"Sorry, Sorry" (Korean: 쏘리 쏘리) is a song performed by South Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released as a digital single on March 9, 2009, and was later included as the title single in the group's third studio album, Sorry, Sorry, released on March 12, 2009.[1] This song was Super Junior's comeback single as a complete group since their subgroup activities in Mainland China and South Korea in 2008. It was Super Junior's most successful single on the music charts, winning a total of 10 recognitions during the song's promotional period.
Composition
"Sorry, Sorry" was written by Yoo Young-jin, who wrote "Don't Don", the title track of Super Junior's second album Don't Don. Yoo reportedly wanted create a song which is both equally fun and easy to listen.[2] The song is a "polished and trendy" dance song, with influences of American funk and contemporary R&B, stimulated with a heavy electronic beat that is the genre of "urban minimal funky", which is remarkably different than the band's previous releases.[3] The lyrics revolve around a guy apologizing for his undying love for the girl. The song is composed in the key of B minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute.[4]
Sorry Sorry-Answer
Following the success of Super Junior's second Asia Tour, Super Show 2, a live album titled Super Show 2 Tour Concert Album was recorded at the concerts held in Seoul from July 17–19, 2009, and released on December 10, 2009.[5] Included in the album is a studio version of "Sorry Sorry-Answer", an R&B remix of "Sorry, Sorry", which was digitally released ahead of the album's release on December 9, 2009.[6] A music video for "Sorry Sorry-Answer" was released on the next day.[7] The music video was directed by Chun Hyuk-jin and was filmed in Namyangju in August 2009.[8]
"Sorry, Sorry" peaked at number 1 on Mnet's M! Countdown chart in just a week. "Sorry, Sorry" achieved its first recognition as the number 1 song of KBS's Music Bank monthly pop chart on March 27, 2009, after only two weeks in the charts.[13] The single won again for the April pop chart,[14] and had two consecutive wins on the weekly pop chart in the first two weeks of May.[15] "Sorry, Sorry" also won Mutizen song at SBS's Inkigayo for three consecutive weeks, earning a "Triple Crown" for the first time in the group's career.[16] The single also became a song of the week on Mnet's M! Countdown on April 9 and 23, although Super Junior was not present at the program to receive their awards.[17] "Sorry, Sorry" remained within the top 10 in Mnet's music chart for another 12 weeks.[18] The song was also successful in the Philippines; peaking at number 6 in an international countdown by MyxPhilippines. It was influential in increasing sales of 50 Cent's "Many Men" single. Super Junior also dominated Taiwan's radio channel 'Hit Fm' released the 100 singles chart for 2009, ranking number 1.
Music video and promotion
Music video
Super Junior posing right before the first dance break in the beginning of "Sorry, Sorry".
The music video was filmed from February 28 to March 1, 2009.[19] A 30-second teaser of the video was released on Super Junior's official iple site on March 6, 2009,[20] and the complete video was released on March 13, the same day as Super Junior's comeback performance on KBS's Music Bank. The video was SM Entertainment's first anamorphic formatted music video with an aspect ratio of 2.39:1.[21] Throughout most of the video, only eleven members are seen dancing to most of the choreography, although the video does include all thirteen members of Super Junior. Heechul appears to be in the dance towards the end of the video, and Kibum only appears in solo shots. The music video was published on SMTOWN's YouTube Channel on June 7, 2009.
The video starts off with an experimental scene, a woman's eye peeping through a key hole. She then pulls up her skirt, exposing her legs, and Super Junior member Kibum blindfolds himself; a small flame is burning an enclosed envelope, which is sealed with sealing wax. The woman then touches her lips and pulls off her pearl necklace. This scene is then engulfed to blackness and zooms to Super Junior, who are seen posing side by side in front of a white screen. Han Geng leads the group into a gentle sliding pose, and then they start dancing. In the song's dance bridge the members are tutting, with Eunhyuk in the lead. The whole music video is in black and white. The dance is choreographed by Nick Bass as well as Trent Dickens, who is known for working with international stars like Usher and Justin Timberlake.[22] Another music video which focused on the song's choreography was released on April 3, 2009.[23] The original music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in December 2018.[24] On October 5, 2022, the original MV was officially remastered into 4K high-quality.[25]
Promotion
Super Junior's members Leeteuk and Eunhyuk first revealed the key point of "Sorry, Sorry" choreography in Kiss The Radio on March 6, 2009, ahead of its release.[26] Member Kibum did not participate in the promotional activities. Super Junior performed "Sorry, Sorry" on the music programs Music Bank, Music Core, and Popular Songs three times a week, starting March 13, 2009.[27] On March 13, they performed the song live at Kiss The Radio.[28] Promotional performances lasted for two full months, with the last performance carried out on May 16, 2009, on Music Core. The first overseas performance of "Sorry, Sorry" was in Beijing, China, on May 1, 2009, at the Beijing National Stadium. The single was also featured on Perez Hilton's blog.[29] They also performed the song at the 20th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan, after becoming the only foreign act invited to the ceremony.[30]
Covers
"Sorry, Sorry" has been covered multiple times by other K-pop groups, including on Korean television during special stages and at concerts. Girls' Generation covered the song on the August 8, 2009, edition of Show! Music Core,[31] while Jessica and Tiffany covered Heechul's and Kangin's dance parts respectively in a video sketch called The Secret of "Gee", shown before Super Junior's "Gee" cover at Super Show 2.[32] Girls' Generation and f(x) additionally covered the song at the 2009 SBS Gayo Daejeon.[33]Exo covered the song on the March 8, 2014 broadcast of Show! Music Core, which marked the 400th episode in the show's history.[34]Seventeen performed "Sorry, Sorry" on the September 12, 2015, edition of Show! Music Core[35] while NCT performed it on the August 16, 2016, edition of M Countdown.[36] At KCON 2017 in Los Angeles, SF9 and Cosmic Girls covered the song.[37]Loona covered it on the March 5, 2020 broadcast of M Countdown.[38]N.SSign performed a rock version of the song during Idol Radio Live in Japan concert on April 1, 2023.[39][40]
Cultural impact
The song's dance routine has been performed many times. In April 2009, a professional volleyball player, Kim Yeon-koung from Heungkuk Life announced that if her team won the 2008–2009 NH Nonghyup professional volleyball championship, they will perform the dance routine of "Sorry, Sorry".[41] Heungkuk Life ultimately wins the championship and its players danced to the song at the award ceremony on April 12, 2009.[42] A football player, Kim Seung-yong who played for FC Seoul danced to "Sorry, Sorry" after he scored a goal in a match against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2009 K League.[43] Basketball players also danced to the song at the 2008–09 Dongbu Promy Professional Basketball season awards ceremony, which marked the end of the season in professional basketball league.[44][45]
On May 4, 2009, the honor guard made up of South Korean Air Force danced to "Sorry, Sorry" and "Gee" ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony of Airforce Museum at Sanjicheon, Jeju City.[46][47] In the same month, employees of Korean Air formed a parody group called Jikjjangin Super Junior (Korean:직장인 슈퍼주니어, lit.'Office Workers Super Junior'). They performed "Sorry, Sorry" choreography at the Kalman Small Concert, an in-house concert held at Korean Air's headquarters on May 15, and subsequently released its music video online.[48] The music video gained the attention of SBS's producers, and the group was invited to perform at the reality television show Star King.[49] In Philippines, a video clip of inmates, known as the CPDRC Dancing Inmates, from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center dancing to "Sorry, Sorry" went viral after it was uploaded on YouTube.[50]
^Im Yi-rang (March 11, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, "노래 들어보고 말하라" (인터뷰①) [Super Junior said "listen to the song then talk" (Interview①)]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved September 24, 2020.
^Lee Jung-hyuk (December 9, 2009). 슈퍼주니어 '쏘리쏘리', R&B 발라드 버전 출시 [Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry', R&B ballad version is released]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jung Byung-geun (December 9, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, '쏘리쏘리' R&B버전 공개 [Super Junior unveils R&B version of 'Sorry Sorry']. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Choi Joon-young (September 5, 2011). SM가수들, 15만 팬 열광속 도쿄 점령..'반한류는 없었다' [SM singers, 150,000 enthusiastic fans occupied Tokyo... 'There was no anti-Korean wave']. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
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^Lee Jung-ah (April 3, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, '쏘리쏘리' 안무버전 동영상 공개 [Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry' choreography version video is released]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Ha-na (December 24, 2018). 슈퍼주니어, '쏘리 쏘리' MV 유튜브 조회수 1억뷰 돌파…통산 세 번째 1억뷰 [Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry' MV surpasses 100 million views... The third 100 million views in their career]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Choi Moon-jung (March 7, 2009). 컴백 앞둔 슈주, '슈키라'서 새 안무 전격 공개 [Super Junior is about to make a comeback, revealing their new choreography in 'Sukira']. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
^Kim Kook-hwa (March 12, 2009). 슈주, '뮤뱅'으로 3집 컴백 "에너지 충전 100%" [Suju "100% energy charged" for 3rd [album] 'Music Bank' comeback]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
^[★포토]슈주, 슈키라에서 '쏘리쏘리' 라이브 열창 [[★Photo] Super Junior sings 'Sorry Sorry' live in Sukira]. Naver (in Korean). March 14, 2009. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
^"Boys Boys Boys". Perez Hilton. May 9, 2009. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (June 28, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, '쏘리쏘리' 열풍 대만 강타 [Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry' fever hits Taiwan]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
^Kim Si-eun (August 8, 2009). 소녀시대 '쏘리쏘리' 완벽 재연! 카리스마 발산 [Girls' Generation's flawless cover of 'Sorry, Sorry'! Emitting charisma]. Korea Economics Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^Baek Ji-eun (December 30, 2009). '가요대전' 남자 아이돌 그룹, 여장 퍼레이드 승자는? [Which male idol group will be the cross dressing parody winner at 'Gayo Daejeon'?]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^Kim Sa-ra (March 8, 2014). '음중' 엑소 '쏘리 쏘리', 슈주 못지않은 칼군무 '역시' [Exo's 'Sorry, Sorry' group dance is no less sharp than SuJu in 'Music Core', 'as expected']. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Jeong Yu-jin (September 13, 2015). 세븐틴, 슈주 '쏘리쏘리' 재해석.."존경하는 선배님" 소감 [Seventeen reinterprets SuJu's 'Sorry, Sorry'.. Thoughts about their 'honorable senior']. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Kim Ji-ah (August 18, 2016). [포인트1분] '엠카운트다운' NCT, 슈퍼주니어 '쏘리쏘리' 완벽 재현 [[1 minute point] NCT perfect reproduction of Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry' at 'M! Countdown']. Kpop Herald (in Korean). Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Kim Myung-mi (March 5, 2020). 믿고 보는 이달의 소녀, 슈퍼주니어 '쏘리 쏘리' 완벽 커버 [Watch Loona's perfect cover of Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry']. MSN (in Korean). Retrieved November 12, 2020.
^Kim, Hye-young (April 3, 2023). 케이팝 스타들로 빛난 '아이돌 라디오 Live in Japan' 콘서트 성료 ['Idol Radio Live in Japan' concert featuring K-pop stars has been successfully completed]. MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Jin-ah (April 5, 2023). 엔싸인, '아이돌 라디오 라이브 인 재팬' 출연... 현지 팬 운집 [n.SSign appears on 'Idol Radio Live in Japan'... attracts local fans]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Bark Gil-hyeon (April 9, 2009). 김연경 "우승하고 선수단 전체가 '쏘리쏘리'춤 출래요" [Kim Yeon-koung said "I want to win and the team will perform 'Sorry, Sorry' dance"]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^Kim Jae-hyun (April 12, 2009). [포토스토리] 댄스-기도...흥국생명 "V기쁨 영원히" [[Photo Story] Dance-wish... Heungkuk Life "V joy forever"]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^Song Il-seop (May 2, 2009). '그라운드의 댄서' 김승용, FC서울의 활력소 ["Dancer on the Ground" Kim Seung-yong, the lifeblood of FC Seoul]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^Han Sang-yng (May 6, 2009). 끼 발산한 프로농구 꽃미남 스타 4총사 [Four musketeers of professional basketball radiates flower boy star talents]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^Kim Young-min (May 6, 2009). [사진]농구 스타들의 멋진 댄스 [[Photo] Basketball stars' cool dance]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^Kim Ji-sun (May 4, 2009). 춤추는 공군 의장대 [Dancing Air Force Guard of Honor]. Naver (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^Kim Ji-sun (May 4, 2009). 공군 군악.의장대 제주서 퍼레이드 [Air Force Military Band Parade in Jeju]. Naver (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
^Cha Sang-geun (May 15, 2009). 대한항공 임직원 사내음악회서 장기자랑 [Korean Air employees' talent show at an in-house concert]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
^Ki Sung-hoon (June 13, 2009). 대한항공 직딩슈주, 공중파 TV 출연 [Korean Air's Jikkding Suju appears on public TV]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
^Lee Jeonghyuk (July 6, 2009). [온라인 e런일 저런일] 필리핀 죄수들, 웬 슈주의 '쏘리쏘리' [[Online e-run etc] Philippines' prisoners do what with Super Junior's 'Sorry, Sorry'?]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
^Kim, Soo-jung (February 3, 2014). "'동백아가씨'부터 '강남스타일'까지, 대중 사로잡은 명곡은?" [From 'Camellia Lady' to 'Gangnam Style', which famous songs have captured the public?]. MediaUS. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
^Lim Yi-rang (March 27, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, '뮤직뱅크' 3월 통합차트로 음악프로 첫 1위 [Super Junior is the first to win no 1 in Music Bank integrated chart in March]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
^Kim I-rang (April 24, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, 두 달 연속 '뮤뱅' 통합차트 1위 [Super Junior topped 'Music Bank' integrated chart for two months in a row]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Jung-ah (May 2, 2009). 슈주, 자선콘서트서 성룡과 나이-국적 넘은 '우정 과시' [SuJu and Jackie Chan showed off their friendship beyond age and nationality at charity concert]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abKim I-rang (May 15, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, 1위로 '쏘리 쏘리' 마지막 무대 '유종의 미' [Super Junior, 'Sorry, Sorry' received 1st place, 'successfully conclude' with a final stage]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Ji-yeon (March 29, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, 컴백 2주만에 '인기가요' 1위 [Super Junior reach no 1 on 'Inkigayo' after 2 weeks of comeback]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (April 5, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, 2주 연속 '인기가요' 뮤티즌송 수상 [Super Junior wins 'Inkigayo' Mutizen Song for 2 consecutive weeks]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
^Kim Kyo-ul (April 12, 2009). 슈퍼주니어, 3주 연속 '인기가요' 뮤티즌송 수상 [Super Junior wins 'Inkigayo' Mutizen Song for 3 consecutive weeks]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved September 18, 2020.
^Lee Sae-rom (April 24, 2009). [SS포토] 손담비 "토요일밤에~ 바로 그날에~" [[SS Photo] Son Dam-bi "Saturday night~ On that day~"]. Sports Seoul TV (in Korean). Retrieved June 25, 2022.
^Super Junior (2009). Sorry, Sorry (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
