Girls' Generation (소녀시대; 少女時代) is a nine-member South Koreangirl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2007. In the order that they were announced as part of the group prior the group's debut, the members are; Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon (leader), Jessica, and Sunny. They are often referred to as SoShi (소시), or SNSD (mainly outside Korea), the first of which is an abbreviation and the second an acronym of the group's Korean name So Nyeo Shi Dae (or So Nyuh Shi Dae). In China, they are known as 少女時代 (Shàonǚ Shídài; or Siu Nui Si Doi in Hong Kong) and in Japan as 少女時代 (Shōjo Jidai).
The group has released two full albums, two mini-albums, and various singles. Their 2009 hit single "Gee" holds the record for being the longest running #1 song on KBS's Music Bank, having held the #1 chart ranking for 9 consecutive weeks.[1] That year also saw the group winning various awards, including consecutive Artist of the Year (Daesang) awards at the Seoul Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards, and the Korean Cultural Entertainment Awards.
History
Pre-debut
The members were professionally trained primarily in singing, dancing
and languages while a select few were also underwent further training
in acting and modeling. Many of the members had already made appearances
in magazine ads, television commercials, and small television
appearances. For nearly two years, Korean websites speculated about
which female SM Entertainment trainees would be placed into the group.[2]
2007–2008: Debut and First Album
In July 2007, Girls' Generation had their unofficial first stage performance on M.Net's School of Rock where the group performed their first single, titled "Into the New World" (Korean: "다시 만난 세계", Dasi Mannan Segye). A documentary recording the story of the group's debut titled M.Net's Girls Go To School
was filmed during this time, showing the members as they moved into an
apartment together and prepared for their performances. The group's
first single was physically released soon after, including two other
tracks; "Beginning" and "Perfect for You". The latter's Korean title is
'Wish' ('소원'), which is also the
name of Girls' Generation's official fan-club (stylized: S♡NE). The
group's debut and first ever promotions began on August 5, 2007, first
performing on SBS's Inkigayo and then later on MBC's Show! Music Core and KBS's Music Bank. "Into the New World" achieved #1 spot on M.net M.Countdown!.
The group released their self-titled full album first full album in late autumn 2007 with the lead single "Girls' Generation" (Korean: "소녀시대"), a cover of Lee Seung-cheol's
1989 hit. Promotion for the single started in early November. The album
also included an instrumental version of the group's first single Into the New World,
"Perfect For You" retitled as "Honey", and 8 other tracks by the group.
In early 2008, Girls' Generation began promoting their second single
from the album, "Kissing You". The music video featured Donghae from Super Junior.
In March 2008, the album was re-packaged, re-released and re-titled Baby Baby.
A third single, "Baby Baby", was used to promote the album. Jessica,
Tiffany and Seohyun were also featured on a mini-album released by
Roommate, a one-man band from the Purple Communication (an independent Korean label in which all of the releases from this company is being distributed by SM Entertainment in South Korea, mostly specializing in Korean contemporary adult music). The mini-album was titled Roommate: Emotional Band Aid,
and was released on December 1, 2008. The 3rd track from the mini-album
was performed by the 3 Girls' Generation members and is titled "Oppa
Nappa" (Korean: "오빠 나빠",
literally "Bad Brother", although contextually it refers to an older
male friend). The track was digitally released before the album was,
coming out in April 2008.
On June 7, 2008, during the "Dream Concert" various fanclubs turned
off their glowsticks and remained silent during the performance by
Girls' Generation.[3]
It was announced in autumn 2008 that Girls' Generation would be starring in a reality show on Mnet, titled Factory Girl. The show chronicles the band members working as interns at fashion magazine Elle Girl.[4]
The articles the group worked on were actually featured in the Korean
Elle Girl magazine. The program began airing in early October.[5] In Late 2008, the group also participated in the SM Town Live '08 concert along with other SM Town artists.
2009: Other Activities, Comebacks, The "Gee" Fever
On December 29, 2008, it was announced that the group's first EP, The First Mini Album — Gee, would be released in the following month in January, 2009.[6] A teaser video was released in January 2009 and the first single "Gee" released soon after. Gee topped Cyworld's hourly music chart on the release day.[7] The song also went #1 on all major digital music charts within two days.[8]
The group began its album promotion on January 2009 on MBC Show! Music Core.[9] They sang their new lead single, "Gee", as well as the track "Him Nae (Way To Go)", another song from their mini-album.
After a short break, SM Entertainment
announced that the group would be back with a new mini-album sporting a
"Marine Girl" concept. The new single was to be titled "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" (Korean: "소원을 말해봐", literally "Tell Me Your Wish"); with the mini album being released digitally on June 22, 2009.[10][11] The mini-album, Genie, includes a duet between Jessica and SHINee member Onew called "One Year Later".[12] The group started their promotional activities on the June 26, 2009 recording of KBS's Music Bank.[12] The performance was followed by follow-up comeback performances on MBC's Music Core and SBS's Inkigayo on June 27 and 28, 2009. The physical release of Genie was delayed by SM Entertainment in order to redo the album art, and was released 4 days later on June 29, 2009.[10]
The track proved to be a massive success. It conquered various music
sites like Melon, Dosirak, MNet, Bugs and it was No.1 on the weekly
charts and SKT ringtone weekly charts of the first week of July.[13]
The mini-album sold an estimated 50,000+ copies in its first week after
release (almost double the numbers from the first-week sales of "Gee"),
an unusual feat for any korean girl group.[14]
Their first No.1 award for "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" was on the July 10, 2009 episode of KBS Music Bank.[15][16] Their second award was claimed at the July 12, 2009 episode of SBS's Inkigayo and their third on the 16th on the same show.[17] The group finished up promoting for "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" in August 2009.
On October 7, Girls' Generation, along with label-mate f(x), released a digital single named "Chocolate Love" for the 4th edition of the Blacklabel series LGCYON phone, "Chocolate".[18]
Girls' Generation were chosen to record the "Retro Pop Version" of the
song while f(x) sang the "Electronic Pop Version". In comparison to
f(x)'s trendy and electronic version, Girls' Generation's "Retro Pop
Version" has a charismatic and vintage style, with a more mature and
sultry feel.[19] Girls' Generation released a "Chocolate Love" music video soon after, and then a second version some time afterward.
In addition to their musical activities, the group has had various
television series, with varied success. On May 3, 2009, Girls'
Generation starred in their new reality show Sonyuh Shidae Horror Movie factory,[20] in which the group undergoes various acting lessons and tests, the first three episodes revolving around a horror film
theme. The premiere episode received a viewership rating of 3.3%. When
the show was cancelled after 6 episodes, it was replaced with another
Girls' Generation reality program Himnaera-Him! or Cheer Up![21]
in which the group tries to cheer up hardworking people in the midst of
an economic slump. The show was discontinued after two episodes.[22]
Right after leaving MBC Sunday Sunday Night
segment, the group began a new reality television venture. On June 23,
2009, the group began starring on a new reality series titled Girls' Generation's Hello Baby,
on cable network KBS Joy. The show chronicles the group babysitting and
taking care of a young child in an attempt to experience and learn what
motherhood is like. Each week the group members (or 'fathers'; male
guests who come out to help on several episodes) select the "Best Mom"
and the "Worst Mom" from among the members according to their work for
the day.[23]
Viewers commented that it was one of the group's best shows so far, due
to the members showing their true personalities in a relaxed
environment and not relying on scripts. It was popular among fans and
teenagers and also garnered a lot of interest from young mothers.[24]
The show ended on November 17, 2009 after 22 episodes and 6 months of
airing. Upon ending recording, the Girls' Generation members stated that
they believed that while watching the child grow, they had reached a
new level of maturity and gratitude to their parents.[25]
In July, selected members, alongside selected Super Junior members, released the song "S.E.O.U.L.".[26] The music video was released as part of South Korea's tourism initiative.
The members were frequently on television and were able to quickly
establish their individual personalities through both group and solo
activities such as MCing, variety shows, game shows and talk shows, and
were said to have 'conquered the media'.[27]
Because of their lively image and wide spectrum of fans, the group was
chosen as ambassadors to publicize the transfer of South Korean
television to digital technology in late September, 2009.[28]
In early November, the group also announced that they would be
holding their first solo concert tour, with two Korean dates in December
and other Asian locations to follow.[29] Tickets were available for online purchase at 8pm on November 19,[30] with the Korean dates selling out at record time in only 3 minutes.[31] The concert tour is titled "Into the New World"
after the name of their debut single. Due to the success and popularity
of the first two concerts on December 19 and 20, the group went on to
hold encore concerts on February 27 and 28.[32]
2010: Second album and Japanese debut
Later in January, SM Entertainment confirmed the release of Oh!, the group's second full-length album to be released on January 28.[33] The lead single "Oh!", was digitally released on January 25 with the music video being released two days later.[34] The song proved to be popular topping various charts upon release.[35] On January 30, the group started promotions with the recording of MBC's Show! Music Core.[36]
The broadcast of the performance experienced a blackout near the end,
to which MBC made the whole performance available online in response.[37] With 'Oh!', the group went on to win 5 consecutive K-charts on KBS Music Bank, as well as achieving a triple crown on SBS Inkigayo.[38] 'Oh!' also went on to win Music Bank's half-year K-chart and came in at 2nd on Hanteo's first half album sales chart.[39]
Starting from March 11, 2010, photos of the members were released
online showcasing a dark concept, dubbed "Black Girls' Generation".[40] A teaser video was released on March 16, with the new single Run Devil Run being released as a digital single on March 17.[41] The music video for "Run Devil Run was released on March 17, and the group's first performance for the new single was on KBS's Music Bank.[42][43] The song won 2 K-charts on KBS Music Bank and 2 Mutizen wins as well in SBS Inkigayo.[44]
With the combined sales of both the full album "Oh!" and the repackage
"Run Devil Run", Girls' Generation sold more albums than any other
artist in the first half of 2010.[39]
The music videos for both "Oh!" and "Run Devil Run" made it into
GOMTV's 2010 First Half Top 10 ranking, the group having attracted over
13 million views in 6 months.[45]
Mid-June, it was announced that the group had signed contracts in
May, and would begin working under Universal Music Japan's record label
Nayutawave Records for their Japanese promotions, with their first
Japanese single expected to be released in September 2010.[46][47][48] Girls' Generation began promotion in Japan in August. "少女時代到来～初来日記念盤～" (Girls' Generation's Arrival ～ First Time in Japan Commemoration Disc ～),
a DVD featuring seven of the group's music videos as well as special
bonus footage was released on August 11, with the special edition of the
DVD containing a pink glowstick as well as a pass to the Girls'
Generation debut at the Tokyo Ariake Colliseum on August 25.[49]
According to Universal Music Japan, the DVD had reached considerable
success even before physical release, the pre-orders having sold out.[50]
In the first week after release, the DVD sold 23,000 copies, making
no.4 on the weekly DVD Oricon ranking and no.3 on the weekly music DVD
ranking,[51] making Girls' Generation the first female k-pop group to make the Oricon DVD Top-5 ranking.[52] Their Japanese debut single "Genie" peaked at the #5 spot on the same day of its release on Oricon Charts.[53]
On August 23, the group arrived in Japan at Haneda airport to begin promotions in Japan.[55] Following this date on August 25, the group held their first showcase in Tokyo Ariake Colliseum.[56] With an initial 10,000 fans invited, it was reported to be the most large-scale plan for a Korean artist debuting in Japan.[49]
However, due to high number of expected attendees, the group's
management announced that the showcase would take place three times in
the same day rather than once to accommodate the estimated 20,000 fans.[57]
The group sang 5 of their Korean tracks at each of the showcases, the
total number of attendees over all three shows estimated to be at least
22,000.[58] At this showcase, the Genie
Japanese music video was also revealed publicly for the first time, the
teaser having been released a few days prior on August 20.[59]
Art Wallpapers 3d, art Painting Wallpapers
