JapanPop 1/2011
Text: Sonia Junttila
Credit: Japan Pop / Mimiko Media Oy
Translation: Minna @ SJ-WORLD.net
TAKE OUT WITH FULL AND PROPER CREDITS. NO ADDITIONAL CREDITS.
「Super Junior
The biggest boy band in the world – literally�
The popularity of Korean pop culture has been spreading like wildfire across Asia for many years. As the world gets smaller and smaller thanks to the internet and social media, ‘Korean wave’ or hallyu is turning global. On the top of this new wave is also riding a group that celebrated the 5th anniversary of their journey last November, a kpop phenomenon SUPER JUNIOR.
In 2005 a South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment introduced to the country’s kpop market a new, colossal 12-member boy band. Like the Japanese girl group Morning Musume, the formation of the group was supposed to renew over the years as new faces were added to the group after others had “graduated” from the band. The name Super Junior 05 was chosen as the name of this project band’s first generation¹.
Since the beginning the members of the band tried to emphasize that SuJu wasn’t composed only of members who knew how to sing and dance, but also of young actors and TV and radio hosts. Reception wasn’t too enthusiastic. There were simply too many members to learn about and as a whole band’s musical merits didn’t receive kind reviews from the critics.
Despite the critic, group’s debut album SuperJunior05 was released in the end of 2005 and the members of the band began to make themselves known in TV variety shows. In 2006 SM Entertainment started the preparations for the second generation of SuJu, but went back on their words at the last minute. None of the group’s original 12 members “graduated,” instead, a 13th member was added. Simultaneously the band’s project status was dropped and from this on the group was known as Super Junior. In May 2006, 13-member SuJu released the single U which was the band’s first hit song and one of the year’s most played pop songs.
The group was supposed to release their next studio album by the end of the same year, but the original plans were dropped when one of the members, Heechul, was injured in a car accident. Instead, the turn of the year brought the first two subgroups. At first was the time for a group that was formed by the best singers of SuJu, Super Junior-K.R.Y., named after the members Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Yesung. This 3-member group of singers focused especially on the ballad genre – an emotional and acoustic subtype of kpop. As to counterbalance K.R.Y., in the beginning of 2007 followed the second subgroup, Super Junior-T, and to everyone’s surprise they focused on old-fashioned² trot music genre – entertaining schlager humppa³. Group’s debut single, absurd Rokkugo, topped the charts soon after its release and was the most sold single of 2007.
The year of difficulties 2007
In April 2007 Super Junior’s activities were put on hold in a dramatic way when the car that was transporting four of the members, was in an accident. Two of the members survived the crash with only scratches when the leader of the band Leeteuk suffered injuries on his face and back. The worst injured member was the youngest one Kyuhyun, who slipped into a coma because of the serious internal injuries. For a week’s time Super Junior and their fans held their breaths, waiting to hear news about the boy’s condition. Against doctors’ pessimistic estimates, Kyuhyun finally woke up from the coma and began with the slow rehabilitation process.
While Leeteuk and Kyuhyun were recovering in the hospital, the 11 members of the group started filming a movie that to this day remains the only film they’ve filmed together. The film that premiered in July 2007 was a teenage comedy that humorously tells about a group of high school students who are ready to do anything to receive a moment’s fame. Despite the good reviews the film’s box-office gross revenue was a disappointment. Finally in September the complete 13-member Super Junior made a comeback to the country’s music market with their long awaited second studio album Don’t Don.
Don’t Don introduced a new, darker and more aggressive SuJu. Next-door neighbor look, smiles and happy dancing were gone. Album’s dramatic, rockish title single introduced a postapocalyptic and nihilistic world, and it was accentuated by the music video and the band’s visual look that was influenced by Japanese rock. Neither Don’t Don or the second single of the album, more conservative Marry U, were able to repeat the success U had had only a year earlier. However SuJu was one of the biggest winners in year-end music galas.
By the end of the year 2007 SuJu’s agent SM Entertainment announced their plans to form third subgroup, this time targeted to Chinese music industry. Crisis arose between SM Entertainment and the fans when the agency revealed their plans to add members with Chinese language skills to the group. Despite the furious campaigns that lasted months the company remained resolute, and in spring 2008 Super Junior-M (M referring to Mandarin Chinese) debut in China gained a lot of fame. Simultaneously fourth SuJu subgroup Super Junior-H (as in “happy”) released their own EP of light and happy kpop in Korea. By the end of the year SuJu-T was promoting their hit Rokkugo in Japan.
Sorry Sorry hits the jackpot
In spring 2009 Super Junior gathered in Korea to release their third studio album Sorry, Sorry. Yet again, with a new album SuJu introduced a new image to the audience. Album’s title song Sorry, Sorry was a very danceable song that combined electronic music and funk influences. The single and a stylized music video shot in black and white proved to be a real jackpot. The choreography that was seen in the music video was done by Nick Bass who has worked with Justin Timberlake, and the choreography became to hottest pop phenomenon not only in Korea, but also in all Asia. The song Sorry, Sorry and the album turned out to be the band’s final breakthrough in Korea and China and in Southeast Asia.
However, supreme success was followed by supreme pressure. Heechul and Kibum, who had been working as actors even before SuJu (debuted), felt that their original dreams had been buried under the mega fame of the band. Their contribution to the third SuJu album was almost non-existent due to other schedules – Kibum’s last appearances as part of SuJu were mainly a couple of cameo roles in Sorry, Sorry music video. Behind the curtains the third album was supposed to be also Heechul’s last album but he went back on his words and took part in album promotions as often as he could.
In fall 2009 one member, Kangin, came into conflicts with police twice in a couple of months, first because of a fight in a bar and later because of DUI. SM Entertainment immediately put his activities with SuJu on hold, but the worst was still ahead. In December the original Chinese member Hangeng requested the termination of his contract with SM Entertainment, and left for his home country – to the surprise and shock of his fans and other members. After he left he has talked about SM Entertainment’s strict contract conditions and inflexibility that by the end of year 2009 had been deteriorating his physical and mental health. Since then Hangeng has launched a successful solo career in China.
Super Junior’s comeback
Year 2010 started with insecurity. With Hangeng gone SuJu-M’s activities in China had been put on hold, and Kangin, who got his sentence in spring, announced that he will be enlisted in army. In May 2010 10-member Super Junior released their fourth studio album, Bonamana. Stylistically album followed the road Sorry, Sorry had created, however band’s look tried to be slightly more trendy and sexy. In August SuJu had their third Asian-wide Super Show 3 tour.
Later in the same year the members where mainly focusing on different solo projects. Of all subgroups only the ballad group K.R.Y. was active during this time, holding concerts in Japan and Taiwan. Over half of the members put their energy in acting in TV dramas or musicals, while other focused more on TV variety shows and MC-ing or DJ-ing. In addition, members released about half a dozen of songs outside the title Super Junior, individually or with other artists.
Year 2010 meant the spreading of band’s fame stealthily outside Asia. On YouTube the views of band’s official music videos can be counted in tens of millions and the videos have been exceptionally famous outside Asia, especially in North America, Peru and even in Saudi Arabia. South Korea is slowly getting familiar with Twitter but SuJu members have been ahead of the others in that, too, when the media in question has proved to be a great way to create the illusion of a feeling that even the foreign fans are close.
In December 2010 a Korean court’s order in Hangeng and SM Entertainment’s case was given, approving his request and terminating contracts between the two parties. The band has already announced preparing for the return of SuJu-M to the Chinese music industry. Aside from China, SM Entertainment’s Japanese agency has announced that this year SuJu will have their official debut in Japan. Also the plans for band’s fifth studio album and fourth Asian tour are on-going.
This year’s biggest trial will be compulsory military service. Like the crisis that occurred last November on the borders of North and South Korea reminded, the country’s still in war with its northern neighbour. Every South Korean male citizen has to complete the two-year service and there are no exceptions for even pop idols. Out of ten active members of SuJu the leader Leeteuk has already announced that he will enlist in army this year. As the members, one after another, will leave the public eye for two years, the power of SuJu’s fame and fans’ loyalty will truly be trialed.
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