[OLD] Song of the Week: Breakdown - Super Junior M

This week I'm going to do something that I will do many times in the future for this segment (more with the Japanese stuff, but it applies here too): I'm going to talk about a song from a group that's not necessarily Chinese or Taiwanese.  For anybody reading this who doesn't know who Super Junior is (even if you aren't Asian, they're practically everywhere; if you haven't heard of them, shame on you) they are a VERY popular K-pop group that started a few years ago with thirteen (count 'em, THIRTEEN) members.  A couple of years ago they decided that they wanted to appeal to a larger market, so they formed a subgroup called Super Junior M, which sings in Mandarin Chinese.  Originally composed of seven members (five from the original Super Junior and two new recruits), now they have expanded to eight members.  If you want more detail about what happened or how they started, google them.

Anywho, the song I'm focusing on is called Breakdown and to my knowledge it is their latest music video.  It's quite an awesome song and you will soon see why (or not).  Below are the lyrics*:

This isn't like me, I can't calm down at all
Passers-by can see that I have a special anticipation for you
I lost control, what do I do now?  I'm almost unable to leave
Yeah, our conversation is completely ordinary
Why is my heart beating exceptionally fast?
Each and every movement, in your presence, is so easily seen through
Because I've gotten lost in your eyes

For you my armed heart breaks down
What's left is my bare confession, my defenseless love
I need to be selflessly brave, block rumors
So baby, let's go go go go go
For you my emotionless mask breaks down
All of my expressions have revealed my adoration for you
Even if I get hurt I won't feel regret, I just want you to rely on me
So baby, let's go go go go go

Along the way I remove my armor, running faster with all my might
I catch you up, protecting you so you won't get hurt
Even if I get covered in bruises, it doesn't matter to me, it's all for you
Perhaps you think I'm too crazy (Yeah, you can call me crazy)
Actually, I think so too (but I can't stop loving you)
Love is like an intoxicating melody

For you my armed heart breaks down
What's left is my bare confession, my defenseless love
I need to be selflessly brave, block rumors
So baby, let's go go go go go
For you my emotionless mask breaks down
All of my expressions have revealed my adoration for you
Even if I get hurt I won't feel regret, I just want you to rely on me
So baby, let's go go go go go

It's like I've almost found myself again, but failed once more
Again you're breakin' me down, breakin' me down
How many times have I already gone far away, but come back again?
Love's always breakin' me down, breakin' me down

For you my armed heart breaks down
What's left is my bare confession, my defenseless love
I need to be selflessly brave, block rumors
So baby, let's go go go go go
For you my emotionless mask breaks down
All of my expressions have revealed my adoration for you
Even if I get hurt I won't feel regret, I just want you to rely on me
So baby, let's go go go go go
The way out has completely broken down
Like falling to ruins, break down
Loving you makes me completely break down

Okay, so maybe this song is a little cheesier than I remembered.  But who cares?  It has a snappy beat and a really cool melody.  The vocals are amazing too.  Seriously, you get Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Henry together, and you are down for some amazingly awesome vocals.

The music video is totally standard Super Junior: simple sets, cool lighting, and basically a monochromatic color scheme.  It's pretty obvious (at least to me) that the reason they do it that way is to keep the focus on the people in the video instead of the location of the video, which makes total sense.  Of course, who would even notice the background with all of the awesome choreography in this video?  That's another thing Super Junior is known for: REALLY COOL DANCE MOVES.  And this video is no exception.  I do have one beef with this video, however: whoever came up with the wardrobe, what is up with that THING on Siwon's head?  It looks like a small rodent curled up to take a nap in his hair and nobody bothered to do anything about it.

All in all, totally one of my favorite music videos from Super Junior M and I hope they continue to be this completely awesome for a long, long time.

*Translation may not be 100% accurate.  Don't fault me; I don't speak Mandarin.