#15. Kibum
Was there anyone else suitable for last place? Kibum has the shortest tenure out of all the members and even when compared to the Super Junior-M exclusive members had the least amount of contributions. He was definitely one of the more popular members in their very early years, but having disappeared since 2009 it's hard to put him anywhere but dead last.
#14. Shindong
Kibum and Shindong are unfortunately the easiest two members that come to mind when discussing Super Junior afterthoughts. Yeah the meme was that he was the fat one, but outside of some dance moments Shindong didn't have much. He sings here and there, raps here and there, but has been utterly mediocre in all of his exploits. Hell, he's probably the weakest of the whole squad in everything but dance.
#13. Zhou Mi
Splicing in some of the Super Junior-M members will feel odd but does give me a rounded 15 members to rank. Zhou Mi was an unknown (more than Henry) when he debuted but it's safe to say that he contributed. His voice was flexible and utilized in all sorts of their music, and even had his own solo debut in 2014. Having actual Chinese members for a subunit aimed specifically for Chinese audiences was an obvious move, and Zhou Mi was a great pickup.
#12. Ryeowook
Oh man, back in the earliest discovery days I used to dislike this dude. More specifically, I thought his voice was mad annoying. But of course as time went on, I realized that Ryeowook just has a gift. His range is his range, and he excels at hitting those glorious high notes. Super Junior was kinda limited in the higher ranges outside of him and maybe Sungmin, so having that coverage was important.
#11. Eunhyuk
If I was doing this ranking back in like 2015, I may have given Eunhyuk the #15 spot. That's because he basically did nothing but dance and have shitty rap moments. And back then I did not give a shit about choreography points. He's one of the legends in the industry when it comes to dancing and as my interest in Kpop matured I realized that visual performance is equally as important as the audio performance, and Eunhyuk do be a danciung machine.
#10. Kangin
Controversies aside, Kangin has an incredible voice. When the roster has 13 members, having a distinct sound helps you stand out among the crowd. As unique as his voice is, Kangin also has a pretty wide range which makes him suitable for a couple different styles. Like I'm not gonna ignore that he's a piece of shit that needs help, but his unique voice alone gifts him to at least top ten territory.
#9. Leeteuk
Speaking of Super Junior members with questionable antics, here's Leeteuk. Back in the day, two types of idols caught my eye: strong vocalists and group leaders. Say what you will about him - especially in recent years, but Leeteuk was an exemplary leader back in the era where Kpop actually cared and emphasized that role within a group. Especially in a company like SM that defaulted the leader to the oldest member, he wore that cape pretty well.
#8. Sungmin
Imagine being so salty and cringe that a dude got married you had to exile him from his group. God what a shitty world we live in. Sungmin deserves better. He should've been back with the group ages ago but nah, these fans get to decide his fate...somehow. Sungmin, like Ryeowook, used to be pretty low on the list because I didn't appreciate his vocal talent but that changed over time. Wait did Sungmin have a kid?
#7. Henry
I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what Henry has been up to in like the last five years. I'll also admit I was a big Henry fan back in those early 2010's since he and I share the same birthday. Plus he also speaks Cantonese and was a jack-of-all-trades type of member. Also can we talk about how this brother came into the spotlight: a fucking violin solo in a Super Junior video? Then became a mainstay in a subunit? If something similar happened in 2018 that would've been wild, and Henry did it in 2007.
#6. Hangeng
Honestly I don't really care for Hangeng that much. His voice is average - especially within the confines of Super Junior - and so was his dancing. However his role and legacy in the world of Kpop is unquestionably huge. Whether you look on the positive side: paving the way for Chinese members in the industry, or the negative side: paving the way for said Chinese members to void their contracts and get out, Hangeng was the pioneer of both.
#5. Donghae
Donghae is overrated, I say as I put him within my top five. Consistency is the key of Donghae's game as whether it's vocals, dance, variety, etc. he has been extremely consistent since the earliest days. He's got charisma both on and off the stage. He and Eunhyuk spearhead the group in terms of dancing ability but Donghae does way more outside of dance Is that difference worth six spots on the list? Probably not, but whatever.
#4. Heechul
Many consider him the consummate idol. Speaks his mind but in a very fluid way, routinely has good moments in their music, absolute variety superstar, no controversies (that we're aware of). As the second eldest, he also takes in part of the leader mantle alongside Leeteuk. Heechul's only weakness is his health. Injuries have hampered him over the years, which holds him back in the performance aspect.
#3. Siwon
Heechul and others may be masters of variety, but for some reason Siwon was always the funniest to me back in the Running Man and other variety show days. His personality was very charming and singlehandedly made up for his deficiencies elsewhere. Naturally, he's gotten better at singing and dancing over the years but his presence in the variety world is the bulk of his work. His skit with Hangeng where he goofily speaks Mandarin will remain one of my all-time favorites.
#2. Kyuhyun
The powerhouse vocalists of Super Junior will always be my top two picks. Kyuhyun and Yesung have constantly traded these spots pretty much from the first time I heard them sing back in 2009. As of this moment, my nostalgia continues to bolster both these dudes. Kyuhyun has one of the most unique vocal colors of the group alongside Kangin and Ryeowook, but his key difference is his flexibility. Kyuhyun can match his voice to pretty much any genre. Adaptability is king.
#1. Yesung
To prevent overlap, I'll keep the top dog's sectio brief. Yesung's voice is powerful. The best of the group. That's all one really needs to cement a high placing in my book. Yesung has always been a consistent pillar of the group (military service aside), so being both an amazing singer and consistent member are two fantastic boons to have. He comes out on top for now.
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