Song Review:: Baekhyun (EXO): Essence of Reverie- Elevator

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  • Release date: 2025 May 19
  • Album tracklist: Chocolate, Elevator, Lemonade, Love Comes Back, No Problem, Black Dreams, Late Night Calls
  • Album runtime: 20 minutes

 I wasn't super in love with Chocolate, but since I've got a moment in December with fewer releases, I'm snagging some of the ones I didn't get to earlier. Including this one. I hit the pre-release, but never managed this one. Whoops.

This is more what I would have expected, and that makes me feel a little bit better considering that this is the title track of the album. Thankfully, you know what a song called "Elevator" has included in that instrumental? An elevator ding. This is a very chill roll of a song with the majority of the instrumental being different beats in various rhythms, but there is a melody buried underneath those beats. There's also a spot where the instrumental backs off to allow Baekhyun's voice to get the showcase, which is actually a really good spot for it to happen, because it's right before the ad-libs start ad-libbing.

Those ad-libs at the end are gorgeous. I mean, there are definitely spots where the backing track will be harmonizing with Baekhyun, and those are good spots too, but the vibrato in his voice is very much on display with those ad-libs, and I couldn't be happier. He showcases a nice range for this song, which again, I'm glad to be seeing in a title track. This would have been worth at least one win, so I'm kind of sad that it didn't get any.

This is an interesting music video. I thought the concept was "art museum", and then it went a little comic book. The choreography for this song is incredibly graceful. Although I have to laugh considering the whole thing was a dream and the shirt he was wearing when he woke up says "I DID WHAT LAST NIGHT?" Fitting and very funny.



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