Song Review: Let Me In by EXO

In the wake of recent controversies regarding the strained relationship between EXO’s members and SM Entertainment, fans weren’t even sure if the long-awaited EXO comeback was even going to happen. Thankfully, it seems (mostly) resolved.

‘Let Me In’ is a pre-release that essentially acts as a love letter to their fans, which is very appropriately fitting given how this is probably the last time they can have a group comeback before the members head off to military service (with poor Kai prematurely shipped off, unable to join the album release and promotions, only in the MV of this song).

As a huge fan of EXO (they were one of my gateways into K-pop), I was eagerly waiting for this release. I was especially excited to simply hear them sing. It is no secret among most K-pop fans that EXO’s vocal line is one of the strongest in K-pop, and probably the strongest active vocal line at the moment. The trinity of Chen, Baekhyun, and D.O will probably never be replicated in the K-pop world, ever. I was awaiting to hear lush vocal harmonies, well-supported and resonant belting, riffing and running like there is no tomorrow among many other things that only their vocal line has to offer. The song did end up offering all of these things actually, although it took me a while to appreciate them. Why?

Well, my first impressions of the song were ruined by the second verse, which is essentially an extended rap verse that bleeds into the pre-chorus. I am not inherently opposed to off-beat rapping, as it is a style in itself. However, I don’t think the execution was convincing. To me, it sounded like they were trying to catch up to the beat. I think the main rapper Chanyeol was able to handle it well, as he still seemed to be in control. However, the issues start to become apparent when lead rapper Sehun comes in, where he seemed to slightly lose control and is constantly trying to catch up to the beat. It isn’t the worst part however. If the rap verse ended at the end of Sehun’s solo, I would have been completely fine and simply accepted that I don’t particularly enjoy EXO raps especially in comparison to their vocals. However, when the the rap extends into a new sort of pre-chorus where there is a sort of call and response approach done with Chanyeol and Sehun alternating between phrases, my irritation could not be concealed. Here, it sounded like both of them lost some control, especially Sehun. They are trying, you can tell, but I know in my heart that it wasn’t the best way of executing it. I am quite sensitive to changes in rhythm and whether or not the singer/rapper is executing their lines in tandem with the instrumental, and even if this part was intentionally off-beat, it did not give the impression that it was meant to be executed in this way. This is just my opinion as an untrained listener (in terms of rap). I have enjoyed off-beat raps in the past from western artists but this is was not it.

Because of how the rap made me feel, I was not in the mood to enjoy the rest of the song. I completely forgot anything I heard right after the song finished. I was already quite determined to not write a review of the song after the absolute disappointment I felt.

However, what changed my mind was my conservation of one of my long-time friends who had expressed how much he loved the song. Even though I vehemently disagreed with him, it got me thinking if my first impression was an overreaction. We usually have a very similar opinion of K-pop releases in general, and we would discuss the songs I reviewed and give me his thoughts on my thoughts. It led me to listen to the song over the last few days, and I think it is time to express my revised thoughts.

At its best, ‘Let Me In’ is a dreamy slow jam/ballad with a blooming chorus that takes repeated listens to truly unlock its appeal. I cannot emphasise enough how gorgeous the chorus is. It is a tender warm hug, fully supported by the luscious voices of EXO’s vocal line that contains depth few vocalists in the K-pop industry can match. Only EXO can give full justice to a chorus like this. The delicate delivery presses all of my buttons that scream, “YES YES YES”.

In fact, the song is almost entirely held up due to the sheer strength of the vocal delivery. The strength of the song’s melodies are not immediate and particularly potent, especially in the verses. What keeps you engaged in these moments is the vocal delivery.

Its production also does not particularly stand out from most slow jams out there, but what keeps it unique is that the many vocal samples it uses in the chorus, giving the song a tinge of a gospel feel (it is not particularly obvious at first listen, but listen closely). This gives the song a much needed rousing effect, swelling as it transitions from its more lanky and forgettable verses into its blooming chorus. Additionally, I particularly adore the way the third and final chorus enters, with a resonating sustained belt resounding in the background. Overall, there are parts which I loved, and parts that I didn’t.

Overall, I think Let Me In is a far cry from EXO’s best work (such as MAMA and What Is Love for example), but I think it makes for a great occasional listen at certain atmospheres, like rainy days. If it could have further expanded on the strength that is its chorus with better verses, then it could have truly been a standout.

Hooks – 8
Production – 8
Vocal Delivery – 11+
Rap Delivery – 7
Overall – 8.5