Mr. Simple

This article is about Super Junior's album. For the song, see Mr. Simple (song).
Mr. Simple

Mr. Simple version A album cover
Studio album by Super Junior
Released 3 August 2011(See release history)
Recorded June — July 2011 at SM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre K-pop, synthpop, electropop, R&B, dance, pop rock, country pop, hip hop, electronica
Length 47:44 (Version A)
47:41 (Version B)
61:12 (Repackaged)
Language Korean
Label SM Entertainment
KMP Holdings
Producer Lee Soo Man
Super Junior chronology

Bonamana
(2010)		 Mr. Simple
(2011)		 Sexy, Free & Single
(2012)
Singles from Mr. Simple
  1. "Mr. Simple"
    Released: 2 August 2011
  2. "Superman"
    Released: 22 August 2011
  3. "A-CHa"
    Released: 19 September 2011

Mr. Simple (Hangul: 미스터 심플; RR: Miseuteo Shimpeul; reissue name A-CHa) is the award-winning fifth studio album of 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, re-titled A-CHa was released. 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, the first being their previous album, Bonamana, and the last one with member Heechul, who enlisted for his mandatory military service in September 2011.

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.[2] 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."[3] 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."[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] On the same day, it was announced that the album is set for an August 3 release.[7]

Music and MV

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."[8]

On July 22 to 24, 2011, the group filmed the music video for their new lead single.[9] 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 80 million views.[10] 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".[11]

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[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 August 5, 2011,[15] followed by Music Core the following day,[16] Inkigayo after that[17] and on August 11 on M! Countdown.[18] However, promotions for the song ended on August 28 due to the enlistment of member Heechul to the army on September 1, 2011.[19][20]

The album was release in 11 countries across Asia.,[21] 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.[22] 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 11 March 2012.[23]

Reception

The album debuted at number one on music portal Hanteo chart, selling 79,152 copies, and topped Japanese Tower Records online chart and physical album sales chart in its first week of release.[21] It also topped the physical album sales charts of Hottracks, Yes24 and other online music charts, as well as the top spot on Dosirak, Bugs and Melon for the album's title track "Mr Simple". [24] The album also debuted at number 3 on Billboard World Albums Chart for the week of 20 August 2011.[25]

According to Hanteo music chart the album sold 100,000 copies after two weeks of release[26] and it peaked at number one for the month of August with 287,427 copies sold, according to Gaon Chart.[27] Meanwhile, the repackaged album, A-CHa, which was released on 19 September, debuted at number 1 on Hanteo real-time albums chart. It sold 52,000 copies by the end of September 2011, ranking at the number two, behind JYJ's In Heaven.[28] Whereas it debut at number three on Gaon Monthly Album Chart for September with 97,210 copies sold.

At the year end list of album sales for 2011, complied 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.[29] 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.[30] The released in the Philippines on October 8, peaked at number one in Odyssey Weekly Album Chart.[31] 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.

Tracklisting

Version A
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Mr. Simple"  Yoo Young-jinYoo Young-jin 3:59
2. "Opera" (오페라; Opera)KenzieThomas Troelsen, Engelina Larsen 3:01
3. "Be My Girl" (라라라라; Lalalala)Kim Bu-minLanz, Henri Jouni Kristian, William Rappaport, Aku Rannila, Julimar Santos (aka J-son) 3:09
4. "Walkin'"  MisfitDenzil "DR" Remedios, Kibwe "12Keyz" Luke, Sharif Slater, Ryan Jhun 3:46
5. "Storm" (폭풍; Pokpung)Kim Jung-baeKenzie 4:16
6. "Good Friends" (어느새 우린; Eoneusae Urin)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shin 3:57
7. "Feels Good" (결투; Gyeoltu) Denniz Jamm, Qwan 3:19
8. "Memories" (기억을 따라; Gieogeul Ttara)Park Jun-soo, Lee Yoon-jongPark Jun-soo 4:11
9. "Sunflower" (해바라기; Haebaragi)Hong Ji-yooBrandon Fraley 3:52
10. "White Christmas" (엉뚱한 상상; Eongttunghan Sangsang)Jinu (Hitchhiker)Jinu (Hitchhiker) 3:36
11. "Y"  Lee Donghae, ChanceDonghae, Chance, Super D 3:27
12. "My Love, My Kiss, My Heart"  Kim TaesungDenzil "DR" Remedios, Kibwe "12Keyz" Luke, Sharif Slater, Ryan Jhun 3:40
13. "Perfection" (태완미; Taewanmi) (Super Junior-M) (Bonus Track)Lee Won-geunMikkel Remee Sigvardt, Thomas Troelsen 3:24
Total length:
 47:37

Charts

Album Chart

Country Chart Peak position
South Korea Gaon Weekly Album Chart 1[32]
Gaon Monthly Album Chart 1
Japan Oricon Weekly Album Chart 17[33]
USA Billboard World Album Chart 3[25]

Single Chart

Mr. Simple

Chart Peak
position
Gaon Singles chart[34] 1
Gaon Streaming Singles chart[2] 1
Gaon Download Singles chart[2] 1
Gaon Mobile Ringtone chart[2] 1
Gaon Karaoke chart[2] 1
Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[35] 7

A-CHA

Chart Peak
position
Gaon Singles chart[34] 2
Gaon Streaming Singles chart[2] 2
Gaon Download Singles chart[2] 4
Gaon Mobile Ringtone chart[2] 3
Gaon Karaoke chart[2] 7
Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[35] 19

Album sales

Gaon Monthly Album Chart[36]
Year Month Mr. Simple A-CHa (repackaged edition)
Position Sales Cumulative sales Position Sales Cumulative sales
2011 August 1 287,427 287,427 – – –
September 5 31,242 318,669 3 97,210 97,210
October 13 10,366 329,035 9 14,892 112,192
November 14 10,672 339,707 13 10,746 122,938
December 20 3,641 343,348 10 6,956 129,894
2012 January 12 6,028 349,376 8 10,174 140,068
February 32 2,504 351,880 22 3,756 143,824
March 28 3,209 355,089 20 3,917 147,741
April 33 3,482 358,571 28 4,158 151,899
May 48 2,042 360,613 23 4,643 156,542
June 35 2,087 362,700 26 2,750 159,292
July 38 2,387 365,087 34 2,875 162,167
August 30 2,760 367,847 22 3,995 166,162
September 61 1,191 369,038 32 2,321 168,483
October 71 1,247 370,285 – 285 168,768
November 58 1,510 371,795 79 1,153 169,921
December 102 727 372,522 69 1,180 171,101
2013 January 52 1,551 374,073 89 808 171,909
February 88 632 374,705 – – –
March 50 1,550 376,255 – – –
September 60 1,019 379,423 – – –
2014 March 86 612 380,035 – – –
December – 428 380,463 – – –
Total 552,372+

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)[37]
September 23, 2011 (version B)[38]
September 30, 2011 (Repackaged)[39] 		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.[40]

  • Super Junior - vocals, background vocals
    • Leeteuk - vocals, rap
    • Heechul - vocals
    • Yesung - lead vocals, background vocals
    • Shindong - vocals, rap
    • Sungmin - lead vocals, background vocals
    • Eunhyuk - vocals, rap
    • Siwon - vocals
    • Donghae - vocals, rap
    • Ryeowook - lead vocals, background vocals
    • Kyuhyun - lead vocals, background vocals
  • Super Junior-M - vocals, background vocals (Perfection)
    • Zhoumi - vocals
    • Henry - vocals, rap
  • Yoo Youngjin - background vocals
  • Kang Sungho - background vocals
  • Park Il - background vocals
  • Chance (One Way) - background vocals
  • Hitchhiker - background vocals, guitar, keyboard, synth and beat arrangements, bass, sound processing
  • Thomas Troelsen - background vocals
  • TST - brass section
  • Choi Wonhyuk - bass
  • Kim Jungbae - guitar
  • Lee Hwa - piano
  • Yoong - string section
  • Shin Seokchul - drums
  • Choi Hoon - bass
  • Cho Jeongchi - guitar
  • Go Gyeongchun - keyboard
  • Lee Sungryeol - guitar
  • Park Cham - guitar
  • Super D - keyboard
  • Kim Kyuwon - pro-tools editing
  • Goo Jongpil - mixing
  • Nam Koongjin - mixing
  • Lee Seungho - mixing
  • Jeon Hoon - mastering (mastering done at Sonic Korea)

Awards

Year Award-Giving Body Category Result
2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards Album of the Year[41] Won

References

  1. ↑ 슈퍼주니어 5집 컴백, 은혁 금발+문신 파격티저 공개. Newsen (in Korean). 20 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "The Boys top selling album of 2011". Gaon Chart (in Korean).
  3. ↑ AllKPop (March 2010). "Suju's Leeteuk, Heechul, Shindong, Yesung talk experience, marriage plans summer comeback". Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  4. ↑ AllKPop (2010-06-01). "Heechul tweets about Super Junior's fifth album". Retrieved 2011-07-12.
  5. ↑ . 2010-06-11 https://www.twitter.com/Kenny_Wormald/status/90215869262737408. Retrieved 2011-07-12. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ (in Korean). 2010-07-15 https://www.twitter.com/Famous_Jae/status/91759953785790464. Retrieved 2011-07-15. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nate (2010-07-20). 슈퍼주니어 5집 컴백, 은혁 금발+문신 파격티저 공개 (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  8. ↑ Official SUPERJUNIOR SMTOWN Website (2010-08-05). "Super Junior Album Info" (in Korean and English). Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  9. ↑ DKPN (2010-07-20). "Super Junior Started MV Filming". Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  10. ↑ SMTOWN (2010-07-29). "The Music Video Teaser of Super Junior’s 5th Album Title Song, ‘Mr. Simple,’ to be Released on August 1st!". Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  11. ↑ "Super Junior Reveals "Superman" Music Video". HypnoticAsia. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  12. ↑ "Super Junior album release draws strong international interest" Hankyoreh. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-15
  13. ↑ Nate (2010-08-04). '컴백' 슈주 "5집 활동 많이..軍입대도 해야하기에" (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  14. ↑ Nate (2010-08-04). 슈퍼주니어 "멤버 군입대 문제 때문에 월드투어 계획중" (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  15. ↑ AllKPop (2010-08-05). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Bank". Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  16. ↑ AllKPop (2010-08-06). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Music Core". Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  17. ↑ AllKPop (2010-08-07). "Super Junior makes a "Mr. Simple" comeback on Inkigayo". Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  18. ↑ AllKPop (2010-08-11). "Super Junior wins #1 on M! Countdown comeback + other performances". Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  19. ↑ 슈퍼주니어 김희철, 9월 1일 입대. "조용히 입대하고 싶다". Naver News (in Korean). 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
  20. ↑ Song Yoon-soo (2010-08-22). "Super Junior’s Kim Hee-chul makes plans to be a military man". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Super Junior’s Mr. Simple tops Tower Records charts in Japan". Nate News (in Korean). 10 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  22. ↑ Universal Records (2011-09-28). https://www.twitter.com/#!/universalrecph/status/118986828681453569. Retrieved 2011-09-28. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ Ho, Stewart "Super Junior Wants to Sing ′Opera′ in Japan" Mnet News. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-21
  24. ↑ "Super Junior sweeps music charts with Mr. Simple". Nate News (in Korean). 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Billboard World Albums Chart (week of 20 August 2011)". Billboard. 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  26. ↑ "Super Junior exceeds 100,000 in sales in two weeks". Nate News. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  27. ↑ "Super Junior's 5th album, "Mr. Simple" sells over 280,000 copies". Korea Star Daily (in Chinese). 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  28. ↑ "HANTEO Monthly K-Pop". Hanteo Charts (in Korean). 1 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  29. ↑ "Gaon 2011 album sales chart". Gaon Charts (in Korean). 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  30. ↑ Park, Hyun Min "Super Junior Records Half-Million in Sales" Mnet News. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13
  31. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/2011/12/super-junior-becomes-album-kings-in-the-philippines-with-mr-simple
  32. ↑ "Gaon Weekly Albums Chart". Gaon Charts (in Korean). 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2011-12-19. (Subscription only)
  33. ↑ "Oricon Weekly Album Chart 2011.8.8 - 2011.8.14". Oricon (in Japanese). 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Gaon Search – Super Junior" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Billboard Korea K-POP Hot 100 2011.08.03". Billboard. August 11, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Album Ranking Aggregate. This links to current week - select the year/month from drop down menu". Gaon Album Charts (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  37. ↑ "Mr Simple (Version A) album info" Avex Taiwan. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-13 (Chinese)
  38. ↑ "Mr Simple (Version B) album info" Avex Taiwan. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-13 (Chinese)
  39. ↑ "Mr Simple (Repackaged) album info" Avex Taiwan. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-13 (Chinese)
  40. ↑ ManiaDB (2010-08-17). "슈퍼주니어 5집 - ‘Mr. Simple` The 5th Album ..... 슈퍼주니어" (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  41. ↑ "2011 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.

External links