Review

Song Review: EXO – Cream Soda

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EXO - Cream SodaI’ll always have a soft spot for EXO. They were one of my gateways into K-pop, way back when they made their debut eleven years ago. It’s been a rocky ride the past few years, with member enlistments and other roadblocks preventing the group from making their yearly comeback. Instead, fans have waited two years since their most recent mini album — nearly four since their last full album.

A pair of pre-releases lowered my expectations for this comeback (though Hear Me Out remains a warm, subdued summer jam). But when title track Cream Soda was described as “dance pop” by the agency, my interest piqued again. Might we be heading back to the lethal funk throwdowns Call Me Baby or Love Me Right? Maybe the groovy bounce of Growl? Heck, at this point I’d even be happy with the goofy EDM of Power!

Cream Soda is certainly more upbeat than either of the album’s pre-releases, but it doesn’t strike me as a future classic. Many of EXO’s hallmarks are present. Their gorgeous vocal blend takes the lead on the chorus, twisted into falsetto to compliment the song’s sensual nature. I can’t decide whether I like the hook or find it irritating. I fear it’s tipping closer to the latter at the moment.

My biggest issue with the track is its production. The instrumental is well-done, driven by handclap percussion, strums of guitar and brass accents. Yet even with all these elements, it feels somewhat flimsy. I crave more resonance in the groove — more kick or bass. It’s too layered to function as a skeletal, Timbaland-esque beat, yet not full or insistent enough to really drive the track forward.

Cream Soda‘s best moments occur when EXO are allowed to stretch their vocals. The explosive bridge is enjoyable and dramatic, recalling the group’s biggest strengths. As always, they elevate the material they’re given. But taken as a whole, this is definitely one of the weaker EXO title tracks.

Hooks 8
 Production 8
 Longevity 9
 Bias 8
 RATING 8.25

Grade: B

68 thoughts on “Song Review: EXO – Cream Soda”

  1. Finally, a song that sounds like a song. Doing its best at times to sound like a kpop verses – Prince chorus hybrid, complete with ample double entendre lyrics too.
    Well, I have listened to it enough times already, so although I don’t love or Love it, I certainly must at least big elL Like it. Rating is about right.

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  4. I really liked this, the chorus is so lush and filled to the brim with their voices. And imo the hook is the best part of the song and what sells it to me

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  5. I am sorry, but the hook essentially makes it impossible for me to like this song. I physically cringe with every repeat of ‘cream soda’. Also, I am mad that it was in falsetto, because EXO sound their best when they belt their souls out. That is where the sheer strength of their vocals lie. Obviously they still sound good, but it is a missed opportunity. This is especially because this is for their 15th anniversary album right? So they should release something that reminds fans of their best qualities, what makes them so different from every boy group out there.

    It is not to say that they didn’t deliver. But it is simply far and away what I know EXO can do.

    The saddest part is that at this point, I like Let Me In and Hear Me Out a lot more as I can see myself wanting to go back to it in the future. However, there isn’t really anything here that would make me want to go back, or something that I can’t already find in their rich 15 year discography.

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  6. I have been a vocal advocate of songs needing to be 3 minutes again but if it means stretching out reject interludes like this I might have to reconsider that stance.

    Too much falsetto and it feels like they’re trying to catch up to the beat for most of the song? Also, cream soda isn’t alcoholic and whatever sexual metaphor it is meant to mean falls flat for me.

    Consider this song has given songs like Call Me Baby, Growl & Obsession this one feels like a pretender and a complete CHOP for me.

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  7. EXO is back!! Overall I like it. It’s not up there with their best tracks, but it’s def not their worst (sorry Lotto 💀).

    The weakest aspect for me is the generic boygroup horn+clap beat+rap sections in the verses. Otherwise it’s smooth, sexy, and frothy.

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    • Lotto? 😮 Completely agree with the weakest point being those sections you mention, they sound like they could be from any boygroup at this point!

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        • Ooh this is tricky, but I’ll take the challenge! I’ll take you through my thought process below. tldr; Obsession.

          The tricky part is in the word “worst”. Liking or disliking a track and thinking it is objectively interesting or of good quality are two separate things. This creates four broad categories for title tracks to fall into:

          I like it and I think it’s good (most EXO title tracks)

          I dislike it but I do think it’s good (Monster, Tempo, the ballads)*

          I like it but I don’t think it’s good (Don’t Fight the Feeling)

          I dislike it and I don’t think it’s good
          This is where I can probably find the worst title track. There are only two title tracks in this category, which speaks to how much love I have for EXO’s music.
          First there is Love Shot, which I think is boring and bland overall. Then there is Obsession, which to me is a completely different kind of bad. Where Love Shot drones on and bores me, Obsession assaults me and demands my attention. I dislike everything about it’s soundscape, from the repeated ‘i want you’ chipmunk in the background to the droning beat and the lifeless, one-tone melody. Every time I hear it, I want to turn it off immediately. There is only one positive thing I can say about this song: it is certainly unique. But to me, uniqueness does not justify being this unpleasant – this is still a pop song, not a modern art piece. That is why I think that Obsession is EXO’s worst title track.

          *I don’t exactly dislike the ballads, but I’m almost never in the mood for them.

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          • I love this through examination of what it means to be a “worst” title track! I agree that Love Shot is a bit bland and Don’t Fight the Feeling isn’t that good. We have different tastes regarding Obsession (it confused me at first but I grew to like it), but I 100% understand why it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. For me Lotto isn’t a -bad- song but the autotune and greasy vibes turns me off from it.

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            • Oh yeah, I know what you mean with the greasy vibes haha. I love the autotune, but I fully understand how that’ s offputting – it is definitely..a choice.

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  8. No one:
    Absolutely no one:
    Definitely no one:

    SM Entertainment:
    We have 5.948 NCT demos to give away, what about a new full SHINee and a new full EXO album in order to get only 5.929 left?

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  9. Goofiest lyrics honorable mentions:

    “Baby go dum dum, shakin’ my thinkin”

    “Give me that yum yum, tasty and teasing/got me wrapped around your little flavor”

    “Instantly dumb dumb befooled”

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  10. Given their teaser pictures, a huge part of me is relieved that they did not descend into NCT-fied swagger-shout-sing. But for the rest . . . I think this is their weakest title track; it’s too high and too thin for my liking, and that hook is grating. I also think they have given some of the higher lines to members who can’t carry them well. I’m just a little sad – I don’t think they’ve had a song that screams ‘EXO’ to me since the The War, and I was hoping they’d come back with a bang. Maybe next time.

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  11. I’ve had to listen to it three times to decide if I like it, and I think for now I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s fine. It’s really smooth, and I enjoy that aspect of it. I like the way it opens. I’m sold on the sung parts of the verses and the bridge. The falsetto chorus? Ehhhh. Jury’s still out. They sound freaking fantastic (a given), but falsetto when used in excess in songs tends to get on my nerves most times. There are notable exceptions (Onew’s latest album being the best example I can think of).

    SNSD came first, but EXO was my true gateway drug into k-pop. Once I started listening to them, the floodgates opened. I wondered when DFTF dropped (my first comeback with them) if I’m just hopelessly biased. If I’ll like every single new track they release just because I love them so darn much. I proved to myself that’s not the case with this album though, because not counting the two pre-releases, there’s not a song I liked well enough to add to a playlist on a first listen. I like, even LOVE, pieces of all of them, but never the whole song. They all feel…patchy, to me. Closest I got for the new tracks was No Makeup. I think with another listen, that’ll probably make it onto a playlist. Maybe Cinderella and Love Fool. Maybe.

    That’s the thing with me and EXO though. A lot of their music I don’t necessarily click with on a first listen. It can take a good long while. Let Me In took me nearly a month, for example. I’d listened to it maybe three times since it released and it clicked with me after not listening to it for several weeks randomly in the middle of last week. We’ll see how this album ages for me, but it’s currently sitting as my least favorite one as a whole. It sure is nice to have EXO back though, and I’ll take any opportunity I get to listen to their voices together.

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  12. I think the review score is spot on. It’s a nice song but nothing revelatory. These days, I think any chance to hear EXO all together on a track feels novel and it really is such a special combination of voices.

    I forget who the interview was with but a topliner/songwriter said one of the most exciting experiences they’ve had was hearing their song once EXO had replaced the guide tracks. In kpop, there are artists where the post production is prolly a struggle to match to quality of the demo, but EXO to me is the definition of elevated vocals.
    So for me, the performances,themselves, are the best part of this song.

    I too found the title to be a bit cringey, but I think the song delivers better than I expected.

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    • I agree with your comments. It’s a pity that SM sometimes doesn’t give EXO what they deserve. But I will eat anything up that they deliver because their vocals make anything sound good and better than it is. I’m just glad to have them back.

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  13. Brrr…that repetition of “cream soda” in the chorus. What a massive piece of cringe.
    The track’s falsetto-led centerpiece might appear to sound like cotton candy to someone’s ear, but definitely not for me. Instead, it comes around as a cloying commercial jingle. Another pet peeve that has scratched my ear is the production, which feels just…flimsy, as said by Nick.

    Overall, EXO’s weakest title so far. I doubt there’s anything that would make me come back to this song.

    6.75/10.

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  14. Its a really good comeback. I like almost every song on the album. But oh man, these lyrics are not good dude. I can not take a song seriously when there are lyrics like “Baby, go dumb, dumb. Give me that yum, yum”. These sound like left over Justin Bieber lyrics. I just can’t get past “I need all ya cream soda”. Its so dirty but in a cringy kinda way. I’m so sorry. I don’t like this one. I like the rest of the album though.

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    • I, too, thought of Justin Bieber. Oof. And I’m trying so hard not to see cream soda as the metaphor it is probably meant to be or I’ll cringe too hard.

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      • Cringe. Cringe a lot. Yes.
        That is why the chorus to me sounds like a Prince homage – all high falsetto and references to his other favorite hobby besides playing the guitar. Like a much tamer version of “Soft and Wet” crossed with “Cream”.

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        • I was going to say I’ d like a pop song that is actually just about a food rather than using it as a thinly veiled metaphor for sex, but then remembered that k-pop has plenty commercial songs.

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  15. Come on now, production team. This is EXO! They’ve got some of the most powerful and most recognizeable voices in the industry. Give them something to work with!

    The song is… fine. I just love hearing their voices together again.

    It gets an extra point for ‘dumb dumb, befooled’ which will take its rightful place in my gallery of Craptastic English Lyrics.

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  16. Woah🤚🏾some of yall need to chill in these comments. Yall just sound like that other fandom who likes to bash on EXO b/c of jealousy. And all this “I don’t like it b/c it’s in falsetto ” like cmon on now. EXO are known for having high intensity songs. Can yall favs belt out falsetto like that? And w/o autotune? Esp. since EVERYONE can’t sing w/o it nowadays (and yes I’m mainly looking at HYBE artists 👀).
           Also ppl mentioned abt not taking the lyics seriously. What abt New Jeans “super shy”, any of BTS’s eng. songs, Enphenen ” bite me”, Les serferm “EP&BBW”, Stray Kids “S class”, TxT “sugar rush”, ect.  (which most of these songs are 90% repetitive chants). So just remember yall need to keep this same energy of “honest review” when the next “harmless fluff” song (i. e. TXT ft. JB) comes through and everyone “loves” that.
         Anyways I just had to call out the hypocrisy of it all. But I like the song and including the “much hated” falsetto chorus, EXO still show cased their amazing vocals (esp. the pre chorus and Baekhyun’s ending adilbs) which further cements them being a powerhouse in the industry. And even though yall might not like it but watch all yall favs will be singing/dancing to it soon. So happy EXO Cream Soda cb to everyone 🥂🍦 🤍

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      • 1. It’s true sooo…. 

        2. I’m not bashing any grps, just stating facts so pls don’t twist my words. So let me clarify since you’re confused. I was pointing out that those “six other grps” and etc. have non serious lyics in their songs as well (which some of them that I like fyi)  so it shouldn’t be an end all be all from cream soda for ppl, who in turn, love those songs mentioned. And how ppl can be musical blinded when it comes to their favs and harshly criticize others that have those same elements as well. Got it, good 👍🏾

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      • If you don’t like a (song of the) group I LIKE, you’re just jealous. If I don’t like a (song of the) group YOU LIKE, it’s because they’re bad.

        – The law of k-pop bias

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    • The regulars here have a scale of Kpop lyrics in English, which gets pulled out from time to time but not every time because we have like jobs and real life.

      Here, for some, they immediately mentally thought of Number 4 on the list. Other examples you mention would probably rank lower if we bothered to rank them.

      The Unofficial LIst is:
      1 Intelligible English good lyrics that rhyme
      2 Intelligible English good lyrics
      3 Unintelligible English of any quality lyrics
      4 A single lyric line that is so craptastic it is great
      5 Mispronounced but decent lyrics
      6 Cringey but campy lyrics
      7 Oh so bland lyrics
      8 Really, What does that mean lyrics
      9 A single word said over over like that will make it mean something
      10 Well-pronounced lousy lyrics

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      • Then that’s why it’s important to set aside time from your “like jobs and real life” when writing a public review like this so you can properly concentrate on the songs you’re assessing . Because as you stated “the regulars” go by this list from time to time or don’t even bother at all resulting in inconsistent reviews or even show favoritism to certain songs from certain grps when this “list” isn’t applied across the board (that’s why I said ppl need to keep that same energy towards others). Cause I understand that reviews are biased (hence the web name lol), but it doesn’t have to be an unfair biased review.
             And also you can tell when ppl are given an honest review vs when ppl are nick picking just b/c they don’t like certain grps (this is NOT made TOWARDS YOU I just wanted to state that).

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    • I think you’re misunderstanding why ppl don’t like the lyrics. Lyrics do not need to be serious, like many of the groups you named above. The problem with cream soda is that it has lyrics that are trying to be sexy but fail to do so. Sexy as a theme is a gamble because it’s either done well or it’s cringe as hell and there’s no room for in between tbh.

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      • Uhhh… yeah no, there’s no misunderstandings here. Because in the end the same ppl that say it’s “cringy” now will be blasting it in a few days. Cause ppl are finkel like that (it always happens). So at this point, tomato, tomahto…. whatever

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  17. Man what a letdown.

    The lads know how to sing, and the cream soda falsetto is the only thing that keeps me coming back to this.

    Maybe a slight improvement on the abysmal “fighting the feeling”, but still a disappointing release.

    None of EXO’s members were involved in any part of the album and it shows.

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  19. For a group that released their first album with everyone present since 2018, I found the new album to be underwhelming. Sure, the guys sound great and there’s a lot of good vocal moments but I personally think that this is one of their weakest albums to date.

    “Cream Soda” isn’t bad aside from the cheesy lyrics. The Prince-esque falsetto chorus was a treat although I don’t know whether to like it or not. My opinions on the song can go both ways but at the moment this is my favorite song of the album.

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  20. I actually don’t mind the song. I think lyricism is there but as you said it feels skeletal. That being said I’ve missed all the english lyrics so the track is more goofy than I thought.

    The album’s alright, I do like private party and regret it but other than that the bsides are… fine. Not really what I want from Exo but I’ll take it over no comeback.

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  22. It’s alright.. but it doesn’t have EXO’s style.
    I think anyone could have performed this song and delivered it the same.
    Nothing about this song says “EXO”.

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  24. I miss Monster or Tempo – comebacks that screamed comebacks, grand and great.

    so far after listening half of the album, I like Private Party. And also the two prereleases, so relaxing.

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  25. I’m a huge fan, and I couldn’t be happier they’re back with a new album, truly, so it tough to say this:

    EXO has a reputation for releasing songs with unique sounds, that often become a standard for other future songs in K-pop. But this song has (in my opinion) a really generic sound and to me it doesn’t sound like them because I can recognize certain elements and sounds from other songs. I had a similar opinion about ‘Don’t fight the feeling’ but definitely not to this extreme. I’m so so so sorry but I think the writers, composers and producers could have done and chosen something much better.

    Also, I really wish they would exploit some amazing ideas I’m sure they’ve had that branch out from their EXO story concept (like MAMA, Obsession, Overdose, Lucky One…basically their origin/superpowers.) And please, for the love of every creation in the universe, GIVE US ANOTHER WINTER ALBUM I’M BEGGING!!

    All these decisions are made by producers and staff of their company, so this isn’t me giving EXO members themselves bad feedback. EXO members, as anyone can see, did their absolute best and I love that about them. They sing, look and perform to a standard (I call it the EXO Golden Standard hehe) that only they can achieve.

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  26. This song’s fine, but I don’t consider it one of their best songs. Monster is still my favorite title track from them.

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  28. When I listened to the album before knowing about the MV, I thought this song would be a b-side and was really hoping with the tracklist arrangement that it was just an album opener and not the promotional track but alas…

    Yeah, it’s okay but it’s not a song I would imagine EXO to come back with after so long. I wish they promo’d Private Party instead as it still would have fit with the aesthetic they were going for in the promotional photos or even Regret It (since that song matches with the vibes of the pre-release single). Regret It has so much potential for a really feel-good bombastic comeback as well.

    Cream Soda, for me, is the weakest track in the album. It’s…such a b-side. Doesn’t really make me hype at all like some past EXO title tracks. I’m a bit disappointed with the choice for the title track, but hoping for a repackage and more performance videos for the other tracks on the album.

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  29. At first, I was like “is this a follow up to ‘Candy’”? Then the song went along and nope. Like some said, the falsetto can be irritating, but we’ll see if this grows on me. Otherwise it’s ok.

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    • Just finished listening to the whole album. I would say “Hear Me Out” is my favorite of the bunch, but I also enjoyed “Private Party” “No Makeup” and “Love Fool”. I also gained an appreciation for “Let Me In” after listening to the song without the video.

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  33. I’ve let this song percolate for a few days, and I love it! Was a bit iffy at first but this has been such a grower for me. That chorus is stuck in my head.

    Something about it takes me back to when I grew up listening to Earth,Wind & Fire, and The Stylistics (yes I’m old, why do you ask? 😉) And as someone above said, it has a Prince vibe to it.

    Their vocals are just so satisfying and they do the falsetto really well, they sound so full and lush.

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  34. Well, that is not subtle. It’s interesting how many kpop songs are about sex without ever saying they’re about sex. And some of the imagery in the mv, my heavens. That said, I really like the way the song sounds for the most part. I actually prefer the chorus, which sounds soulful.

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  35. I hate the trumpets and the 2010 esque singing in the verses. The rap parts are too many and almost unnecessary this time. I love everything else.

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