U (Super Junior song)

Infobox Single
Name = U


Artist = Super Junior
from Album =
B-side = "Endless Moment"
Released = June 7, 2006 (KOR)
October 4, 2006 (ROC)
June 15, 2007 (ROC)
Format = CD single, digital single, DVD
Recorded = 2006
Genre = Pop, dance, R&B/rap
Length = 3:45
10:22 (Complete single)
Label = SM Entertainment, Avex Asia
Writer =
Producer = Lee Soo Man
Reviews =
Last single = "Miracle"
(2006)
This single = "U"
(2006)
Next single = "Dancing Out"
(2006)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Background = khaki


Lower caption = Taiwan Special EP+DVD
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = U
Audio file= Suju_u_sample.ogg

"U" is the first official CD single by Super Junior. The single topped CD sales charts during the first several weeks after its release on June 7, 2006 "U" Tops CD Sales Charts [http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/entertainment/1401240_11692.html] ] . "U" peaked at #1 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts and sold 91,416 copies by 2008.All sales numbers taken from the Music Industry Association of Korea. Last known sales numbers [http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_2007_2.htm here.] ] . "U" has since been Super Junior's most successful single. Promotional performances for the title song, "U", did not complete until September 2006. The last general performance for the song was in August 2007 in Tokyo, Japan.

Since the Korean release of "U" in 2006, there has been two more releases of "U" in two different languages, Mandarin and Japanese. The Mandarin version of the single's title song "U" was released in a special Taiwan edition on June 15, 2007, in Taiwan's third EP version of the single. It is said that the Mandarin version was produced to further launch their efforts in advancing to the Chinese market. On July 9, 2008, "U/TWINS" released in Japan, which included a Japanese version of "U" in the limited release.

Super Junior-M, Super Junior's Mandopop subgroup, also released a cover of "U" on April 8, 2008, marking it the second Mandarin version and third remake of "U".

ong history

Prior to "U", Super Junior was infamous for their member line-up, a concept very similar to Japan's girl group, Morning Musume. Certain members of Super Junior's first generation was to be switched out and new members were to be added, which would form a second Super Junior generation. However, after the addition of a thirteenth member, Kyuhyun, the group ended their status as a project group and began to release productions as a group with permanent status. "U" is Kyuhyun's debut single.

"U" was available for download on May 25, 2006 in Super Junior's official website. The second track from the single, "Endless Moment", was available for download four days after. "U" had over 400 thousand downloads within five hours of release and ultimately exceeded 1.7 million downloads, crashing the server. [cite news | author= | title= Super Junior《U》releases online, crashes server | date=2006-05-26 | work=Sina News | pages=1 | url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2006-05-26/15211098134.html | accessdate=2007-12-15 | language=Chinese] [ [http://www.avex.com.tw/superjunior/discography.asp Super Junior AVEX Discography] ]

The song was promoted to be a song of "pure pop and dance" with contemporary R&B influences and harmonization;cite news | author= | title=Super Junior Official Website|date=2006-05-26|work=|url=http://www.super-junior.co.kr|accessdate=2008-08-21|language=Korean] it said to be a guaranteed big hit for the group. The rap lyrics of the song was written by Eunhyuk, in which the rap is divided to two solos, the first half for Eunhyuk and the second half for Kibum. Donghae also rapped in the background of Kibum's solo.

Several remixed versions of "U" were performed, but none of them were released as official singles. One remixed version of the song contains a dance bridge in the middle of the song right before the rap, and another version had the song completely mixed, creating a different pop vibe throughout the whole song.

Reception

As guaranteed, "U" became Super Junior's biggest hit. "U" yielded number-one spots for five consecutive weeks on two of Korea's top music programs for the first time in the group's career. The song was crowned as SBS "Popular Songs"' Mutizen Song of the week as soon as it was released, being the first award for the group since debut. The song then stayed as Mutizen Song for three consecutive weeks on the same program, also simultaneously grabbing two top awards from M.NET's "M!Countdown" for two weeks. Before promotions for "U" ended, "Dancing Out" was released on July 23, 2006 as part of SMTown's annual summer album, grabbing two awards as soon as it was released. "U" gained critical success, and Super Junior collected over seven awards in five of South Korea's top music award ceremonies as 2006 came to a close, winning Best New Group and popularity awards.

"U" peaked at #1 on the montly MIAK K-pop album charts, selling and sold 83,010 copies by 2007, selling more than their debut album, "SuperJunior05 (TWINS)" by the first half of 2007.All sales numbers taken from the Music Industry Association of Korea. Last known sales numbers [http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/Kpop_200611.htm here.] ] The Taiwanese edition of "U" debuted at #6 and peaked at #5 on the Five Music J-pop/K-pop Chart of Taiwan, staying strong as top ten for six weeks. [zh icon [http://www.5music.com.tw/CDTop.asp?top=2&pWeek=200641&sclass=] Retrieved December 12, 2007.]

Since the single's release, the song "U" had won Super Junior over five notable music awards. Super Junior grasped their first award since their debut after the release of "U" on June 25, 2006 as the SBS "Popular Songs" Mutizen Song, and stayed as Mutizen song for three consecutive weeks. The single also won Super Junior the Best New Group at the prestigious M.Net/KM Music Festival on November 25, 2006. The single has since earned more awards for the group thereafter.

Music video

The music video for "U" contains only scenes of the Super Junior members performing their group dance. Yoona of girl group Girls' Generation was the only female role in the music video.

The four minute music video mainly consists of the thirteen members performing their choreographed dance. Much popping, sliding, and waving were used in the performance like many of Super Junior's other street dancing techniques. Chest movements and hip movements are heavily used and the pelvic thrust is also used in the dance, which became a famous action in future "U" parody dances.

Chart positions

Track listing

Korea "U" single

# "U" — 3:45
# "Endless Moment" — 3:38
# "Lovely Day" — 3:02

Taiwan "U" special edition (EP+DVD)

multi-listen item
filename=Suju_uc_sample.ogg
title="U" (2007)
description="U" reperformed in Mandarin Chinese.
format=Ogg
# "U" (就是你) [Mandarin version] — 3:45
# "Dancing Out" — 3:43
# "U" (就是你) [Korean version] — 3:45
# "Endless Moment" (無盡的時刻) — 3:38
# "Lovely Day" (美好的一天) — 3:02
# "U" [Instrumental] — 3:45
# "Endless Moment" (無盡的時刻) [Instrumental] — 3:45
# "Lovely Day" (美好的一天) [Instrumental] — 3:45

DVD

# "U" (就是妳) [Music video]
# "Dancing Out" [Music video]
# Making of "U - Music Video" [Traditional Chinese subtitles]

U/TWINS

Infobox Single
Name = U


Artist = Super Junior
from Album =
B-side = "TWINS"
Released = July 9, 2008
Format = CD, DVD
Recorded = 2005–2008
Genre = Pop, dance, R&B/rap
Length = 3:45
Label = Rhythm Zone
Writer =
Producer = Lee Soo Man
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Marry U"
(2007)
This single = "U/TWINS"
(2008)
Next single =
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = U
Audio file= Sjujapan_sample.ogg

"U/TWINS" is the unofficial second CD single released by Super Junior. The single was specially made for Super Junior's first Japan fanmeeting in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo as a celebration for the grand opening of their official [http://superjunior-jp.net/ Japanese Homepage] that was opened on April 1, 2008.cite web|url=http://star.moneytoday.co.kr/view/stview.php?type=1&no=2008040208481745906&outlink=1|title=SuJu to hold fanmeeting in Japan's Nippon Budokan|work=Moneytoday.co.kr|date=2008-04-01|accessdate=2008-04-02|language=Korean] It was released in Japan on July 9, 2008. The single peaked at #4 on Japan's Oricon Daily Chart in its first day of release, and dropped down to only four places in its second. The single broke a new record for being the first Korean single to have made within top 10 on Japan's Oricon Weekly Chart.cite web|url=http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?newsid=200807220854481133|title=Super Junior breaks new record|work=My Daily|date=2008-07-22|accessdate=2008-07-25|language=Korean]

The single is a compiled single with a total of four tracks, all which are of Super Junior's past #1 hits from both Korea and Thailand. A Japanese version of "U" was also released, with the song performed entirely in Japanese except the rap segment, which is performed in English. However, it was only included in the limited version of the single as a bonus track. The limited version was released for free to fans who attended the fanmeeting.

Track listing

# "U"
# "TWINS"
# "Miracle"
# "Endless Moment" [Limited Bonus Track] "U" [Japanese version]

DVD

# "U" [Music video]
# Making of "U - Music Video" [Japanese subtitles]

Chart positions

Musical personnel of Super Junior's "U"

*Leeteuk – vocals and background (main)
*Heechul – vocals and background (main)
*Han Geng – vocals and background (main)
*Yesung – vocals and background (main)
*Kang-In – vocals and background (main)
*Sungmin – vocals and background (main, chorus)
*Eunhyuk – vocals and background (rap)
*Donghae – vocals and background (main, rap)
*Siwon – vocals and background (main)
*Ryeowook – vocals and background (main, chorus)
*Kibum – vocals and background (rap)
*Kyuhyun – vocals and background (main)
*Shindong – background vocals (rap)

uper Junior-M's cover

Infobox Single
Name = U


Artist = Super Junior-M
from Album = Me
Released = April 8, 2008
Format = radio single
Recorded = 2008
Genre = Mandopop, dance, R&B/rap
Length = 4:07
Label = SM Entertainment, Avex Asia
Writer =
Producer = Lee Soo Man
Reviews =
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = U
Audio file= Sjmu_sample.oggExtra tracklisting
Album = Me
Type = studio
prev_track = "Me"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "U"
track_no = 2
next_track = "At Least There's Still You"
next_no = 3

"U" is the first promotional single for Super Junior-M, the third official sub-unit of Super Junior. The song and music video were released online in China on April 8, 2008, also the same day of Super Junior-M's debut. The song, including the rap, is completely recorded in Mandarin, which differs from the previous Mandarin version done by Super Junior, where the rap segment is performed in Korean. Although the lyrics convey a similar meaning, the lyrics of the two Mandarin versions are different.

"U" is one of the twelve tracks featured in Super Junior-M's debut studio album, "Me", which was released in April 2008 in China and South Korea, and later throughout Asia in May 2008. Super Junior-M's modified version of "U" contains heavier bass instruments, a closer musical approach to hip hop and jazz. The song also has extra music bridges, such as a violin bridge performed by Henry and an added dance bridge, which makes the song almost a minute longer than the original Korean release.

The dance choreography for Super Junior-M's "U" is also completely changed from the original. The choreography contains a variety of styles, such as different elements of street dancing and jazz dance to complement the maturity in the song, which slightly differs the image from the main group. The music video features Victoria Song, a new Chinese actress that debuted under SM Entertainment, with her face dominating the mirrors, and the Super Junior-M members searching for her presence.

Musical personnel of Super Junior-M's "U"

*Han Geng – vocals (main, chorus, background)
*Siwon – vocals (main, background)
*Donghae – vocals (main, rap, background)
*Henry – vocals (main, chorus, bacground)
*Kyuhyun – vocals (main, chorus, background)
*Zhou Mi – vocals (main, rap, background)
*Ryeowook – vocals (main, chorus, background)
*Yesung – background vocal
*Yoo Young Jin – background vocal

References

External links

* [http://www.smtown.com/ SM Entertainment's Official Site]
* [http://www.super-junior.co.kr/ Super Junior's Official Site]
* [http://www.avex.com.tw/superjunior/ Super Junior Official Avex Site] zh icon
* [http://superjunior-jp.net/ Super Junior Japanese Official Site] jp icon
* [http://superjunior-m.iple.com/ Super Junior-M's Official Site]