EXO Returns with Highly Addictive Title Track "Lotto"

It’s a little hard to believe that EXO is having yet another comeback. I mean, they just released the double title tracks Lucky One and Monster back in June. But the South Korean-Chinese boy band just keeps going and going as if they’re the Energizer bunny.

Lotto is the lead single of their repackaged album EX’ACT. I’ll admit it wasn’t an easy listen the first time around. The track uses a lot of Auto-Tune throughout the song. It would have been okay if there was a little Auto-Tune in the beginning, but it’s there from start to finish. Hell, even the ad-libs are auto-tuned! It was jarring because EXO is known for having a powerful vocal line; all the members have proven themselves to be capable vocalists or rappers. But their voices are over-processed to the point where they sound robotic at some points.

Of course, because I didn’t like the song at first, it got stuck in my head. Leaving me no choice but to listen to it all day because my mind is a troll. Plus, the song is really addictive. The production is built around a minimalist hip-hop beat with a punchy bassline. Lyrically, Lotto compares finding your soulmate to winning the lottery:

“You are my luck

Making me bet my heart on such a slim chance (eh)

Other people now just sit with popcorn

Waiting to see what’ll happen to us (oh, aww)

Oh, baby…”

“With just a glance, oh, yeah

You’re clearly not like the other girls

By looking at me back

You’ve brought luck to me, no

Chateau wine-colored lipstick (la-la-la-la)

White champagne, a shower of bubbles (la-la-la-la)

This may only happen once in a lifetime

Repressed instincts are popping up

What can I do? I just hit the lotto”

This theme carries over to the music video. Set in what appears to be an illegal underground casino, there are people and chickens in cages. Suho is burning a giant stack of cash (why, Suho, why?), and a mysterious woman in a white dress is at the center of it all. Whether she represents luck or a grand prize to be won is never addressed, especially since most of the members are arrested at the end of the video.

Lotto is a grower for those who aren’t a fan of how EXO’s vocals are processed here. But you will have the song on repeat even if you hate Auto-Tune (you’ll learn to ignore it, just like I did).