The Little Prince (EP)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Little Prince
| type = EP
| artist = Ryeowook
| cover = The Little Prince Ryeowook EP.jpeg
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption =
| released = {{Start date|2016|01|28}}
| recorded = 2016
| venue =
| studio =
- Doobdoob (Seoul)
- In Grid (Seoul)
- Sound (Seoul)
| genre =
| length = {{duration|m=23|s=03}}
| language = Korean
| label =
| producer = Lee Soo-man
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Drunk on Love
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The Little Prince
| type = EP
| single1 = The Little Prince
| single1date = January 28, 2016
}}
{{External music video|type=ep|{{YouTube|Js_Tf4nPilc|"The Little Prince"}}}}
}}
The Little Prince ({{korean|어린왕자||Eorin Wangja}}) is the solo debut extended play (EP) by South Korean singer and actor Kim Ryeo-wook, a member from boy group Super Junior. It was released on January 28, 2016, by Label SJ, SM Entertainment and distributed by KT Music. The EP featured six tracks in total, including the lead single, "The Little Prince".{{cite news|title=Super Junior's Ryeowook to release first solo album 'The Little Prince'|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/188710/super-juniors-ryeowook-to-release-first-solo-album-the-little-prince|accessdate=January 27, 2016|newspaper=Inquirer |date=January 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222020944/https://entertainment.inquirer.net/188710/super-juniors-ryeowook-to-release-first-solo-album-the-little-prince|archive-date=February 22, 2025|url-status=live}}
Background
The release of The Little Prince was not only anticipated as Ryeowook's first official solo album since his debut 11 years ago but also because it was the first release under Super Junior's own label "Label SJ", established by SM Entertainment on November 6, 2015, during the group's 10th anniversary.{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2018/11/688_190382.html|work=The Korea Times|last=Kim|first=Ji-soo|title=Super Junior gets exclusive new label|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325134839/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2018/11/688_190382.html|archive-date=March 25, 2025|url-status=live|date=November 6, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Ryeo Wook to Be the First Solo Runner of SM Entertainment|url=http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=28027|access-date=January 27, 2016|work=BNTNews |date=January 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127021011/http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=28027|archive-date=January 27, 2017|url-status=dead}}
Production and composition
The title track bearing the same name as the album was a ballad inspired by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel "The Little Prince". The title track "The Little Prince" was a pop ballad song and a conversation between a man in pain from love and The Little Prince.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news1.kr/photos/1748245|script-title=ko:려욱, '어린왕자 려욱입니다'|date=January 25, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2025|work=News1|location=Seoul|language=ko|trans-title=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325134500/https://www.news1.kr/photos/1748245|archive-date=March 25, 2025|url-status=live|last=Go|first=A-ra}}
His album consists of songs that are very different in flavor.{{cite news|title=Ryeo Wook to Release His First Solo Album|url=http://www.bntnews.in/app/news.php?nid=17948|accessdate=January 27, 2016|newspaper=BNTNews |date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204051215/http://www.bntnews.in/app/news.php?nid=17948|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead}} The lyrics for "POOM" was written by Ryeowook, and depicts the words that a son wants to tell his mother but doesn't know where to begin. "Foxy Girl" is a light mid-tempo dance song, and features rapper DinDin. Ballad song "Like a Star" help to bring out the clear vocals of Ryeowook, with orchestra and piano music. The album also includes a retro song "Hello" and the song "People you may know" which tells of one's feelings after seeing the photos of someone you have just broke up with appear on the social media recommendations.{{cite news|title=Super Junior's Ryeowook drops 'The Little Prince' MV teaser|url=http://kpopfighting.com/2016/01/25/super-juniors-ryeowook-drops-the-little-prince-mv-teaser/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201152102/http://kpopfighting.com/2016/01/25/super-juniors-ryeowook-drops-the-little-prince-mv-teaser/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 1, 2016|accessdate=January 27, 2016|newspaper=kpopfighting |date=January 25, 2016}}{{Unreliable source|date=March 2025}}
Promotion
=Release=
On January 19, 2016, the first two teasers were uploaded via SM Town.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldpop.com/article/828050|script-title=ko:첫 솔로 앨범, '어린왕자' 려욱...'25일 쇼케이스'에 팬들 특별 초대|date=January 20, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2025|work=K-Pop Herald|last=Kim|first=Eun-jung|language=ko|trans-title=First solo album, 'The Little Prince' Ryeowook... Special invitation to fans at '25th Showcase'|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325135825/https://www.heraldpop.com/article/828050|archive-date=March 25, 2025|url-status=live}} The Little Prince was officially available on January 28, through online and regular stores.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldpop.com/article/841020|script-title=ko:'어린왕자' 려욱, 진짜 어린왕자로 변신해 MV속 "날 길들여"|date=January 28, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2025|work=K-Pop Herald|last=Kim|first=Hyun-min|language=ko|trans-title='The Little Prince' Ryeowook transforms into a real Little Prince and "Tame me" in the MV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325140618/https://www.heraldpop.com/article/841020|archive-date=March 25, 2025|url-status=live}}
=Live Performance=
Ryeowook hold his commemorative showcase for his mini-album release on the January 25 at 4 PM. During the event, he presented the first stages of the songs from The Little Prince as well as the episodes related to the album.{{cite news|title=Ryeo Wook Holds Showcase for His Mini Album|url=http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=28051|accessdate=January 27, 2016|newspaper=BNTNews |date=January 20, 2016}} He also hold his first broadcast stage via M Countdown on the day of release.{{cite news|title=Ryeowook seeks an answer to his pain in "The Little Prince" MV teaser|url=http://www.koreaboo.com/video/120021|accessdate=January 27, 2016|newspaper=Koreaboo |date=January 24, 2016}}
=Solo Concert=
In addition to Ryeowook's solo promotions and album release, he held his first solo concert through SMTOWN's The Agit series called "Ever Lasting Star - RyeoWook" from February 19 until the 21st for three days at the SMTOWN's Coex Artium in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Due to popular demand, an additional three concerts were held from March 11 through the 13th.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/02/super-juniors-little-prince-ryeowook-adds-three-more-shows-to-his-solo-concert|title=Super Junior's Little Prince Ryeowook Adds Three More Shows to His Solo Concert!}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = CD/Digital
| total_length = 23:03
| extra_column = Arranger(s)
| title1 = Like a Star
| note1 =
| music1 = 4th Hitter
| lyrics1 = 4th Hitter
| extra1 = 4th Hitter
| length1 = 3:33
| title2 = The Little Prince
|note2={{Korean|labels=no|hangul=어린왕자 |rr=eolin-wangja|lit=The little prince}}
| music2 = {{Hlist|Red Head Anne|Shin Yoon-soo}}
| lyrics2 = {{Hlist|Red Head Anne|Oh Ja-hyun}}
| extra2 = Hwang Seong-je
| length2 = 4:21
| title3 =Hello
|note3={{Korean|labels=no|hangul=그대|rr=geudae|lit=You}}
| music3 = {{Hlist|G-High|GDLO}}
| lyrics3 = {{Hlist|G-High|GDLO}}
| extra3 = {{Hlist|G-High|GDLO}}
| length3 = 3:21
| title4 = People You May Know
|note4={{Korean|labels=no|hangul=알 수도 있는 사람|rr=al sudo issneun salam|lit=Someone who might know}}
| music4 = Park Chang-hyun
| lyrics4 = Park Chang-hyun
| extra4 = Park Chang-hyun
| length4 = 4:20
| title5 = Foxy Girl
| note5 = featuring DinDin
| music5 = {{Hlist|Ecobridge|HILO (Isaac Han)|Aaron Kim}}
| lyrics5 = {{Hlist|Ecobridge|HILO (Isaac Han)|Aaron Kim}}
| extra5 = {{Hlist|Ecobridge|HILO (Isaac Han)|Aaron Kim}}
| length5 = 3:18
| title6 = POOM
|note6={{Korean|labels=no|hangul=품|rr=pum|lit=Product}}
| music6 = {{Hlist|G-High|Asher Park|Song Shi-yoon}}
| lyrics6 = {{Hlist|Kim Ryeo-wook|G-High|Asher Park}}
| extra6 = {{Hlist|G-High|Asher Park}}
| length6 = 4:10
}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for The Little Prince ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label |
| scope="row" | South Korea
| rowspan="2"| January 28, 2016 | CD |
|---|
| scope="row" | Various
| {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | {{Hlist|SM|Label SJ}} |
Chart performance
=Album charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak ! scope="col"| Sales |
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Weekly Albums Chart
| 1 | rowspan="4"|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Monthly Albums Chart
| 3 |
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Year-End Albums Chart
| |
| scope="row"| US Billboard World Albums Chart
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 |
=Single charts=
A Little Prince
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak ! scope="col"| Sales |
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Weekly Singles Chart
| 7 | rowspan="3"| 279,574+ (digital downloads only) |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Monthly Download Chart
| 62 |
| scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Year-End Download Chart
| |
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col"| Peak chart position ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Sales |
| style="text-align:center;"| KOR Gaon {{cite web| url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL| title=Gaon Digital Chart| work=Gaon Chart| publisher=Korea Music Content Industry Association| accessdate=22 May 2015}} |
|---|
| scope="row" align="left"| "Like A Star"
| style="text-align:center;"| 141 |
|
| scope="row" align="left"| "People You May Know"
| style="text-align:center;"| 161 |
|
| scope="row" align="left"| "POOM"
| style="text-align:center;"| 166 |
|
| scope="row" align="left"| "Hello"
| style="text-align:center;"| 174 |
|
| scope="row" align="left"| "Foxy Girl"
| style="text-align:center;"| 189 |
|
Covers
- The song was covered by Stray Kids youngest member I.N.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRBmvAI9CJ8&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
- Also covered by DK of Seventeen.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xaxctNMAvk&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
- Another covered by fellow member Kyuhyun.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQAs5J-lKTo&pp=ygUZdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Uga3l1aHl1bg%3D%3D
- Covered again by BTOB's Eunkwang.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JZMdz6VnSw&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
- This song dueting with Sohee from boy-group RIIZE.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpRfZuvupw4&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
- This song was covered by NCT members Doyoung and Taeil.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3eY6zFdRXg&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
- In survival show Universe League episode 6 this song was covered by Park Han and JL.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5PG6lUSMHs&pp=ygUhdGhlIGxpdHRsZSBwcmluY2Ugcnllb3dvb2sgY292ZXJz
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://ryeowook.smtown.com Ryeowook's official website]
{{Super Junior}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Little Prince (EP)}}