Girls' Generation (2011 album)

This article is about the 2011 self-titled album in Japanese by Girls' Generation. For their 2007 self-titled album in Korean, see Girls' Generation (2007 album).
Girls' Generation
Studio album by Girls' Generation
Released June 1, 2011
(see release history)
Recorded August 2010–March 2011
Genre J-pop
Length 41:22
Language Japanese
Label Nayutawave Records
Producer Lee Soo-man
Girls' Generation chronology

Into the New World: The 1st Asia Tour
(2010)		 Girls' Generation
(2011)		 The Boys
(2011)
Singles from Girls' Generation
  1. "Genie"
    Released: September 8, 2010
  2. "Gee"
    Released: October 20, 2010
  3. "Mr. Taxi / Run Devil Run"
    Released: April 27, 2011
  4. "Bad Girl"
    Released: August 11, 2011
Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~
Studio album by Girls' Generation
Released December 28, 2011
(see release history)
Recorded August 2011–December 2011
Genre J-pop, dance-pop, electropop, synthpop
Length 57:27
Language Japanese
Label Nayutawave Records
Producer Lee Soo-man
Girls' Generation chronology

The Boys
(2011)		 Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~
(2011)		 Girls & Peace
(2011)
Singles from Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~
  1. "The Boys"
    Released: October 19, 2011
  2. "Time Machine"
    Released: March 13, 2012

Girls' Generation is the debut Japanese album by the South Korean girl group Girls' Generation, and was released by Nayutawave Records on June 1, 2011. A repackaged edition of the album, The Boys, was released on December 28, 2011.[1]

To promote the album, Girls' Generation embarked on their first Japan concert tour, The First Japan Arena Tour. Furthermore, the album is also ranked 18th on Spin magazine's Top 20 Pop Albums of 2011, and makes Girls' Generation the highest selling album and the highest annually ranked album achieved so far by a Korean group in Oricon history.

With the aid of their repackaged album, the album has officially shipped over 1 million copies as of January 11, 2012. As of June 2012, the album has been "Million"-certified by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), making the group the second Korean artist to earn this achievement in Japan since Korean labelmate BoA's Best of Soul in 2005.[2]

Background

After releasing three singles in the Japanese market, including "Genie", "Gee", and "Mr. Taxi/Run Devil Run", it was rumoured that Girls' Generation would release their first Japanese studio album.

On May 13, 2011 the official Girls' Generation Japanese website posted an image stating that "big news" would be announced on May 16, 2011.[3] On May 16, eight months after their Japanese debut in September 2010, Girls' Generation finally revealed their first Japanese album titled Girls' Generation,[4] with the tracklist made available soon after.[5] The tracks "Mr. Taxi" and "Let It Rain" were used as the background music for various versions of Girls' Generation's CF with Lipton Tea.[6] As a result of their rising popularity, Girls' Generation became the highest earning foreign artist in Japan for the first half of 2011.[7]

On December 7, 2011, it was announced that Girls' Generation would release a re-packaged version of their first Japanese album Girls' Generation as Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~, which includes a Japanese version of their international hit "The Boys", and remixed versions of "The Great Escape", "Bad Girl", "Mr.Taxi", and a new song "Time Machine". The Girls' Generation re-packaged album was released on December 28, 2011.

Promotion

It was announced on March 7, 2011 that Girls' Generation would embark on their first nationwide Japan tour starting May 18, 2011 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, with a total of 7 stops in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.[8] The start of the tour was postponed to May 31, 2011 because of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Due to overwhelming demand, with up to 300,000 applicants applying for tickets,[9] additional stops were added to the tour.[10]

Commercial performance

Pre-orders started on different e-stores. On Amazon Japan, the deluxe edition sold very well and rose quickly to No.1 on the pre-order chart while the limited edition was ranked 7th. On various Japanese album stores, Girls' Generation was the No.1 pre-ordered album with over 300,000 units expected to be shipped.[11]

The album topped the Oricon Daily Album Chart at first place on June 1 with a sales count of 43,583 copies, which made Girls' Generation the first foreign girl group ever to top the chart on the release date.[12][13] According to Oricon, the album sold 131,553 copies in the first week and placed first on the Oricon Weekly Album Chart, surpassing the record for first week debut album sales for a foreign artist, a record previously held by SM Entertainment labelmate BoA's Listen to My Heart.[14][15] One month after the album release, Oricon reported a total sales of 211,972 copies. The album placed second on the Oricon Monthly Album Chart for the month of June and became the 5th best selling album of 2011 in Japan according the Oricon Album Rankings.

On December 19, 2011, Oricon reported that Girls' Generation sold over 542,054 copies in the 2011 calendar year to rank 5th place on the Oricon Yearly Album Chart.[16] This surpassed the previous record of 7th place and 369,530 copies sold by SM Entertainment labelmate TVXQ's Best Selection 2010,[17] and makes Girls' Generation the highest selling album and the highest annually ranked album achieved so far by a Korean group in Oricon history. On June 8, 2012, the RIAJ certified the album "Million" for shipping over a million copies.[18]

The album placed 5th on the Oricon Weekly CD Albums chart for the second week of January 2012,[19] and Oricon announced that it was the first time in history that an album by a Korean artist placed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks. The previous record holder was the original soundtrack for the Korean drama Winter Sonata, which remained in the Top 10 for 16 weeks.[20][21]

Editions

The album was originally released in three different editions: Deluxe Limited First Press Edition, Limited Pressing Edition, and the Regular Edition. A repackaged Edition was released later.

The album was later re-released as Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~ was released in three editions: a Regular Edition with a lyrics-only booklet, a Limited Edition with a 36-page photobook, a bonus DVD featuring music videos of "Bad Girl" and "The Boys" (English Version) plus two rubber coasters and a Limited Pressing with the same photobook, bonus DVD and a case from the limited edition, but with two B2-size posters.

Singles

"Genie" is the official title for the debut in Japanese. The single was the first ever Japanese single released by Girls' Generation on September 8, 2010 in Japan. A new version of the music video was filmed to accompany the Japanese version, and the teaser was released on August 19, 2010. On August 26, 2010, the full music video was released. The song reached #5 on Oricon Charts on the releasing day. The song reached #2 on September 11, 2010.[22][23] The song was released in three editions, two CD+DVD (first press and regular), and a CD Only edition. First press CD+DVD edition includes a special photobook and a random (1 of 9) photocard. The single includes also includes the Korean version, "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)".

Girls' Generation also had success in Japan with their second Japanese single "Gee". They took second place and were crowned the first ever overseas girl group to reach number 1 on the chart.[24] The song was ranked fifty-seventh on the Japan Hot 100 2010 year-end chart. On April 20, 2011, the girls added another accomplishment to their belt as the RIAJ (Recording Industry Association of Japan) website updated their charts showing that SNSD's Chaku Uta Full (ringtones) downloads for "Gee" went Double Platinum. The RIAJ certifies Platinum as moving 250,000 units, so Double Platinum would mean that the girls had over 500,000 downloads for "Gee".[25]

"Mr. Taxi / Run Devil Run" set a new record for Girls' Generation, being their first Japanese single to shift 100,000 units in its first week of release.[26] Before they released the physical single, they released the Japanese version of "Run Devil Run" as a digital single on January 25, 2011. The single also managed to clinch the number 1 spot on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks.[27][28] "Mr. Taxi" was first performed live on May 13, 2011 on TV Asahi's Music Station.[29] On May 25, "Mr. Taxi" topped the Taiwanese music chart Gmusic.[30]

Track listing

CD
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Mr. Taxi"  STYSTY, Scott Mann, Chad Royce, Paolo Prudencio, Allison Veltz 3:33
2. "Genie" (Japanese version)Kanata Nakamura, Yoo Young-jinFridolin Nordso Schjoldan, Nermin Harambasic, Robin Jensen, Ronny Svendsen, Anne Judith Wik, Yoo Young-jin 3:42
3. "You-aholic"  STYSTY, Lindy Roberts, E.Kidd Bogart, Greg Ogan, Spencer Nezey 3:29
4. "Run Devil Run" (Japanese version)Kanata Nakamura, Hong Ji-YuAlex James, Michael Busbee, Kalle Engström 3:21
5. "Bad Girl"  HiroHiro, Jörgen Elofsson, Jesper Jakobson, Lauren Dyson 3:44
6. "Beautiful Stranger"  HiroHiro, Leah Haywood, Daniel James, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers 2:42
7. "I'm in Love with the Hero"  Kanata NakamuraLeah Haywood, Daniel James, Kevin Christopher Ross, Bret Carlson Puchir 2:48
8. "Let It Rain"  HiroHiro, Love, Habolin 3:40
9. "Gee" (Japanese version)Kanata Nakamura, E-TribeE-Tribe 3:21
10. "The Great Escape"  STYSTY, Andre Merritt, E.Kidd Bogart, Greg Ogan, Spencer Nezey 3:49
11. "Hoot" (Japanese version)Kanata Nakamura, John Hyunkyu LeeAlex James, Lars Halvor Jensen, Martin Michael Larsson 3:17
12. "Born to Be a Lady"  Kanata NakamuraLeah Haywood, Daniel James, Shelly Peiken 3:56
Total length:
 41:22

Critical reception

James Hadfield of Time Out Tokyo gave the album 3 of 5 stars, noting that the album was not terribly adventurous: "the group themselves bring so little personality to the table that it feels as if anyone could have sung it." He said that the songs were paler versions of their Korean counterparts, but the album was actually cohesive.[31]

Charts and certifications

Oricon Chart

Released Oricon Chart Peak Debut Sales Sales Total Chart Run
June 1, 2011 Daily Albums Chart[32] 1 73,583 871,097 83 weeks
Weekly Albums Chart[33] 1 231,553
Monthly Albums Chart[34] 2 411,972
Yearly Albums Chart (2011)[16] 5 642,054
Half-Year Chart (2012)[35] 11 209,679
Yearly Albums Chart (2012)[36] 25 229,043

Other charts

Chart Peak
position
Billboard Japan Top Albums 1
Billboard Japan Top Albums Yearly (2011)[37] 3
Billboard Japan Top Albums Yearly (2012)[38] 89
65 (Re:package Album "Girls' Generation" ~The Boys~)
Taiwan Charts 1

Gaon Chart

Charts Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Monthly Albums Chart[39] 11
South Korea Gaon Weekly International Albums Chart[40] 13
South Korea Gaon Monthly International Albums Chart[41] 2
South Korea Gaon Yearly International Albums Chart[42] 6
Charts Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly Albums Chart[43] 80
South Korea Gaon Monthly Albums Chart[44] 7
South Korea Gaon Yearly Albums Chart[45] 95
South Korea Gaon Weekly International Albums Chart[46] 9
South Korea Gaon Monthly International Albums Chart[47] 1
South Korea Gaon Yearly International Albums Chart[48] 2

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[16] 871,097+
RIAJ physical shipping certification[49] Million

Release history

Format Country Date Distributing label Edition
CD
Japan
June 1, 2011
Nayutawave Records
Deluxe First Press Edition
Limited Period Edition
Regular Edition
Hong Kong
June 13, 2011
Universal Music Hong Kong
Taiwan
June 17, 2011
Universal Music Taiwan
South Korea
July 13, 2011
S.M. Entertainment
Thailand
July 27, 2011
Universal Music Thailand
Philippines
October 29, 2011
MCA Music
Japan
December 28, 2011
Nayutawave Records
Repackaged Edition

References

  1. ↑ 일본 정규 1집 앨범 리팩키지 수록곡 리스트 – 윤아 갤러리
  2. ↑ 朝日新聞デジタル：朝日新聞社のニュースサイト
  3. ↑ "SNSD to announce "BIG NEWS" on May 16th". May 13, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  4. ↑ "アジアNo.1スーパーガールズグループ 少女時代　日本初オリジナルアルバム遂にリリース!!" (in Japanese). Nayutawave Records. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Japan 1st Album Girls' Generation discography". Girls' Generation Official Website. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  6. ↑ "あなたの好みはキュート?　クール?　少女時代が〈リプトン〉新CMに登場" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ "【オリコン上半期】少女時代、海外歌手1位の26億円　K-POP勢が大躍進" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Shoujo Jidai to release original Japanese single "MR. TAXI" + Arena Tour". Tokyohive. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  9. ↑ 곽민구. 너도 나도 "소녀시대 보자"…日투어 30만명 폭주. Economy Today News (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  10. ↑ 少女時代、ジャパン・ツアーの日程を変更&埼玉と広島公演を追加 (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  11. ↑ 소녀시대 日 첫앨범 출하량 50만장↑ ‘대히트 예고’. Newsen (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  12. ↑ 少女時代、オリジナルアルバムで初の週間1位を狙う (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ 김원겸. [연예 뉴스 스테이션] 소녀시대, 앨범 발매 첫날 오리콘 1위 등극. Nate News (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  14. ↑ "少女時代、海外歌手歴代1位　1stアルバム初週売上23.2万" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  15. ↑ 김상호. 소녀시대, 일본 성공이정표 보아 넘고 성숙한 변신 화제. Nate News (in Korean). Nate News. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "2011年オリコン年間CD＆DVDランキングを大発表！』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック" (in Japanese). Oricon. December 19, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ "年間ランキング特集『2010年、ヒットしたシングル、アルバム、DVDは？』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック月" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  18. ↑ 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計 (in Japanese). RIAJ. June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Weekly rankings CD album January 15, 2012 Jan 09, 2012" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Oricon Music News" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Girls’ Generation’s First Japanese Album Breaks Record" (in Japanese). Soshified. Retrieved January 26, 2012 2011. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ↑ (Korean) 소녀시대 오리콘 주간 4위 ‘해외 女가수 데뷔 최고성적 역사 썼다’ (Girls 4 on the Oricon Weekly ' best international female sexual history of a singer wrote Newsen. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  23. ↑ K-POPガールズ本命・少女時代、日本デビュー作が歴代最高記録 ニュース-ORICON STYLE. Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved on October 30, 2011.
  24. ↑ position. On October 26, 2010 it was announced that their Japanese 2nd single "Gee" reached #1 on the Oricon Daily chart, making them the first non-Japanese Asian girl 1026&rankKbn=50 "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue October 26, 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  25. ↑ SNSD’s ‘Gee’ goes double platinum in Japan
  26. ↑ チャン・グンソク、海外歌手史上初のデビュー作初登場首位 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  27. ↑ 少女時代 話題の新曲が首位獲得！ (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  28. ↑ "少女時代の「MR.TAXI」が、2週連続1位を記録！" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  29. ↑ "少女時代、5月13日放送予定の〈Mステ〉で"MR.TAXI"をTV初披露" (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  30. ↑ 백지은. 소녀시대, '미스터 택시'로 대만 음반차트 1위 '올킬'. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
  31. ↑ Hadfield, James (June 15, 2011). "AKB48, 'Koko ni Ita Koto'/Girls' Generation, 'Girls' Generation'". Time Out Tokyo. Time Out. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  32. ↑ 少女時代、オリジナルアルバムで初の週間1位を狙う (in Japanese). Oricon. June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  33. ↑ "少女時代、海外歌手歴代1位　1stアルバム初週売上23.2万" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  34. ↑ "CDアルバム 月間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  35. ↑ "上半期ランキング特集『AKB48とMr.Childrenが1、2位独占！上半期の音楽シーンを振り返る』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック (2012 Half-Year albums chart)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  36. ↑ 年間ランキング特集『ミリオン8作！AKB48とMr.Childrenが2012年音楽シーンを牽引』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック
  37. ↑ Billboard Japan Top Albums Yearly
  38. ↑ "Yearly Albums / JAPAN Charts / Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  39. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  40. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  41. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  42. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  43. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  44. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  45. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  46. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  47. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  48. ↑ (Japanese)"Album Ranking Aggregate (16/10/201 -22/10/2011)" (in Korean). Gaon. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  49. ↑ 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会｜各種統計 (in Japanese). RIAJ. January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012.

External links