For a music lover, no year has been better than the year 2017. For many artists including Taylor Swift, 2017 was the year of the comeback, while for others; it was the year of embarking on new endeavors, and of making new records. For K Pop fans, 2017 was a year of major significance. Groups and artists like BTS, EXO, BlackPink, Sunmi, GoT7, and Seventeen brought the genre to the forefront. Their presence on global charts made listeners explore them and their music.
This year has been extremely good for EXO, a South Korean pop band comprising of 9 members. Today, we will be looking back at some of the group’s most memorable moments and a glance at the major activities carried out by them.
Anniversary
The year kicked off with EXO completing their fifth year as a band. Considering the amount of struggles and obstacles they faced during the initial years, this feat achieved by EXO is quite commendable. On the occasion of their 5 years’ anniversary, the group made sure to pay their gratitude to EXO-Ls (fandom).
Quadruple Million Seller with the Release of “The War”
On 18th July 2017, EXO released their fourth studio album “The War” which received a positive response from both fans and critics. The success of the album is evident from the fact that just within 24 days of its release, EXO became one of the few Kpop groups to become Quadruple Million sellers. Out of all the EXO albums that have been released till now, “The War” became the first album to reach the sales of one million copies in such a short span of time.
EXO achieved a lot not just as a group but also in terms of solo endeavors. Be it Beakhyun, Chanyeol or Chen, the boys received nominations as well as awards for the singles they released either for a drama or as a collaboration with other artists.
Chanyeol’s Rendezvous with Tommy Hilfiger
K Pop artists are always looked up to by fashion lovers because of their progressive trends and easily adaptable looks. EXO is considered to be one of the well-dressed groups in the industry. It is then no wonder that some of the most popular brands follow the group and include members in their shows and events. This year, Chanyeol went on a rendezvous with Tommy Hilfiger as he participated in the brand’s Fall 2017 showcase.
A front row member, Chanyeol wowed everyone with his casual yet confident look at the event. As per The Vogue,
South Korean boy band member Park Chan-yeol (aka Chanyeol) stole the spotlight the moment he arrived, gaining the attention of photographers and countless fans who lined up to snap pictures of him with their iPhones.
He also went on to feature in the brand’s exclusive series “Tommy Hilfiger – HEADLINERS”. The series, as per the channel’s description, is for “a selection of artists who have forged their own distinctive and unique paths, breaking conventions along the way to achieve success and make their dream a reality”. Through this series, fans got a chance to learn about the artist’s influences, the role of his parents in his dream and his vision for music.
But it wasn’t just Chanyeol who garnered the attention. 2017 brought major opportunities for the boys to feature in shows, including the one for designer brands like Louis Vuitton. EXO also went on the win at Korea’s first Elle Style Awards that took place at K Museum of Contemporary Art on November 2, 2017.
Major Wins of the Year
With singles like “Ko Ko Bop”, the group took the industry by storm. It wasn’t just the music that caught everyone’s attention but also the choreography. The song instantly went viral amongst listeners who featured it in their mannequin videos. Even the group followed the trail and did a mannequin act at JYP’s party.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXUyNvT_m1c
As mentioned earlier, “The War” received a good response from the audience resulting in group winning several awards. Below is the list of awards EXO won in the year 2017:
Asia Artist Awards
- Popularity Award
- Fabulous Award
- Daesang Award
Golden Disk Awards
- Ceci Asia Icon Award
- Disk Bonsang
- Disk Daesang
Melon Music Awards
- Artist of the Year
- Top 10 Artists
- Netizen Popularity Award
- Best Male Dance
Mnet Asian Music Awards
- Mwave Global Fans’ Choice
- Qoo10 – Album of the Year
Seoul Music Awards
- Bonsang Award
- Fandom School Award
- Daesang Award
Soribada Best K- Music Awards
- New Hallyu Popularity Award
- Bonsang
- Daesang
YinYueTai V Chart Awards
Most Influential Group in Asia
2017 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards
Prime Minister Commendation
Lay and His Solo Endeavors
Due to his schedule in China, Lay could not participate in the making of “The War” but he kept on supporting the boys in all their activities.This year, fans got a chance to see the singer in movies and dramas. He starred alongside Jackie Chan in the movie “Kung Fu Yoga” and also gave an appearance in a Chinese historical drama. 2017 was just a glimpse of what future holds for Lay as 2018 seems much busier in terms of projects for the artist.
In the month of September, SM Entertainment revealed a pre-release track from Lay’s album “Lay 02 Sheep”. The single “I Need U” topped charts in several countries and received a highly positive response from the critics.
On October 7th, Lay released his first solo studio album “Lay 02 Sheep” along with his quirky track “Sheep”. The album did not just garner attention but also led to some of the major wins for the artist.
Below is the list of awards won by Lay in 2017:
The 5th Vchart Awards
- Top Male Artist (Mainland)
- Best Album of the Year for “Lose Control”
Tencent Video Star Award
Album of the Year
The 2nd China Drama Awards
Best All-Rounded Artist
CCTV Flowers in May Gala
- Outstanding Youth Award
- Esteemed Comradely Youth Award
2017 Weibo TV Online Video Awards
Most Weibo Fans Award
14th Esquire Man At His Best Awards
Man of the Year Award
On the musical front, 2017 has been a highly successful year for EXO. We wish them success for 2018 as well. Do you want to add a moment to our list of group’s highlights? What has been your favorite EXO moment in 2017? Share your thoughts via tweet @CelebMix.