Play (Super Junior album)
Play is the eighth Korean-language studio album by South Korean boy band Super Junior, released on November 6, 2017, by SM Entertainment. The album features seven members, marking the return of Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon after their mandatory military service. Ahead of the official release, SM Entertainment released the single "One More Chance" on October 30, 2017. The album features the vocals of only seven Super Junior members. Only six members promoted the album formally: Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Donghae, Shindong, and Eunhyuk. Vocals belonging to Kyuhyun and Siwon can also be heard on the album.
According to the music data provider Gaon, the album sold over 200,000 copies on its first week of release, making it their highest first week-sales number ever.
The album's repackage, Replay released on April 12, 2018.
Promotion
Background
On September 27, Super Junior's website began a countdown to November 6, the date of their 12th anniversary, with the text "SJ Returns." and announced it as their comeback date for their 8th album.On September 29, the group opened a V Live channel for their reality show "SJ Returns – Super Junior Real Comeback Story." along with their first teaser featuring Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Donghae, Eunhyuk, and Siwon.
The show captured 120 days of Super Junior leading up to their comeback, including moments from the members' military discharge, the members' album preparation process, and more.
On October 15, Label SJ shared the time schedule for the group upcoming comeback as "Super Junior 8th Album Comeback Track", which the group will reveal their group image on October 17, and followed with personal images on October 18 to October 20. On October 18, Label SJ announced the group album title Play alongside personal image teaser of Leeteuk & Siwon, which is a combination of two meanings as in 'replay the music' and 'play excitedly'. The next day alongside personal image teaser of Donghae, Shindong, and Eunhyuk, Label SJ announced Play will consist a total of 10 tracks. On October 20, while revealed Heechul and Yesung personal image teaser, Label SJ also announced that the image teaser consists of two concepts for title track "Black Suit" and pre-release track "One More Chance". "One More Chance" is a self-composed song by Donghae for the fans.
On October 29, SM Town released the video teaser for "One More Chance" and after few hours in the following day, October 30 the music video was released.
On November 1, SM Town released the first video teaser for title track "Black Suit". In the following days, November 2 and November 3, more two video teasers were released.
It was also revealed Super Junior will be appearing in multiple variety shows such as Knowing Bros, Weekly Idol, Running Man, and SNL Korea to promote the album.
Release
Super Junior held a press conference to announce the album's release in Seoul on November 6, 2017. In the same day they held a live stream through their V live channel to talk about their new album.The music video for "Black Suit" was also released earning 3 million views in 24 hours.
Play ranked no.1 on the iTunes Albums and the iTunes Pop Albums charts in 23 and 26 countries, respectively.
It was announced that SM Entertainment stocks hit the highest yet this year the day of Super Junior's comeback and also the highest among the big 3 entertainments in South Korea.
According to the music data provider Gaon, the album sold over 200,000 copies on its first week of release, making it their highest first week-sales number ever. Play debuted 3rd on Billboard World Albums chart for the week of November 25 and achieved the top of KKBOX Korean Music Chart having all songs charted.
On November 28, it was released the 'Pause' version of the album that includes the song "Shadowless" from Super Junior's vocal subunit K.R.Y.
Super Junior released their song, "Super Duper," to SM Station on March 23, 2018. Shortly after, SM Entertainment announced the album's repackage would release on April 12. The title track was confirmed to be "Lo Siento," and marked Siwon's return. Shortly after, Heechul announced he would not promote the album due to his leg injury.
On April 4, it was revealed Super Junior would collaborate with Leslie Grace, marking the group's first collaboration with a foreign artist.
Live performances
The group made their comeback performance on the Korean music show M! Countdown with the songs "Black Suit" and "One More Chance" on November 9, 2017 and kept promotions going on Music Bank, Music Core and Inkigayo.Super Show 7
On December 15, 16 and 17, the group held its "Super Show 7" at Jamsil Gymnasium in southern Seoul.Track listing
Personnel
Credit for Play are adapted from the album.- SUPER JUNIOR – Producer
- Nam Soo-young – Director of Management
- Jung Chang-hwan – Director of Media Planning
- Lee Song-soo, Kwon Yoon-jung, Yoon Ji-hae, I Ga-won – A&R Direction and Coordinator
- Cho Min-kyung, Lee Seo-kyung – International Repertoire
- Jung Hyo-won, Kim Min-kyung, Oh Jung-eun, Park Mi-ji – Publishing and Copyright clearance
- Yoo Young-jin – Vocal director, background vocals
- Super Junior: Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon – Vocals, background vocals
- Goo Joung-pil – Recording, Mixing
- Kim Chol-Sun – Recording, Mixing
- Jang Eui-seok – Recording, Mixing
- Kim Hyun-goon, Lee Ji-Hyoong, Kim Kyu-yeoung – Recording
- Jang EunGyung – Recording
- Jag Ki-hoong – Recording
- Kim Han-goo – Mixing
- Tom Coyne – Audio mastering
- Tak Yeong-jun, Kang Byeong-jun, Wan Young-sun, Kim Min-gun, Kim Si-young, Song In-ho, Park Yeong-suk – Artist management and Promotion
- Lee Seong-Soo, Yoon Hee-jun, Cho Yoo Eun – Artist planning and Development
- Kim Eun-ah, Jung Sang-hee, Lee Ji-sun, Kwon Jung-ha, Lee Ji-hun – Public relations and Publicity
- Kim Min Suk, Park Min-Kwon, Jung Kyung-sik – Media planning
- Tak Young-jun, Hwang Sung-young, Beat Burger – Choreography direction
- Toni Testa, Beat Burger, Mihawk Back, Hyuno Jin – Choreographer
- Choi Jung-min – International marketing
- Steven Myungkyung Lee – English lyrics supervisor
- Lee Jung-ah – Customer relationship management
- Park Jun-young, Sun Young, Jun Sung-jin – Music video direction
- Hoong Won-ki – Music video director
- Min Hee-jin – Visual and Art director
- JAworkshop – Design
- Kwon The-mi – Stylist
- Kim Jung-eun, Kim Hye-yun – Hair stylist
- Choi Hye-rin, Han Hyoo-eun – Make-up artist
- Lee Young-hak – Photographer
- Young-min Kim – Executive supervisor
Chart