Hello
안녕하세요
(Annyeonghaseyo)
こんにちは
(Konnichiwa)
你好
(Ni Hao)
I'm back with yet another Japanese release and this time it's the Japanese debut full length album Hero from K-pop legends Super Junior.
Even though Super Junior released Japanese singles before the albums release, SM Entertainment stated that they weren't any official Japanese promotional releases.
On the 8th of June 2011, the Japanese version for their track Bonamana was released, then on the 7th of December 2011, the Japanese M/V for Mr Simple was released.
Owned by SM Entertainment & Avex Trax
On the 9th of May 2012, the M/V was released for track Opera.
On the 22nd of August 2012, the Japanese M/V was released for their single Sexy, Free and Single.
Owned by SM Entertainment & Avex Trax
On the 24th of July 2013, Super Junior officially made their Japanese debut with their 1st full length Japanese album Hero.
During August 2013, Super Junior held release events in Tokyo and Osaka, and also promoted 'Hero' during their Super Show 5 at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo. Super Junior also had a meeting with the E.L.F Japan Official Fan Club members.
A month before it's release, 'Hero' was No.3 in Tower Records pre-order chart, by July 1st 2013, the Cd-only version was sold out in the E.L.F Japan store.
On the 24th of July 2013, the album debuted at No.1 on the Oricon Daily Albums Chart, selling 52,232 thousand copies on the first day. In the first week of sales 'Hero' debuted at No.2 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 102,224 thousand copies. just behind rock group Ikimonogakari's I. Hero also peaked at No.10 on the Gaon Albums Chart
The first disc of the album contains 13 tracks, including a bonus track, while the second disc contains Japanese versions of the group's subgroup singles and b-sides.
Gaon Sales:
3,495+
Oricon Sales:
122,373+
Three versions of Hero was released; a Regular Edition, a Limited Edition and a Korea Edition.
The regular edition is set out in a Jewel Cd case and comes with Cd and photo/lyric booklet.
The limited edition is set out in a rectangular jewel style Cd case and comes with 2 Cd's, 1 DVD and a glossy photo/lyric booklet.
The Korea edition is set out in a double jewel Cd case and contains 2 Cd's, 1 DVD and a lyric/photo booklet.
The regular and the limited edition have different album colours, pictures ad album covers, while the Korea edition has the same album cover and colours, as well as pictures from the limited edition version.
Track List:
[DISC 1]
Intro - Superman Prelude -
★Bambina★
Sexy, Free & Single
Mr. Simple
Opera
Wonder Boy
Our Love
A-Cha
美人 (Bonamana)
Tuxedo
Way
Hero
{Bonus Track} Hero - Performance Ver. -
[DISC 2]
I Wanna Dance / Super Junior Donghae & Eunhyuk
Perfection / Super Junior-M
Promise You / Super Junior-K.R.Y
明日のために / Sungmin
Destiny / Super Junior-M
Oppa, Oppa / Super Junior Donghae & Eunhyuk
Rokuko / Super Jnuior-T
Love That I Need ft Henry / Super Junior Donghae & Eunhyuk
First Love / Donghae
Hana Mizuki / Super Junior-K.R.Y
I have the Korea edition of the album and I have to say that their packaging for their Korean albums is miles better than they ever got for their Japanese album. The saving Grace for me for this album is the tracks themselves, even though a majority of them are Japanese versions of their previous songs, the Japanese fits them very well. I love the original Japanese songs especially Tuxedo and Hero, I also love that they also did Japanese releases to their subgroups songs like Super Junior-D&E's Oppa, Oppa. As well as giving us a solo song from Sungmin, while Sungmin may not have one of the strongest voices, I've always loved his vocal skill along with Kangin.
Even though I wouldn't really do this I can't help but have all 23 songs available for you to check out below.
Intro - Superman Prelude -
★Bambina★
Sexy, Free & Single
Mr. Simple
Opera
Wonder Boy
Our Love
A-Cha
美人 (Bonamana)
Owned by SM Entertainment & Avex Trax
Tuxedo
Way
Hero
I Wanna Dance / Super Junior-D&E
Perfection / Super Junior-M
Promise You / Super Junior-K.R.Y
明日のために / Sungmin
Destiny / Super Junior-M
Oppa, Oppa / Super Junior-D&E
Rokuko / Super Junior-T
First Love / Donghae
HanaMizuki / Super Junior-K.R.Y
While I do like this album, it's not one of Super Junior's albums that I listen to on a regular basis. I miss seeing Super Junior as a full group, at the moment I'm especially missing Kyuhyun, Sungmin and Kangin's voices and I hope that we fingers crossed in 2019, get a full and complete group comeback, but at the moment we will just have to wait and see what happens.
Were you a fan of their debut Japanese album?
Let me know in the comments below.
See you soon!
안녕
(Annyeong)
さようなら
(Sayonara)
再见
(ZaiJian)
Bye
