Excuse me everyone… But now it’s my turn to cry. The EXO comeback is set for 2.11. And Lay will be in the MV!

https://www.soompi.com/article/1240395wpp/exo-unveils-first-look-biker-concept-track-list-dont-mess-tempo

@ohhaeyoung @smaltwalt @alyad @AllOtherExo-Ls
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    Hi ST, asking because I’m curious – why is Lay being mentioned separately in all talk concerning the comeback? Is his status as an EXO member different somehow from the other members’?

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      Lay (Zhang Yixing) hasn’t been promoting with EXO for a year and a half now and the main reason for this is the political tension (or is it a conflict?) between China and South Korea (as he is the last Chinese member in EXO).
      There was a hallyu ban in China because of THAAD and it’s been partially lifted now. It seems however that Lay is still not able to fully promote with EXO.

      Another reason might be that he’s busy in China (as a soloist, entertainer, actor and whatnot), but I think this reason is minor because Lay has always made it clear that EXO is his priority. He is very loyal and loves his members very much. An INFP (just like us).

      By the way, Lay is making his US debut with his third solo album Namanana on 19.10.

      I hope my explanation proves helpful to you. I don’t understand (and don’t wan to go into) all the political stuff, so sorry if I’m too vague. But you can always google the rest.

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        Thanks for this ST! Your explanation was incredibly helpful. I knew about the Hallyu ban in China because of THAAD but not that Lay is Chinese and/or that the ban’s been partially lifted. Yay for the INFP member! 🙂

        This whole thing must have been tough on the group – is that part of the reason there’s been such a long gap between comebacks I wonder (a year right?). I’m speculating but for Tier 1/at the top of the industry idols like EXO it’s unlikely the label will let them rest/do other activities for too long without very good reason.

        Congratulations on his US debut! It’ll be in English then? Will be sure to check it out.

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          Ah, then I am happy! 🙂

          I suppose it has been tough on them, on the other hand they’re all so busy and it’s been so long, maybe they got used to it a bit? I don’t know. The funny thing is, I haven’t seen Lay with EXO yet, when I started supporting them, Lay stopped promoting. That’s why I am so excited for this!

          I doubt that was SM’s reason for such a long wait. EXO’s comebacks come usually once a year followed by a repackage. And then there’s a winter album. And the Hallyu ban was said to be getting lifted in June.
          We’ve been expecting the comeback in summer, but D.O’s been shooting a drama and Suho has been in a musical.
          As for SM, I’m afraid they’re focusing on NCT now because EXO is nearing the army service and SM (for some reason) don’t feel the need to promote EXO that much anymore. At least that’s how it seems to most of the fandom.
          Almost all the members had some solo activities, but the wait was getting unbearable.
          I feel like this whole paragraph doesn’t make much sense… Anyways, EXO has been talking about a comeback for a few months now and it seems that SM kept postponing it.

          He will release 11 songs both in Mandarin and in English, so 22 songs in total.

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            Oh! Thanks for all this ST! Most fascinating. 🙂 As expected, we’re all experts in our groups. I’m so sad to hear SM are moving on that EXO are approaching military service time. It’s natural and NCT are good too – but it makes you feel bad about this kind of model of doing things. I’m looking forward (already) to this comeback too – I’m not as you know, an EXO-L, but I’m a huge k-pop fan and like a good number of songs of pretty much all groups I’ve heard. This will be a good opportunity to get accquainted with EXO.

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            @greenfields
            You’re welcome! 🙂
            The whole fandom is sad about it, but you’re right, it’s natural. NCT are the future of SM. And I agree, they’re good, but SM trying this hard to promote them makes them less stanable to some (EXO) fans. 😛

            I’m so looking forward to EXO showing you their various charms!
            *this is such entertainment agency/idol talk* *have seen too many interviews*

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            I loved this talk!! 🤗

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      Lay is also a youth representative of China’s political party.. So he can’t act recklessly especially in associating with Korea. I heard he received a lot of hate from his people when he promoted Lotto with EXO. So him slowly participating again in EXO’s cb is a very good news.
      I have to mention that SM was and is still a shitty company.. My reason is because I witnessed them completely ditch their own BG & GG once they have new groups. Super Junior and Girls Generation were the top 2nd Gen k-pop groups.. But SM completely ignore them now. Thankfully Super Junior gets their own label now, so they can promote/produce albums more freely..

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        Whoa. Ouch. Lay is doing a lot! Wish him the best of luck..And re SM. *sighs*

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          Also thanks for this explanation!

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          Yes, he received a lot of hate. Even recently, his family was being targeted by some c-netizens and he was being called a traitor for still being an EXO member. Earlier this year, there was a rerun of a Happy Camp episode that featured EXO M including Minseok and Jongdae who are Korean, and their faces was blurred out. That’s how awful this situation still is. He can’t promote as openly with EXO yet because his situation especially is still really precarious.

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            His family was also being targeted?? Oww woww!!!! That’s horrible!! I hope everything will gradually getting better between s.korea and china.. 😱😱
            I also wish fans understand how terrible the situation is… I saw a lot of exols complaining about Yixing not participate in korean album and even do not want to support exo if it’s not OT9. Can’t they imagine how Yixing must felt? Getting a lot of hate from from left and right (for not being with exo and for still being with exo??) 😔😔

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            @alyad Xingmis have been trying to explain the situation since forever, but there are “exols” who will still complain about nothing. Those ones don’t care about him. It’s sad, but it is what it is.

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            What an unfortunate situation… I had no idea it was this bad. I’ve seen something about it on Twitter, but I didn’t know his family was being targeted.

            I for myself am immensely thankful we’ll get Yixing with EXO in any small way. Those EXO-Ls who complain should remember Kokobop without Lay and be thankful for this blessing.

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        Well Label SJ is still basically a vassal of SM. But yeah, I agree. I’m pretty sad about how SM treats older groups. I’m basically an SM boy group stan (I love love love Exo, but I also love Shinee and SuJu), and it angers me that musicians and dancers still in their prime are being sidelined because of self-reinforcing industry dynamics in SK. SM should try to expand the market and keep the machine behind Exo, SJ and Shinee moving rather than letting those groups stall because they’ve decided to capitulate to the pressure for teen idols.

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          I am still confused why SM never let their artists go global… It feels like they only focusing on China, Korea n Japan markets and if other countries/continents like them then that’s a bonus… I heard SM doesn’t sell EXO’s albums in US market at all.
          Anw… I am curious on why SM popular artists like Siwon, HeeChul and Yoona still stay with SM and renew their contracts. I am pretty sure Siwon alone can establish his own recording company.. Maybe SM is not that bad after all??

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            I think SM has lots of pull within the SK media landscape. The discussion we’re having about SM’s treatment is in relative terms, but in absolute terms SM does a very good job with all of its artists.

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        Wow… I kind of had no idea? Lol. Thanks for this, Alee!

        I so agree about SM. My only hope is that EXO is able to form their own label later on too…

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    I sometimes feel Lay has not been promoting with EXO longer than actual that the mere news about him flying to/being in SoKor gets me excited already .

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      There’s always so much excitement whenever he goes to Korea. You know, maybe… Maybe?
      I’m so happy he took some part in the album this time!

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    It is crazy, isn’t it??? Just a couple of days ago EXO’s sns change their logo.. Then gets quite… And suddenly they said their comeback is next month and presales are open today!!! Like what????? No video teasers? No poster teasers? No promotion with the group’s face on trucks at korean/japan streets (like SM did with NCT??)
    Anw.. I am thinking to put my pre-order for the album, but I need to carefully read the tutorial first from main fanbases. 😂😂
    Gosh.. This will be my very first time buying music album that I don’t see the good first. Usually I listen to the song first and if I like more than 2 songs in the album then I will buy it. EXO really change me.. 😂😂

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      TBH, the first music album I ever bought was an Exo album.

      I’m also salty about the lack of promo btw. Tut tut SM.

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      It is! But long overdue in my opinion! Half of Exo-Ls have lost their sanity already. 😂
      I wouldn’t expect SM to treat EXO the way they treat NCT… *sorry, I’m still low-key salty*

      I keep thinking where I should pre-order so it’s the cheapest, fastest, counts on the charts, I get all the pre-order benefits and can (ideally) pick the version. 😂 (Also, how can I pick one version? I want them all…)
      I have actually pre-ordered the latest Pentagon album (because I love their music), but this will be my first EXO album! Yay! I can’t wait.

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        Yeah… Feels anti-climatic… I mean, other SM artists usually have soft promotion and announcement for when the pre-order will open, but EXO? suddenly pre-order open without any warning/allert at all.. Even SM global shop page in facebook still not covering exo.. Yikesss..
        Anw, correct me if I am wrong coz I am so new in this… The difference between the 3 version is only the cover album and photocards right? Not the music?? For each album, there will be 8 pc of all members and NOT 8 pc of 1 member?

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          I suppose they were tired of everyone whining.

          The difference is in the cover and the photo book. Also possibly the disk design might be different? The music is going to be the same (unless you buy the Chinese version). There will be 8 photocards each of one member, but there is only 1 per album. There is a postcard as a pre-order benefit though.

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            So it’s only 1 pc per album… Damn, I know it sounds too good to be true to have 8 pc per album.. 😂😂😂
            I think for those who pre-orders will get a poster tho?? I put my pre-order in ktown4u and it comes with a poster. 🤔
            And another surprise today… SM finally open pre-order in Amazon!!! Which is wow… But why can’t they tell sooner?? I hope the shipping and tax price are not that much different than ktown4u. Synnara is so expensive!! Yikess… 😱😱

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            @alyad
            Yeah, for EXO it’s always just 1 per album… And poster is free for pre-orders, you’re right!

            Wow, so surprising! What’s going on? I guess it depends on where you are from. I know that Amazon shipping is always expensive (for me), but I’m not sure how it is compared to ktown4u.

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            @estee some exols got suspicious on why SM suddenly listened to our requests (1 month pre-order, OT9 and making pre-order easier for i-exols) and I think SM also going to open EXO’s exclusive merchandise website… But maybe SM being nice because EXO members will have to enlist next year.. 😔

            Turns out Amazon sells the album more expensive than ktown4u… The shipping price is always so expensive in all sites (even more expensive than the album itself!! 😱😱).

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            @alyad I think Marz might have something to do with it too? Or not… Anyways whatever it is, I am really thankful. And we might miss the award season (read: MAMA) this year! Another great thing.

            Yes, it is more expensive! The shipping can be insane.

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    OH MY GOD, FUCK YES!!! Also, YIXING’S BACK BABY!!!

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      He IS! I can’t wait! My first comeback with Lay.

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    I sat on my bed and ugly cried at this news when it came out and I preordered both Yixing’s album and Don’t Mess Up My Tempo at 2 am this morning.

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      Aw, hugs! Have you seen Lay’s appearance at the Busan festival? He spoke Korean and the fans were basically crying.

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        I saw it on Twitter! I basically live on Twitter now, lol. He was so adorable.

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          Me too! I should probably stay away, the GOs keep tempting me. Plus I’m following both EXO and Pentagon.

          I adore his accent.

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    so when I first saw these I was out with my coworkers celebrating my 2 year anniversary at work by having korean bbq and then coffee at a korean coffee shop and I just couldn’t stop smiling and when I finally had a chance to myself I just screamed a happy yell 😀

    now to figure out where to pre-order from!

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      I know that feeling!

      There are various options – Amazon (maybe the shipping would be cheaper for you?) or Ktown4u if you want an original Korean site (the shipping is high and it’s random version, but the albums are just for 14.40 USD). Then there are various group orders going on (the price of shipping is split between all the people ordering).

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