Mr. Simple
Mr. Simple (reissue name A-Cha) is the fifth studio album by the South Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released on August 3, 2011, by SM Entertainment, distributed by KMP Holdings and digitally release on August 2.[1] On September 19, 2011, a repackaged edition was released, re-titled A-Cha. It features four new tracks including title track "A-Cha" and "Superman" which was previously released in version B only. This is the group's second album that features ten of the original 13 members and the first being their previous album, Bonamana (2010).
| Mr. Simple | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital and A version cover. | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 3, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | June – July 2011 | |||
| Studio | SM Studios (Seoul, South Korea) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 47:44 (version A) 47:41 (version B) 61:12 (repackaged) | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | Lee Soo-man | |||
| Super Junior chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Mr. Simple | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from A-Cha | ||||
| ||||
At the year end award shows of 2011, the album won the Disk Daesang Award at the 26th Golden Disk Awards and 21st Seoul Music Awards, as well as the Album of the Year at the 13th Mnet Asian Music Awards. The album, including the repackaged version, is listed as the 2nd best-selling album of the year for 2011. According to Gaon Chart, as of the end of December 2012, the album has sold a cumulative total of 543,623 copies domestically.
Background and development
On March 31, 2011, leader Leeteuk announced during the interview, "At the earliest, we'll be coming out with our fifth album this summer."[2] Leeteuk and Eunhyuk confirmed on their radio show "Super Junior Kiss the Radio" on June 1, 2011, that they had begun recording their upcoming album that day. Heechul tweeted on June 2, 2011, saying that the group "may be going crazy with preparations for our fifth album, but when it's finally released, you're all going to go mad."[3] American dancer Kenny Wormald posted on his official Twitter on July 11, 2011, that he had started the choreography rehearsal for the group's upcoming new single.[4] On the same day, Leeteuk and Eunhyuk stated on their radio show "Super Junior Kiss the Radio" that songwriter Jinu (hitchhiker) had contributed something for the new album. Shim Jae Won, current choreographer and former member of the disbanded SM group Black Beat tweeted two pictures of the choreography practice of the group showing the lower half of their bodies.[5]
The first of the teaser photos was released on July 20, 2011, featuring Eunhyuk. Other photos followed, in order of: Donghae, Leeteuk, Shindong, Kyuhyun, Sungmin, Ryeowook, Yesung, Siwon and Heechul.[6] On the same day, it was announced that the album is set for an August 3 release.[6]
Music and video
The album is mostly synthpop, with the title track, "Mr. Simple", being the last installation of the "SJ Funky" genre in which the group has been consistently pursuing since "Sorry, Sorry" (2009) and "Bonamana" (2010). Songs encompassed with synthpop elements include "Opera", "Be My Girl", "Walkin'" and "My Love My Kiss My Heart". Other tracks included in the album are the country-flavored tracks "Good Friends" and "Sunflower", an electropop number "Feels Good", a cover of a 1996 song by Jinu (hitchhiker) entitled "White Christmas", ballads "Storm" and "Memories", a Donghae-Chance-written track "Y", as well as the inclusion of subgroup Super Junior-M's Korean version of their 2011 title track "Perfection", in which it serves a purpose "to give a chance to Korean fans to enjoy the music of Super Junior-M which is appearing in various stages in Asia." Meanwhile, for the B-version of the album, a further-included track "Superman" is described to be "a minimalist hip-hop track which feature the members singing in a low vocal range."[7]
On July 22 to 24, 2011, the group filmed the music video for their new lead single.[8] Two video teasers were released on August 1, 2011, in which the first teaser gained a million views on YouTube a day after its release and 2,500,000 views by the second day. Meanwhile, the second teaser passing a million views by the second day. The music video reached more than half a million views within the first few hours of release. It passed 1.5 million views by the end of the first day, and 3 million by the end of the second, views. Currently, the music video has over 100 million views.[9] On August 26, 2011, a music video for the album's supporting single, "Superman", was released on their YouTube channel, featuring clips from their Super Show 3 Tour as well as the photoshoots and music video making for "Mr. Simple".[10]
On November 1, 2015, the music video officially reached 100 million views on YouTube.[11]
On July 30, 2021, the music video officially reached 200 million views on YouTube.[12]
Promotion and release
The group held a press conference at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul on August 4, which attracted over 200 reporters, including 70 foreign journalists from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore[13] The group expressed that they will promote the album for as long as possible till Heechul's enlistment date and also to continue with Super Show 4 World Tour.[14][15]
Super Junior had their debut performance of "Mr. Simple" and a non-album track "Superman" at Music Bank on August 5, 2011,[16] followed by Music Core the following day,[17] Inkigayo after that[18] and on August 11 on M! Countdown.[19] However, promotions for the song ended on August 28 due to the enlistment of member Heechul to the army on September 1, 2011.[20][21]
The album was released in 11 countries across Asia.,[22] including Taiwan on September 6, 2011, by Avex Taiwan. The album was supposed to be pre-released in the Philippines by Universal Records on October 1, 2011, but was moved to October 8, citing manufacturing problems caused by typhoon Nesat.[23] The Type A album was officially released in the country on November 24.
After the released of "Mr Simple" in Japanese, the group followed-up with the release of "Opera" in Japanese. The single album also include the travel-themed mid-tempo ballad "Way", Japanese original music video and making-of DVD. It has been available for pre-order from March 11, 2012.[24]
Reception
The album debuted at number 3 on Billboard World Albums Chart for the week of August 20, 2011.[25] It peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart for the month of August, with 287,427 copies sold.[26] Meanwhile, the repackaged album, A-Cha, which was released on September 19, debuted at number three with 97,210 copies sold.[27]
At the year-end list of album sales for 2011, compiled by Gaon Chart, the album is listed as the second best-selling album of the year with 343,348 copies sold and the repackaged version at number seven with 129,894 copies sold. Thus making a cumulative total sale of 473,242 copies in South Korea.[28] On April 12, 2012, Gaon Chart reported that up till the end of March 2012, the album has sold a cumulative total of 502,830 copies, making it the first album in four years to exceed half a million in sales since Kim Gun Mo's eighth album He-story in 2003 and TVXQ's fourth album, Mirotic in 2008.[29] The released in the Philippines on October 8, peaked at number one in Odyssey Weekly Album Chart.[30] After a week of selling the album reached gold status with standout sales of 7,500. This was the group's 5th number one album and 4th album to certify gold status in the country making them the only Korean act to do so.[citation needed]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mr. Simple" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:59 |
| 2. | "Opera" (오페라; Opera) | Kenzie | Kenzie | 3:01 | |
| 3. | "Be My Girl" (라라라라; Lalalala) | Kim Boo-min |
|
| 3:09 |
| 4. | "Walkin'" | Misfit |
|
| 3:46 |
| 5. | "Storm" (폭풍; Pokpung) | Kim Jeong-bae | Kenzie |
| 4:16 |
| 6. | "Good Friends" (어느새 우린; Eoneusae Urin; lit. Suddenly we) | Yoon Jong-shin | Yoon Jong-shin |
| 3:57 |
| 7. | "Feels Good" (결투; Gyeoltu; lit. Duel) | Hong Ji-yoo |
|
| 3:19 |
| 8. | "Memories" (기억을 따라; Gieogeul Ttara; lit. Follow the memory) |
| Park Joon-soo |
| 4:11 |
| 9. | "Sunflower" (해바라기; Haebaragi) | Hong Ji-yoo | Brandon Fraley |
| 3:52 |
| 10. | "White Christmas" (엉뚱한 상상; Eongttunghan Sangsang; lit. Crazy imagination) |
| Hitchhiker | Hitchhiker | 3:36 |
| 11. | "Y" |
|
| 3:27 | |
| 12. | "My Love, My Kiss, My Heart" | Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds) |
|
| 3:40 |
| 13. | "Perfection" (태완미; Taewanmi) (Korean version) (performed by Super Junior-M) (bonus track) | Lee Won-geun |
| Hitchhiker | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 47:37 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Superman" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Mr. Simple" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Opera" (오페라; Opera) | Kenzie | Kenzie | 3:01 | |
| 4. | "Be My Girl" (라라라라; Lalalala) | Kim Boo-min |
|
| 3:09 |
| 5. | "Walkin'" | Misfit |
|
| 3:46 |
| 6. | "Storm" (폭풍; Pokpung) | Kim Jeong-bae | Kenzie |
| 4:16 |
| 7. | "Good Friends" (어느새 우린; Eoneusae Urin; lit. Suddenly we) | Yoon Jong-shin | Yoon Jong-shin |
| 3:57 |
| 8. | "Feels Good" (결투; Gyeoltu; lit. Duel) | Hong Ji-yoo |
|
| 3:19 |
| 9. | "Memories" (기억을 따라; Gieogeul Ttara; lit. Follow the memory) |
| Park Joon-soo |
| 4:11 |
| 10. | "Sunflower" (해바라기; Haebaragi) | Hong Ji-yoo | Brandon Fraley |
| 3:52 |
| 11. | "White Christmas" (엉뚱한 상상; Eongttunghan Sangsang; lit. Crazy imagination) |
| Hitchhiker | Hitchhiker | 3:36 |
| 12. | "Y" |
|
| 3:27 | |
| 13. | "My Love, My Kiss, My Heart" | Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds) |
|
| 3:40 |
| Total length: | 47:34 | ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Superman" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:21 |
| 2. | "A-Cha" | Kim Boo-min | Hitchhiker | Hitchhiker | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Mr. Simple" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Oops!" (featuring f(x)) |
|
| 3:44 | |
| 5. | "A Day" (하루에; Harue) | Kim Jeong-bae | Kenzie |
| 3:27 |
| 6. | "Andante" (안단테; Andante) | Misfit |
| Q (ButterFly) | 3:06 |
| 7. | "Opera" (오페라; Opera) | Kenzie | Kenzie | 3:01 | |
| 8. | "Be My Girl" (라라라라; Lalalala) | Kim Boo-min |
|
| 3:09 |
| 9. | "Walkin'" | Misfit |
|
| 3:46 |
| 10. | "Storm" (폭풍; Pokpung) | Kim Jeong-bae | Kenzie |
| 4:16 |
| 11. | "Good Friends" (어느새 우린; Eoneusae Urin; lit. Suddenly we) | Yoon Jong-shin | Yoon Jong-shin |
| 3:57 |
| 12. | "Feels Good" (결투; Gyeoltu; lit. Duel) | Hong Ji-yoo |
|
| 3:19 |
| 13. | "Memories" (기억을 따라; Gieogeul Ttara; lit. Follow the memory) |
| Park Joon-soo |
| 4:11 |
| 14. | "Sunflower" (해바라기; Haebaragi) | Hong Ji-yoo | Brandon Fraley |
| 3:52 |
| 15. | "White Christmas" (엉뚱한 상상; Eongttunghan Sangsang; lit. Crazy imagination) |
| Hitchhiker | Hitchhiker | 3:36 |
| 16. | "Y" |
|
| 3:27 | |
| 17. | "My Love, My Kiss, My Heart" | Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds) |
|
| 3:40 |
| Total length: | 61:12 | ||||
Charts
| Country | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Gaon Weekly Album Chart | 1[31] |
| Gaon Monthly Album Chart | 1 | |
| Japan | Oricon Weekly Album Chart | 17[32] |
| USA | Billboard World Album Chart | 3[25] |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Distributing label |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | August 2, 2011 August 3, 2011 (version A) August 22, 2011 (version B) September 19, 2011 (repackaged) | Digital download CD CD CD, digital download | KMP Holdings |
| Japan | August 6, 2011 | CD (import) | Avex Trax |
| Taiwan | September 6, 2011 (version A)[33] September 23, 2011 (version B)[34] September 30, 2011 (Repackaged)[35] | CD | Avex Taiwan |
| Singapore | September 29, 2011 (version C) | CD | Universal Music |
| Philippines | November 24, 2011 (version A) December 17, 2011 (version B & C) | CD | Universal Records |
| Malaysia | September 12, 2011 (version B) October 10, 2011 (version C) | CD | Universal Music |
Personnel
Credits are for the Type A of the album, unless where indicated.[36]
|
|
Awards
| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Golden Disk Awards | Disk Daesang | Won | [37] |
| Disk Bonsang | Won | |||
| Hanteo Awards | Album Award | Won | [38] | |
| Singer Award (Album-based) | Won | [39] | ||
| Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards | Best Sales Releases (Japanese and Korean) | Won | [40] | |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | Album of the Year | Won | [41] | |
| Tower Records K-pop Lovers Awards | Album of the Year | Third place | [42] | |
| 2012 | Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards | Album of the Year - 3rd Quarter | Won | [43] |
| 2014 | Red Dot Design Awards | Communication Design Award | Won | [44] |
See also
- Mr. Simple
- A-Cha
- Superman
- Superman (Music Video) on YouTube
References
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- ^ AllKPop (June 1, 2010). "Heechul tweets about Super Junior's fifth album". from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "Kenny Wormald on Twitter". Twitter. from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (in Korean). July 15, 2010. from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b Nate (July 20, 2010). 슈퍼주니어 5집 컴백, 은혁 금발+문신 파격티저 공개 (in Korean). from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ Official SUPERJUNIOR SMTOWN Website (August 5, 2010). (in Korean and English). Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ^ DKPN (July 20, 2010). "Super Junior Started MV Filming". from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
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- ^ "Super Junior Reveals "Superman" Music Video". HypnoticAsia. August 26, 2010. from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ "Super Junior's "Mr. Simple" Reaches 100 Million Views - Soompi". www.soompi.com. November 2015. from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ "Super Junior's "Mr. Simple" Reaches 200 Million Views - Soompi". www.soompi.com. July 31, 2021. from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Super Junior album release draws strong international interest" August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Hankyoreh. August 5, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011
- ^ Nate (August 4, 2010). '컴백' 슈주 "5집 활동 많이..軍입대도 해야하기에" (in Korean). from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ Nate (August 4, 2010). 슈퍼주니어 "멤버 군입대 문제 때문에 월드투어 계획중" (in Korean). from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (August 5, 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Bank". from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (August 6, 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Core". from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (August 7, 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Inkigayo". from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (August 11, 2010). "Super Junior wins #1 on M! Countdown comeback + other performances". from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ 슈퍼주니어 김희철, 9월 1일 입대. "조용히 입대하고 싶다". Naver News (in Korean). August 21, 2010. from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Song Yoon-soo (August 22, 2010). "Super Junior's Kim Hee-chul makes plans to be a military man". Korea JoongAng Daily. from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Super Junior's Mr. Simple tops Tower Records charts in Japan". Nate News (in Korean). August 10, 2011. from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ^ "Universal Records PH on Twitter". Twitter. from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ Ho, Stewart "Super Junior Wants to Sing ′Opera′ in Japan" Mnet News. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012
- ^ a b "Billboard World Albums Chart (week of 20 August 2011)". Billboard. August 20, 2011. from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
- ^ "Super Junior's 5th album, "Mr. Simple" sells over 280,000 copies". Korea Star Daily (in Chinese). September 9, 2010. from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "2011년 09월 Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ . Gaon Charts (in Korean). January 14, 2012. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ Park, Hyun Min "Super Junior Records Half-Million in Sales" April 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Mnet News. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012
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- ^ "Oricon Weekly Album Chart 2011.8.8 - 2011.8.14". Oricon (in Japanese). August 17, 2010. from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ "Mr Simple (Version A) album info" September 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. September 6, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Mr Simple (Version B) album info" August 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. September 23, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Mr Simple (Repackaged) album info" May 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. September 30, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2012 (in Chinese)
- ^ ManiaDB (August 17, 2010). (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ [Usurped!]. Kpopwave.joinsmsn.com. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- ^ "2011 Hanteo Album Award". from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ "㈜한터정보시스템". Hanteo.com. December 31, 2011. from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ . International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ (in Korean). Mwave. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ^ "タワレコ K-POP LOVERS! AWARDS 2011 （アルバム&シングル部門大賞発表）". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). December 7, 2011. from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Lee Jae-hoon (February 22, 2012). 소녀시대·시크릿·아이유, 가온차트 K팝상 2개씩 [Girls' Generation, Secret, IU, Gaon Chart, two K-pop awards each]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ SM, '레드닷 디자인 어워드'에서 8개 작품이 수상 [8 SM works were awarded at 'Red Dot Design Awards']. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). August 18, 2014. from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
External links
- Super Junior official homepage November 8, 2017, at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)
- Super Junior official YouTube channel