March 13, 2023
South KoreaCD
March 17, 2023SMC

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cho Yong-jun. EXO's Kai to release a new album in mid-March. Korea JoongAng Daily. February 14, 2023. en. February 14, 2023. February 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230214102456/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/02/14/entertainment/kpop/Kpop-Korea-EXO/20230214114803685.html. live.
  2. Web site: 엑소 카이, 새 미니앨범 '로버' 발매…예약판매 시작. EXO's Kai, new mini-album 'Rover' to be released... Reservation starts. Newsis. March 3, 2023. ko. February 17, 2023. March 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155527/https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230217_0002196930&cID=10601&pID=10600. live.
  3. News: Suacillo. Angela Patricia. Kai changes his identity in music video for 'Rover'. March 15, 2023. NME. March 13, 2023. March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314114311/https://www.nme.com/news/music/exo-kai-rover-solo-mini-album-release-date-3400334. live.
  4. Web site: Ji Min-kyung. March 20, 2023. ko:엑소 카이, 오늘(20일) ‘FILM : KAI’ 공개..퍼포먼스 하이라이트 담았다. EXO's Kai, 'FILM: KAI' released today (20th).. Performance highlights included. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&amp;aid=0004811123. OSEN. July 3, 2023. ko. Naver.
  5. Web site: 엑소 카이 타이틀 곡 'Rover' 자유분방 와일드 힙 예고. EXO's KAI's title song, "Rover" a preview of free-spirited wild hip. Newsen. Naver. Lee. Min-ji. February 27, 2023. March 3, 2023. ko. March 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155525/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000694730. live.
  6. Web site: 카이, 솔직담백 '로버'. Kai, honest talk 'Rover'. Sports Kyunghyang. Naver. Kim. Won-hui. March 2, 2023. March 3, 2023. ko. March 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155525/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=144&aid=0000870512. live.
  7. Web site: '컴백 누드 천사' 엑소 카이, 'Rover' 다양한 장르 담았다!. 'Comeback Nude Angel' EXO Kai, 'Rover' has a variety of genres!. Star News. Naver. Han. Hae-seol. March 3, 2023. March 3, 2023. ko. March 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230303064127/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003133291. live.
  8. Web site: Kim Jin-seok. March 23, 2023. ko:엑소 카이, 써클차트 앨범·다운로드 차트 1위. EXO's Kai, No. 1 on the Circle Chart Album/Download Chart. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&amp;aid=0000336649. July 3, 2023. JTBC News. ko. Naver.
  9. Web site: ko: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. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=215&amp;aid=0001088601. July 3, 2023. Wow TV. ko. Naver.
  10. World Digital Song Sales. July 3, 2023. Billboard. en-US.
  11. Opie . David . December 21, 2023 . The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023 . . December 23, 2023.
  12. Rover. Kai. 2023. Credits. photobook. SM Entertainment; Dreamus. South Korea.
  13. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-04-10 . . April 7, 2023. ja.
  14. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of April 5, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. April 5, 2023. April 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230405062238/https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2023&month=04&day=10. live.
  15. Web site: Circle Album Chart – Week 11, 2023. Circle Chart. ko. March 23, 2023. March 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325023200/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=11&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  16. Web site: Circle Album Chart – March 2023. Circle Chart. ko. April 7, 2023.
  17. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-04-10/p/2/. ja: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. Oricon. ja. April 5, 2023. April 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230405023806/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-04-10/p/2/. dead.
  18. Accumulated sales for Rover:

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