Rover (Kai song) explained

Rover
Artist:Kai
Ep:Rover
Type:single
Language:Korean
Genre:
Length:2:54
Label:
Studio:SM Starlight (Seoul)
Composer:
  • Dara
  • Cristian Tarcea
  • YNGA
  • Valentina Nikova
  • Young Chance
  • Gabriel Brandes
Lyricist:Park Tae-won
Chronology:Kai
Prev Title:Peaches
Prev Year:2021

"Rover" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Kai for his third extended play of the same name. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on March 13, 2023.

Background and release

In February 2023, SM confirmed that Kai would release a new solo album.[1] On February 17, SM announced that his new EP, Rover, would be released on March 13.[2] The song was released alongside the extended play and its music video on March 13.

Composition

A remake of Bulgarian singer Dara's original song titled "Mr. Rover", "Rover" was composed by Cristian Tarcea, Dara, Valentina Nikova, YNGA, Gabriel Brandes and Young Chance, with the arrangement held by Tarcea and Imlay.[3] [4]

Described as a dancehall song with heavy bass, marimba, bells and various percussion instruments. The lyrics, which was written by Park Tae-won, discuss freeing onself from the restraints of others' viewpoints and living freely as a "wanderer".[5] The song was composed in the key of C♯ minor, with a tempo of 186 beats per minute.[6]

Music video and promotion

The music video was directed by Kim Ki-hyun and Lee Hye-su of Swisher was released alongside the song by SM Entertainment on March 13. It was inspired by the films Billy Elliot (2000) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).[7]

One hour before the release, Kai held a live broadcast through Exo's YouTube and TikTok channels in which he talked about his EP, songs and production process.[8] [9] He promoted the song with televised live performances on various South Korean music programs, including M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo.

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number 23 on Circle Digital Chart issue dated March 12 to 18, 2023. It also debuted at number one and 76 on the component Download Chart and BGM Chart, respectively.[10] [11]

Critical reception

On NMEs midyear list of the best K-pop songs of 2023, Sara Delgado wrote that the song "exceed expectations" and called it "an immediately enthralling earworm that still resonates through social media months after its release".[12]

Critic/Publication! scope="col"
ListRank
DazedTop 50 best K-pop tracks of 202347[13]
NMEThe 25 best K-pop songs of 202310[14]

Accolades

Award ceremony! scope="col"
YearCategoryResult
MAMA Awards2023Best Dance Performance – Male Solo[15]
Program! width="140"
Date
Music Bank March 24, 2023[16] [17]
Show! Music Core March 25, 2023[18] [19]

Credits

Credits adapted from EP's liner notes.

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Singapore Regional (RIAS)[20] 13
South Korea (Circle)[21] 23
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[22] 12

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
South Korea (Circle)[23] 124

Release history

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

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: ko:엑소 카이, 새 미니앨범 '로버' 발매...예약판매 시작. EXO's Kai, new mini-album 'Rover' to be released... Reservation starts. https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230217_0002196930&amp;cID=10601&amp;pID=10600. 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. Web site: KAI – Rover/Song Information. Melon. March 13, 2023. March 13, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323035525/https://www.melon.com/song/detail.htm?songId=36269721. live.
  4. Rover. Kai. 2023. Credits. photobook. SM Entertainment; Dreamus. South Korea.
  5. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&amp;aid=0000694730. ko: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: Key & BPM for Rover by Kai. Tunebat. March 13, 2023. March 13, 2023.
  7. News: Angela Patricia Suacillo. 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.
  8. Web site: March 8, 2023. ko:엑소 카이, 13일 'Rover' 발매 기념 생방송 진행 [공식]. EXO Kai, live broadcast commemorating the release of 'Rover' on the 13th [Official]. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&amp;aid=0000698203. Newsen. March 23, 2023. ko. Naver. March 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133032/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000698203. live.
  9. Web site: Jeong Ji-won. March 13, 2023. ko:[오늘컴백] 엑소 카이, 와일드 힙 'Rover' 귀환...월클 퍼포머 입증. [Today's comeback] EXO Kai, wild hip 'Rover' return... Demonstration of a Wolkeul(World Class) Performer. https://www.joynews24.com/view/1574876. Joy News 24. March 23, 2023. ko. March 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133030/https://www.joynews24.com/view/1574876. live.
  10. Web site: Download Chart – Week 11 of 2023. Circle Chart. September 23, 2022. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323233411/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=11&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  11. Web site: BGM Chart – Week 11 of 2023. Circle Chart. September 23, 2022. March 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133036/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1060&targetTime=11&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  12. June 28, 2023. The 15 best K-pop songs of 2023 – so far. July 3, 2023. NME.
  13. From Jung Kook to NewJeans and aespa, we look back on the K-pop tracks that ruled the last 12 months. Glasby. Taylor. December 15, 2023. Dazed. December 17, 2023.
  14. Web site: NME . 2023-12-19 . The 25 best K-pop songs of 2023 . 2023-12-20 . NME . en-GB.
  15. Jimin & Tomorrow X Together Lead Nominations for 2023 MAMA Awards (Full List). Billboard. Grein. Paul. October 19, 2023. November 29, 2023. November 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231129144815/https://www.billboard.com/lists/2023-mama-awards-nominees-full-list-jung-kook/artist-of-the-year-2/. live.
  16. Web site: Lee Na-young. March 24, 2023. ko:카이, '뮤직뱅크' 1위에 눈물...김재환·장우혁 컴백 [종합]. Kai, Tears on 'Music Bank' 1st place... Kim Jae-hwan·Jang Woo-hyuk comeback [Comprehensive]. https://www.xportsnews.com/article/1703995. Xports News. March 24, 2023. ko. March 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133035/https://www.xportsnews.com/article/1703995. live.
  17. Web site: March 24, 2023. 3월 4주 순위. Music Bank ranking for the fourth week of March. March 25, 2023. KBS Music Bank. ko. March 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324172548/https://pbbs.kbs.co.kr/m/general/read.html?bbs_id=T2000-0027-04-641103&id=1226842&post_no=537&page=1&post_header=. live.
  18. Web site: Kim No-eul. March 25, 2023. ko:'음중' 엑소 카이, 1위 발표에 울컥 "엑소엘·SM 관계자들 감사"[종합]. 'Music Core' EXO's Kai, thrilled by the announcement of No. 1 "Thanks to EXO-L and SM officials" [Comprehensive]. https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003139101. Star News. Naver. March 25, 2023. ko. March 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325075716/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003139101. live.
  19. Web site: March 27, 2023. 2023년 3월 25일 음악중심 차트. Music Core Chart for March 25, 2022. March 27, 2023. iMBC. ko. March 27, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230327085407/https://imbbs.imbc.com/v2/view.aspx?bid=chart_ranking&list_id=7110987&pre_list_id=7103458&next_list_id=-1&page=1&list_use=1. live.
  20. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 13 (24 - 30 Mar 2023). RIAS. April 4, 2023. April 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404080601/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/#1562208279199-5ec9aa23-80dc/.
  21. Web site: Digital Chart – Week 11 of 2023. Circle Chart. ko. March 23, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323035616/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  22. World Digital Song Sales: Week of April 1, 2023. Billboard. subscription. March 28, 2023. March 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328092607/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2023-04-01/. live.
  23. Web site: Digital Chart – March 2023. April 12, 2022. Circle Chart. ko.

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