Mr. Simple (reissue name A-Cha) is the fifth studio album by the South Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released on 3 August 2011, by SM Entertainment, distributed by KMP Holdings and digitally release on 2 August.[1] On 19 September 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 | 3 August 2011 | |||
| Recorded | June–July 2011 | |||
| Studio | SM Studios, Seoul | |||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
| Repackaged edition cover | ||||
 Digital cover | ||||
| 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
editOn 31 March 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 1 June 2011, that they had begun recording their upcoming album that day. Heechul tweeted on 2 June 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 11 July 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 20 July 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 3 August release.[6]
Music and video
editThe 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 22 to 24 July 2011, the group filmed the music video for their new lead single.[8] Two video teasers were released on 1 August 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. On 26 August 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".[9]
On 1 November 2015, the music video officially reached 100 million views on YouTube.[10] On 30 July 2021, the music video officially reached 200 million views on YouTube.[11]
Promotion and release
editThe group held a press conference at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul on 4 August, which attracted over 200 reporters, including 70 foreign journalists from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore[12] 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.[13][14] Super Junior had their debut performance of "Mr. Simple" and a non-album track "Superman" at Music Bank on 5 August 2011,[15] followed by Music Core the following day,[16] Inkigayo after that[17] and on 11 August on M! Countdown.[18] However, promotions for the song ended on 28 August due to the enlistment of member Heechul to the army on 1 September 2011.[19][20]
The album was released in 11 countries across Asia.,[21] including Taiwan on 6 September 2011, by Avex Taiwan. The album was supposed to be pre-released in the Philippines by Universal Records on 1 October 2011, but was moved to 8 October, citing manufacturing problems caused by typhoon Nesat.[22] The Type A album was officially released in the country on 24 November. 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 11 March 2012.[23]
Reception
editCritical reception
editMusic critic Han Dong-yoon from webzine IZM expressed boredom with the song "Mr. Simple" due to repetition of the same lyrics and "techno-type electronic sounds"; he additionally criticized the "distorted vocals" which made identifying the members difficult, "except for a few people". Han also found similar patterns in the tracks "Opera" and "Be My Girl", but was more favorable towards the ballad tracks such as "Memories", "Sunflower" and "Y", referring to them as "clean[ing] up the place they left".[24]
Commercial performance
editThe album debuted at number 3 on Billboard World Albums Chart for the week of 20 August 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 19 September, 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 12 April 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 8 October, 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
edit| 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
edit
Weekly chartsedit
Monthly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Personnel
editCredits are for the Type A of the album, unless where indicated.[35]
|
|
Awards
edit| Year | Organization | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Hanteo Awards | Album Award | Won | [36] |
| Singer Award (album-based) | Won | [37] | ||
| Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards | Best Japanese & Korean Releases | Won | [38] | |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | Album of the Year | Won | [39] | |
| Tower Records K-pop Lovers Awards | Album of the Year | Third place | [40] | |
| 2012 | Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards | Album of the Year – 3rd Quarter | Won | [41] |
| Golden Disc Awards | Album Daesang | Won | [42] | |
| Album Bonsang | Won | |||
| 2014 | Red Dot Design Awards | Communication Design Award | Won | [43] |
Release history
edit| Country | Date | Format | Distributing label |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2 August 2011 3 August 2011 (version A) 22 August 2011 (version B) 19 September 2011 (repackaged) |
Digital download CD CD CD, digital download |
KMP Holdings |
| Japan | 6 August 2011 | CD (import) | Avex Trax |
| Taiwan | 6 September 2011 (version A)[44] 23 September 2011 (version B)[45] 30 September 2011 (Repackaged)[46] |
CD | Avex Taiwan |
| Singapore | 29 September 2011 (version C) | CD | Universal Music |
| Philippines | 24 November 2011 (version A) 17 December 2011 (version B & C) |
CD | Universal Records |
| Malaysia | 12 September 2011 (version B) 10 October 2011 (version C) |
CD | Universal Music |
See also
edit- Mr. Simple
- A-Cha
- Superman
References
edit- ^ 슈퍼주니어 5집 컴백, 은혁 금발+문신 파격티저 공개. Newsen (in Korean). 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (March 2010). "Suju's Leeteuk, Heechul, Shindong, Yesung talk experience, marriage plans summer comeback". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (1 June 2010). "Heechul tweets about Super Junior's fifth album". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "Kenny Wormald on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (in Korean). 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b Nate (20 July 2010). 슈퍼주니어 5집 컴백, 은혁 금발+문신 파격티저 공개 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ Official SUPERJUNIOR SMTOWN Website (5 August 2010). "Super Junior Album Info" (in Korean and English). Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ DKPN (20 July 2010). "Super Junior Started MV Filming". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Super Junior Reveals "Superman" Music Video". HypnoticAsia. 26 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Super Junior's "Mr. Simple" Reaches 100 Million Views – Soompi". www.soompi.com. November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Super Junior's "Mr. Simple" Reaches 200 Million Views – Soompi". www.soompi.com. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Super Junior album release draws strong international interest" Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Hankyoreh. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011
- ^ Nate (4 August 2010). '컴백' 슈주 "5집 활동 많이..軍입대도 해야하기에" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Nate (4 August 2010). 슈퍼주니어 "멤버 군입대 문제 때문에 월드투어 계획중" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (5 August 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Bank". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (6 August 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Core". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (7 August 2010). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Inkigayo". Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ AllKPop (11 August 2010). "Super Junior wins #1 on M! Countdown comeback + other performances". Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ 슈퍼주니어 김희철, 9월 1일 입대. "조용히 입대하고 싶다". Naver News (in Korean). 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ Song Yoon-soo (22 August 2010). "Super Junior's Kim Hee-chul makes plans to be a military man". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ^ "Super Junior's Mr. Simple tops Tower Records charts in Japan". Nate News (in Korean). 10 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ "Universal Records PH on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Ho, Stewart "Super Junior Wants to Sing ′Opera′ in Japan" Mnet News. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012
- ^ Han, Dong-yoon (August 2011). "Mr. Simple Album Review". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Billboard World Albums Chart (week of 20 August 2011)". Billboard. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Super Junior's 5th album, "Mr. Simple" sells over 280,000 copies". Korea Star Daily (in Chinese). 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "2011년 09월 Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Gaon 2011 album sales chart". Gaon Charts (in Korean). 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ Park, Hyun Min "Super Junior Records Half-Million in Sales" Archived 16 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Mnet News. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012
- ^ "Super Junior becomes 'Album Kings' in the Philippines with 'Mr. Simple' | allkpop.com". allkpop. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Oricon Weekly Album Chart 2011.8.8 – 2011.8.14". Oricon (in Japanese). 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 33 of 2011". Circle Chart (in Korean). 7–13 August 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Super Junior discography". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ "2011년 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ ManiaDB (17 August 2010). "슈퍼주니어 5집 – 'Mr. Simple' The 5th Album ..... 슈퍼주니어" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "2011 Hanteo Album Award". Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "㈜한터정보시스템". Hanteo.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- ^ "Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards presented (2011)". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (Hong Kong). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards" (in Korean). Mwave. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 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). 7 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ Lee Jae-hoon (22 February 2012). 소녀시대·시크릿·아이유, 가온차트 K팝상 2개씩 [Girls' Generation, Secret, IU, Gaon Chart, two K-pop awards each]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "2011 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list"[usurped]. Kpopwave.joinsmsn.com. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- ^ SM, '레드닷 디자인 어워드'에서 8개 작품이 수상 [8 SM works were awarded at 'Red Dot Design Awards']. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Mr Simple (Version A) album info" Archived 6 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Mr Simple (Version B) album info" Archived 20 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Mr Simple (Repackaged) album info" Archived 12 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Avex Taiwan. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012 (in Chinese)
External links
edit- Super Junior official homepage Archived 8 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)
- Super Junior official YouTube channel