Super Junior – Sexy, Free & Single August 22, 2012

Track Listing

1. Sexy, Free & Single
2. Our Love
3. Sexy, Free & Single -Korean ver.- (CD only)

1. Sexy, Free & Single

Well it was no surprise that SuJu would take their most recent title track and make it their next A-side.  Sexy, Free & Single is quite funky and of course the same elements can be same told here which does kind of make me yawn since this has been the same since they started up in Japan.  I mean this is Kangin’s first single coming back which is great and makes up for Heechul gonig on hiatus two singles ago.  They all sound great but I wan most impressed with Donghae, Kangin, and Yesung.  It’s a nice and danceable track, but 4 in a row?  Could we get something different?

2. Our Love

So the B-side is also a Japanese rendition of Urideurui Sarang from their second album (wow a long time ago).  Sadly, it’s another ballad as the B-side and I’m just kind of bored already.  I don’t really get the cheesy keyboard tone for some reason…CASIO much?  Add that it was 6 minutes long and cheesy as all hell and I’m just like forgetting the song altogether.  Though the good thing is that it sounds good in Japanese.  Siwon sounds weird in this song too >.>

3. Sexy, Free & Single -Korean ver.-

Of course it isn’t a Suju single without the Korean version of the title track which is still the preferred version IMO.  I think everyone sounds a bit stronger and the lyrics flow more smoothly.  Other than that it’s the same song otherwise and the hooks are the same and still amazingly catchy lol.

 

 

Despite the fat that I enjoy Sexy, Free & Single, I’m getting tired of their releases in Japan.  It’s always an upbeat, Korean track and a lame ballad to coincide with the release.  Can we move into some original stuff guys…it’s starting to get OLD! 

Super Junior – Opera May 13, 2012

Track Listing

1. Opera
2. Way
3. Opera -Korean ver.-

1. Opera

I have to admit, while this is another one of those K-pop turned into J-pop tunes, it is one of the group’s more intricate songs (at least Japanese-wise) they’ve done since it isn’t as formulaic like “Bijin” and “Mr. Simple”.  Well meaning is that it has substance and not just one of them “K-pop songs”.  It’s a bit slower which is something I wasn’t expecting but I do like it since it fits the whole theme of the song (which isn’t an opera, mind you!).  It doesn’t have as strong of a hook like their previous two songs, but it’s dark and still very much enjoyable!

2. Way

Like with their last single, “Mr. Simple”, the B-side is an original song and once again also is a ballad.  It’s kind of simple just like how “Snow White” was but less wintry.  Like how I felt before the song really feels underwhelming under “Opera” which is no surprise because I don’t think SuJu is really well-made for ballads as simple as this one!

3. Opera -Korean ver.-

So the original from the “Mr. Simple” mini in Korea also takes place on the single and while it wasn’t promoted like the Japanese version it still sounds good!  Well to be honest, would it really be drastically THAT different?  Not really so if you like the original, you’ll enjoy the Japanese and vice versa lol.

 

 

SuJu’s third single and oddly enough not an original A-side is quite different from what they’ve done in Japan thus far.  Opera (and its Korean version) were pretty cool and unusual in ways but it sure is enjoyable!  Way is kind of boring and very white and bland for me.  They need on their ballads if they wanna be amazing!

Super Junior – Mr. Simple March 10, 2012

Track Listing

1. Mr. Simple
2. Snow White
3. Mr. Simple -Korean ver.-
4. Mr. Simple -Instrumental-
5. Snow White -Instrumental-

1. Mr. Simple

Now this was understandable as the group’s 2nd A-side.  Mr. Simple is pretty popular for the group and it’s no surprise since this sounds so much better than “Bijin” to be honest.  I mean the vocals aren’t under auto-tune and the hooks are just a tad more stronger as well which is pretty damn good.  I also like the Japanese in the song since it gives the song a little more punch.  Plus, c’mon, this is such a fun song to listen to…I mean I would love to learn the dance and just be singing the chorus XD.  Add in that this was my first song that I listened to from SuJu and we have this great song that definitely left a mark on me!

2. Snow White

After that excitement, Snow White comes in as the original B-side and it doesn’t sound bad even though it tones things down quite immensely for it.  It is a bit more like their sound when it isn’t a leading song so this shouldn’t surprise me much.  Add in that it feels that it’s their winter song and it also kind of sounds a little cheesy.  I like the amount of solo lines of course but it just seems this is so overwhelming compared to “Mr. Simple”.

3. Mr. Simple -Korean ver.-

I’ll be honest, I love the the long intro for the PV so much but sad that it isn’t connected to the song at all on either versions.  Now I don’t find too much to really bicker about the original version since I like it as equal to the Japanese version so that’s good that I don’t feel bothered by it.  Pretty good!

 

 

Ahhhh the famed Mr. Simple…I love this a lot more as an A-side that I did with “Bijin” for sure since the song was more natural than it and just overall sounds like a stronger song!  Snow White was clearly not going to be as good as the leading track but I don’t remember it very much either since it’s a little bland for being a wintry tune.  Can’t wait for their next single!

Super Junior – Bijin (BONOMANA)

Track Listing

1. Bijin (BONOMANA) Japanese Version
2. Bijin (BONOMANA) Korean Version
3. Bijin (BONOMANA) -Less Vocal-

1. Bijin (BONOMANA) Japanese Version

I was surprised that SuJu would redebut in Japan with BONOMANA since logic would’ve said “SORRY, SORRY” would’ve made a better choice but I guess we have to deal.  Now Bijin isn’t their best effort because the song is encased in tons of auto-tune and repetition which makes it a little bit harder of a listen to be quite honest.  It’s hard to tell who the vocals are belonging to but I think they were focusing on the melody and catchiness of the song.  To be honest their Japanese was alright, but there are certain parts where it felt muddled and kind of like they were squeezing words into certain spots which sound like tongue twisters LOL.  Eh.

2. Bijin (BONOMANA) Korean Version

The Korean version or “Miina” as I’m calling it is of course a lot better but I still think it’s hard to distinguish the vocals to the members because of the amount of auto-tune which is a bit of a beef when dealing with K-pop.  They do have better as well which isn’t surprising but hmmmm this song is kind of different for them lol.

 

 

As the group’s debut (or re-debut…I don’t know) Bijin is an alright choice but I wouldn’t say it’s the best choice because of how it was handled with the Japanese and stuff and even then there’s issues I had with the original that carried over liked the over necessity of auto-tune.  It might grow on me but I doubt the Japanese version will ever.