EXO’s D.O. Teams up with PENOMECO for New Single “DUMB”

Photo: Company Soosoo

It’s been a busy month for the members of EXO, with Chanyeol kicking off the solo comeback festivities in August, and both Suho and Chen scheduled for comebacks later in the month. D.O. is the first member this month to make a return in the form of a digital single with K-R&B artist PENOMECO, showcasing a different side to our well-known introverted member of EXO.

While the title of the track may be “DUMB (feat. PENOMECO),” this song is much more of a collaboration between the two artists rather than a simple feature. D.O. is well-known for his velvety R&B suited vocals and soulful ballad OSTs, so “DUMB” is a bit of a surprise from the opening verse. The song has a more upbeat, pop punk kind of feel, almost nostalgic for early 2000s pop rock. It wasn’t what I would have expected from this duo, but it was a delightful surprise. Even on a difficult day, the upbeat nature of the melody and optimistic lyrics were still infectious. The heavy bass line prominent in the melody gives the track a unique feel right off the bat.

The music video does a good job in echoing the playful nature of the song, showcasing the duo as a pair of nerdy best friends in high school, and featuring cartoon style animation intermittently as well. The storyline showcases a very cute story of friendship, with D.O. and PENOMECO facing hardships together and having fun despite any outside factors, which is actually quite heartwarming once you ponder more on the metaphorical meaning of each scene. Despite rejection from their peers, they trust in each other and overcome, which I think is a theme many people can relate to from their youth. Can’t lie though, the high school setting will probably make you feel old. This duo together is fun and full of life, wrapped up in a cute little touching storyline.

Check out the music video for “DUMB” below!