The Boys (Girls' Generation song)

"The Boys"
Single by Girls' Generation
from the album The Boys
Released October 18, 2011
(see release history)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre Electropop, hip hop
Length 3:48
Label S.M. Entertainment, Universal Music, Interscope Records
Writer(s) Yoo Young-jin, Teddy Riley, Taesung Kim, DOM, Richard Garcia, Tiffany
Producer(s) Teddy Riley
Girls' Generation Korean singles chronology
"Hoot"
(2010)		 "The Boys"
(2011)		 "Mr. Taxi"
(2011)

"The Boys" is a song by the South Korean girl group Girls' Generation, taken from their third Korean studio album, The Boys. In the United States it was released as the group's first single in December 20, 2011. The song was written by Yoo Young-jin, Teddy Riley, Taesung Kim, DOM, Richard Garcia and Tiffany. Two versions of the song were released simultaneously: a Korean version and an English version. Later, a repackaged Japanese edition was recorded as the title track of their debut Japanese album, Girls' Generation, which released on December 28, 2011.[1]

Background

The single was released worldwide via iTunes on October 19, 2011. In an interview with MTV K, members, Jessica, and Tiffany mentioned that the recording of both English and Korean versions took a week to finish. Tiffany wrote the English rap and final chorus of the song. She stated that she wanted to mention the group's previous Korean singles, "Oh!" and "Gee", adding that the members performing the rap found it difficult at first but "pulled through" in the end.

Critical reception

The Boys received mixed reviews from critics. Katherine St Asaph from Popdust gave the song 3.5/5 stars, and noted that while the song has 'military drum breakdown on the bridge' and 'lots of chant-rapping and trading off vocals', it lacks a memorable chorus.[2] Jen Erenza from Ryan Seacrest's official blog complimented it, calling it a 'foot-stomping, head-crackin’, and girl-powered track sung by nine girls that everyone needs to hear'.[3]

Promotions

Girls' Generation had their first live performance of "The Boys" on October 21, 2011 with the song "Mr. Taxi" on Music Bank. It was also performed on Show! Music Core, Inkigayo, and M! Countdown. Girls' Generation also had their first live performance of the English version of "The Boys" at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 23, 2011. The group performed the Japanese version of "The Boys" for the first time in Fuji TV's Hey Hey Hey! X-Mas Special on December 19, 2011.[4]

Music video

Synopsis

The video begins with Yoona picking up a black crystal. The camera zooms into the stone and shows the other members walking around in the area with rose petals falling in slow motion, along with Jessica releasing a white dove. The song begins and the girls start the dance routine in a black and white fashioned room. It also shows them dancing in a misty atmosphere with sand on the ground. The dance break in the middle of the song features a rap performed by Yuri, Yoona, Hyoyeon, and Sooyoung. Towards the end of the music video, the camera focuses on a slow-motioned flying dove. The video ends with the girls posing inside the black crystal while the rose petals continue to fall.

Reception

The music video for "The Boys" choreographed by Rino Nakasone Razalan, was met with mostly positive reception among the public. Fans noted that the 'choreography is more polished than their previous works' and praised its stunning visuals along with the girls' make-up.

The Korean version of “The Boys” music video was the third most viewed video on YouTube's music category for the week of October 25, 2011.[5]

Chart performance

“The Boys” debuted at #1 in the first day of release on major music sites such as Bugs, Melon, Dosirak, Naver and Daum. On a few particular music charts, a total of ten songs charted within the top ten on the Gaon Chart, such as “Telepathy“, “Top Secret“, “Vitamin", “How Great Is Your Love“, “Mr Taxi“ and others.[6] In the US, the single failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 but entered the Top 100 on the iTunes 200 Top Songs, and later reached the Top 30 for a moment on its first day of release. It dropped off the chart three days later, despite this, the song managed to sell over 21,000 copies.[7] However, the Korean version debuted at number 1 on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100.

Track listing

Digital download[8]
  1. "The Boys" – 3:46
  2. "The Boys" (Instrumental) – 3:46
Maxi single and EP[9][10]
  1. "The Boys" – 3:48
  2. "The Boys" (Clinton Sparks & Disco Fries Remix) (featuring Snoop Dogg) – 4:17
  3. "The Boys" (Clinton Sparks & Disco Fries Remix) (featuring Lil Playy) – 4:17
  4. "The Boys" *Bring Dem Boys* (Teddy Riley Remix) (featuring Suzi) – 3:39
  5. "The Boys" *Bring the Boys Out* (David Anthony Remix) – 4:27
  6. "The Boys" *Bring the Boys* (Teddy Riley Remix) – 3:48
  7. "The Boys" (Instrumental) – 3:48
  8. "The Boys" (A Capella) – 3:46

Charts

Korean version

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[11] 1
Japan Hot 100[12] 12
South Korea (Gaon)[13] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position Sales
South Korea (Gaon) 43[14] 3,032,658[15]

English version

Chart Peak
position
Japan Hot 100[16] 15
South Korea (Gaon)[17] 62

Credits

  • Girls' Generation – Vocals

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide October 18, 2011[8][18] Digital single
December 20, 2011[9] Digital EP
December 21, 2011[10] Maxi single

References

  1. ↑ allkpop (December 2011). "SNSD to release repackaged Japanese edition of "The Boys"". allkpop. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  2. ↑ Katherine St Asaph (October 2011). "The Singles Bar: Girls' Generation, "The Boys"". Popdust. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  3. ↑ Jen Erenza (October 2011). "K-Pop Group ‘Girls’ Generation’ Release English Version of ‘The Boys’". Ryan Seacrest. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  4. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/2011/12/snsd-performs-japanese-version-of-the-boys-on-hey-hey-hey-x-mas-special
  5. ↑ SNSD’s “The Boys” is the 3rd most viewed MV on YouTube
  6. ↑ SNSD achieves all-kill with ‘The Boys’
  7. ↑ "Girls' Generation Makes Big U.S. Debut on 'Letterman': Watch". billboard.com. Feb 1, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Boys – Single by Girls' Generation". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "The Boys – EP". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Boys Maxi Single" (in Korean). S.M. Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Digital Chart. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart: 2011" (in Korean). Gaon Digital Chart. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
  15. ↑ "2011 Download Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 3, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Digital Chart. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ "The Boys: MP3 Music". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015.

External links