Growl (song)


"Growl" is a song recorded by South Korean–Chinese boy band Exo, released on August 5, 2013, for the repackaged edition of their first studio album XOXO. It was released in both Korean and Chinese versions by their label SM Entertainment. The song is known as Exo's breakthrough single, with over two million downloads in South Korea.

Release and promotion

Composed by Hyuk Shin, DK, Jordan Kyle, John Major and Jarah Gibson, "Growl" is described as a dance-pop song with contemporary R&B and funk influences. After its release was announced, a video filming the group practicing the song's choreography was leaked online on July 27. Exo began performing the song on South Korean music TV shows on August 1 before it was officially released together with the album on August 5, 2013. They also performed the song on several Chinese TV shows.
The song was performed during the closing ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, along with their 2017 song "Power".

Music videos

The Korean and Chinese music videos for "Growl" were released on August 1, 2013, four days ahead of the song itself. They exclusively feature Exo's performance of the song at a dimly lit warehouse and utilized the one shot style, appearing to have been filmed in a single take. Another set of music videos for the song, filmed at a different location, were released on August 20, 2013. On May 29, 2019, the Korean music video surpassed 200 million views on YouTube, becoming their fourth music video to do so.

Reception

Music charts

"Growl" reached number 2 on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, as well as number 3 on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100 and World Digital Songs charts. Billboard listed "Growl" as the fifth best-selling K-pop song in America during 2013. The song also won first place 14 times in total on South Korean music TV shows.
Describing it as "the crown jewel in EXO's fantastic 2013", Billboard picked "Growl" as the best K-pop song of 2013. It was named Song of the Year at the 2013 Melon Music Awards and KBS Song Festival. The song is Exo's best-selling single to date, having accumulated over two million downloads.

Public reception

In July 2017, defectors from North Korea stated Exo has some popularity in North Korea, although people have to listen to them in secret and don't know what the members look like, and Growl in particular is used as a confession song amongst youth to confess to one's crush due to the lyrics.
PublicationYearListRank
Billboard2013The 20 Best K-pop Songs of 20131
Billboard2018The 100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time58
Billboard2019The 100 Greatest K-pop Songs of the 2010s50
British GQ2019Best K-pop songs of the decadeNo order
Dazed2013Top 10 K-pop Songs of 20132
The Dong-a Ilbo2016Best Male Idol Songs in the Past 20 Years3
The Forty-Five2023The 45 best K-pop songs of all-time 29
Melon2021Top 100 K-pop Songs of All Time2
Munhwa Ilbo201910 best K-pop songs of the decade No order
Rolling Stone2023100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music34
SBS PopAsia2013Top 100 Asian pop songs of 20131

Accolades

ProgramDate
Music BankAugust 16, 2013
Music BankAugust 23, 2013
InkigayoAugust 18, 2013
InkigayoAugust 25, 2013
InkigayoSeptember 1, 2013
Show ChampionAugust 21, 2013
Show ChampionAugust 28, 2013
Show ChampionSeptember 4, 2013
M CountdownAugust 22, 2013
M CountdownAugust 29, 2013
M CountdownSeptember 5, 2013
Show! Music CoreAugust 24, 2013
Show! Music CoreAugust 31, 2013
Show! Music CoreSeptember 7, 2013
Show! Music Core--

Cover

On November 10, 2025, SM Jazz Trio of SM Classics, released a jazz cover of "Growl" for their debut studio album, Pink Note.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Studio
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – recording, mixing
  • In Grid Studio – recording
  • Sound Pool Studios – recording
  • Sonic Korea – mastering
Personnel