''Bonamana'' (; literally: ''Beauty'') is the fourth studio album by South Korean
boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform Love song, love songs marketed towards girls and young ...
Super Junior
Super Junior (; stylized in all caps), also known as SJ or SuJu, is a South Korean boy band formed by Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment in 2005. They are also dubbed by the media as the "King of Hallyu Wave" due to their prominent ...
. It is the first album with ten out of the original 13 members to take part, also marking the first album not to feature all active members. It was first released as Version A, on May 13, 2010, by
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies where it was established in 1995 by record executive and record producer Lee Soo-man. The company ha ...
. This was followed by Version B on May 20, which included behind-the-scenes photos from their stage performances and music video shoots. A repackaged version C was released on June 28, with four new tracks including follow-up single "No Other".
[Kim, Lyn]
"Super Junior to release repackaged album next week"
''Asiae''. June 22, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2012
The album was listed by
Gaon Album Chart
The Circle Album Chart, previously known as the Gaon Album Chart, is a record chart ranking the 100 most popular albums, extended plays and single albums in South Korea based on their Record sales, pure sales. It is a part of the Circle Chart, pr ...
as the best-selling release of 2010 in South Korea, with 200,193 copies sold, with the repackaged version at ninth with 99,355 copies. Taken together, these sales made ''Bonamana'' the second best-selling album of the year, behind the combined total of 334,785 copies sold of Girls' Generation's ''
Oh!'' and its repackage.
Recording and production
The group first announced that they were working on their fourth full-length studio album in January 2010 while presenting an award at
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
's KPN Awards. A week later,
Kibum
Kim Ki-bum (born August 21, 1987), known mononymously as Kibum, is a South Korean actor and singer. He was a member of Super Junior. After the release of Super Junior's third studio album ''Sorry, Sorry'' in 2009, Kim announced his leave from ...
, who participated very little in the group's third studio album ''
Sorry, Sorry Sorry, Sorry may refer to:
* ''Sorry, Sorry'' (album) , a 2009 album by Super Junior
** "Sorry, Sorry" (Super Junior song), from the 2009 album ''Sorry, Sorry''
* "Sorry, Sorry" (Femi Kuti song), from the 1998 album ''Shoki Shoki''
*"Sorry Sorry", ...
'' due to acting pursuits, discussed the possibility of participating in the production of ''Bonamana'' during an interview.
After a thorough discussion with producers, Kibum decided to continue his acting career instead. With
Kang-in
Kim Young-woon (born January 17, 1985), better known by his stage name Kangin (lit. meaning: "strong benevolence"), is a South Korean former singer, actor, television host and radio personality. He is best known as a former member of Super Juni ...
fulfilling his two-year mandatory
military service
Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).
Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require a ...
and
Han Geng
Han Geng (Chinese: 韩庚; Pinyin: Hán Gēng; ) (born February 9, 1984) is a Chinese Mandopop singer and actor. He started his career in 2001, when he was chosen by S.M. Entertainment to become a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior, ...
's
lawsuit
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
against
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies where it was established in 1995 by record executive and record producer Lee Soo-man. The company ha ...
, only ten members were able to work on the album.
Shindong
Shin Dong-hee (born September 28, 1985), better known by his stage name Shindong (lit. meaning: "prodigy"), is a South Korean rapper, singer, dancer, host, radio personality and video director. He is best known as a member of Super Junior and i ...
tweeted about preparing for the fourth album in early April.
On April 19, SM Entertainment formally announced through online media outlets about the release and production of the album. After Super Junior finished their ''
Super Show 2
Super Show 2 is the second Asia-wide live concert tour by the South Korean boy band Super Junior, to support their third studio album, ''Sorry, Sorry''. The tour commenced with three shows in Seoul, South Korea in July 2009 and continued with on ...
'' Asia concert tour in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, the members postponed solo activities to fit more time on working in the album in time for a mid-May release.
Composition
Super Junior consistently described the main concept style of ''Bonamana'' to be "mature" and "sophisticated". Following the music genre that they settled for in ''Sorry, Sorry'', the music in ''Bonamana'' is largely mainstream and is composed of a variety of genres including R&B ballads, pop dances, and
hip hop.
However, unlike ''Sorry, Sorry'', a majority of ''Bonamana'' maintains a handful of cheerful, medium-tempo pop songs that Super Junior had been known for performing since debut.
The album contains 11 tracks with title track "
Bonamana
''Bonamana'' (; literally: ''Beauty'') is the fourth studio album by South Korean boy band Super Junior. It is the first album with ten out of the original 13 members to take part, also marking the first album not to feature all active members. ...
", an upbeat
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
song. SM described that "Bonamana" is the "completion of the SJ Funky genre", a genre that Super Junior will pursue continuously since its development in ''Sorry, Sorry''.
Eunhyuk
Lee Hyuk-jae (born April 4, 1986), better known by his stage name Eunhyuk, is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer and television host. He is a member of the South Korean boy group Super Junior and its subgroups Super Junior-T and S ...
created the dance choreography for "Boom Boom," hip hop dance track characterized for its "dark and powerful groove."
Super Junior invites Park Chang-hyun a fourth time to write the soft vocal ballad "Coagulation", performed by
Super Junior-K.R.Y
Super Junior-K.R.Y. is the first sub-unit of South Korean boy band Super Junior, formed in 2006. it is composed the three main vocalists of Super Junior, Yesung, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun.
History
During the year 2006, Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Yesun ...
. Similar to "Coagulation" is "One Fine Spring Day", a solo song by
Ryeowook
Kim Ryeo-wook (born June 21, 1987), better known by the mononym Ryeowook, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and musical actor. He is best known as a member of boy group Super Junior and its subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M ...
. The fourth track, "Your Eyes" is described as a "regular Super Junior R&B ballad", with emphasized characterization on the differences between
Yesung
Kim Kang-hoon (born Kim Jong-woon; August 24, 1984), better known by his stage name Yesung is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, radio personality and television presenter. He debuted in 2005 as a member of Super Junior and its subgroups ...
's and
Kyuhyun's voices. Surprisingly, on the seventh track "Shake It Up,"
Han Geng
Han Geng (Chinese: 韩庚; Pinyin: Hán Gēng; ) (born February 9, 1984) is a Chinese Mandopop singer and actor. He started his career in 2001, when he was chosen by S.M. Entertainment to become a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior, ...
who was currently in a lawsuit with SM Entertainment, did not have his vocals scratched out on the track. It was revealed later by the representative of SM Entertainment that this song was recorded before
Han Geng
Han Geng (Chinese: 韩庚; Pinyin: Hán Gēng; ) (born February 9, 1984) is a Chinese Mandopop singer and actor. He started his career in 2001, when he was chosen by S.M. Entertainment to become a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior, ...
filed the lawsuit. The album ends with the cheerful electropop song "Here We Go" that will "
efreshthe listeners' hearings."
For the repackaged album, ''Bonamana'' Version C, there are four new songs. The first one, "No Other," received great feedback, so it was followed up with a music video released on July 7, 2010. The next song, "All My Heart" is written by
Leeteuk
Park Jeong-su (born July 1, 1983), known professionally as Leeteuk (), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, presenter, radio personality and actor. He debuted as the leader of the boy band Super Junior in November 2005 and since then has part ...
and
Henry Lau
Henry Lau (; ko, 헨리; born October 11, 1989), often mononymously referred to as Henry, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor based in South Korea and China. He debuted in 2008 as a member of Super Junior-M ...
, is an acoustic guitar ballad. The other Super Junior member,
Eunhyuk
Lee Hyuk-jae (born April 4, 1986), better known by his stage name Eunhyuk, is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer and television host. He is a member of the South Korean boy group Super Junior and its subgroups Super Junior-T and S ...
and
Donghae also wrote and compose the song "A Short Journey" as a tribute for fellow member
Kangin
Kim Young-woon (born January 17, 1985), better known by his stage name Kangin (lit. meaning: "strong benevolence"), is a South Korean former singer, actor, television host and radio personality. He is best known as a former member of Super Jun ...
who was serving in the military. This song is performed mainly by
Kangin
Kim Young-woon (born January 17, 1985), better known by his stage name Kangin (lit. meaning: "strong benevolence"), is a South Korean former singer, actor, television host and radio personality. He is best known as a former member of Super Jun ...
, accompanied by
Donghae,
Yesung
Kim Kang-hoon (born Kim Jong-woon; August 24, 1984), better known by his stage name Yesung is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, radio personality and television presenter. He debuted in 2005 as a member of Super Junior and its subgroups ...
,
Kyuhyun, and
Ryeowook
Kim Ryeo-wook (born June 21, 1987), better known by the mononym Ryeowook, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and musical actor. He is best known as a member of boy group Super Junior and its subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M ...
.
Singles
Like most of Super Junior's past
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
s, the first track was announced on May 6, 2010, as title track "
Bonamana
''Bonamana'' (; literally: ''Beauty'') is the fourth studio album by South Korean boy band Super Junior. It is the first album with ten out of the original 13 members to take part, also marking the first album not to feature all active members. ...
". A
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
teaser, was released on May 7, with a brief and blurred preview of the song's chorus, and available for
digital download from May 10. The full MV was released on May 12. Naming the genre as "SJ Funky" (Super Junior Funky), "Bonamana" consists of "African rhythms, with catchy grooves and club house beats." The song is widely defined to be in an
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
style, and a majority of the song is concentrated on vocals.
It won multiple music program awards.
The follow-up single "No Other", digitally released on June 25, is a dance-pop track. It was produced by New York-based producers Reefa, Denzil (DR) Remedios, Kibwe (12Keyz) Luke and Ryan Jhun, who have worked with other hip-hop artists such as
Fabolous
John David Jackson (born November 18, 1977), better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition while still a senior in high school, when he performed live on American music executive ...
,
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris (, homophonous with 'ludicrous' in American English), is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive.
Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludac ...
and
The Game.
It received music program awards on
Commercial performance
Over 200,000 copies were pre-ordered a week after the release date was announced, setting a new high record for the group. According to South Korea's Hanteo chart, version A of ''Bonamana'', debuted at #1 on the charts, selling over 36,000 copies on the first day of release, making it the biggest opening day of the group's career. After four more days of release, over 70,000 copies were sold. ''Bonamana'' charted at #1 again on real time and daily charts after the release of version B, selling over 13,000 copies, totaling the offline sales to over 100,000.
The album peaked at number one on the
Gaon Weekly Album Chart for the week of May 9 to 15, 2010
and also number one for May and June on the
Gaon Monthly Album Chart. In February 2011, according to
Gaon Chart
Gaon may refer to
* Gaon (Hebrew), a non-formal title given to certain Jewish Rabbis
** Geonim, presidents of the two great Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita
** Vilna Gaon, known as ''the'' Gaon of Vilnius.
* Gaon Music Chart, record chart ...
's 2010 year-end summation chart, the album's A and B versions sold a cumulative total of 200,193 copies, awarding the album as the "best selling album of 2010". Meanwhile, the repackaged album sold 99,355 copies, ranking at the ninth spot in the same chart,
bringing to a total of almost 300,000 units sold in South Korea. While in Taiwan, the album sold a cumulative total of 57,000 copies. In the Philippines, the album reached gold status after a week released on May 4 selling 7,500 copies.
Promotion and live performances
Super Junior's first comeback performance was on May 14 with the performance of "Boom Boom" and "Bonamana" on
KBS2TV's ''
Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show '' Music Bank'' by the Korean Broa ...
'',.
The group performed again with the roster the following weekend on
MBC's ''Show! Music Core'' on May 15
and on
SBS's ''
The Music Trend
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
'' on May 16.
Super Show 3
Super Show 3 is Super Junior's third Asia-wide concert tour; it commenced with two shows in Seoul in August 2010 and continued onto China, Taiwan, Japan and other Asian countries, with a total of 20 concerts in 13 cities.
["Super Junior gear up for 3rd tour of Asia"](_blank)
''Korea Herald''. June 8, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2011 On February 24, 2011, a 3D film of the Seoul concert was released in 16
CJ CGV
CJ CGV (Hangeul: CJ CGV (씨제이 씨지브이)㈜) is the largest multiplex cinema chain in South Korea and also has branches in China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Turkey, Vietnam, and the United States. The fifth largest multiplex theater company in t ...
cinemas.
In October 2011, a live album of the concert held in Seoul was released.
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Yearly charts
Sales and certifications
Accolades
Release history
See also
* Bonamana
**
**
**
**
* No Other
**
References
External links
Super Junior official homepage
{{Authority control
2010 albums
Super Junior albums
SM Entertainment albums
Avex Taiwan albums
Korean-language albums