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Dan Williams

Grandiosely touted as the “Avengers of K-pop”, brand new supergroup SuperM is already blasting its way into its intended American market, while also making waves all over the globe.
The seven-piece boy band, stitched together from existing members of other popular groups in the SM Entertainment family, made a bang with the live launch of their debut EP “SuperM”, in Hollywood at Capitol Records on October 4.
At the time of writing, the music video for lead single, Jopping, has nearly 39 million YouTube views. On October 13, they became the first K-pop group to debut at number one on the Billboard album charts. Recently the boys also filmed a safety procedure video with Korean Air.


The group is made up of plenty of familiar faces, including main vocalist and group leader Baekhyun from EXO; lead vocalists Taemin, a K-pop veteran of SHINee, and Ten from WayV; lead rappers Lucas, also from WayV, and Kai, also from EXO; and, finally, from NCT 127 are rappers and dancers Taeyong and Mark. These seven artists have collectively sold more than 14 million “adjusted albums” – a combined tally of streaming, downloads and physical sales – and accumulated close to four billion YouTube views.
It’s a new sort of team but they will be in their own teams still, of course. We’re trying to unite the fandoms. Fans, please don’t worry about it. We’ll make you all happy
SM executive Chris Lee
The buzz for the group is hot. Despite their obvious instant success, what don’t we know yet about this boy band?


Did K-pop boy band SuperM cheat their way up the Billboard charts?
Taemin and Kai are best friends


Despite Taemin and Kai being long-time best friends, this is the first chance they’re getting to work in one group together. Each was the main dancer in SHINee and EXO, respectively, and Taemin and Kai are considered among the best dancers in the industry today.
“We’ve known each other for such a long time, there’s nothing new to learn,” Kai said. “But if I had to add something … we’ve been friends for such a long time, but we’ve never worked together as artists.
“We’ve had separate groups and careers, so coming together on the same team like this has changed the way we communicate, because we’re teammates now. We’re not just friends, and we’re not just giving each other advice, but we share the same goal and create team synergy. So that’s something that’s changed with our dynamic.”
Hard to believe – but some fans are unhappy with the collaboration



 

 
 


 
   
    

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A post shared by SuperM (@superm) on Sep 21, 2019 at 2:13am PDT



There are actually fans unhappy with the idea of SuperM. They do not want the band members to leave their original groups. They seem unconvinced that the members’ participation will not detract from the work they’re doing in their existing bands.
SM executive Chris Lee promises it won’t be an issue: “We’re maintaining their groups, their solo careers, and on top of this we have this ‘Avengers’ group to pull them together.
“It’s a new sort of team but they will be in their own teams still, of course. We’re trying to unite the fandoms. Fans, please don’t worry about it. We’ll make you all happy.”
Why BigBang rapper T. O. P is one of K-pop’s greats
Some controversy about that US number one


With their debut EP, SuperM is the first K-pop group to debut at the top of a Billboard chart. The problem is: could they have reached this spot without the dubious practice of album bundling?
They released eight versions of their debut EP and bundled digital copies with every ticket to the North American tour beginning in November. Is that fair?
New York-based music journalist and K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin has had this to say: “People bought the albums because of their love for SuperM members. If the album sales are ‘boosted’ and there isn’t true demand, I believe that will show in the future concert tour dates if they struggle to sell tickets. One person may buy multiple albums, but one person cannot fill multiple seats.”
Baekhyun is likely to be next up to enlist in the military



 

 
 


 
   
    

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SuperM 'Jopping' MV Still Image #BAEKHYUN _ #WeAreTheFuture #SuperMtheFuture #SuperM The 1st Mini Album 'SuperM’ Worldwide Release October 4. _ supermofficial.com _ #Jopping #SuperM_Jopping @baekhyunee_exo
A post shared by SuperM (@superm) on Sep 30, 2019 at 8:02am PDT



There’s no question the members of SuperM want Baekhyun as the group’s leader. Taemin said, “I personally think that it’d be best if Baekhyun were the leader … Baekhyun takes especially good care of the other members, and I rely a lot on him as well. To be honest, I personally wanted to request that Baekhyun take on the role.”
But since 1957, South Korea has enforced compulsory military service for all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 28. Baekhyun is 27 and will face the draft soon. What does that mean for SuperM?
Taeyeon’s new single dominates the K-pop charts
SuperM are conservationists



 

 
 


 
   
    

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Jumping + Popping = Jopping! Follow KAI and tag us @SuperM, let us see you #Jopping! #JoppingChallenge #SuperM #WeAreTheFuture #SuperMTheFuture
A post shared by SuperM (@superm) on Oct 24, 2019 at 1:58pm PDT



SuperM appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the group’s US television debut, and delivered performances of Jopping and I Can't Stand The Rain. It was there that the group aired their environmentally conscious side and handed over a US$50,000 cheque to the Ellen Fund, which supports conservation efforts for endangered species. Just when we thought we couldn’t love them any more.
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Led by Baekhyun and combining members from EXO, SHINee, WayV and NCT 127, seven-piece supergroup SuperM have been dubbed the ‘Avengers of K-pop’ – after topping the Billboard album charts, are they on the road to toppling BTS’ crown?


Supergroup SuperM have been dubbed the ‘Avengers of K-pop’ – after topping the Billboard album charts, are they on the road to toppling BTS’ crown?
