"Devil" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Super Junior that was released on July 16, 2015, by their label SM Entertainment and distributed by KT Music. It is the lead single of the album of the same. The track featured the vocals of Yesung after he was discharged from his mandatory military service on May 4, 2015, and it's also served as the first single without the vocals of Sungmin and Shindong who were serving their mandatory military service at that time. The single charted at number 21 on the national chart Gaon Digital Chart and sold over 150,000 digital download on said Chart.[1]

In Japan, "Devil" was released as a double A-side single titled "Devil / Magic" on January 6, 2016. It peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold over 65,000 copies.

Background and release

Following the release of their commercially successful seventh studio album Mamacita the following year, Super Junior embarked on their sixth overall tour Super Show 6 from September 19, 2014, to July 12, 2015, for encore concerts in Seoul.[2][3]

Super Junior members during Devil press conference on July 15

On July 8, SM Entertainment announced that Super Junior will have a comeback by releasing special album Devil on July 16 to commemorate the group's 10th anniversary.[4] "Devil" was announced as the lead single on July 9, with American production team The Stereotypes collaborating with SM's in-house songwriter-producer Kenzie.[5]

The Japanese version of the song was released on January 6, 2016 along with "Magic", the single from the repackage album of Devil (Magic).[6] The song is included in the band's Japanese compilation album, Star. The single went to sell over 65,800 physical copies.[7]

Composition

"Devil" features the vocals of nine Super Junior members — Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Kangin, Donghae, Eunhyuk, Siwon, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun. Shindong and Sungmin's vocals were not featured as they were undergoing mandatory military service from March 24 and 31 respectively.[8]

"Devil" is described as funk rock song with a trendy melody produced by American production team, The Stereotypes, and SM Entertainment's resident songwriter, Kenzie. Both of them also co-wrote the song with Micah Powell.[9] The song marked the departure of Yoo Young-jin who wrote the group's title track since their debut.[10] The lyrics illustrates a candid confession of a man who is madly in love.[11]

During the press conference, Leeteuk introduced "Devil" as a different song from SJ Funky songs, while Eunhyuk said the song has both dark side and bright side, and allowed the group to show various charms through this release.[12]

"Devil" was then re-released in Japanese version along with "Magic", the lead single from the Devil repackage album, Magic on January 11, 2016.[13]

Critical reception

Billboard columnist Jeff Benjamin praised the release of "Devil" and considered it the band's best release since "Mr. Simple" back in 2011.[14][15]

Music video

During the group's encore concert, Super Show 6 in Seoul on July 11, 2015, band leader Leeteuk announced to the fans that the music video for "Devil" will be the first-ever music video by SM Entertainment that is classified 19+. Leeteuk explained the change from the usual family-friendly songs citing the fans' grew up together with the band in the last 10 years. At the same concert, Leeteuk also went to explain that the band hoped that "Devil" would replace "Sorry, Sorry" as the band's signature track.[16] The performance of "Devil" was crafted by choreographer Tony Testa and SM's performance director, BeatBurger.[17] The music video was officially released on YouTube on July 15, 2015.[18]

Live performances

"Devil" was performed live for the first time on Super Show 6 encore concert on July 11 and 12.[19] It has been a common setlist in Super Junior's headlining concerts Super Show 7, Super Show 8, and Super Show 9.[20][21][22]

Track listing

Japanese CD single
  1. "Devil" – 3:37
  2. "Magic" – 3:36
  3. "Devil" (Instrumental) – 3:37
  4. "Magic" (Instrumental) – 3:36

Credits

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[9]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Devil"
Chart (2015–16) Peak
positions
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[23] 5
Japan (Oricon)[24] 2
South Korea (Gaon) [25] 21
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 6

Release history

Release dates and formats
Region Date Version Format(s) Label
South Korea July 16, 2015 Korean
Various SM
Japan January 6, 2016 Japanese
Avex Trax
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming

References

  1. ^ "2015년 07월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Konser 'Super Show 6 Indonesia': yang 'Pertama' dan Terakhir dari Super Junior" ['Super Show 6 Indonesia' Concert: Super Junior's 'First' and Last]. Detik.com (in Indonesian). Jakarta. May 4, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  3. ^ Jo, In-woo (July 12, 2015). [리뷰] 슈퍼주니어, "우리는 여러분의 영원한 소년들"…'슈퍼쇼6 앙코르' [Super Junior, "We Are Your Eternal Boys"...'Super Show 6 Encore']. Newsis (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Lee, Eun-jung (July 8, 2015). 슈퍼주니어, 16일 10주년 스페셜 앨범 '데블' 발표 [Super Junior announces 10th anniversary special album 'Devil' on the 16th]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  5. ^ Kwon, Soo-bin (July 9, 2015). 슈퍼주니어, 앙코르 콘서트서 'Devil' 등 신곡 무대 최초 공개 [Super Junior unveils new songs including 'Devil' for the first time at encore concert]. News1 (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "Devil/Magic". Avex Trax (in Japanese). January 6, 2016. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "2016 年上半期ランキング 音楽シーンをけん引する三大勢力に新たな潮流 3ページ目" [2016 First Half Ranking New Trends in the Three Major Forces Leading the Music Scene]. Oricon (in Japanese). June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Kim, Chung-jo (March 31, 2015). 김재중·성민·최진혁, 31일 비공개 현역 입대 [Kim Jae-joong, Sung-min, and Choi Jin-hyuk enlisted in active duty on the 31st]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Super Junior (2015). Devil (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment. Credits.
  10. ^ Ghim, Sora (July 17, 2015). "Super Junior's New Album 'Devil' Tops iTunes Charts In 10 Countries". BNTNews. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "슈퍼주니어 SPECIAL ALBUM "Devil"". SM Entertainment (Press release). July 16, 2015. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Kwon, Soo-bin (July 16, 2015). 아이돌 그룹 하고 싶다면 슈퍼주니어처럼(종합) [If you want to be in an idol group, like Super Junior (comprehensive)]. News1 (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  13. ^ "SUPER JUNIOR New Single "Devil / Magic" will be released on January 1th!". SM Entertainment Japan. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (July 17, 2015). "Super Junior Show Off a Slick & Sexy Side in 'Devil' Video". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Septyaningsih, Dwi (August 2, 2015). Murdaningsih (ed.). "Billboard Puji Lagu 'Devil' Milik Super Junior" [Billboard Praise the Release of Super Junior Song, "Devil"]. Republika (in Indonesian). Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Srikhandi, Ayu (July 13, 2015). "Pertama Kali Dalam Sejarah SME, Super Junior Bakal Rilis MV 19+" [For the first time in SME history, Super Junior will release a 19+ MV]. Kapan Lagi (in Indonesian). Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  17. ^ Kim, Ji-yeon (July 9, 2015). "Super Junior to Perform 'Devil' for First Time at Concert". CJ E&M enewsWorld. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "SUPER JUNIOR 슈퍼주니어 'Devil' MV" on YouTube
  19. ^ 슈퍼주니어, 콘서트에서 신곡 'Devil' 공개 [Super Junior unveils new song 'Devil' at concert]. YTN (in Korean). July 10, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  20. ^ "Super Junior never short of 'friends'". The Nation. February 2, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Lacuata, Rose Carmelle (December 16, 2019). "Concert recap: Super Junior ends 2019 with fun-filled Manila show". ABS-CBN. Manila. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "'Legenda K-POP' SUPER JUNIOR Sukses Selesaikan 'SUPER SHOW 9: ROAD' di Jakarta, Bawakan 23 Lagu Jadi Momen Tak Terlupakan" ['K-POP Legends' SUPER JUNIOR Successfully Finishes 'SUPER SHOW 9: ROAD' in Jakarta, Performing 23 Songs So Unforgettable Moments]. Kapan Lagi (in Indonesian). September 19, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Super Junior ランキング. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  25. ^ 2015년 30주차 Digital Chart. Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "Super Junior | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_(Super_Junior_song)
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