Miracles in December: EXO’s Winter Gift

Only a few months after Growl took over everything, EXO suddenly came back with a winter mini-album. It feels like a small gift for fans who stayed with them through this whole crazy year. Miracle in December is completely different from their usual powerful dance songs. Instead of choreography and heavy beats, it leans into slow, emotional ballads. This isn’t the EXO I thought I was getting this winter.

The title track isn’t some corny holiday song. “Miracles in December” is a piano-and-strings ballad with real regret in it. It hits even harder when you’re already missing someone. What really stays with you is the vocals. The song ends up belonging to Baekhyun, Chen, and D.O., with Luhan shining in the Chinese version. Chen’s high notes hit first. Baekhyun sounds quieter than usual here. D.O. is what keeps the song from breaking. Luhan, in the Chinese version, makes it feel even lonelier.

The music video is basically just snow and members looking sad in winter coats. It never really warms up. Seeing them prep gifts for someone who’s clearly not coming is kind of depressing. I like that they brought back the MAMA powers, too. Tao trying to turn back time only to realize he can't fix anything. The ending feels heavy. Not in a dramatic way, just.. quiet. Especially if you’ve been following them since debut.

The album as a whole sticks to the same winter mood. It’s over sooner than I wanted it to be. “The First Snow” is easily my favorite. Just simple, nostalgic track that I can already tell I’ll be replaying every December. "Christmas Day" is smoother and has that R&B vibe, and I’m glad we get to hear the other members' voices for once. But then "My Turn to Cry" starts and it just ruins you again. It’s Baekhyun, Chen, and D.O. sounding like they’re completely drained. "The Star" is kind of the odd one out here. It’s a bit too sleek for the mood, but it’s the one that stays in your head after the album ends.

The focus during this era was clearly on the main vocal line. At first, it felt strange seeing only a few members promoting the title track, but focusing on Baekhyun, Chen, D.O., and Luhan made sense for songs this vocal-driven. The debate over the Korean and Chinese versions is very real. Many listeners feel the Chinese lyrics flow more naturally, and Luhan’s voice carries a softness that fits the album beautifully.

Miracles in December isn’t just a seasonal album. It’s tied to a very specific December in my life. Cold nights, overthinking, and that soft sadness that comes with the end of the year. It showed a side of EXO we didn’t usually get to see. Sometimes, just voices and quiet songs were enough. This album ended up becoming my December soundtrack in 2013. Every time the year starts to slow down, I think I’ll come back to it.