Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Super Junior Debut And History

Super Junior is a popular Korean Boyband, and a thirteen member Korean boy band under the SM Entertainment label and production agency. Super Junior is one of the most popular Korean Boyband outside Korea besides Tohoshinki, SS501, or FT Island.

They debuted in 2005 with the single “TWINS (Knock Out)” as a twelve member group but added a thirteenth in May of 2006 with the release of their single U.

Super Junior’s popularity has spread across Asia and they have held concerts in such places as Thailand and Japan. Several of the members had previous jobs as VJs, actors and models previously, which helped to boost the group’s popularity. Super Junior is composed of 12 Korean members and 1 Chinese member.
The members are Leeteuk (the leader), Heechul, Han Geng, Yesung, Kang-in, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kibum, and Kyuhyun. The Chinese member, Han Geng, was chosen among 3,000 applicants through auditions held in China by SM Entertainment in 2001. The group initially debuted with twelve members on November 6, 2005, but since the addition of Kyuhyun in May 23, 2006, they have become a thirteen-member group.

As of 2010, only 10 members are active, due to Han Geng’s ongoing lawsuit against SM Entertainment, Kibum’s pursuit of other interests, and Kang-in’s leave of absence for mandatory military service.
Since the late 1990s, Korean talent agency and record label SM Entertainment has been holding annual auditions to scout new talents that complemented the success of pop groups H.O.T, S.E.S, and Shinhwa, all of which were created by SM founder Soo-Man Lee in the mid 1990s. Leeteuk and Eunhyuk were the first two members of the group to be recruited in 2000 under SM’s Starlight Casting System in Seoul.

In 2001, the company held their first overseas casting auditions and discovered Han Geng in Beijing, who was chosen among three thousand applicants. That same year, Yesung was discovered under Seoul’s casting system with his friend HeeChul. Sungmin and Donghae were also selected to be trainees after their appearance in an SM-sponsored contest. In 2002, Heechul and Kangin was recruited along with Kibum, who was discovered in Los Angeles. Siwon was casted in 2003 and Ryeowook in 2004, in which the latter was discovered through the Chinchin Youth Festival singing competition. In 2005, Shindong was selected.

Not long after boy band TVXQ’s debut in 2003, news about Lee’s unprecedented plans of forming another boy band quickly spread on the Internet. In early 2005,Lee confirmed the news and announced that an all-boy project group of twelve members would debut near the end of the year, promoting this singing group to be “The Gateway to Stardom of Asia.” Lee announced that that most members in this group were chosen because of their performing experiences as actors, MCs, models, and radio hosts prior debut. Heechul and Kibum were already established entertainers, and most of the other members had already made various kinds of appearances on television and media. Highly inspired by the rotational concept of Japan’s girl group Morning Musume, this group would also experience line-up changes, with new members replacing some selected members every year to keep the group constantly young and all-rounded. This concept was then newly introduced to the K-pop market.

For a while the group was rumored to be called O.V.E.R, the acronym for “Obey the Voice for Each Rhythm.” However, before the group settled with their current name, SM simply referred to them as Junior, a representation of the members’ young ages when they first became SM trainees. After the members’
showcased their different talents to the company at a picnic, the company finalized their concept name to Super Junior. The group thereafter became officially Super Junior 05, the first generation of Super Junior.
Super Junior 05 made their pre-debut on the Korean channel Mnet on September 11, 2005. At the showcase, they performed various styles of hip hop dancing. The group danced to B2K’s “Take It To The Floor.” Han Geng, Eunhyuk, and Donghae also performed a separate dance away from the group, dancing to Usher’s “Caught Up.” However, the performance did not air on television until May 16, 2006 as a segment in the Super Junior Show, the group’s first television documentary.

Super Junior-K.R.Y
Super Junior-K.R.Y, established in November 2006, is a trio formed by Kyuhyun,
Ryeowook, and Yesung. The company discovered that these three members developed a particular personal
and subsequent fan-base that was separate from the rest of the group, and how they also had similar musical qualities.hey therefore grouped these three members together to perform particular songs to target a more mature audience. Being amongst the most vocally powerful members of the group, Super Junior-K.R.Y are credited to singing mournful, R&B-style ballads, a style that has proven very popular in recent years although stagnation in the style’s development is causing it to lose its once fresh evocative power.

Super Junior T
Super Junior-Trot (Korean: officially known as Super Junior-T (Korean: 슈퍼주니어-티) is the second official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior.They are the first idol group known for capitalizing trot music, the oldest form of Korean pop music. Super Junior-T contains six Super Junior members, Leeteuk (the leader), Heechul, Kang-in, Shindong, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk.

Super Junior-T has released only one single in the short span of their career before they were
announced to be on hiatus in 2008. The single “Rokuko” was Korea’s sixteenth best-selling record and
the number one best-selling single of 2007, according to the Music Industry Association of Korea.In November 2008,the subgroup returned with a debut in the Japanese music industry, releasing the Japanese version of “Rokuko.”

Super Junior M
Super Junior-M, often referred to as SJ-M, is the third official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior. They are the first international music group in the Chinese music industry to have members of both Chinese and Korean descent, and are also the first group produced by Korea’s CT (Culture Technology) organization, created through a comprehensive localization strategy.Super Junior-M consists of Super Junior members Han Geng (the leader), Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook,Kyuhyun, and two non-Super Junior members, Henry and Zhou Mi.

Super Junior-Happy (Korean: sometimes referred to as SJ-Happy or Suju-Happy is the fourth official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior. Super Junior-Happy contains six Super Junior members, Leeteuk (the leader), Yesung, Kang-in, Shindong, Sungmin, and Eunhyuk.

Super Junior, a South Korea Boy Band, return in Kpop industry with their most anticipating album “Bonamana 미인아”. Bonamana will be their 4th studio album.

Super Junior released the album with 10 members (originally 13 members) and the album still selling over 36,000 copies on the first day of release.

Single Bonamana is a African Rhythms, which is widely defined to be in a electropop funk style, and a majority of the song is concentrated on autotuned vocals.

This album, which is set to be released on the 13th May, sold 64,800 copies online and 133,685 copies offline for a total of 198,485 copies, showing the magnitude of the interest that fans have generated for this comeback.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Super Junior Is Our Imaginary Best Idol

Unlike in other country like US or even in Malaysia, entertainers in Korea is very widely open with their life. Their aim is to be as close as possible to the fans. They posting what are they doing everyday, what kinda clothes they are wearing now and everything. They are using many medium such as Twitter, mini hompy or even when the fans see them on the streets, they willingly letting their photo being taken by the fans. They also have very special relation with their fans and acknowledging them appropriately. The fans will name themselves, in the case of Super Junior, their official fans name is E.L.F abbreviation from Ever-Lasting-Friends. This culture never exist consistently in Malaysia.

During the fever of Akademia Fantasia long time ago, many obsess fans will gather among themselves to show support for their chosen student. But that never last long. Up until now I never heard any Siti Nurhaliza's fanclub officially, or even if they do, they didn't catch reporter's attention. Siti also seldomly mention them in any occasions. Different in Korea, especially for Super Junior, their fans playing a very very important role. They will mention E.L.F in most or can be said in each occasion. Whether when they win something, interview, concert or even in their Twitter or mini hompy. The existence of Super Junior is caused by never ending support from their fans whether an official one like E.L.F.

Agree or not, Super Junior is more loose compare to other idol. They have more freedom to express who they are. They are more enjoy to watch. If they've been invited in any programs, the MC won't be disappointed. They will entertain us and we may start to think they as our own best friends. We laugh at their action, we shed tears when story about Donghae's father pop out, we feel happy when Shindong reveal his upcoming marriage, starting to miss Kangin's big mouth or we start to wonder who will lead the boys after Leeteuk and Heechul enlisted in army.

Slowly they become our imaginary best friend, or start to talk about them in real life like we have live a day with them. Before this, only F.R.I.E.N.D.S can drag me to their world but now, I have another world to enter. Both Central Perk and this boys gimme a huge impact in my imaginary world. I thought nothing can beat F.R.I.E.N.D.S but Super Junior did it. These two phenomena sit at the same place in my Syahmi in Imaginary Land. But don't get me wrong. I'm not crazy, but imagination is good for our mental health. A good imagination will lead to a proper lifestyle.

I believe more on Heechul. He is one of the factor why people start to recognize Super Junior. He's so legendary until he can change the anti of him to be his fans. He's very honest in giving his opinion, something that be considered as taboo in Idol world in Korea. When he's receiving a compliment, he always agree with it while other idol will deny it. When been asked about a gossip, he won't save it only for him. He'll leak it to the media. Been rumored as gay, kissing his own SuJu brother, makin suicide statement, going out with many girls, posting his picture while wildly partying and so on and so forth. People might hate him, but eventually thanking him for his honesty in showing who is he himself. He's also the only idol that have courage to break many taboos. While many idol like to play safe, he comes with many charms, uniquely charms.

Yeah, they are the only insane group in this world bravely putting each members in different Sub-Unit. First with SUJU-K.R.Y, then they comes with SUJU-T, SUJU-M and SUJU-H refer to Kyuhun-Ryeowook-Yesung, Trot, Mandarin and Happy respectively. They tackle us with different kinda music produce by various concept. We will never-endingly explore their music. Not mentioning various of program whether they star in it or involve directly. After going with different Sub-Unit, surprisingly they made their world famous comeback with Sorry Sorry. After being apart for more than a year and a half, they manage to boom us with only one hit. This is what Super Junior is made of.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Han Geng Is Dating Jiang Kaitong?

Rumors of Super Junior‘s Hankyung (28) dating a Chinese actress named Jiang Kai Tong (23) have been spreading like wildfire.Speculations arose after February 12th, when a Chinese netizen posted on their Weibo (a Chinese SNS service), “Hankyung has left for the Maldives with Jiang Kai Tong and her parents.”The netizen also posted a snapshot as evidence and wrote,“This is a photo that shows Hankyung leaving the airport to head off to Maldives.”Later, another netizen claimed, “On the night of February 4th, I saw Hankyung buying a ticket at a movie theater in Mudanjiang.”

Remembering that Jiang Kai Tong had posted pictures on her Weibo on February 1st that indicated that she was in Mudanjiang, netizens commented, “Maybe he was on a date with Jiang Kai Tong?”Additionally, on February 4th, Jiang Kai Tong posted on her Weibo, “During my lifetime, if a person like this is there, I’ll be satisfied” – adding even more fuel to the fire.

Rumor has it that Super Junior‘s Han Geng (Hankyung) is dating a Chinese actress Jiang Kai Tong. On February 12th, 2012, a netizen posted on Weibo (a Chinese social networking service) that Han Geng left for the Maldives with Jiang Kai Tong and her parents.

The netizen also provided proof with the picture below of Han Geng and Jiang Kai Tong at the airport. The netizen wrote,“This is a photo that shows Hankyung leaving the airport to head off to Maldives.”
Overseas Korean media “ONBAO” reported that ex-Super Junior member Han Kyung was seen with Chinese actress Jiang Kaitong at the airport and other areas. On February 12, one netizen wrote on Weibo, “Han Kyung, his new girlfriend Jiang Kaitong, and her parents are at Chengdu Airport on their way to Maldives.”

Earlier this month, the actress wrote “I would be happy if there was just one guy like this in my lifetime” on her Weibo, piquing netizens’ interests.

A representative of Jiang Kaitong’s management agency stated, “We cannot confirm whether the dating rumors are true.” Han Kyung’s management agency has yet to make an official statement.

Previously on February 4th, 2012, another netizen claimed that she saw Han Geng purchasing a ticket at a movie theater in Mudanjiang. Mudanjiang was the same place that Jiang Kai Tong had indicated she was at around February 1st.

Also on February 4th, Jiang Kai Tong left a cryptic message on her Weibo saying,“During my lifetime, if a person like this is there, I’ll be satisfied”Jiang Kai Tong’s agency released a statement saying,

“We too learned about the relationship on the internet. We do not know about the personal lives of celebrities. Thus, we can’t offer any answers… Jiang Kai Tong is currently on a break. If she really is dating, then we will respect her and leave the decision up to her.”

Both Han Geng and Jiang Kai Tong’s agencies have yet to confirm whether there is a relationship or not, so as of right now, we’re just left with playing the guessing game.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Super Junior Will Hold An Additional Concert Due To An Explosive Response!

Super Junior set a new record in Taiwan by selling out "SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR ‘SUPER SHOW4’” tickets in the shortest time ever.

The tickets for "SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR ‘SUPER SHOW4,’” which will be held at Taipei Arena in Taiwan for three days (2/3-2/5), were on sale from December 31st to January 1st and 30,000 seats were all sold out as soon as the ticket sales started. 

Especially, concert tickets for February 5th were sold out in 30 minutes and concert tickets for February 3rd and 4th were sold out in 17 minutes and proved Super Junior’s tremendous popularity.

Moreover, Taiwan’s media such as ‘The Liberty Times’ and ‘APPLE DAILY’ reported on local fans’ intense interest in Super Junior under the title of “Super Junior’s Concert Rebellion, 30,000 Seats were Sold out Within Seconds” and  “Tickets for Super Junior’s Concert in Taiwan were Sold out in 17 Minutes.”

Also, after tickets were sold out, Taiwanese fans were requesting for an additional ticket sales and many fans were trading tickets illegally, therefore, Super Junior decided to hold an extra concert on the 2nd. Since ‘SUPER SHOW4’ will be held for four days (2/2-2/5) for 40,000 audiences, it is expected to fascinate fans in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s drama ‘SKIPBEAT’ starring Donghae and Siwon is on Taiwan’s GTV every Sunday night.Super Junior, who has been meeting the fans all over the world through the world tour, ended ‘SUPER SHOW4’ in great success in Taiwan.

Super Junior held ‘SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR “SUPER SHOW4” in TAIPEI’ at Taipei Arena in Taiwan for four days (2/2-2/5) and thrilled audiences totaling 40,000 people.

Especially, all seats were sold out as soon as the ticket sales began and Super Junior set a new record for selling out tickets in the shortest time ever in the history of concert in Taiwan. Also, due to as explosive response from local fans, Super Junior extended the concert date. Super Junior proved themselves as the king of global Korean wave by holding a concert at Taipei Arena 4 times and drawing the highest number of people as the first foreign artist. 

In addition, on February 1st, the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was overcrowded with fans to see Super Junior and Taiwanese media such as ctiTV, CTV, TVBS, etc. reported the scene of Super Junior at the airport.

Super Junior performed a total of 36 songs including hit songs, album tracks and each member’s unit stages.
Since Super Junior’s 5th album, ‘Mr.Simple (released in August),’ has been at the number one on the Taiwan’s largest music website, KKBOX,’ for 25 consecutive weeks, the stages of the songs from the 5th album received an enthusiastic response from the audience.