EXO is one of the most popular and successful K-pop groups. The group is known for its incredible vocals, impressive dance moves, and numerous hit songs. EXO has dominated the K-pop scene since its debut in 2012, winning multiple awards and accolades for its music. Over the years, it has released several hit albums and singles, and its fan base has only grown bigger with time.
As EXO celebrates its 12th anniversary, fans worldwide are nostalgically reliving the group’s incredible journey and achievements. In a heartfelt tribute to EXO’s legacy, POP TOKKI has curated a list of their most memorable performances, categorized by comeback era. From the debut song “MAMA” to the latest release, “Cream Soda,” each performance is a cherished memory that showcases EXO’s talent, evolution, hard work, and dedication.
Whether you’re a long-time EXO-L or a new fan, this list will take you down memory lane and remind you why EXO is one of the most iconic K-pop groups of all time.
MAMA (2012)
EXO’s debut single, “MAMA,” is a sound that has never been done before by any other group. The song features a Gregorian chant and orchestral accompaniments. Still, it is also very rock-inspired, especially during the guitar-heavy dance break, in which Kai does a singing yell closely akin to screamo music.
EXO’s debut stage should be used as a reference to other up-and-coming idols and what they should strive towards. The choreography is done exceptionally well, as it was performed by world-renowned choreographer Lyle Beniga, who had previously worked with famous pop artists such as Usher and Christina Aguilera. The moves were both dynamic yet smooth and perfectly fit the vibe of the single. Although the performance was very dance-heavy, especially the dance break before the true beginning of the song, the vocals of the performance stood out the most. The raw vocals of the members, even though it feels as if this is not their first time performing on this stage, are extremely powerful. They sound tired, but that adds to how impressive their voices are, even when they are worked up. There seem to be no prerecorded lines besides the boisterous, over-produced harmonies already attached to the song.
EXO’s debut is the most notable of the other 2012 boy groups, showing the industry that this group was talented and here to stay. But the scary thing is that over the years, EXO has been even better than this.
GROWL (2013)
Growl is one of their first performances as an ensemble rather than a six-unit group, divided by their Korean and Mandarin units. They perform in groups and take turns until midway through the song, when they return as a 12-member unit. The most popular live stage is their Growl + Beauty and the Beast at 2013 MAMA, a beautiful stylistic performance. The live stage ends an EXO Youtube series, EXO 엑소 Drama, with the songs “Growl” and “Wolf” at the center of the short series. Both songs were released with similar animalistic concepts and helped expand the subsection of EXO’s lore.
The performance’s visuals exude boyish charm and a suave vibe. The performers smile throughout, and it looks like they’re having fun on stage. They are dressed in suits, ties, and name tags. The concept gives off more school than professional, which adds to their charm since they look very young. The dance moves and choreography were trendy for the time and would be a TikTok challenge today. While props in choreography may be considered outdated, the group’s use of a snapback hat in ‘Growl’ is a testament to their creativity and unity. As they pass the hat around and put it on each other, they showcase a unique form of interaction, a precursor to the heavy utilization of props in their later comeback, ‘Call Me Baby.’
Kai is killing the stage and outperforming the members, which could portray the members as incoherent to the audience. D.O.’s adlibs and harmonies are impeccable, and he stands out in this performance. The slowdown at the end is mesmerizing, and the harmonies of Luhan, Baekhyun, Suho, and Chen add invaluable character to the song.
It gives off very boy-next-door vibes and is a fun song to introduce someone to EXO or older K-pop. Each member didn’t get a chance to shine, probably because of the number of members present in this comeback, but this will change later.
OVERDOSE (2014)
Like “Growl,” “Overdose” starts in groups and then moves the group in different verses of the song, but it begins with EXO-K and then EXO-M. If you watch the EXO-M music video, it starts the inverse way. This comeback was also the last title song, which featured all 12 original members. During the “Overdose” comeback stages, EXO-M members Kris and Luhan were in the process of leaving the group. For this particular stage, Kris is not seen present, but other members from EXO-K take their spots in later comeback stages.
The dance and the song are very experimental, feeling futuristic and robotic. The performance is intimidating, and the fashion choices are very leathery and arrogant, with bad-boy visuals. The performance starts with EXO-K performing an impressive acrobatic stunt in the shape of a hexagon or the official EXO logo. Every performance begins with this formation, which deserves respect because it must be tiring. The drumlike head-beating choreography in the first chorus has been iconic since day one, and that is just a test of how unique the song’s choreography is.
The dance movements are harsh and forceful. However, they are done exceptionally well, assuming they match the song’s original lyrics. During the second chorus, the members do a hip movement or hip thrust. The motion, paired with the camera work of the stage, is crazy and shouldn’t be allowed, but in a good way. The boomerang dancing at the end, roller coaster dancing, and Tao’s flip are the best ways to end this song. They complement the rest of the choreography.
The song’s overall highlight is Chanyeol, Sehun, and Kai’s rap. EXO is not known for its rapping, but when Chanyeol raps, the audience can feel his raw talent. Baekhyun’s vocals stand out in the song as they are so powerful that they can withstand intense physical movement. Lay’s unique vocal style in the second verse adds to the song and makes it stand out, whereas, in other songs, they may feel out of place. Suho and D.O. are also highlights, especially before the verse in the middle of the song, when it starts to slow down. Baekhyun’s high note is also crazy good during this time.
Overall, the song and performance were spectacular, and although the comeback is not what EXO is known for, it still deserves its flowers.
CALL ME BABY (2015)
“Call Me Baby” is one of EXO’s most popular live stages, with over 25 million views. This comeback stage is the most calculated and edited performance of the group’s repertoire, but it is still mesmerizing to watch. Sadly, this is their last comeback as a 10-member group, as Chinese member Tao will leave soon after.
This song and the choreography are iconic, and that is for a reason. It is a jazzy pop song with the Orchestra in the background that then transitions into a hip-hop beat throughout the chorus. The song pairs well with the members’ movements, and this song and its comeback are unbeatable.
The ‘Call Me Baby’ choreography stands out for its seamless integration of props and smooth, sophisticated dance moves. It exudes an air of arrogance, yet in a sexy way, intriguing and impressing the audience. The choreography hits you with powerful moves, and then the members flow it down with body rolls and touching their bodies in a sexy way. Kai’s dancing is a stand-out, which is no surprise. The performance starts with Kai doing a solo dance to the acapella version of Call Me Baby. We only see his feet in the frame, and he’s doing his signature ballet moves.
This song’s harmonies are unbelievable, showing their well-roundedness as a unit. Before the rap break, Baekhyun, Kai, D.O., and Chen have the sweetest soulful harmonies that, at first, you wouldn’t think fit into the song, but they are delicious and accompany the track so well. The emotional high point of the song is undoubtedly D.O.’s high note in the second verse. When he says, ‘Baby girl,’ it’s so sweet and enticing that it could make anyone fall to their knees with pleasure. This siren song, leading to a punching beat in the background, captivates and moves the audience.
Lay is a fan favorite and shines in this song. He has a cute part in the second chorus that surprisingly fits into the song.
If you weren’t in love with EXO before this comeback, they entranced you with their sultry, sexy, chill vibes. With a mixture of sexy and cool, EXO’s mature charms are perfectly displayed in this comeback.
MONSTER (2016)
EXO impresses with their wild and fierce side in their song, “Monster.” The visuals’ concept is mafia meets bad boy, which aligns with their comeback style, which they will continue in their upcoming release, “Obsession.” The track boasts an industrial sound with a smooth yet rugged dance performance. The vocals are harmonious, and although not many members stand out individually, the group’s synergy is at its peak. Each member gets to showcase their skills in the song, whether it’s through vocals, rap, or dance performances.
Similar to their previous release, “Overdose,” the boomerang dance is prominent in this song, highlighting the group’s coordination and unity. Throughout the performance, they allude to being crazy; for example, they have Suho in an imaginary straight jacket in one dance move. They often harshly put their hands on each other or mimic physical violence, which is in line in alignment well with the song lyrics. They also do the microwave oven move on the floor, where they sit and rotate and spin with one hand on the floor. While EXO didn’t create this movie, its choreography popularized it, if not only highlighted it.
Near the end of the performance, Kai and Lay five before absolutely tearing up the dance floor, and they do it in every performance. Until Lay leaves the group, it is a highlight of the performance. It’s like them saying, “Let’s finish this day strong” before they demolish the last part of the choreography.
The rap in “Monster” is also a highlight. In this song, Chanyeol and Sehun work together as a duo instead of fighting for the spotlight. They will later become a sub-unit of EXO, EXO-SC, as they work so well together.
The repackaged album of “Monster” titled ‘Lotto,’ and that performance would be the last performance that Chinese member Lay would be a part of. Sadly, he had to depart from the group because of the Korean conflict, which banned K-pop in China.
KOKOBOP (2017)
With well over 30 million views, this performance of “KokoBop” cannot be outdone and earns its audience. The song starts with an Island vibe but then moves to intense EDM and electronic music during the chorus. It comes in and out throughout the track. This unique sound works well with EXO and its vocals. The visuals give beach island vibes, which go with the song “KokoBop” at the beginning.
Of course, Kai leads the dance break and puts his whole soul into that dance, as if any performance could be his last. Although the choreography may seem complicated, every EXO member is keeping up, even the ones who could be better at dance. Sehun also stands out in terms of dance performance. He leads the second dance break flawlessly, hits every beat, and perfectly delivers his rap lines.
Most Exo choreography does not abide by teenage trends, but in this song, they do a slight dab on the beat, which is funny now but was topical then.
Of course, Chen and Baekhyun are the vocal stand-outs in this song, but that is nothing new. They show off their vocal talents impeccably throughout the song and lift the other members when needed. Chanyeol’s voice in the song is unexpectedly sexy and matches the smooth vibe of the overall track. D.O.’s visuals are outstanding here, and his beauty shines, although he is often overlooked in that department.
Although this marks their first official comeback without Lay, the members ensure his absence is not felt. Although some visuals may be jarring now, “KokoBop” is a must-watch for any K-pop boy group fanatic.
(Fun fact: “KokoBop” was meant for Red Velvet, and “Peekaboo” was meant for EXO.)
LOVE SHOT (2018)
“Love Shot” makes its mark on the K-pop Industry by bringing it to the big stage. “Love Shot” is one of EXO’s most famous songs, and the performance is outmatched and not comparable to their other songs. Many idol groups have replicated the iconic “Love Shot” dance in recent years. The group is still one-upping themselves to this day, and it is shown through “Love Shot.”
Each member is dressed in a suit and gives off mafia vibes—not bad boy, but sexy or mysterious. Of course, Kai, Baekhyun, and, surprisingly, Sehun were the stand-out visuals in this song.
Kai stands out heavily as a performer in this song. The group wanted him to be the center, and he stayed there for most of the performance. The stage starts with Kai doing a one-minute-long, almost dance break. He stuns in his open blazer and a fake gun holster to his chest with a rose in his mouth. Kai is showing that he is the definition of sex appeal. His moves are executed flawlessly, and the crowd cheered him on for good reason. He showcased his formal ballet dance training and accumulated years of professional hip-hop and K-pop dancing experience. The performance was outstanding. Which then led to the beginning of “Love Shot.”
You can hear the raw vocals prominent throughout the performance, which is not seen as a detriment but shows their authentic nature and the powerhouse of a vocal group they are. Vocally, Chen and Baekhyun hold the song by its throat and devour each note impeccably.
The ‘Tempo’ album and the repackaged version of that album, ‘Love Shot,’ have some of the best B-sides of EXO history, so it is worth checking out. (We recommend “Tempo,” “Ooh La La La,” and “24/7”).
OBSESSION (2019)
“Obsession” follows in the steps of “Mama” and “Monster” by being an edger comeback paired with a powerful performance and striking vocal delivery.
The dance performance is impressive. It consists of fast punching movements, which are then complemented by slow and sexy body flow, which Kai executes perfectly. Of course, the vocal king Chen dominates the high notes, and the background vocals shine, especially in the song’s last chorus. Baekhyun’s vocals also blow the audience away, as he helps uplift the other members and stands out towards the end. Although two members are missing from the performance, it doesn’t feel like anything is lacking, as each member adds unique charms to the song.
In previous singles, it felt like members like Suho and Sehun had their voices hidden because of the sheer amount of members during their debut. However, in “Obsession,” Suho not only provides support to the more prominent members but also has his part of the verse, allowing him to showcase his vocal ability adequately. Sehun was also able to rap and sing, which is not expected in singles but more so in b-side tracks. Kai was also a stand-out in this comeback, as it felt like Kai would be singing vocals that only D.O. could sing. As D.O. is the main vocalist in the group, that is a big task, and Kai did it flawlessly, showing his power as a vocalist before he made his solo debut in the coming years.
For their official comeback stage, they had the EXO Ver. and the X-EXO Ver., which featured the members (or their alternate dimension clones according to the lore of the music video) in a more colorful bad boy clothing style. Overall, the comeback was impressive, with the B-sides on its accompanying album being some of the best in modern EXO history. (We recommend “Groove” or “Ya Ya Ya”).
DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING (2021)
Don’t Fight The Feeling is undoubtedly EXO’s most underrated single of their 12-year career. The song emphasizes the need to embrace unpredictability and self-expression for true freedom and pleasure, urging listeners to follow their instincts and aspirations without hesitation. The upbeat pop song and the music video have remnants of their 2017 single, Power. The performance in the music video and the vocals on the track are unparalleled, with Sehun’s rap being a highlight of the track. Some members of the official nine are missing from the song, but it doesn’t feel like anyone is missing, as the members, especially Kai and Baekhyun, help hold up the group without hesitation.
Although not physically present with the rest of the members, This was the first and only comeback that the ninth member, LAY, was in after his hiatus from the group in 2016. Since Lay’s presence in the music video was not alluded to or even hinted at when the music video was released, fans were surprised at his appearance, and some were even moved to tears. Lay also lent his vocals to tracks on the Don’t Fight the Feeling album, which fans were shocked to hear after a long time.
Since members Chanyeol and Baekhyun would depart for their mandatory military service shortly after the single’s release, this song is the only one that has never been officially performed live. The song also did not include vocal powerhouses Suho or Chen since they were serving their military time, but D.O. and Xuimin appeared for the first time since Love Shot.
Between 2021 and 2023, most members were coming in and out of military service, and those who weren’t were focused on their solo careers or well-being. However, we would still like to highlight EXO’s accomplishments during this time. These include Kai’s album, ‘Rover – The 3rd Mini Album’; Baekhyun’s album, ‘Bambi – The 3rd Mini Album’; Suho’s album, ‘Grey Suit – The 2nd Mini Album’; Chen’s album, ‘Last Scene – The 3rd Mini Album’; and Xiumin’s debut album’ Brand New – The 1st Mini Album.’
CREAM SODA (2023)
“Cream Soda” is EXO’s latest comeback as an eight-member group. Kai is not present because he was unexpectedly called into military service. Still, he is heavily featured on the album and in the other music videos under this comeback, including “Hear Me Out” & “Let Me In.” The song has similar aesthetics to “Love Shot,” but it is more of a poppy, upbeat song rather than a tragic love story.
Although this title is only reserved for SuperM, fans would agree that with this comeback, EXO became the ‘Avengers of K-pop.’ EXO’s most recent comeback shows their fans and the haters that they are the powerhouse of K-pop, the standard of K-pop, and they are going nowhere. This comeback stage and the album are a mixture of the member’s training from their past as a group and all the members’ training from working as solo artists.
Unlike in some previous comebacks, each member gets their chance to shine. The evolution of Chanyeol’s dance skills should be studied because this comeback shows how hard he has worked to become a better dancer and vocalist. Next to Kai, Chanyeol has the strongest evolution as a group member. His deep and sultry, smooth vocals add so well to the concept of this song, and he needs to be added to more songs as a vocalist within the group.
Although Kai is absent in the comeback, his high notes exude from the pre-recorded music, and the vocals are outstanding. He has evolved so much as a vocalist from his solo projects. D.O. and Chen stand out well in this song. D.O. had a brief solo career; his vocals have not been heard since 2021 and are very much needed within the EXO repertoire.
Xiumin cannot be missed because he puts his whole self into the stage movements, and the stage shakes whenever he steps on it. Sehun and Chanyeol’s rap felt like two friends having fun. It felt natural and didn’t feel out of place. Overall, it is a perfect addition to the song. Suho’s high notes were also outstanding. The audience barely heard them in previous EXO songs because they were underutilized, so it is refreshing to witness Suho’s vocal power.
“Cream Soda” was the perfect song for EXO to come back with to shake up the K-pop scene and to tell K-pop viewers that nobody can and will ever be able to do it like EXO from now until forever.
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