[Review] “Superman” by Super Junior

Contrary to popular belief, Super Junior happens to be one of my favorite boy bands, probably ever. Sure, I may have shaken many angry fists at “Mr. Simple“, but tough love is still a form of appreciation. That being said, nothing feels better than when your favorite artists take you from the depths of disappointment to the peaks of satisfaction in a matter of seconds. This is the exact case with Super Junior’s “Superman“.
This song in itself defines ‘epic’ in every sense of the word, which is interesting, considering its simple composition and structure. On paper, this song should be no big whoop: you’ve got a tooting instrumental, chants from beginning to end, and a handful of raps scattered here and there. Really, nothing out of the ordinary in K-Pop.
But here’s the detail that takes “Superman” from ho-hum song to utterly mind-blowing — it carries the perfect distribution and utilization of Super Junior’s talents.
Every member’s interjection, nuances, and even the chorus’ uniformity – it all falls right into place. The fact that they sound absolutely superb is all the more reason to gush over this song.

Normally, Super Junior is broken into groups of singers and rappers, but in “Superman”, those lines get blurred. Everyone from Donghae to Ryeowook are spitting lyrics with more conviction than all of their lead singles combined. The quality of their delivery makes it seem like SM suddenly remembered how talented these guys are, and gave them a great song that was free of frills and gimmicks.
Of course, Super Junior sounds their most compelling when they’re singing as a unit, and as such, they brought that to the forefront in “Superman.” They push through the melodies with a vengeance and even harmonize with some resonating low-end sounds, which I haven’t heard from them in a long time.
These guys are full-fledged superstars, and they deserve a song to match that status. “Superman” shed the light back on Super Junior’s talents by providing a display of strong vocals and a style that makes sense, as well as one that feels like their classics. SUPERMAN

Overall Rating: 4.7/5
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What are your thoughts on “Superman” by Super Junior?
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Suggestions for a future review? Hit the author up on Twitter (@rothsresidence) or via e-mail (arnold.arteaga@allkpop.com)!
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Rating Overview:
0 – 1.9 ; poor, without any redeeming qualities
2.0 – 2.9 ; mediocre, but with some saving graces
3.0 – 3.9 ; good, with noteworthy highs and lows
4.0 – 4.9 ; excellent, with minimal flaws
5 ; superior, and as near to perfection as the song/album can be