20 Years of Super Junior
Photo: Super Junior Official X
It's not often that music groups reach milestone ages while still active in the industry, but for veteran K-Pop group Super Junior this is something that they have remarkably achieved, with 2025 marking Super Junior's twentieth anniversary since debut. Like many things in life, this achievement hasn't come without its ups and downs, but to reach 20 years while still showing no signs of slowing down or stopping is something for everyone in the industry to aspire to. With their twentieth anniversary tour, SUPER SHOW 10, having kicked off in Seoul on August 22, it only feels right to celebrate Super Junior with a look at some of their best tracks for this week's B-side article. So, happy twentieth anniversary Super Junior! Here's to many more years of incredible music and precious time spent with Everlasting Friends (E.L.Fs) across the world.
“Over”
Super Junior made their debut in 2005 with the iconic album, Super Junior 05 (also known as Twins). From the beginning, Super Junior has demonstrated strength in musical versatility, debuting with the aggressive rap rock track "Twins (Knock Out)" to having the bubblegum pop track "Miracle" placed on the same album, a trait they continue to exert today. But it is the seventh track, "Over," that shines as my favorite B-side on Super Junior 05. Quintessentially a noughties pop song, "Over" features an electronic pop arrangement, robot-like vocal effects, and sprechgesang (spoken word or speak-singing) sections, musical features that dominated the music industry across the noughties era. Despite being 20 years old, "Over" still stands the test of time, not only for its nostalgic comfort but by being a great song that sounds just as good today as it did all them years ago.
“Burn The Floor”
Super Junior exceeded expectations with the release of "Burn The Floor," the third track from their tenth studio album, The Renaissance; a phenomenal track that truly explores the groups musical versatility with them taking their sound into a modern symphonic direction that hadn't been heard in their discography before. The song offers feelings of frisson with its hauntingly beautiful arrangement that floats between a place of fantasy and mystery with symphonic sounds, ghostly vocal adlibs, and production effects that, together, create this eerie yet enticing piece of music. The Super Junior members' vocals further accentuate the classicality of the song, with their vocals playing along in unison with some of the melody, as well as Eunhyuk and Donghae’s fierce closing rap verse that adds to the song's dramatics. The stellar performance video of “Burn the Floor” is also not to be missed, with a phenomenal concept, choreography, and taste of sophisticality that leaves a long lasting impression alongside its sound.
"머뭄다 (Daydream)"
Since debut, Super Junior has released several emotional ballads that clutch at the heartstrings of the listener. Juxtaposing the name of their sixth album, and its eponymous title track, Sexy, Free & Single, the penultimate track "머뭄다 (Daydream)" is one of those ballads to conjure such emotions through the members’ vocals and the song's melody. Whilst all exceptional vocalists, it is Yesung who stands out with his breathtaking way of emoting sadness through his vocal tone and delivery, something of which he has become known for amongst the members and fandom. Alongside Yesung (and the other members' effortless vocals) the delicate piano arrangement mixed with the electronic beats and bass sounds make "머뭄다 (Daydream)” a beautiful song to listen to, being a song that truly allows listeners to appreciate the vocal mastery and musical excellence of Super Junior.