This has to be the biggest release of the week. After all, fans and the media are dubbing this as the Avengers of KPOP. SuperM has made their debut, consisting of many familiar faces. Featuring Baekhyun and Kai from EXO, Taemin from SHINee, Mark and Taeyong from NCT and Ten and Lucas from WayV (the Chinese subunit of NCT), this very special unit group has dropped their first single, Jopping. It seems like this is SM’s approach to the American market, especially with the growing fanbase for many male groups in the American market. So why not kick start the career of a new group in the Western music industry with the fanbases of four different and established groups?!
Jopping almost didn’t make the cut for a review. To this day, I haven’t reviewed any songs released in only English by any KPOP group. I am in the process of reconsidering, especially since I do Japanese music videos by KPOP groups. But that’s not the point here. Despite the song almost being in just English, there are a few Korean phrases scattered throughout. It is almost inverse of what we see in the KPOP industry (where the English phrases are the sprinkles instead). The title is a mash-up of jumping and popping, which I think makes senses with the song’s meaning of going all out on stage. Anyway, Jopping starts off true to the group’s nickname. It felt almost fitting for the Avenger’s soundtrack. It promised a fair amount of epicness and I think the song delivered this superbly as its progressed. The electro-pop track was fast tempo, powerful, impactful and very energetic. I think the track managed to showcase really good rapping and vocals from each member, with the two being massive highlights for me. I also like their rock ending, which I thought gave the song the chance to end with a bang. Overall, it is a memorable track and definitely one I will be listening to in the coming weeks.
The video manages to pull out some of the best special effects I have ever seen in the KPOP music video universe. You would expect the producers to do that when they are combining the forces of several of the popular KPOP groups in the world at the time. I did think some of them were questionable, such as the green screen stadium they performed in. Liked the idea but it felt cheesy. There is definitely a lot of tension and intensity in the video, matching the song in a very logical manner. A part of me wanted the producers to bring elements from NCT, EXO, SHINee and WAYV videos, which I think would have been a special treat for fans and made the video even more epic. But this is already as fantastic as it is.
With such an intense song, there was no doubt that the choreography would match this. There hasn’t been a live stage for this just yet (I am anticipating their Hollywood debut showcase but that won’t be for another two days where I am), so I am basing everything off the music video. The entire dance looked very cool, with the members looking almost like animals (I say that with total respect). Their charisma flows through. But that would be expected, especially since SuperM brings together some of the best dancers in SM Entertainment.
Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10
KPOPREVIEWED 
Perhaps because I’m biased, I’m a fan of each of the representative groups, I saw elements of each in the video.
EXO has always claimed super powers and we watched Kai teleport as fast as the light he threw (which is Baekhyun’s = light). This may be a bit of a stretch but isn’t “Monster” at a hangar?
We hear a bit of NCT 127’s “Super Human” surrounding and ending out Baekhyun’s high note. Walking along the road in the desert together is “Highway to Heaven.” And when they lined up during Mark’s rap solo reminded me of them in Jason Derulo’s “Let’s Shut Up and Dance.”
WayV’s “Take Off” is definitely in the video — the motor vehicles including bikes and aircraft + Ten’s solo dance break. “Jopping” is “Take Off” next level.
The only one I can’t note is SHINee. Yet Taemin’s solo part in the desert is like a few of his solo videos, “Drip Drop” for one. The quality of his vocal is higher for a dance number; it’s intensified. I felt it.
Still, I keep thinking this song could have been performed by NCT (U since we want Ten and Lucas included) because to me it fits in their discography. However, as a listener, would I have been as thrilled as I am hearing Taemin’s and Baekhyun’s vocals? It’s doubtful.
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