"Lightsaber" is a song by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo for their collaboration with Star Wars. The Korean-language version was released on November 11, 2015, by their label SM Entertainment, and was later announced as a bonus track for the group's fourth EP Sing for You. It was released in both Korean and Chinese versions on December 10, 2015, alongside the EP. The single was later released in Japanese on December 17, 2015, by Avex Trax.
| "Lightsaber" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Korean version cover | ||||
| Single by Exo | ||||
| from the album Sing for You | ||||
| Language | ||||
| Released | November 11, 2015 (Korean) December 10, 2015 (Chinese) December 17, 2015 (Japanese) | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Studio | In Grid (Seoul) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:04 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Composer(s) |
| |||
| Lyricist(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | LDN Noise | |||
| Exo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lightsaber (Korean ver.)" on YouTube "Lightsaber (Chinese ver.)" on YouTube "Lightsaber (Japanese ver.)" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editOn November 4, 2015, EXO was announced to be releasing "Lightsaber", a promotional song for the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens in South Korea, as part of the collaboration project between S.M. Entertainment and Walt Disney.[1][2] A teaser video for the song was released on November 8,[3][4] followed by its music video and digital release on November 11.[5] "Lightsaber" was later announced to be included in Sing for You as a bonus track on December 7. The song talks about a guy being the girl's "lifesaver" and her "lightsaber" and brings her out of her darkness.
Music video
editThe music video of "Lightsaber" includes only three members of the group Baekhyun, Kai and Sehun, the members are seen to be in a Star Wars-inspired world where clubs are "Jedi Only" and they carry lightsabers.[5]
Live performance
editEXO performed the song for the first time at the 17th Mnet Asian Music Awards. The group later performed the song during their concerts.
Reception
editThe song peaked at number 9 on Gaon's digital chart,[6] number 84 on Billboard Japan Hot 100,[7] and at number 3 on Billboard World Digital Songs chart.[8]
Credits
editCredits adapted from the EP's liner notes.[9]
Studio
- In Grid Studio – recording, digital editing
- SM Yellow Tail Studio – mixing
- Sterling Sound – mastering
Personnel
- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Soo-man – producer
- Kim Young-min – executive supervisor
- Exo – vocals
- Chanyeol – Korean lyrics
- D.O. – background vocals
- Jung Joo-hee – Korean lyrics
- MQ – Korean lyrics, vocal directing
- Wang Yajun – Chinese lyrics
- Sara Sakurai – Japanese lyrics
- LDN Noise – producer, composition, arrangement
- Adrian McKinnon – composition, background vocals
- Lee Joo-hyung – vocal directing, Pro Tools operating
- Jeong Eun-kyung – recording, digital editing
- Koo Jong-pil – mixing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[10] | 28 |
| South Korea (Gaon)[11] | 9 |
| US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[12] | 3 |
Monthly charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon)[13] | 44 |
Sales
edit| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon)[14] | 242,162 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Version | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 11, 2015 | Korean | ||
| December 10, 2015 | Chinese | |||
| December 17, 2015 | Japanese | Avex Trax |
References
edit- ^ "Star Wars". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "EXO to release new MV and single "Lightsaber" for Star Wars collaboration". DramaFever News. Retrieved March 13, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Guerrero, Ivy (November 9, 2015). "WATCH: EXO Collaborates With Star Wars for 'Lightsaber' Music Video, Releases Teaser". Yibada English. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ KpopStarz (November 5, 2015). "K-Pop Boy Band EXO Confirm 'Star Wars' Collaboration Music Video 'Lightsaber'". KpopStarz. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ a b "K-Pop Boy Band EXO Collaborate With 'Star Wars' on New Single 'Lightsaber': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "2015년 47주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100: November 23, 2015". Billboard. Billboard. November 23, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "World Digital Songs: Sep 10, 2016 – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Billboard. October 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ Exo (2015). Sing for You (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment. Credits.
- ^ "Exo Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "2015 Gaon Digital Chart – Week 47". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "World Digital Songs: Sep 10, 2016 – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Billboard. October 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – November, 2015". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ^ Cumulative sales for "Lightsaber":
- "Gaon Download Chart – November, 2015". Archived from the original on July 27, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- "2015 Gaon Download Chart – Week 51". Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- "2015 Gaon International Download Chart – Week 51". Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.