"Devil" is a single released by South Korean boy band Super Junior on July 16, 2015. 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]
| "Devil" | ||||
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| Single by Super Junior | ||||
| from the album Devil | ||||
| A-side | "Magic" (JP) | |||
| Released | July 16, 2015 January 6, 2016 (Japan) | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Composer(s) | ||||
| Lyricist(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Super Junior singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Devil (Music video)" on YouTube | ||||
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
The Japanese version of the song was released in January 6, 2016 along with "Magic", the single from the repackage album of Devil (Magic).[2] The song is included in the band's Japanese compilation album, Star. The single went to sell over 65,800 physical copies.[3]
Composition
"Devil" is a 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.[4] The song marked the departure of Yoo Young-jin who wrote the group's title track since their debut.[5] The lyrics illustrates a candid confession of a man who is madly in love.[6] "Devil" was then re-released in Japanese version along with "Magic", the lead single from the Devil repackage album, Magic on January 11, 2016.[7]
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.[8][9]
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.[10] The performance of "Devil" was crafted by choreographer Tony Testa and SM's performance director, BeatBurger.[11] The music video was officially released on YouTube on July 15, 2015.[12]
Live performances
"Devil" has been a common setlist for Super Junior's concerts: Super Show 7, Super Show 8, and Super Show 9.[13][14][15]
Track listing
- Japanese CD single
- "Devil" – 3:37
- "Magic" – 3:36
- "Devil" (Instrumental) – 3:37
- "Magic" (Instrumental) – 3:36
Credits
Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[4]
Studio
- SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, mixing
- In Grid Studio – recording
- doobdoob Studio – recording, digital editing
- Sterling Sound – mastering
Personnel
- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Soo-man – producer
- Super Junior – vocals
- Yesung – background vocals
- Ryeowook – background vocals
- Kyuhyun – background vocals
- Kenzie – producer, Korean lyrics, composition, arrangement, vocal directing
- Amon Hayashi – Japanese lyrics
- Jonathan Yip (The Stereotypes) – producer, composition, arrangement
- Raymond Romulus (The Stereotypes) – producer, composition, arrangement
- Jeremy Reeves (The Stereotypes) – producer, composition, arrangement
- Raymond Charles McCullough II (The Stereotypes) – producer, composition, arrangement
- Micah Powell – composition, arrangement, background vocals
- Kye Bum-soo – background vocals
- Koo Jong-pil – recording, mixing
- Jeong Eun-kyung – recording
- Kim Hyun-gon – recording
- Lee Ji-hong – recording, digital editing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2015–16) | Peak positions |
|---|---|
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[16] | 5 |
| Japan (Oricon)[17] | 2 |
| South Korea (Gaon) [18] | 21 |
| US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] | 6 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 16, 2015 | Korean version | SM Entertainment | |
| Japan | January 6, 2016 |
| Japanese version | Avex Trax |