Don't Don (song)
Encyclopedia
"돈 돈!", literally translated to "Money, Money! (Don't Don)", is an R&B/rock song (specifically SMP) written by Yoo Young Jin and Groovie K for the Korea
n boy band
Super Junior
, which was released in their second album, Don't Don
on September 20, 2007. On September 21, 2007, the group made their first performance on KBS's Music Bank, performing "Don't Don." The song debuted in most South Korean music charts and enjoyed success as part of the top 20 for weeks.
, a song with the music combination of rock, heavy beat, R&B, rap, and dance-pop
. The song debuted as part of the top 20 on most South Korean music charts on the second week of October. Composed, arranged and written by Yoo Young Jin, the song is an extinctive type of SMP (SM Music Performance), with the composition of heavy guitar riffs, percussion patterns, an electronic violin solo, and other musical elements that mix the song into a grand musical performance. The song features various rap strings and also a solo violin performance, performed by a Canadian-Chinese SM Entertainment
trainee, Henry Lau.
"Don't Don," pronounced as don don in Korean, is a play on the words "don," (Korean
: ), which means money, and "donda," (Korean
: ), which means "to go insane". In an effort to promote the world to become a more innocent and magnanimous place to live, the lyrics sends a message about how money, hypocrisy, and the change of society has made the world into a twisted and greedy place to live. The lyrics urge listeners to transform the world into a place where the innocence of children can be preserved.
ing that was first introduced in their last single, "U
", robotic dancing
, smooth transitions, and an exclusive addition of a solo dance segment presents Super Junior's dramatic change in image. In the music video, the Super Junior members dance in a war-like environment with explosive fire and hot air surrounding them. The members are seen running away from trucks and also jumping over large cracks as if escaping from danger. The music video came out with two versions, the second version with extra shots of Henry Lau
, a featured artist, and a large sun hanging in the dark sky near the end of the music video. The theme of the video deals with chaos and confusion, similar to how the lyrics of the song expresses that money has made the world go crazy and become hypocritical. The theme of the video controls a dangerous habitat which sends off a dark message and warning to the audience, which is not any similar to Super Junior's previous music videos where the main theme of the song is not expressed as clearly.
Henry Lau plays the violin during the dance break of the music video.
."
, a new subgroup of Super Junior, fans became furious with the label for adding a fourteenth member in Super Junior. Some fans begin to bash Henry and had plans to boycott SM Entertainment products. The fans even shouted "Thirteen!" during a solo performance of Henry while performing with Super Junior. However, SM Entertainment stepped up and said that Henry will not be affecting the official Super Junior, and will just be having activities with the subgroup.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
, which was released in their second album, Don't Don
Don't Don
Don't Don is the second studio album by Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released by SM Entertainment on September 20, 2007 in South Korea...
on September 20, 2007. On September 21, 2007, the group made their first performance on KBS's Music Bank, performing "Don't Don." The song debuted in most South Korean music charts and enjoyed success as part of the top 20 for weeks.
Song history
"Don't Don" is the first track in Don't DonDon't Don
Don't Don is the second studio album by Korean boy band Super Junior. It was released by SM Entertainment on September 20, 2007 in South Korea...
, a song with the music combination of rock, heavy beat, R&B, rap, and dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
. The song debuted as part of the top 20 on most South Korean music charts on the second week of October. Composed, arranged and written by Yoo Young Jin, the song is an extinctive type of SMP (SM Music Performance), with the composition of heavy guitar riffs, percussion patterns, an electronic violin solo, and other musical elements that mix the song into a grand musical performance. The song features various rap strings and also a solo violin performance, performed by a Canadian-Chinese SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
trainee, Henry Lau.
"Don't Don," pronounced as don don in Korean, is a play on the words "don," (Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: ), which means money, and "donda," (Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: ), which means "to go insane". In an effort to promote the world to become a more innocent and magnanimous place to live, the lyrics sends a message about how money, hypocrisy, and the change of society has made the world into a twisted and greedy place to live. The lyrics urge listeners to transform the world into a place where the innocence of children can be preserved.
Music video
The dance choreography for the song were choreographed by the members of Super Junior. A mature change in dance style, which includes pelvic thrustPelvic thrust
The pelvic thrust is the thrusting motion of the pelvic region, which is occasionally used in sexual intercourse.-Dance:Pelvic thrusts can also be used as a dance move, often as part of bump and grind. It is explicitly referred to in the song "Time Warp" from the 1970s The Rocky Horror Picture Show...
ing that was first introduced in their last single, "U
U (Super Junior song)
"U" is the first official CD single by Super Junior. The single topped CD sales charts during the first several weeks after its release on June 7, 2006. "U" peaked at #1 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts and sold 91,416 copies by 2008...
", robotic dancing
Robot (dance)
The robot is an illusionary street dance style – often confused with popping – that attempts to imitate a dancing robot or mannequin...
, smooth transitions, and an exclusive addition of a solo dance segment presents Super Junior's dramatic change in image. In the music video, the Super Junior members dance in a war-like environment with explosive fire and hot air surrounding them. The members are seen running away from trucks and also jumping over large cracks as if escaping from danger. The music video came out with two versions, the second version with extra shots of Henry Lau
Henry Lau
Henry Lau , better known mononymously as Henry, is a Chinese Canadian singer songwriter. He is a member of the Mandopop boy band Super Junior-M....
, a featured artist, and a large sun hanging in the dark sky near the end of the music video. The theme of the video deals with chaos and confusion, similar to how the lyrics of the song expresses that money has made the world go crazy and become hypocritical. The theme of the video controls a dangerous habitat which sends off a dark message and warning to the audience, which is not any similar to Super Junior's previous music videos where the main theme of the song is not expressed as clearly.
Henry Lau plays the violin during the dance break of the music video.
Reception
"Don't Don" debuted in weak positions at most online charts. It won its first #1 recognition, the SBS Popular Songs Mutizen Song, on October 21, 2007, a month after its release. "Don't Don" won its second recognition on November 1, 2007 at M.NET's M!Countdown, being the number one song of the week along with V.O.S.'s new single, "Everyday." Although the successful sales of Don't Don is reflected from the notability of the first single, "Don't Don" did not win as many achievements as the group's past single, "UU (Super Junior song)
"U" is the first official CD single by Super Junior. The single topped CD sales charts during the first several weeks after its release on June 7, 2006. "U" peaked at #1 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts and sold 91,416 copies by 2008...
."
Musical personnel
- LeeteukLeeteukPark Jung-su , better known by his stage name Leeteuk , is a South Korean idol singer, presenter, and occasional actor. He is the leader of the super boy band Super Junior. To prevent confusion with famous Korean veteran actress Park Jeong-su, he decided to use the name 'Leeteuk'...
– vocals (rap, chorus, background) - Heechul – vocals (rap, chorus, background)
- Han Geng – vocals (main, chorus, background)
- YesungYesungKim Jong-woon , better known by his stage name Yesung, is a South Korean idol singer and occasional actor. He is one of the four lead vocalists of the boy band Super Junior. He was once a radio host for his own radio program, M.I.R.A.C.L.E for You, which ended its broadcast in September 2007...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - Kang-InKang-InKim Young-woon , better known by his stage name Kangin, is a South Korean idol singer, actor, MC, presenter, and a member of the super boy band Super Junior. His name 'Kangin' , meaning strong benevolence, was given to him to complement his personality. Currently, Kangin will not be joining Super...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - ShindongShindongShin Dong-hee , better known by his stage name Shindong, is a South Korean idol singer, actor, presenter, and one of the four lead dancers of the boy band Super Junior. He is a dancer but also a rapper, often co-writing rap lyrics with Eunhyuk...
– vocals (rap, chorus, background) - SungminSungminLee Sungmin 이성민 , or most commonly known as Sungmin 성민, is a South Korean idol singer and actor. He is one of the four lead vocalists and one of the main dancer of the South Korean boy band Super Junior. He is also a member of Super Junior subgroup Super Junior-T, Super Junior-H and recently became...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - EunhyukEunhyukLee Hyuk-jae , better known by his stage name Eunhyuk, is a South Korean idol singer, dancer, rapper, presenter, song writer, and occasional actor. He is a part of the thirteen member South Korean boyband Super Junior. His position in the group is the lead rapper and one of the three lead dancers...
– vocals (rap, chorus, background) - DonghaeDonghae (entertainer)Lee Donghae , better known mononymously as Donghae , is a Korean singer and occasional actor. He is a part of the thirteen member South Korean boyband Super Junior. He is one of the three main dancers alongside fellow band members Eunhyuk and Shindong, and is part of its subgroup, Super Junior-M...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - Siwon – vocals (main, chorus, background)
- RyeowookRyeowookKim Ryeo-wook , best known mononymously as Ryeowook, is a Korean singer-songwriter and occasional actor. He is one of the four lead vocalists of the super boy band Super Junior, and is also a member of Super Junior-K.R.Y and Super Junior-M, two subgroups that are branched out from the main group...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - Kibum – vocals (rap, chorus, background)
- KyuhyunKyuhyunCho Kyuhyun , best known mononymously as Kyuhyun, is a Korean pop singer. He is the youngest member of a very popular boy band Super Junior. In Super Junior, he is a main vocalist. He is also one of the first four Korean artists to appear on Chinese postage stamps...
– vocals (main, chorus, background) - Yoo Young Jin – vocals (background)
Controversy
The featuring of Henry Lau, a Canadian-Chinese SM Entertainment trainee who plays the electronic violin during the violin solo segment in the song, created controversies with the fan base of Super Junior. Many fans of Super Junior initially supported Henry after seeing his pre-debut live performance while dancing with the violin at Super Junior's comeback performance on September 21, 2007, but after SM Entertainment announced Henry as part of the soon-to-debut Super Junior-ChinaSuper Junior-M
Super Junior-M, often referred to as SJ-M or SJM, is the third official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior. They are the first international music group in the Chinese music industry to have members of both Chinese and Korean descent, and is also the first group produced by Korea's CT ...
, a new subgroup of Super Junior, fans became furious with the label for adding a fourteenth member in Super Junior. Some fans begin to bash Henry and had plans to boycott SM Entertainment products. The fans even shouted "Thirteen!" during a solo performance of Henry while performing with Super Junior. However, SM Entertainment stepped up and said that Henry will not be affecting the official Super Junior, and will just be having activities with the subgroup.
Chart performance
"Don't Don" debuted on various South Korean charts on the second week of October. It debuted as #7.| Charts (2007) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Chart Korea | 1 |
| M.NET M!Countdown Chart | 1 |
| Popular Songs Take 7 Charts | 1 |