"Cream Soda" is a song by South Korean-Chinese boy band Exo, released on July 10, 2023, by SM Entertainment as the third single and title track for their seventh studio album Exist.
Background and release
In January 2023, the group's leader, Suho, announced that the group was set to release new music after spring.[1]
From July 3 to 6, 2023, a set of individual and group teaser images was released on Exo's official social media accounts with the caption "EXO 'Cream Soda'".[2] On July 9, the music video teaser for "Cream Soda" was released.[3] On July 10, EXO released the song alongside the music video and the album's release.[4]
Composition
"Cream Soda" was composed by Tre Jean-Marie, Kwame "KZ" Kwei-Armah Jr., Ebenezer Fabiyi, Bobby Candler and Adrian Mckinnon, and arranged by Jean-Marie, Kwei-Armah and Imlay.[5] Produced in the key E Minor, with a tempo of 156 BPM, it is a dance-pop song with an exotic rhythm and upbeat brass, keyboard and drum instrumentation. It features sensual vocals, and the lyrics, which were written by Moon Seol-li, compare the soft yet thrilling moment of falling in love to cream soda.[6]
Accolades
"Cream Soda" won a first place on the music program Music Bank on July 21, 2023.[7]
^Kim Yu-rim (January 5, 2023). '군백기' 끝난 엑소, 완전체로 돌아온다 [EXO is back as a whole group after Baekhyun's military service]. MoneyS (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Yoo Byung-cheol (July 3, 2023). 엑소, 정규 7집 타이틀 곡 'Cream Soda' 쿨섹시 바이브 폭발...'엑소의 新 여름맛' [EXO's 7th regular album title song 'Cream Soda' explodes with a cool sexy vibe... 'EXO's new summer taste']. Wow TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Kim So-yeon (July 4, 2023). 엑소, 갈등 봉합 후 7집 공개...꾸밈없는 매력 담아 [EXO releases the 7th album after the conflict is resolved... With unadorned charm]. Wow TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Jeong Ha-eun (July 5, 2023). '컴백' 엑소, '보컬 맛집' 열린다...'관능美' 폭발 ['Comeback' EXO, 'Vocal Gourmet' opens... Explosion of 'sensual beauty']. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Kim Jae-won (July 5, 2023). 하반기 최고 화두...엑소, 7집의 비밀? [Top topic in the second half... EXO, the secret of the 7th album?]. Sports World (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Han Hae-seon (July 6, 2023). 엑소엘 모여라! 엑소 정규 7집 팝업스토어 11일 오픈 [Gather EXO-L! EXO's 7th regular album pop-up store opened on the 11th]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
Lee Min-ji (July 7, 2023). 엑소표 쿨 섹시 바이브 온다, 정규 7집 기대 포인트 [EXO's cool sexy vibe is coming, the points to look forward to for the 7th regular album]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Hwang Hye-jin (July 9, 2023). 엑소, 신곡 'Cream Soda' MV 티저 공개...무더위 날리는 쿨섹시 바이브 [EXO unveils new song 'Cream Soda' MV teaser... A cool sexy vibe that blows away the heat] (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^"Cream Soda". MelOn (in Korean). July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
^Gong Mi-na (July 3, 2023). 엑소, 7집 타이틀곡은 '크림 소다'...쿨하고 섹시한 여름맛 [EXO's 7th album title song is 'Cream Soda'... cool and sexy summer taste]. SpoTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon Sang-geun (July 21, 2023). '뮤직뱅크' 엑소 'Cream Soda' 방송출연 없이 '1위'[★밤TView] ['Music Bank' EXO's 'Cream Soda' won no.1 without appearing on the show. [★Night TV View]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^Exo (2023). Exist (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Kakao Entertainment. Credits.
