# Tempo (Exo song)

"Tempo" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on November 2, 2018, as the lead single of the band's fifth studio album Don't Mess Up My Tempo. The music video was released on the same date. The Chinese version features member Lay, who has been on an extended hiatus since "For Life" in 2016.

## Background

"Tempo" was called "a rhythmical hip-hop-leaning dance track that showcases a cappella harmonies as they send warnings not to 'mess up his tempo' with their lover". Billboard stated the preview "starts off with a dramatic synth melody, pulsating beat and the phrase 'I can't believe'." On February 24, 2019, the Korean music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. Exo promoted the album and song with teasers throughout October 2018, including a 30-second Tempo Concept short film, showing the band as a biker gang, which was a preview of "Tempo".

## Reception

Year-end lists :
| Critic/Publication | List | Rank |
| Dazed | The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2018 | 7 |
| Billboard | The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2018 | 18 |
| SBS PopAsia | Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018 | 21 |
| BuzzFeed | 30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop In 2018 | 12 |
| The Young Folks | The 20 Best K-Pop Singles of 2018 | 17 |
| Refinery29 | Best K-pop Music Video Moments of 2018 | 16 |

## Accolades

Awards and nominations :
| Year | Organization | Award | Result |
| 2019 | Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – November | Nominated |
| 2019 | Soompi Awards | Song of the Year | Won |
| 2019 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best K-pop Video | Nominated |
| 2019 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Dance Performance – Male Group | Nominated |
| 2019 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated |
Music program awards :
| Program | Date |
| Music Bank | November 9, 2018 |
| Music Bank | November 16, 2018 |
| Music Bank | January 4, 2019 |

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

### Studio

* In Grid Studio – recording
* The Vibe Studio – recording
* doobdoob Studio – digital editing
* SM Big Shot Studio – engineered for mix
* SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing
* Sterling Sound – mastering

### Personnel

* SM Entertainment – executive producer
* Lee Soo-man – producer
* Exo – vocals, background vocals
* Penomeco – Korean lyrics
* JQ – Korean lyrics
* Yoo Young-jin – Korean lyrics, music and sound supervisor
* Arys Chien – Chinese lyrics
* Jamil "Digi" Chammas – producer, composition, arrangement
* Leven Kali – producer, composition, background vocals
* MZMC – composition
* Adrian McKinnon – composition, background vocals
* Jeremy "Tay" Jasper – composition
* Deez – vocal directing
* Onestar – vocal directing
* Andrew Choi – background vocals
* Jeong Eun-kyung – recording
* Kwak Jeong-shin – recording
* Jeong Mo-yeon – recording
* Jang Woo-young – digital editing
* Lee Min-gyu – engineered for mix
* Jung Eui-seok – mixing
* Chris Gehringer – mastering

## Sales

Downloads :
| Region | Sales |
| China (digital) | 2,292 |
| Japan (digital) | 6,627 |

## Release history

Release history for "Tempo" :
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
| South Korea | November 2, 2018 | Digital downloadstreaming | SMiRiver |
| Various | November 2, 2018 | Digital downloadstreaming | SM |