I Got a Boy

For the song, see I Got a Boy (song).
I Got a Boy
Studio album by Girls' Generation
Released January 1, 2013[1]
Recorded 2008,[2] 2011–2012
Genre K-pop
Length 35:34
Language Korean
Label S.M. Entertainment, KT Music
Producer Lee Soo Man (executive), Yoo Young-jin, Steve Booker, Stereotypes, Will Simms, Kenzie, Charlie Mason, Mitch Hansen, Joseph Belmaati, Park Chang-hyun, Trinity, Victoria Horn, Hyuk Shin, Jordan Kyle
Girls' Generation chronology

Girls & Peace
(2012)		 I Got a Boy
(2013)		 Best Selection Non Stop Mix
(2013)
Singles from I Got A Boy
  1. "Dancing Queen"
    Released: December 21, 2012
  2. "I Got a Boy"
    Released: January 1, 2013

I Got a Boy is the fourth Korean studio album (sixth overall) by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. It was released on January 1, 2013, by S.M. Entertainment. According to Billboard, the album contains "polished K-pop confections" that combines many different musical elements such as 1980s new wave, electronic dance music, and modern R&B, that would appeal to not just K-Pop fans but also other listeners of popular music as well.[3]

Promotion

Release

This album is really different from our usual ones. It’s like challenging a person’s limits. I’m looking forward to what the fans will think, and because it’s still a secret amongst us, I just feel nervous.

—Seohyun, talks about the group's album.[4]

After the group's label S.M. Entertainment revealed the group intended to return in January 2013, MBC announced on December 11, 2012, that the group would be receiving a separate broadcast depicting the album process in preparation of the album's release in January 2013.[5]

The single track, "Dancing Queen", was released on December 21, 2012. The title track, "I Got a Boy", was released digitally on January 1, 2013. The full album was released on January 2, 2013.

Live performance

The first of the group's comeback performances began on January 3, 2013, on Mnet's M! Countdown.[6] Seven members appeared on Mnet's Wide Open Studio program prior to their comeback performance, Yuri and Hyoyeon were not present as they were preparing to emcee M! Countdown.[7] The group continued their first week of performances for the album on KBS' Music Bank, MBC's Music Core and SBS's Inkigayo on January 4, 5 and 6, respectively.[8] Girls' Generation held an hour-long "Virtual Concert" broadcast live via Naver Music on January 5, 2013 where they perform "I Got a Boy", "Talk Talk" and "Dancing Queen".[9] The group also performed five songs from the album on their MBC comeback special; Girls' Generation's Romantic Fantasy on January 1, 2013.[10] The group also performed on KBS Hope Concert.[11] The group performed "I Got a Boy" and "Dancing Queen" in Dream K-Pop Fantasy concert held in Manila, Philippines on January 19, 2013, making it their first overseas performance of both songs.[12] On KBS Yoo Hee-Yeol's Sketchbook, the group performed "I Got a Boy", "Dancing Queen", and "Lost in Love".[13] They performed their single "I Got a Boy" as part of the setlist on their Second Japan Arena Tour.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [14]
Billboard 70/100[15]

Los Angeles Times described “I Got a Boy” as something “as strange and structurally progressive as anything in the current commercial pop realm”, likening the song to a crossword puzzle or a “modern-day ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’”. Randall Roberts also compared “I Got a Boy” to the works of popular artists in the American music industry today, like Skrillex.[16] Billboard K-Town released a review for “I Got a Boy”. The title song got high praise as “one of the most-forward thinking lead pop singles heard in any country” for its intense mix of different sounds and melodies. Jeff Benjamin, the columnist, commended Girls’ Generation for “[setting] the bar truly high for pop in 2013″ with “I Got a Boy”.[15] Grantland.com listed “I Got a Boy” first in its “Songs of the Week” article. Amos Barshad mentioned K-Pop’s significant break into the American music scene with PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and continued by commenting on “I Got a Boy”‘s musical complexities and unique lyrics.[17]

Composition

The next album is really going to be something new. Because we were thinking of testing the limits with the genre and music color. When we first heard the song and saw the choreography, we had doubts as to whether or not we could do it. It’s a dance we’ve never danced before, so it could be something the person doing it would fear. It could also be a new attempt for the company, but my heart also beats that much more.

—Sooyoung talks about the what to expect on the album on Harper's Bazaar.[18][19]

Dsign Music, the group of famous composers that composed the hit song, "Genie", as well as the top composers of Europe including Will Simms and Sarah Lundback, and the composer from Korea, Young-Jin Yoo participated in the making of the album. "I Got a Boy" is an electronic dance song that mixes pop, retro, and urban genres. "Talk Talk" is the Korean version of Boomerang which was in the 2nd full-length album released in Japan, and the Korean lyric tells a guy who does not understand a girl’s heart should try to talk to his girl that it gives the feeling different from Japanese version while it has the same melody and arrangement.

"Baby Maybe", mixes lyrics written by Girls' Generation members Sooyoung, Yuri, and Seohyun that expresses the fluttering heart of a girl in love. "XYZ" with a powerful synthesizer pattern is also written by Yuri and Seohyun. The album also contains "Lost in Love (유리아이)", a duet by Taeyeon and Tiffany expresses the changes of heart that accepts the breakup with a lover as time passes. The track "Promise" is a medium tempo ballad while "Express 999" is retro pop combining various genres. "Look at Me" combines organic beats, a playful melody, and easy-to-sing-along chorus. "Romantic St." is a swing jazz style song.

Singles
"I Got A Boy"
Sample of the single "I Got a Boy" which was written by European composers Will Simms, Sarah Lundbäck Bell, Anne Judith Wik with additional writing by Korean composer Yoo Young-jin.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Dancing Queen" was released as a pre-release single on December 21, 2012.[20] "Dancing Queen", a remake of Welsh singer Duffy's song "Mercy" was recorded in 2008 as a comeback song after a nine-month hiatus, however plans were scrapped due to copyright issues and the group went with "Gee".[2][21]

"I Got a Boy" was released digitally on January 1, 2013. The "I Got A Boy" music video and album were released simultaneously at 5 p.m. KST.[22] The video, as well as the teaser in the "Dancing Queen" video, became the center of public scrutiny after several screenshots from the video circulated on the internet with Sunny's hat having the words "WELCOME MOTHERF★CKERS" printed on it.[23]

Commercial performance

A week after the release of "Dancing Queen," the song was number one on the Gaon Single chart.[24] I Got a Boy debuted at the number two spot of Billboard's World Album Chart. They also placed 2nd on the Heatseekers Albums Chart and 23rd on the Independent Albums Chart.[25]

The album ranked 7th on Oricon Weekly Chart and ranked 22nd on Oricon Monthly Chart. "I Got a Boy" also rank first on Five Music Korean-Japanese Chart in Taiwan for two weeks in a row.[26]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "I Got a Boy"  Yoo Young JinWill Simms, Anne Judith Wik, Sarah Lundbäck Bell, Yoo Young Jin 4:31
2. "Dancing Queen"  Yoon Hyo-sang, Jessica Jung, Tiffany HwangStephen Andrew Booker, Aimee Ann Duffy, Kenzie 3:35
3. "Baby Maybe"  Choi Soo-young, Kwon Yuri, Seo Joo-hyunMich Hansen, Jonas Jeberg, Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Victoria Lott 3:43
4. "Talk Talk (말해봐)"  Kim Tae-sungMason Charlie, Oscar Michael G. Rres, Danny Saucedo 2:46
5. "Promise"  Mo-ulJoseph Belmaati 3:15
6. "Express 999"  Kim Jung-baeKenzie 3:27
7. "Lost In Love (유리아이)" (Taeyeon and Tiffany duet)Park Chang-hyunPark Chang-hyun 4:00
8. "Look at Me"  Jun Gan-diJohan Gustafson, Fredrik Häggstam, Sebastian Lundberg, Louis Schoorl 3:01
9. "XYZ"  Kwon Yuri, Seo Joo-hyunJonathan Yip, Jeremy L. Reeves, Ray Romulus, Victoria Horn 3:15
10. "Romantic St. (낭만길)"  Lee Shin-sung, Lee Chan-mi, SumiMatthew Heath, Hailey Collier, DK, Jordan Kyle, Hyuk Shin, Jee Yoon Yoo 4:00
Total length:
 35:34
Notes

Personnel

Credits for I Got a Boy adapted from album liner notes.[28]

  • Girls' Generation – vocals
    • Taeyeon – main vocal, background vocal
    • Jessica Jung – main vocal, background vocal
    • Sunny – lead vocal, background vocal
    • Tiffany – lead vocal, background vocal
    • Hyoyeon – vocal, rapper, main dancer
    • Yuri – vocal, rapper, main dancer, songwriter
    • Sooyoung – vocal, main rapper, songwriter
    • Yoona – vocal, main rapper, dancer, visual
    • Seohyun – main vocal, background vocal, songwriter
  • Yoo Young-jin – producer, songwriter, translator, audio mixing, recording
  • Will Simms – songwriting, producer
  • Yang Geunyeong – background vocals
  • Anne Judith Wik – songwriter
  • Sarah Lundback Bell – songwriter
  • Kim Jungbae – guitar
  • Yoong – strings
  • Park Chang-hyun – songwriting, background vocal, producer, piano, keyboard, programming
  • Shim Sangwon – string arrangement, conductor
  • Choi Wonhyuk – bass guitar
  • Moul – songwriter
  • Joseph Belmaati – songwriter, producer
  • Stephen Andrew Booker – songwriter, producer
  • Aimee Ann Duffy – songwriter
  • Nam Goongjin – recording, mixing
  • Im Kwangwook – arrangement
  • Mich Hansen – songwriter, producer
  • Jonas Jeberg – songwriter
  • Ruth-Anne Cunningham – songwriter
  • Jung Eunkyung – recording
  • Jung Euisuk – recording, mixing
  • Kim Jung-bae – songwriter
  • Goo Jongpil – mixing
  • Kim Tae-sung – songwriter, translator
  • Im Yoonjae – vocal director
  • Charlie Mason – songwriter, producer
  • Oscar Gorres – songwriter, songwriter
  • Danny Saucedo – songwriter
  • Choi Yeongkyung – vocal director
  • Lee Sungho – recording
  • Lee Joohyung – recording
  • Kim Jung-bae – songwriting
  • Shinmin – string arrangement, conductor
  • Hong Junho – guitar
  • Lee Sanghoon – drums
  • Kenzie – organ, producer, recording, vocal director
  • Jun Gandi – songwriter
  • Johan Gustafson – songwriter, producer
  • Jee Yoon Yoo – songwriter
  • Lee Shinsung – songwriter
  • Fredrik Häggstam – songwriter, producer
  • Sebastian Lundberg – songwriter, producer
  • Pixie Lott – songwriter
  • Louis Schoorl – songwriter
  • Hwang Hyun – vocal director, recording
  • Lee Joohyung – vocal director
  • Choi Yeongkyung – background vocals
  • Jonathan Yip – producer
  • Ray Romulus – producer
  • Reremy Reeves – producer
  • Kim Taesung – arrangement
  • Kim Yongshin – arrangement
  • Nam Goongjin – mixing
  • Kim Jiyeon – background vocal
  • Lee Joohyung – recording
  • Hyuk Shin – songwriter, producer
  • Matthew Heath – songwriter
  • Hailey Collier – songwriter
  • DK – songwriter
  • Jordan Kyle – songwriter, producer
  • Lee Yoonji – guitar
  • Lee Chanmi – songwriter
  • Sumi – songwriter
  • Lee Soo Man – executive producer

Chart performance

Albums chart

Country Chart Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Music Chart) Weekly albums chart[29] 1
Monthly albums chart[30] 1
Yearly albums chart[31] 2
Japan (Oricon) Weekly albums chart[32][33] 7
Monthly albums chart[34] 22
Taiwan (G-Music) Albums chart[35] 3
United States (Billboard) World Albums[36] 1
Top Heatseekers[36] 2
China (Sino Chart) Albums chart[37] 13

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Gaon physical sales[38][39] 300,480
Japan Oricon physical sales (Korean Edition)[40] 53,563

Release history

Region Format Date Label Edition Catalog
Worldwide Digital download January 1, 2013 S.M. Entertainment Regular Edition with iTunes LP
South Korea[41][42] CD January 2, 2013 S. M. Entertainment, KMP Holdings Regular Edition (Group and solo versions) SMK0263[41][43]
Singapore January 4, 2013 Universal Music
Thailand January 10, 2013 SM True
Hong Kong[44] January 14, 2013 Universal Music SMK0263[45]
Philippines January 19, 2013 S.M. Entertainment, MCA Music
Taiwan[46] February 1, 2013 Universal Music
Japan[47] February 13, 2013 Nayutawave Records Regular Edition (Group cover) POCS-21036[48]
Indonesia[49] June 4, 2013 Universal Music
Taiwan[27] CD, DVD July 17, 2013 Regular Edition (Group version)

References

  1. ↑ "The 4th Album I Got a Boy". SM Entertainment. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "소시, 컴백 신곡은 英가수 더피 'Mercy' 리메이크" (in Korean). star.mt.co.kr. December 21, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  3. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff. "Girls' Generation, 'I Got A Boy': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Seohyun and TVXQ! Featured in November Issue of ‘CeCi’ Magazine". Soshified. October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  5. ↑ 기사입력 (December 11, 2012). 소녀시대, 내년 새 앨범 컴백 "시기 미정, 韓日활동 병행" (in Korean). tvreport.co.k. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  6. ↑ 소녀시대, '아이 갓 어 보이' 댄스 버전 티저 영상 공개 (in Korean). media.daum.net. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Hyoyeon and Yuri to Be Special MCs on Mnet’s ‘M! Countdown’". soshified.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  8. ↑ "‘뱀띠 스타’ 소녀시대 효연·유리, ‘엠카’ 스페셜 MC 나선다" (in Korean). bntnews.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ "[T포토 l 소녀시대] '국민 걸그룹의 인기'(V 콘서트)" (in Korean). news.nate.com. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Girls’ Generation’s ‘Romantic Fantasy’ Comeback Program Airs on MBC". soshified.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Check out Girls' Generation's 'I got a Boy' performance from KBS' Hope Concert". WonderfulGeneration. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Watch Girls' Generation's full FanCams from 'Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert' in the Philippines". Wonderful Generation. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Watch Girls' Generation's performances from Yoo Hee-Yeol's Sketchbook + English Subbed Cuts". Wonderful Generation. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  14. ↑ I Got a Boy - Girls' Generation | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Jeff, Benjamin (4 January 2013). "Girls' Generation, 'I Got a Boy': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  16. ↑ Randall, Roberts (4 January 2013). "'I Got a Boy' delivers a scattered anthem of the Girls' Generation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Amos, Barshad (4 January 2013). "Songs of the Week: Pere Ubu, Kendrick Lamar, Big Butts, Big Boats, and Drugz". Grantland. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  18. ↑ 2013.1월호 하퍼스 바자 수영 스캔본 by deselim – 수영 갤러리
  19. ↑ Sooyoung Appears in ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ Magazine for a Photoshoot and Interview
  20. ↑ "Dancing Queen – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. December 21, 2012. Retrieved Friday 21, 2012. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ↑ carolicity (December 19, 2012). "Updated Girls’ Generation to pre-release a song off their upcoming 4th album in January + another English album in store?". allkpop.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Girls’ Generation Releases ‘I Got A Boy’ Album and Music Video". allkpop.com. January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  23. ↑ 소녀시대 뮤비수정 한다 '써니모자 논란에 결국…' (in Korean). news.nate.com. January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  24. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Single Chart 2012.12.23~2012.12.29". Gaon Chart. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "SNSD's 'I got a Boy' debuts at the top spot of Billboard's World Albums Chart". Wonderful Generation. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "Charts". Girls' Generation's Facebook. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "I Got a Boy". Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  28. ↑ I Got a Boy (liner notes). Girls' Generation. S.M. Entertainment. 2013.
  29. ↑ South Korea's Gaon chart's weekly album sales from December 30, 2012 - January 5, 2013 (in Korean) Originally from Gaonchart.co.kr (2013). Archived on July 23, 2014. Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
  30. ↑ South Korea's Gaon chart's monthly album sales for January 2013 (in Korean) Originally from Gaonchart.co.kr (2013). Archived on July 23, 2014. Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
  31. ↑ South Korea's Gaon chart's overall album sales for 2013 (in Korean) Originally from Gaonchart.co.kr (2013). Archived on July 23, 2014. Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
  32. ↑ Oricon Chart's Weekly Album Ranking (January 7-13, 2013) (in Japanese) Originally from Oricon.co.jp (January 2013). Archived on July 31, 2014. Retrieved on July 31, 2014.
  33. ↑ List of Girls' Generation releases (in Japanese) Oricon. Retrieved on July 31, 2014.
  34. ↑ "CDアルバム月間ランキング" [CD Album monthly ranking] (in Japanese). January 2013. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  35. ↑ G-Music Foreign Chart (in Chinese) G-music.com.tw. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "SNSD "The Boys" Debuts at #2 on Billboard's World Chart". Soompi.
  37. ↑ 综合榜 2013年 第39周
  38. ↑ South Korea's Gaon chart's overall album sales for 2013 (in Korean) Originally from Gaonchart.co.kr (2013). Archived on July 23, 2014. Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
  39. ↑ South Korea's Gaon chart's overall album sales for October 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaonchart.co.kr (2014). Archived on December 10, 2014. Retrieved on December 10, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Oricon Weekly Rankings". Oricon.co.jp. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "소녀시대 – 정규 4집 I Got a Boy [10종 중 랜덤]" (in Korean). music.aladin.co.kr. January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Girls’ Generation to Release Fourth Korean Album, ‘I Got A Boy’, on January 2nd, 2013". soshified.com. December 27, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  43. ↑ "hmv Singapore – GIRLS GENERATION 少女時代 (SO NYO – I GOT A BOY". hmv Singapore. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  44. ↑ "I Got A Boy" (in Chinese). Universal Music Hong Kong. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  45. ↑ "少女時代 GIRLS GENERATION / I GOT A BOY – HMV Hong Kong". hmv Hong Kong. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  46. ↑ 少時正規四輯台壓資訊 (in Chinese). January 13, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  47. ↑ "少女時代 / I Got a Boy【輸入盤】【CD】【2013年2月6日発売】" (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  48. ↑ "アイ・ガット・ア・ボーイ 少女時代のプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  49. ↑ "Yes24.com Indonesia - [CD] GIRLS GENERATION - I GOT A BOY [License Indonesia]". Yes24.com Indonesia. Retrieved July 5, 2013.

External links