The Thirteen Princes
Super Junior or simply, SJ or SuJu ,is a large thirteen member K-pop boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2005. Specializing in various talents of singing, dance, hosting, and acting, they have achieved outstanding success in South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and other East Asian countries. The group initially debuted with twelve members on November 6, 2005 with their first promoted single, "TWINS (Knock Out)". The original twelve members, in age order (from oldest to youngest), are Lee Teuk (the leader), Hee Chul, Han Geng, Ye Sung, Kang In, Shin Dong, Sung Min, Eun Hyuk, Dong Hae, Si Won, Ryeo Wook, and Ki Bum. By the time of their debut, eleven of the members were Korean and one was Chinese. The Chinese member, Han Geng, was picked among from 3000 applicants through auditions held in China by SM Entertainment in 2001. Many of the members had already made a name for themselves prior to Super Junior's debut through acting, VJ-ing, and modeling. On May 23, 2006 SM Entertainment announced the addition of a new member, Kyu Hyun, making them the thirteen member group they are today.
Pre-Debut
Before their official debut, Super Junior was already a hot topic over the Internet. News broke about SM Entertainment's unprecedented plans of forming a large twelve member group. Rumors about the identity of the members as well as the group's name circulated for months. For awhile, many speculated that they were going to be known as Common Ground. Another speculation claimed that the band was going to be called O.V.E.R (Obey the Voice for Each Rhythm).
Prior to their debut, most members were (and still are) actors, MCs, models, or DJs. Some of the members still continue to do so today, such as Hee Chul, Si Won, Ki Bum, and Kyu Hyun who are active in dramas and film.
Super Junior made their pre-debut appearance on M.Net on October 2005. At the showcase, Super Junior performed various styles of hip hop dancing. They danced in a way where it seems as if they were battling with each other. The three best dancers in the group, Han Geng, Eun Hyuk, and Dong Hae, also performed a seperate dance away from the group. After the performances, a debut expected from the group became more highly anticipated.
All members of the group were present at the showcase with the exception of Ryeo Wook and Kyu Hyun. Both were not present because they were not members of Super Junior at that time. However, Ryeo Wook joined Super Junior soon after this performance. Kyu Hyun did not join the group until after their official debut.
Debut
Super Junior made their debut televison appearance as a group on SBS Inkigayo on November 6, 2005 as a twelve member group. The group performed their first promotional single, "TWINS (Knock Out)." A digital single with "TWINS (Knock Out)", "You are the one", and three more different tracks were released online on November 8, 2005. A CD single was scheduled to be released in November but a more complete album, Super Junior 05, was released on December 7, 2005 instead. Their debut album was a magnificent success, selling pass 73,000 units.
An official fanclub was created for the group, named E.L.F. (Ever Lasting Friends) Since Korean fans tend to support their idols with a certain balloon color, Super Junior's official color became sapphire blue.
To further publicize the new group, in December 2005, Super Junior collaborated with label mate and popular boy band TVXQ. Together they released a single titled "Show Me Your Love". During this time, the two groups could be seen on the same shows together to promote their single.
In the new year, after "Show Me Your Love" performances were finished, Super Junior moved onto their second promoted single, "Miracle". The single version of the song differs from the original, as it has a dance break and an added bridge. In contrast to the edgy, rock-influenced feel of "TWINS (Knock Out)", "Miracle" was a light bubblegum pop love song with light-hearted dance choreography. It was the second and last song to be promoted from their studio album.
On May 23, 2006 SM Entertainment announced the addition of a new member, Kyu Hyun, being the youngest member. The new thirteen membered group polished their newer and more mature look and released their newest single "U" online on May 25, 2006. The title song became a success and enjoyed the #1 spot on music programs for the first time in the group's career for several weeks. Followed, soon thereafter, by the release of "Endless Moment" on May 29, 2006 and "Lovely Day" on June 6, 2006. On July 23, 2006, Super Junior started promoting their new song, "Dancing Out" from the 2006 SMTOWN summer album.
Aside from music programs, they could be also seen in dramas. In Super Junior's Mini-Drama Super Junior wrote, produced, and acted in the drama. The subject matters of the drama were the top three choices from the viewers. The mini-series soon became popular among fans. Super Junior have also participated in ½´Super Junior Show(2005-2006), Mystery 6, (Super Junior Full House) 2006, (Super Adonis Camp) (2006). Their busy schedule was briefly interrupted when Hee Chul fractured his femur in a car accident, but the group managed to restart fairly quickly.
When promotions barely started for their newest single, "U", a new single was released. Super Junior had been frequently appearing in various musical and variety programs to promote their new singles thereafter. Because their single "Dancing Out" was a summer single, they had their "Goodbye Special" (performing their last singles "U" and "Dancing Out" for the last time) on SBS Inkigayo on September 3, 2006.
Super Junior has yet to release their second full-length album, which is currently slated for a late 2007 release.
The group also has intentions in targeting the Chinese market, with a Chinese version of "U" released soon after the official single was released on June, 2006. It is said that the group will perform more Chinese singles in the future.
Subgroups
Since debut, SM Entertainment has created two subgroups for Super Junior. The intentions of the subgroups is part of SM Entertainment's strategy to not limit Super Junior's activities; the goal of this strategy is to show that Super Junior can do more than just singing one kind of genre of music but a whole range like dance, ballad, trot, rap, etc.
At some concert appearances, the members have been witnessed sectioning themselves off into smaller-groups, and each performing its own set of songs. This causes speculation that the group's strategy is to actively target particular musical tastes. As these smaller groups are rarely permanent, with the exception of Super Junior K.R.Y, the constantly shifting makeup of these groups is able to target as many possible "tastes", and by evaluating which groups were well received, a clearer evaluation of the market tastes is possible and obviously these groups will enjoy reappearances in later Super Junior concerts.
In April 2007, the six members, Ye Sung, Kang In, Sung Min, Dong Hae, Ryeo Wook, and Kyu Hyun were featured in the soundtrack of the MBC drama H.I.T. They sang both the opening and ending theme, titled "Success" and "H.I.T", respectively.
In addition, other members of Super Junior have appeared on variety shows individually, while others have hosted radio shows; three of the members (Kang In, Shin Dong and Lee Teuk) continue to host Mnet's M!Countdown.
SuJu
Being a large thirteen member boy band, Super Junior's main target was at the younger audience when they first debuted. Having good looks, tall frames, bubblegum dance styles, and comedic personalities became the keys to their outburst of popularity. However, after the formation of Super Junior K.R.Y and Super Junior T, Super Junior began to capture different audiences. The majority of Super Junior K.R.Y's supporters are teenagers and young adults due to their active performances in ballad and sad love songs. Super Junior T's possible target are at the older audience due to their singing of trot music and entertaining styles of performing. Recently, Super Junior has developed a more mature style; their vocalization becoming more heavily expressed and their fast tracks began to contain more detailed dance choreography.
Without a doubt, the majority of Super Junior's supporters are female.
Musical Style and Ability
Being a large thirteen member boy band, the members contain a variety of different vocal ranges, therefore it is an advantage for the group to sing in different musical genres to target different audiences. Nonetheless, the group has managed their music to stay in mainstream K-pop.
Super Junior has released only one full-length studio album, and one single to date. Despite this, Super Junior is still frequently seen in joint albums and also branching out to different subgroups to participate in several drama soundtracks to prevent inactivity within members.
Each member has different to similar vocal ranges to complement each other when singing, especially in their fast dance tracks that requires various different techniques of harmonizing. Ye Sung, Kang In, Si Won, and Kyu Hyun are known for their deep baritone vocals. However, they are also known for their vocal belting techniques, notably Ye Sung and Kyu Hyun. On the other hand, Hee Chul, Sung Min and Ryeo Wook are known for their higher, tenor voices while Lee Teuk and Han Geng's vocals come between as a mid-high range. Most non-lyrical introductions or bridges are usually harmonized by Ye Sung and Ryeo Wook. Super Junior K.R.Y were also seen singing short a capella cuts, and ultimately are acknowledged as the most talented vocalists in the group. Shin Dong, Eun Hyuk and Ki Bum are the known rappers of the group due to their different vocal range. Dong Hae constantly raps as the back-up vocals.
Super Junior's debut single, "TWINS (Knock Out)" was a rock-influenced release, and also a cover of the British rock band, Triple 8. However, their follow-up single, "Miracle", was a bubblegum pop love song, a clear target for the younger audiences. The rest of the tracks in their first studio album, Super Junior 05, mainly consisted of pop love ballads and also R&B-influenced dance tracks with rap and fast drum beats.
Nonetheless, Super Junior's main focuses are still in their various dance tracks. Their first official and most successful single, "U", was a dance track, with the influence of rap. Their second heavily promoted single after the 2007 SMTOWN summer release, "Full of Happiness", was a bubblegum pop and dance song that was originally sung by H.O.T.
Talent
As trainees under SM Entertainment, most of Super Junior knows how to play the piano. Some members also knows how to play the guitar, drums, and other known instruments. Although they are treated as vocalists, the majority of Super Junior were professionally trained around areas of dance or drama. The majority of their choreographed dances involve various skills of popping, waving, and locking. They are also seen performing breakdances and robot dances. Han Geng and Sung Min are sometimes seen performing their flexibility and gracefulness during their dances due to their knowledge of the martial arts. Ultimately, Han Geng, Eun Hyuk, and Dong Hae are considered as the most talented dancers in the group because they are usually seen leading the dances and also dancing to solos. Shin Dong is also credited to be one of their choreographers for their various dance performances.
Super Junior has been criticized in the past for lip-synching and lack of vocal skills, specifically for shaky pitch and heavy breathing. The criticisms worsened in July 2006 when they lipsynched on Show! Music Core of MBC, a show that guarantees all live performance. While fans have defended them saying that Hee Chul was ill, their critics argued that they shouldn't have to because they are a large thirteen member group. With Hee Chul being ill does not account for all thirteen members. Despite this, they have still remained popular through their strong fan base and their album sales have been strong.
Criticisms slowly dropped when Super Junior began to give more live performances, displaying steadier vocal skills. Their ability was more strongly proven when they gave in live performances while dancing, most recently in MBC's, Show! Music Core, performing their new bubblegum dance single, "Wonder Boy".
