Somebody (D.O. song)

"Somebody"
Single by D.O.
from the EP Expectation
Language	Korean
Released	September 18, 2023 (2023-09-18)
Recorded	2023
Studio	SM Starlight (Seoul)
Genre	Folk-pop
Length	2:39
Label	SM Kakao
Composer(s)	Aaron Wagner Levi Hummon Drew Schueler
Lyricist(s)	Kang Eun-jeong
Producer(s)	Aaron Wagner
D.O. singles chronology
"I Do" (2023) "Somebody" (2023) "Popcorn" (2024)
Music videos
"Somebody" on YouTube
"Somebody" (Live clip) on YouTube

"Somebody" is a song recorded by South Korean singer-actor, D.O. that was released on September 18, 2023, by SM Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment as the lead single for his second EP, Expectation.

Background

On September 1, 2023, SM announced that D.O. will have a comeback on September 18, the first comeback in two years and two months after his debut EP.[1] The comeback schedule poster was released on September 4 and "I Do" was announced as the pre-release single scheduled to be released on September 8, and "Somebody" would be released simulatenously with the EP on September 18.[2]

On September 11, SM uploaded the first teaser image of D.O. in a library.[3] The teaser for the music video was released on SM Town YouTube channel on September 17, and revealed that the music video will feature actress Lee Jae-in.[4]

The song was released alongside the music video during the EP's release on September 18.[5]

Composition

"Somebody" is a folk-pop song with the rhythm of acoustic guitar accompanying it.[6] It was co-composed by Aaron Wagner, Levi Hummon, and Drew Schueler, and arranged by Wagner in the key of C# major with the tempo of 89 beats per minute.[7]

The lyrics were written by Kang Eun-jeong, expressing the desire to meet someone that loves a person for who they are, not what they are.[8]

Music video

The music video was released on September 18 and uploaded into SM Town YouTube channel. The video stars D.O. as a cameraman on set and begins to fell in love with one of the actresses (Lee Jae-in) and they formed a friendship afterwards.[9]

On September 20, Exo's YouTube channel uploaded a live clip video of D.O. performing "Somebody".[10]

Critical reception

Debashree Dutta of Rolling Stone India gave the song a positive review, calling it "soulful, smooth, satisfying", and delivered in D.O.'s trademark expressiveness.[6]

Commercial performance

"Somebody" peaked domestically on the Circle Chart at number 47.[11]

Live performances

On September 22, D.O. performed "Somebody" live for the first time before studio audience of KBS2' The Seasons hosted by AKMU.[12]

"Somebody" is included in the set list for D.O.'s first Asia fan meeting concert, "Bloom" in 2024.[13]

Chart

Chart performance for "Somebody"

Chart (2023)	Peak position
South Korea (Circle)[11]	47

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.[14]

Studio

• SM Starlight Studio – recording, digital editing
• SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing
• 821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Personnel

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Aaron Wagner – producer, composition, arrangement, programming, synthesizer
• Levi Hummon – composition
• Drew Schueler – composition
• Kang Eun-jeong – lyrics
• Doh Kyung-soo – vocals, background vocals
• Ju Chan-yang – vocal direction
• Jeong Yoo-ra – recording, digital audio editing
• Jung Eui-seok – mixing, engineered for mix
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Release history

Release history for "Somebody"

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	September 18, 2023	Digital download streaming	SM Kakao
Various			SM

References

1. Moon, Ye-bin (September 1, 2023). "엑소 디오, 2년2개월 만에 솔로 컴백…'기대'" [EXO Dio makes a solo comeback after 2 years and 2 months...'Expecting']. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
2. Kang, Kyung-yoon (September 4, 2023). "엑소 디오, 선공개 곡 '별 떨어진다 (I Do)' 9월 8일 오후 6시 공개" [EXO Dio Releases Pre-Release Song 'I Do' on September 8 at 6 p.m.]. Seoul Broadcasting System (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
3. Ryu, Ye-ji (September 11, 2023). "엑소 디오, 'Somebody'로 감성 촉촉하게" [EXO DIO Moistens Emotions with 'Somebody']. TenAsia (in Korean). The Korea Economic Daily. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
4. Cho, Yeon-kyung (September 17, 2023). "솔로 디오 '썸바디' MV 티저…내추럴 디오·이재인 열연 투샷" [Solo Dio 'Somebody' MV Teaser... Natural Dio Lee Jae-in Yeolyeon Two-Shot]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved February 2, 2025.
5. Choo, Seung-hyun (September 18, 2023). "엑소 디오, '음색 요정' 컴백…포크 팝까지 섭렵" [Exodio makes a comeback with 'Tone Fairy'... Folk pop]. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
6. Dutta, Debashree (September 22, 2023). "EXO D.O.'s 'Somebody' Is Smooth, Soulful, and Satisfying". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
7. "Key & BPM for Somebody by D.O." TuneBat. September 18, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
8. Kang, Kyung-yoon (September 18, 2023). "엑소 디오, 오늘 두 번째 미니앨범 '기대' 발매" [EXO Dio Releases Second Mini Album 'Expectations' Today]. Seoul Broadcasting System (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025 – via Naver.
9. Martin, Annie (September 18, 2023). "EXO's D.O. releases solo EP, 'Somebody' music video". United Press International. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
10. Moon, Ye-bin (September 21, 2023). "디오, '썸바디' 라이브 클립 공개…'설렘 가득' 고백" [Dio Releases 'Somebody' Live Clip...'Full of Excitement' Confession]. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
11. "2023 Week 38 Digital Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). September 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
12. Park, Jae-hwan (September 22, 2023). "'악뮤의 오날오밤' 다재다능 아티스트 총집합... 지누션-디오-오존-안신애" ['AKMU's Onal Obam' A collection of versatile artists... Jinustion-Dio-Ozone-Anshinae]. Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
13. Asih, Ratnaning (July 14, 2024). "6 Kenangan Manis Fan Concert D.O EXO di Jakarta Hari Kedua, dari Review Kuliner hingga Tebar Kata Sayang" [6 Sweet Memories of D.O EXO's Fan Concert in Jakarta on the Second Day, from Culinary Review to Spreading Words of Love]. Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Jakarta. Archived from the original on January 29, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
14. Doh, Kyung-soo (2023). Expectation (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment and Kakao Entertainment. Credits.