Rose (D.O. song)

D.O. previously released digital single "That's Okay" on July 1, 2019, coinciding with the day he entered his military enlistment.^[1] He was discharged on January 25, 2021, after taking his final military vacation leave in December 2020, without having to return to his military base due to the COVID-19 protocols.^[2]

D.O. returned to Exo for their seventh EP, Don't Fight the Feeling that was released on June 7.^[3] Later that month, SM announced that D.O. will release his first EP Empathy on July 26, with pre-orders commencing on July 1.^[4]

"Rose" was announced as the lead single of the EP on July 15, with D.O. himself reported to be involved in the songwriting process.^[5] The teaser video for the song's music video was released on July 23.^[6]

The song was released alongside its EP on July 26.^[7]

Produced by Emanuel Abrahamsson, "Rose" is an "easy listening folk-pop song with cheerful sound of acoustic guitar.^[7] Billboard labeled the song as "breezy."^[8] The lyrics were originally penned by Abrahamsson, Benjamin Ingrosso, and Axel Ehnström in English before D.O. translated the song into Korean, depicting a love story.^[9]

Lasting at two minutes and thirty-three seconds, the song was composed by Abrahamsson, Ingrosso, and Ehnström in the key of C major, and arranged by Abrahamsson with the tempo of 75 beats per minute.^[10]

D.O. recorded the English version of the song because the guide language of the song was in English, but he enjoyed the lyrics and the feel of the music so much and ended up recording the song in both Korean and English.^[11]

The music video was released on July 26, showing D.O. avoiding disasters while enjoying a sunny day in the neighborhood.^[12]

"Rose" peaked domestically on the Gaon Digital Chart and the K-pop Hot 100 charts at numbers 33 and 91 respectively.^[13][14] Overseas, it peaked at number 16 in the World Digital Song Sales chart.^[15]