Don't Don Explained

Don't Don
Type:studio
Artist:Super Junior
Cover:Si_20070917_01.jpg
Released:September 20, 2007
Recorded:2006 - 2007
Studio:
  • Rui
  • Silk
  • SM Blue Ocean
  • SM Concert Hall
  • SM Booming System
  • SM Yellow Tail
  • T
Genre:
Length:65:17
Language:Korean
Label:
Producer:Lee Soo-man
Prev Title:Twins
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Sorry, Sorry
Next Year:2009

Don't Don is the second studio album by South Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released in South Korea through SM Entertainment on September 20, 2007. It marked the first album as thirteen members with the addition of Kyuhyun a year prior. Stylistically, Don't Don encompasses various musical styles such as alternative rock, modern R&B and retro dance-pop,[1] with almost all tracks in the album containing string sections. Two singles were spawned from the album: the title track "Don't Don" and "Marry U".

The album was commercially successful, selling 60,000 copies within the first week of release and 164,058 copies by the end of year. It was the second best-selling album in South Korea during 2007, with the first being SG Wannabe's The Sentimental Chord.[2] Two different repackaged versions, one containing three new tracks with a remix and another containing a remixed track and a DVD, was released on November 5 and November 9, 2007, respectively in South Korea.[3] [4] A digital version of the album was made available on November 27, 2007.

Background and release

When promotions for Super Junior's previous hit single, "U" completed, SM Entertainment announced that the group were processing on the beginning touches for their second full-length album, with an expected November 2006 release. However, due to Heechul's car accident on August 10, 2006, schedules regarding album recordings had to be postponed. Another car accident involving four other members on April 19, 2007, also affected the album schedules. Kyuhyun, the most injured out of the four, was not discharged from the hospital until July 5, 2007.

During a fan-meet in Shanghai on August 26, 2007, Han Geng revealed that recording schedules for the album were finally active and the album would be released in September,[5] which was followed with Shindong's announcement that he would be on a short hiatus from hosting activities to work on the album. It was also announced through media outlets that Kyuhyun would join group activities for the album.[6] A few days later, SM Entertainment released the album's first promotional image, which contains a silhouette of the thirteen members.

On September 13, 2007, the label announced an official date for the album release. Pre-orders began the following the day[7] and ringtones of the tracks were released online on September 19. The official album was released on September 20, 2007.[8]

Repackaged versions

Two repackaged versions of the album were released a month after the release of the album. The album's second version, the CD repackaged version, was released on November 5, 2007, with four new tracks: "Marry U" (New Ver.), "A Man In Love", "The girl is mine", and "A Man In Love" (Remix). Although the song "Marry U", was included in the original album, the CD repackaged version brought in a new version of the single, which became the album's second single. The remixed version of "A Man In Love" became a semi promo-single for the repackaged album and is one of the group's performance songs. The third album version, the CD+DVD repackaged version, was released on November 9, 2007. Although there are no new tracks added to the CD unlike the second version, an extra DVD is added to the album which contains music videos and behind-the-scene clips behind the production of the album.

Composition

The title track "Don't Don" was chosen the album's first single. Transliterated to "Money, Money! (Don't Don)", the title is a pun, playing with the words "don," (Korean: ), which means money, and "donda" (Korean: 돈다), which means to go insane. "Don't Don" is introduced as a genre of SMP (SM Music Performance), a genre invented by the company, that consists of the strong mix of R&B, rock, rap, and hip hop. The musical style of "Don't Don" has the combination of heavy guitar riffs, fast drum rhythms, electric guitar, a violin solo, and other musical instruments that make the single a rare musical.[9] "Marry U" was chosen to be the second single; it is a medium-tempo R&B ballad, reviving a classic image in contrast to the dark image of their first single. The rest of the album consists of soft ballads, string section focus, retro R&B, and 1980s style dance songs, marking a stylistic shift from their first album.[10] However, the trend of bubblegum pop still remains in the album, such as the second track, "Sapphire Blue."

Many members contributed in the production of the album. Yesung, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun were active as background vocalists while Eunhyuk, one of the main rappers of the group, was in charge of most of the rap lyrics in the album. Leeteuk, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, and Donghae also wrote the lyrics for the dance/pop song, "I am," arranged by Yoon Jongshin.[8] Famous musicians like Yoon Jongshin, Kim Johan, Kim Youngho, Hwang Sungjae, Kim Changhyun, etc. also participated in the production of the album.

Album packaging and image

The packaging and image of Don't Don is darker than that of their first album. Don't Don came to stores with thirteen different covers, each cover featuring a different member. All thirteen covers of the members are included within the CD package, and the covers can be changed anytime. First impressions of the album were critical but well-accepted, as Super Junior transformed into a much edgier image than from their previous image in "U." The members sported bleached hair and had astounding hairstyles, which were influences from the combination of punk fashion and hip hop fashion.[11] Some of the members also imprinted large temporary tattoos on their skin, which surrounded the arms, back, and stomach.

With the release of the album's second version, the group quickly transformed to a classical image to complement the second single, "Marry U". Hairstyles were slightly modified and their hair color were darker. The album's third version revived the group with a modern and fashionable boy band image.

Commercial performance

Don't Don debuted at number one on the MIAK monthly album chart, selling more than Lee Soo-young's and Wheesung's new albums that were released at least two weeks prior. The album sold 66,678 copies within the first month of release[12] and 164,058 copies by the end of December, making it the second best-selling album of 2007. The album also experienced success in Taiwan, peaking atop the Five Music J-pop/K-pop Chart and the G-Music J-pop Chart in Taiwan within the first week of release.[13] [14] The album also debuted at number tree on the G-Music Combo Chart, beating Taiwanese boy band K One who also released their album during the same week.[15] Don't Don became the highest charting Korean album in Taiwan at the time.[16] [17]

Promotion

Super Junior's first performance for Don't Don was on September 21, 2007, performing the first single "Don't Don" on KBS's Music Bank. It was their first performance in which the group performed together as thirteen after a whole year.[18] Promotions for "Don't Don" lasted almost three months and aside Music Bank, Super Junior also performed on other music programs, such as on SBS's Inkigayo and Mnet's M Countdown. Not long after the release of the second single, "Marry U", Super Junior became co-hosts of a new SBS variety program, Explorers of the Human Body along with Shin Dongyup. The new program ranked as SBS's most-viewed program each Sunday. However, the first season quickly ended with thirteen episodes in February 2008 due to Super Junior's busy schedule with their first concert tour, Super Show.[19]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2007Golden Disc AwardsAlbum Bonsang (Main Prize)[20]
Album Daesang (Grand Prize)

Track listings

DVD

  1. "Marry U" jacket sketch
  2. Prologue
  3. Relay Talk
  4. Member Personal Story! "Talk to Myself!"
  5. Epilogue
  6. "Don't Don" MV Making Film
  7. "Don't Don" MV
  8. "Marry U" MV Making Film

Notes – CD version has the New version

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album liner notes.[21] The tracks numbering is according to the repackage and Japanese edition of the album.

Musicians

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

Charts

All charts are derived from offline sales only.[22] [23]

Weekly charts

Chart (2007, 2011)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24] 55
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[25] 16
Taiwan Combo Albums (G-Music)3
Taiwan East Asia Albums (G-Music)1

Year-end charts

Release history

Aside South Korea, Don't Don was re-released in other countries under different labels.

Version Region Date Format Label
ASouth KoreaSeptember 20, 2007CD, cassetteSM Entertainment
ThailandOctober 2007CDGMM Grammy
TaiwanOctober 19, 2007Avex Taiwan[28]
Hong KongOctober 25, 2007Avex Asia
ChinaMarch 2008Sky Music
JapanMay 2008Rhythm Zone
BSouth KoreaNovember 5, 2007SM Entertainment
TaiwanDecember 7, 2007Avex Taiwan[29]
CSouth KoreaNovember 9, 2007CD+DVDSM Entertainment
TaiwanDecember 7, 2007Avex Taiwan[30]
PhilippinesMay 14, 2010Universal Records
4South KoreaNovember 27, 2007Digital downloadSM Entertainment
Japanese editionJapanFebruary 25, 2009CD+DVDRhythm Zone

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Super Junior releases new album on the 20th September 17, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  2. Web site: 무제 문서 . January 25, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080430233836/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200712.htm . April 30, 2008 . ko. . Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  3. Super Junior's Second Album repackaged October 31, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  4. SJ 2nd album repackaged; hug from SJ members if buy all three November 1, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  5. Han Geng performs with fire at fanmeeting, reveals September album release August 27, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
  6. 奎贤,“想尽快痊愈”在个人主页上公开了近况 August 24, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.
  7. 슈퍼주니어, 1년 4개월 만에 2집 앨범 발표 September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  8. 슈퍼주니어 정규 2집 ‘돈 돈’ 9월 20일 발매 확정 September 14, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  9. 슈퍼주니어, 9월 20일 1년 4개월만에 2집 발표 September 14, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  10. 슈퍼주니어, 1년 4개월 만에 2집 앨범 발표 September 14, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  11. Donga.com. SuJu's Kangin shaves head, arouses discussion September 6, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
  12. http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200709.htm . Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  13. G-Music J-pop Chart . Retrieved October 25, 2007.
  14. Five Music J-pop/K-pop Chart . Retrieved October 25, 2007.
  15. G-Music Combo Billboard Chart . Retrieved October 25, 2007.
  16. 슈퍼주니어, ‘돈 돈!’ 대만 음반차트 석권 October 29, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  17. 創下台灣五大店頭首週國際專輯榜冠軍的Super Junior最新專輯『第二擊』首版停產公告 November 2, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  18. News: Super Junior's Kyuhyun, comeback after five months from car accident . September 18, 2007 . Bestiz . 1 . September 18, 2007 . ko . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080508000438/http://kerio.cafe24.com/zboard/view.php?id=superj&page=1&sn1=&divpage=6&sn=off&ss=on&sc=off&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=35133 . May 8, 2008 .
  19. Hankooki.com. Explorers of the Human Body Ends February 11, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  20. News: December 15, 2007 . ko:[골든디스크] 각선미 뽐내는 한효주와 전혜빈 . [Golden Disc] Han Hyo-joo and Jeon Hye-bin show off their legs . https://www.hankyung.com/life/amp/2007121534577 . January 6, 2020 . . ko.
  21. Don't Don . Don't Don . Super Junior . booklet . RZCD-46181 . . 2009 . Japanese.
  22. http://ent.sina.com.cn/y/2007-09-27/10271732041.shtml "Super Junior新专辑大热 席卷各排行榜冠军"
  23. http://www.hanteo.com/rank/chart.asp?page=weekly&genre=kpop "Weekly Kpop"
  24. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/381232/products/803273/1/ . ja:ドン ドン . ja . Oricon . June 3, 2020 . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603081337/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/381232/products/803273/1/ . live .
  25. Web site: http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=37&hitYear=2011&termGbn=week . ko:2011년 37주차 Album Chart . Gaon . ko . July 28, 2020 . July 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200728163946/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=37&hitYear=2011&termGbn=week .
  26. Web site: http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200709.htm. ko:2007.09월 – 가요 음반 판매량. 2007.09 – Sales volume. Music Industry Association of Korea. May 16, 2021. December 7, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081207035016/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200709.htm. ko.
  27. Web site: http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2007. ko:2007년 가요음반판매량. 2007 Album Sales Figures. Recording Industry Association of Korea. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014182525/http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2007. October 14, 2017. dead. October 14, 2017.
  28. http://www.avex.com.tw/Artist/artist_disco_songlist.asp?catalogNo=AVKCD80202%2FA "Don't Don Version A album info"
  29. http://www.avex.com.tw/Artist/artist_disco_songlist.asp?catalogNo=AVKCD80202%2FB "Don't Don Version B album info"
  30. http://www.avex.com.tw/Artist/artist_disco_songlist.asp?catalogNo=AVKCD80202DC "Don't Don Version C album info"