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"Hey Mama" is the debut single by EXO-CBX, the first official sub-unit of the South Korean boy group EXO. It was released on October 31, 2016, by SM Entertainment as the title track of their debut extended play Hey Mama!. The Japanese version of the song was released on May 24, 2017, along with their Japanese debut EP Girls by Avex Trax.

Background and release

"Hey Mama!" ("Mama" referring to an attractive woman) is described as a mixture of funk, disco, and pop. The lyrics talk about enjoying parties to make it a special day. It was officially released on October 31, 2016.

"Hey Mama!" was choreographed by Kyle Hanagami, who had previously choreographed for Girls' Generation, After School, Red Velvet, and Blackpink. Its music video garnered 2 million views on YouTube within 9 hours after being released.

Music video

On October 25, 2016, a teaser for "Hey Mama!" music video was revealed by S.M. Entertainment. The music video was officially released on October 31, 2016.

The first part of the music video was Chen and Xiumin working in their tiny cubicles while Baekhyun is on the roof. He influenced the two to stop working and enjoy themselves. Then, they invaded a news room influencing more people to stop working. In the end, the members, along with some other working people are in the forest, camping, enjoying themselves. It also features backup dancers where they perform the choreography of the song with the trio in some scenes.

Promotions

EXO-CBX performed "Hey Mama!" live for the first time at the promotional event for their debut EP Hey Mama! on October 31, 2016.

EXO-CBX made their debut performance of "Hey Mama!" on M Countdown on November 3, later on KBS's Music Bank and MBC's Show! Music Core.

On November 5, 2016, EXO-CBX performed "Hey Mama!" at You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook.

On November 18, 2016, the group performed the song at the OGN World Championship N-Pop Showcase.

On February 18, 2017, EXO-CBX performed "Hey Mama!" at the K-Drama Fest in Pyeongchang.

The group performed the Japanese version of "Hey Mama!" for the first time at the 2017 Girls Awards on May 3, 2017.

EXO-CBX performed "Hey Mama!" on Music Bank on May 19, 2017 in Jeonju in honor of FIFA U-20 World Cup.

On June 7, the group performed "Hey Mama!", the Japanese version on EXO-CBX "Colorful BoX" Free Showcase.

On August 26, 2017, EXO-CBX performed the Japanese version of "Hey Mama!" on a-nation concert in Japan.

Reception

The song reached the top of six South Korean real-time music charts shortly after its release, with the other songs following behind. It also reached number one on the iTunes charts in 7 countries, including South Korea, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Brunei, as well as number two in Taiwan and Indonesia.

"Hey Mama!" ranked No.4 on Gaon Digital Chart, and No.7 on Billboard's US World Digital Songs.

Charts

Sales

Accolades

Music programs

Release history

Credits

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.

Studio

• SM Blue Cup Studio – recording, mixing
• In Grid Studio – recording
• doobdoob Studio – digital editing
• Sterling Sound – mastering

Personnel

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Lee Soo-man – producer
• Exo-CBX – vocals
• Jo Yoon-kyung – Korean lyrics
• Sara Sakurai – Japanese lyrics
• DK – composition
• Davey Nate – composition, background vocals
• Jayrah Gibson – composition, background vocals
• Hyuk Shin – producer, composition, arrangement
• MRey – producer, composition, arrangement
• Kye Bum-joo – vocal directing, background vocals
• Jung Eui-seok – recording, mixing
• Jeong Eun-kyung – recording
• Woo Min-jeong – recording assistant
• Jang Woo-young – digital editing
• Tom Coyne – mastering

References

1. ^ ""강력한 유닛 파워" 엑소 첸백시 'Hey Mama!' 가온 주간 차트 1위" ["Powerful Unit Power" EXO Chenbaxi 'Hey Mama!' No. 1 on Gaon Weekly Chart]. Herald Pop (in Korean). October 11, 2016 – via Naver.
2. KpopStarz (2016-10-31). "EXO – CBX Asks Fans What Do They Think About 'Hey Mama' MV". KpopStarz. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
3. SMTOWN_EN. "[Vyrl] SMTOWN_EN : #EXO-CBX to hold 'EXO-CBX HOT #DEBUT STAGE' Oct 31, 8PM (KST) at a spe". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
4. "[오늘밤TV] '유희열의 스케치북' 강타 EXO-CBX·로꼬 박재범·바버렛츠 라인업 공개, "바지 지퍼 열렸는데 관객 보며 당당히 올려, 그 이후로 별명이 '로꼬츄'" – 스타서울TV" (in Korean). 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
5. "[포토] 레드벨벳·EXO-CBX 동시 출격, 블소 N-POP 콘서트 현장". m.sports.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-05-04.
6. "뜨거운 한류 열기, 'K-드라마 페스타 인 평창' 열려-EXO-CBX – 업코리아" (in Korean). 2017-02-21. Archived from the original on 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
7. "EXO-CBX, 日 데뷔 카운트다운..'걸스어워드' 엔딩 장식". Retrieved 2017-05-04.
8. "'뮤직뱅크' 엑소 첸백시, 다시 돌아온 레전드 유닛". Retrieved 2017-05-20.
9. "EXO-CBX FREE SHOWCASE "Coloful BoX"". Retrieved 2017-06-08.
10. "EXO、2度目のa-nationで圧巻ステージ EXO-CBXもサプライズで登場". BIGLOBEニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-08-27.
11. "[팝업차트]"역시 엑소" 첸백시 'Hey Mama!' 6개 차트 올킬". Retrieved 2016-10-30.
12. "EXO Splinter Group EXO-CBX Hits No. 1 on World Albums With Debut EP 'Hey Mama'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
13. "Hey Mama! on 2016 Gaon Digital Chart – Week 45". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
14. "Hey Mama! on Gaon Digital Chart – November, 2016". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
15. Cumulative sales for "Hey Mama!":
    • "Gaon Download Chart – Week 45, 2016". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
    • "Gaon Download Chart – Week 46, 2016". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
    • "Gaon Download Chart – Week 47, 2016". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
    • "Gaon Download Chart – Week 48, 2016". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
    • "Gaon Download Chart – Week 49, 2016". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
16. Sun Mi-kyung (2016-11-15). "엑소 첸백시, '더쇼'서 유닛 첫 1위..레이 솔로 공개". Korea Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-11-16.
17. Exo-CBX (2016). Hey Mama! (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment.

• 2016 songs
• 2016 singles
• Songs in Korean
• Songs in Japanese
• Avex Trax singles
• SM Entertainment singles
• Exo-CBX songs
• Songs with lyrics by Jo Yoon-kyung
• Funk songs
• Nu-disco songs