"Overdose" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on May 7, 2014, as the lead single of their second EPOverdose. It was released in both Korean and Chinese versions by their label SM Entertainment.[1] It was the final release by members Kris and Luhan following their lawsuits in May 2014, and October 2014 respectively. It was also the last single performed by Exo-M and Exo-K.
Produced by The Underdogs, "Overdose" described as a heavy-hitting, urban-pop banger with hard rhythms of hip-hop, R&B hooks and electronic beats with the lyrics of the feeling of overdosing on a sweet drug as a metaphor to describe a man's intense addiction to love.[2] The song was released on May 7, 2014 together with the EP.[3]
The Korean and Chinese music videos for "Overdose" were released on May 6, 2014. The music video shows the members in a maze-like setting while they perform the choreography. On May 5, 2016, the Korean music video reached 100 million views, and later reached 200 million views on September 23, 2019, becoming their fifth music video to do so.[4] Exo-K began performing the song on South Korean music television programs on April 11, 2014 and Exo-M began performing the song on the Chinese weekly music program, Global Chinese Music on April 19.[5]
"Overdose" debuted at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart[6] and at number two at the BillboardWorld Digital Songs chart.[7] The Korean version of the song went on to win first place eight times while the Chinese version won first place two times. The song sold more than 1 million copies in less than a year from its release.[8]PopMatters ranked the song number 15 in their list of the 15 best K-pop songs of 2014.[9]
^Choi, Ye-jin (May 15, 2014). '엠카운트다운' 1위, 엑소 수호 "자기 자신만이 아닌 모두를 생각하겠다" ['M Countdown' 1st place, EXO Suho "I will think about everyone, not just myself"]. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020 – via Naver.
^Ahn, I-Seul (May 22, 2014). EXO-K, 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위..적수 없다 [EXO-K, No. 1 in 'M-Countdown' for 2 weeks in a row...]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020 – via Naver.
^<5월 셋째 주 인기가요 차트> [Inkigayo chart for the 3rd week of May]. SBS (in Korean). June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^<5월 넷째 주 인기가요 차트> [Inkigayo chart for the 4th week of May]. SBS (in Korean). June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^<6월 첫째 주 인기가요 차트> [Inkigayo chart for the 1st week of June]. SBS (in Korean). June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
