Rover (EP)
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Rover
| type = EP
| artist = Kai
| cover = Kai - Rover.jpg
| alt = A spiral of concentric black and white circles with Kai walking on top of them, with the title superimposed
| caption = Digital cover
| released = {{Start date|2023|03|13}}
| genre =
|studio=
- Big Shot
- Blue Cup
- Concert Hall
- Doobdoob
- Embassy
- Sound POOL
- SSAM
- Starlight
| length = 18:10
| language = Korean
| label =
| prev_title = Peaches
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Wait on Me
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Rover
| type = EP
| single1 = Rover
| single1date = March 13, 2023
}}}}
Rover is the third extended play by South Korean singer Kai, released on March 13, 2023, by SM Entertainment. The EP contains six tracks including the lead single of the same name. The physical album is available in five versions (two "Photobook" versions, one "Sleeve" version, one "Digipack" version, and one "SMini" version).
Background and release
In February 2023, SM confirmed that Kai plans to release a new solo album.{{cite web|author=Cho Yong-jun|title=EXO's Kai to release a new album in mid-March|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/02/14/entertainment/kpop/Kpop-Korea-EXO/20230214114803685.html|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=February 14, 2023|language=en|date=February 14, 2023|archive-date=February 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214102456/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/02/14/entertainment/kpop/Kpop-Korea-EXO/20230214114803685.html|url-status=live}} On February 17, SM announced that his new EP, Rover, would be released on March 13.{{cite web|title=엑소 카이, 새 미니앨범 '로버' 발매…예약판매 시작|trans-title=EXO's Kai, new mini-album 'Rover' to be released... Reservation starts|url=https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230217_0002196930&cID=10601&pID=10600|website=Newsis|access-date=March 3, 2023|language=ko|date=February 17, 2023|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155527/https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230217_0002196930&cID=10601&pID=10600|url-status=live}}
The music video for "Rover" was inspired by two movies: Billy Elliot (2000) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).{{cite news|last=Suacillo|first=Angela Patricia|title=Kai changes his identity in music video for 'Rover'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/exo-kai-rover-solo-mini-album-release-date-3400334|access-date=March 15, 2023|work=NME|date=March 13, 2023|archive-date=March 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314114311/https://www.nme.com/news/music/exo-kai-rover-solo-mini-album-release-date-3400334|url-status=live}}
A promotional video entitled "FILM : KAI #Rover" for the EP was released on Exo official YouTube channel on March 20, featuring performances for each of the EP's b-sides.{{cite web|author=Ji Min-kyung|date=March 20, 2023|script-title=ko:엑소 카이, 오늘(20일) ‘FILM : KAI’ 공개..퍼포먼스 하이라이트 담았다|trans-title=EXO's Kai, 'FILM: KAI' released today (20th).. Performance highlights included|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004811123|work=OSEN|access-date=July 3, 2023|language=ko|via=Naver}}
Composition
The lead single "Rover" is a dancehall song featuring heavy bass, marimba, bells and various percussions. The lyrics sing of throwing off the restraints of others' viewpoints and living freely as a 'wanderer'.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000694730|title=엑소 카이 타이틀 곡 'Rover' 자유분방 와일드 힙 예고|trans-title=EXO's KAI's title song, "Rover" a preview of free-spirited wild hip|website=Newsen|via=Naver|last=Lee|first=Min-ji|date=February 27, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155525/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000694730|url-status=live}} "Black Mirror" is an R&B hip hop song with lyrics that question the lifestyle of modern humans reliant on the stimulating, provocative content on social media.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=144&aid=0000870512|title=카이, 솔직담백 '로버'|trans-title=Kai, honest talk 'Rover'|website=Sports Kyunghyang|via=Naver|last=Kim|first=Won-hui|date=March 2, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307155525/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=144&aid=0000870512|url-status=live}} "Bomba" is a dance genre song with reggaeton beats. "Slidin'" is an R&B soul genre song that features elegant arpeggio synth sounds and rhythmical drums. The lyrics compare falling in love at first sight with someone that you run into by chance to one's clothes becoming wet from a sudden downpour.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003133291|title='컴백 누드 천사' 엑소 카이, 'Rover' 다양한 장르 담았다!|trans-title='Comeback Nude Angel' EXO Kai, 'Rover' has a variety of genres!|website=Star News|via=Naver|last=Han|first=Hae-seol|date=March 3, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=March 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303064127/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003133291|url-status=live}} "Say You Love Me" is a hip-hop R&B song accompanied by drums and 808 bass. The lyrics make use of candid, straightforward expressions to depict one's desire for the other to confirm their interest in an honest manner. "Sinner" is a pop genre song with piano and synthesizer as accompaniments. The lyrics express the desire to remain trapped in an exhausting type of love where both exhilaration and pain coexist.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at #1 on the Circle Weekly Album Chart (March 12–18) while the lead single Rover topped the Circle Weekly Download Chart in the same week.{{cite web|author=Kim Jin-seok|date=March 23, 2023|script-title=ko:엑소 카이, 써클차트 앨범·다운로드 차트 1위|trans-title=EXO's Kai, No. 1 on the Circle Chart Album/Download Chart|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000336649|access-date=July 3, 2023|work=JTBC News|language=ko|via=Naver}} The album topped the iTunes Top Albums chart in 40 regions, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.{{cite web|author=|date=|script-title=ko:엑소 카이, 미니 3집 ‘Rover’ 아이튠즈 전 세계 40개 지역 1위…글로벌 인기 입증|trans-title=EXO Kai, 3rd mini album 'Rover' iTunes ranked #1 in 40 regions worldwide... Proof of global popularity|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=215&aid=0001088601|access-date=July 3, 2023|work=Wow TV|language=ko|via=Naver}} Additionally, the lead single Rover debuted at #12 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales.{{cite magazine|title=World Digital Song Sales|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2023-04-01/|access-date=July 3, 2023|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}
Reception
David Opie from Paste named Rover the 10th best K-pop album of 2023, who praised the record's production and sensuality. He named "Bomba" and "Sinner" as the EP's standouts.{{Cite magazine |last=Opie |first=David |date=December 21, 2023 |title=The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/the-20-best-k-pop-albums-of-2023 |magazine=Paste |access-date=December 23, 2023}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing for Rover
| title_width = 20%
| lyrics_width = 30%
| music_width = 30%
| extra_width = 30%
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title1 = Rover
| lyrics1 = Park Tae-won
| music1 = {{hlist|Cristian Tarcea|Dara|Valentina Nikova|YNGA|Young Chance|Gabriel Brandes}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Tarcea|Imlay}}
| length1 = 2:54
| title2 = Black Mirror
| lyrics2 = Mia (153/Joombas)
| music2 = {{hlist|John "Jbl8ze" Eley|Jordan Dollar|Castle}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Eley|Dollar|Castle}}
| length2 = 2:55
| title3 = Slidin'
| lyrics3 = Lee Yeon-ji (PNP)
| music3 = {{hlist|Talay Riley|Steve "Tave" Octave}}
| extra3 = Riley
| length3 = 2:43
| title4 = Bomba
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|RGB (Lalala Studio)|Kim Su-min (Artiffect)}}
| music4 = {{hlist|Sam Klempner|Michael Matosic|Jake Torrey}}
| extra4 = Klempner
| length4 = 3:07
| title5 = Say You Love Me
| lyrics5 = Danke (Lalala Studio)
| music5 = {{hlist|Vinny "Vinnyforgood" Verdi|Michael "Trupopgod" Jiminez|Miguel Jiminez|Dominique Logan|Darius Logan}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Verdi|Trupopgod}}
| length5 = 3:06
| title6 = Sinner
| lyrics6 = Hwang Yu-bin (Verygoods)
| music6 = {{hlist|Koen van de Wardt|Ruben Pol}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Wardt|Pol}}
| length6 = 3:22
| total_length = 18:10
}}
Credits
Credits adapted from EP's liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Rover|last=Kai|year=2023|at=Credits|type=photobook|publisher=SM Entertainment; Dreamus|location=South Korea}}
=Studio=
{{div col}}
- SM Starlight Studio – recording {{small|(track 1)}}, mixing {{small|(track 3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 1)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1, 3)}}
- SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording {{small|(track 3, 5)}}, digital editing, engineered for mix {{small|(track 2)}}
- SM Big Shot Studio – recording {{small|(track 4)}}, mixing {{small|(track 5)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 4–5)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 5)}}
- Doobdoob Studio – recording, digital editing {{small|(track 2, 4, 6)}}
- Sound Pool Studio – recording {{small|(track 3, 5–6)}}
- Embassy Studio – recording {{small|(track 2–3)}}
- SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
- SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing {{small|(track 4)}}
- SM Lvyin Studio – mixing, engineered for mix {{small|(track 6)}}
- SM Ssam Studio – engineered for mix {{small|(track 3)}}
- SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing {{small|(track 2)}}
- 821 Sound Mastering – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}}
{{div col end}}
=Personnel=
{{div col}}
- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Sung-soo – production director, executive supervisor
- Tak Young-jun – executive supervisor
- Yoo Young-jin – music and sound supervisor
- Kai – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}, background vocals {{small|(track 4–6)}}
- Park Tae-won – lyrics {{small|(track 1)}}
- Mia (153/Joombas) – lyrics {{small|(track 2)}}
- Lee Yeon-ji (PNP) – lyrics {{small|(track 3)}}
- RGB (Lalala Studio) – lyrics {{small|(track 4)}}
- Kim Su-min (Artiffect) – lyrics {{small|(track 4)}}
- Danke (Lalala Studio) – lyrics {{small|(track 5)}}
- Hwang Yu-bin (Verygoods) – lyrics {{small|(track 6)}}
- Cristian Tarcea – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 1)}}
- Dara – composition {{small|(track 1)}}
- Valentina Nikova – composition {{small|(track 1)}}
- YNGA – composition {{small|(track 1)}}
- Young Chance – composition {{small|(track 1)}}, vocal directing {{small|(track 1, 4)}}, background vocals {{small|(track 1, 4–5)}}
- Gabriel Brandes – composition {{small|(track 1)}}
- Imlay – arrangement {{small|(track 1)}}
- John "Jbl8ze" Eley – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 2)}}
- Jordan Dollar – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 2)}}
- Castle – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 2)}}
- Talay Riley – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 3)}}
- Steve "Tave" Octave – composition {{small|(track 3)}}
- Sam Klempner – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 4)}}
- Michael Matosic – composition {{small|(track 4)}}
- Jake Torrey – composition {{small|(track 4)}}
- Vinny "Vinnyforgood" Verdi – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 5)}}
- Michael "Trupopgod" Jiminez – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 5)}}
- Miguel Jiminez – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
- Dominique Logan – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
- Darius Logan – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
- Koen van de Wardt{{spaced en dash}}composition, arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
- Ruben Pol – composition, arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
- Chancellor – vocal directing {{small|(track 2–3, 5)}}, background vocals, recording {{small|(track 2–3)}}
- Rick Bridges – vocal directing {{small|(track 2)}}
- Kim Yeon-seo – vocal directing {{small|(track 5–6)}}
- Bob Matthews – keyboard {{small|(track 4)}}
- Jeong Yu-ra – recording {{small|(track 1)}}, mixing {{small|(track 3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 1)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1, 3)}}
- Noh Min-ji – recording {{small|(track 3, 5)}}, digital editing, engineered for mix {{small|(track 2)}}
- Lee Min-gyu – recording {{small|(track 4)}}, mixing {{small|(track 5)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 4–5)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 5)}}
- Eugene Kwon – recording, digital editing {{small|(track 2, 4, 6)}}
- Jung Ho-jin – recording {{small|(track 3, 5–6)}}
- Kim Cheol-sun – mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
- Jung Eui-seok – mixing {{small|(track 4)}}
- Lee Ji-hong – mixing, engineered for mix {{small|(track 6)}}
- Kang Eun-ji – engineered for mix {{small|(track 3)}}
- Nam Koong-jin – mixing {{small|(track 2)}}
- Lee Yong-jin – digital editing {{small|(track 3)}}
- Woo Min-jeong – digital editing {{small|(track 4)}}
- Kwon Nam-woo – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}}
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Rover ! scope="col" | Chart (2023) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=3&hitYear=2022&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – March 2023|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=April 7, 2023}}
| 8 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Sales
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Sales for Rover ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Sales |
| scope="row" | Japan{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-04-10/p/2/|script-title=ja:オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年03月27日～2023年04月02日|trans-title=Oricon Weekly Album Ranking March 27, 2023 to April 2, 2023|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=April 5, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405023806/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2023-04-10/p/2/|url-status=dead}}
| 4,055 |
|---|
scope="row" | South KoreaAccumulated sales for Rover:
| 247,222 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for Rover ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label |
| scope="row" | Various
| rowspan="2" | March 13, 2023 | {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| South Korea
| CD |
| March 17, 2023
| SMC |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kai (entertainer, born 1994)}}
Category:Kai (entertainer, born 1994) EPs