[1] "Everybody" was composed by Thomas Troelsen, who had worked on prior Shinee tracks "Sherlock (Clue + Note)" (2012) and "Love Like Oxygen" (2008), and Coach & Sendo, enlisted for their beat-making expertise.
[2][3] Writing for Billboard, Jeff Benjamin described it as an "easy-to-digest electro-pop track", incorporating "bleeps, bloops, build-ups and breakdowns" overlaid by "sweet boy band harmonies".
[3] The lyrics are inspired by the Pied Piper; Shinee coaxes the listener to allow the music to take them away from the harsh realities of adult life to the world of their childhood.
[5] The choreography of the song was created by Tony Testa, who had previously collaborated with the group on "Sherlock (Clue + Note)" and "Dream Girl" (2013), assisted by Hwang Sang-hoon, SM Entertainment's performance director.
[8] Billboard K-Town columnist Jeff Benjamin wrote "while finding a delicous balance of hyperactive EDM and pop stylings is commendable, the most impressive point of Shinee's "Everybody" comeback is the choreography – some of 2013's best".