Empathy (EP)

Empathy
Digital and Photobook version cover
EP by
D.O.
ReleasedJuly 26, 2021 (2021-07-26)
Recorded2021
Studio
  • Big Shot
  • Blue Ocean
  • LVYIN
  • Yellow Tail
Genre
Length24:28
Language
  • Korean
  • English
  • Spanish
Label
ProducerLee Soo-man
D.O. chronology
Empathy
(2021) 		Expectation
(2023)
Singles from Empathy
  1. "Rose"
    Released: July 26, 2021
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Line of Best Fit9/10[2]
NME[3]

Empathy (Korean: 공감; RR: Gonggam) is the debut extended play by South Korean singer and actor D.O. It was released on July 26, 2021, by SM Entertainment and distributed by Dreamus. The EP features eight tracks including the lead single, "Rose". The physical album comes in three versions: one photobook version and two digipack versions (Blue and Grey).[4]

Background

[edit]

In late June 2021, SM Entertainment announced that D.O. would release his debut solo album on July 26.[5][6][7] Pre orders became available on July 1.[8]

Composition

[edit]

Empathy features eight tracks and is based on acoustic pop and R&B.[9][10] The album has two bonus tracks: an English version of the title track "Rose",[11] and a Spanish version of "It's Love", called "Si Fueras Mía".[2][12] D.O. is credited as a writer for the title song "Rose", and "I'm Fine".[11][12]

Billboard described the lead single "Rose" as "breezy folk-pop", and praised the artist's storytelling ability throughout the album.[12]

Promotion

[edit]

A highlight medley was released on July 23, which previewed the tracks on the album. The music video for the lead single "Rose" was released on July 26, the same day as the album.[13][14][15]

Track listing

[edit]
Empathy track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Rose"
  • Emanuel Abrahamsson
  • Benjamin Ingrosso
  • Axel Ehnström
  • Do Kyung-soo
  • Emanuel Abrahamsson
  • Benjamin Ingrosso
  • Axel Ehnström
Emanuel Abrahamsson2:33
2."I'm Gonna Love You" (featuring Wonstein)
  • danke (lalala studio)
  • Wonstein
Larus "Leo" Arnason2:31
3."My Love"Hwang Yu-bin
  • 220
  • eaJ
  • Andreas Ringbloom
2202:54
4."It's Love" (다시, 사랑이야)Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Andreas Öberg
  • Maria Marcus
3:57
5."Dad" (나의 아버지)Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Dave Gibson
  • David Sneddon
  • Jon Hume
  • Tha Aristocrats
Tha Aristocrats2:54
6."I'm Fine"
  • Emile Ghantous
  • Josephine Carr
  • Celeste Williams
  • Lamont Pierre Heath
Emile Ghantous3:09
7."Rose" (English version)
  • Emanuel Abrahamsson
  • Benjamin Ingrosso
  • Axel Ehnström
  • Emanuel Abrahamsson
  • Benjamin Ingrosso
  • Axel Ehnström
Emanuel Abrahamsson2:33
8."Si Fueras Mía"
  • Andreas Öberg
  • Danny Saucedo
  • Cindy Gomez
  • Maria Marcus
  • Andreas Öberg
  • Maria Marcus
3:57
Total length:24:28

Charts

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Sales

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Region Sales
China[21] 84,115
Japan[22] 26,590
South Korea[23] 380,178

Certifications

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Certifications for Empathy
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[24] Platinum 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

[edit]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication Year List Work Rank Ref.
Harpers Bazaar 2021 Top-15-k-pop-albums-of-2021 "Empathy" 1 [25]
NME 2021 The 25 best K-Pop songs of 2021 "Rose" 16 [26]
Philstarlife 2021 Top-21-k-pop-b-side tracks-of-2021 "My Love" 1 [27]
Philstarlife 2021 Top-15-k-pop-title tracks-of-2021 "Rose" 16 [28]
K-Pop High India 2021 Top-10-k-pop-songs-of-2021 "Rose" - [29]
The Daily Box 2021 The Ultimate-10-k-pop-songs-of-2021 "Si Fueras Mia" - [30]

Music show awards

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Music show awards
Song Program Date Rank Ref.
"Rose" Music Bank (KBS) August 6, 2021 1 [31]

Release history

[edit]
Release history for Empathy
Region Date Format Label
South Korea July 26, 2021
Various
  • SM

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "디오, 공감의 힘을 발현하다" [D.O. unleashes the power of empathy]. Channel Yes (in Korean). Yes24. August 11, 2021. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Naver.
  2. ^ a b Sartain, Nathan (July 26, 2021). "D.O.'s Empathy is a love inspired pop triumph". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Ramli, Sofiana (July 29, 2021). "D.O. – '공감 (Empathy)' review: excellent acoustic pop confessionals with a golden voice". NME. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "EXO on Twitter". July 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "[디오] 믿듣됴 플레이리스트 공감해요". entertain.naver.com/ (in Korean).
  6. ^ "EXO's DO to drop 1st solo album: report". The Korea Herald. June 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "EXO on Twitter:D.O. 디오 The 1st Mini Album". June 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "EXO on Twitter:D.O. to release his first solo album '공감' on 7/26! Pre-orders to be available from today!". July 1, 2021 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Herman, Tamar (July 27, 2021). "K-pop singer D.O. from Exo debuts first EP 'Empathy', the latest in the group's stellar line-up of solo releases". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  10. ^ Tatum, Chyenne (December 14, 2021). "The Top 15 K-Pop Albums of 2021". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Hwang, You-mee (July 21, 2021). "[Today's K-pop] EXO's Dio wrote two songs for solo debut album". The Korea Herald. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Oak, Jessica (August 5, 2021). "EXO Vocalist D.O. Releases Romantic Solo Album 'Empathy'". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Martin, Annie (July 14, 2021). "EXO's D.O. struggles to write in 'Empathy' mood sampler". UPI. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "디오 '공감' 자켓 & MV 촬영 비하인드 준비했됴 (Feat. 이벤트)". Naver. July 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "EXO's D.O. unveils solo debut album". The Korea Herald. July 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/08/11". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-08-16" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 31, 2021". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  19. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – July 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  20. ^ "2021년 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  21. ^ Cumulative sales for Empathy:
  22. ^
  23. ^ 2021년 Album Chart [2021 Yearly Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "South Korean album certifications – D.O. – 공감 (Empathy) - The 1st Album" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).
  25. ^ "Top 15 K-Pop albums". Harpersbazzar. December 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Daly, Rhian (December 19, 2021). "The 25 best K-pop songs of 2021". NME. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  27. ^ Mallorca, Hannah. "21 K-pop b-sides that stole our hearts in 2021".
  28. ^ Mallorca, Hannah. "21 K-pop title tracks that defined 2021".
  29. ^ L., Lopa. "Best K-Pop Songs Of 2021 – Boy Group/Solo Edition #KHIGHRewind".
  30. ^ Moosa, Fatima. "The ultimate 2021 K-pop playlist".
  31. ^ 8월 1주순위 [Music Bank ranking for the first week of August]. KBS Music Bank (in Korean). August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
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