Surprise drops don’t really exist in K-pop, but Super Junior’s Show Time is as close as we get. Teased only days ago, the digital single arrives without much build-up. It’s their first group comeback since 2022, though the individual members and sub-units have been active more recently.
Show Time feels tailor-made for live performances. Its big, celebratory energy pulls no punches, casting the group as leaders of the party. It takes an old-school funk approach, melding nimble rhythm guitar to bombastic vocals and groovy percussion. This sound can sometimes feel like pastiche, and Show Time flirts with that here and there. It’s at its best when playing things straight, attacking the track with power and keeping momentum high. I could do without some of the droning sing-talk in verse two and the spoken post-chorus, but Show Time‘s splashy centerpiece packs plenty of punch.
With this said, I can’t shake the feeling that I should love Show Time more than I do. After all, funk pop is a sweet spot for me and SM artists are particularly great at delivering it. The song is a rollicking good time, yet the melodies don’t quite hit me the way I wish they did. Perhaps it just needs more listens or the benefit of a live performance. Either way, it’s great to hear Super Junior back in such upbeat, fun-loving form.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8.25