I Got a Boy

I Got a Boy
Studio album by Girls' Generation
Released January 1, 2013
Recorded August – December 2012
Genre K-pop, pop, R&B
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)Girls & Peace2012		 I Got a Boy
(2013)		 Love & Peace
(2013)Love & Peace2013
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 and the sixth overall by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. It was released for digital download on January 1, 2013 by S.M. Entertainment, and was made available for physical sales the following day by KT Music. Musically, the album is characterized as combining elements from a wide range of genres including R&B, new wave, and EDM. This is the Korean final album featuring member Jessica.

I Got a Boy received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its eclectic musical styles. It was a commercial success domestically, peaking atop the South Korean Gaon Album Chart and became the second best-selling album of 2013 in the country. The album additionally charted at number seven on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart, number three on the Taiwanese G-Music chart, and number one on the Billboard World Albums.

To promote the album, Girls' Generation appeared and performed on several music programs including Music Bank and Show! Music Core in early 2013. The album's lead single was "Dancing Queen", a remake of Duffy's 2008 single "Mercy", released on December 21, 2012. The second single, "I Got a Boy", was released on January 1, 2013, and was subjected to major attention from Western media outlets following its winning Video of the Year at the inaugural YouTube Music Awards.

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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".[6] The group also performed five songs from the album on their MBC comeback special; Girls' Generation's Romantic Fantasy on January 1, 2013.[7] The group also performed on KBS Hope Concert.[8] 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.[9] On KBS Yoo Hee-Yeol's Sketchbook, the group performed "I Got a Boy", "Dancing Queen", and "Lost in Love".[10] They performed their single "I Got a Boy" as part of the setlist on their Second Japan Arena Tour.

The album was officially tour promoted on Girls' Generation World Tour Girls & Peace, began on June 8th 2013 in Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea, finished on February 15th, 2014 in Cotai Arena, Macau. The tour also promotes their third studio album, The Boys, officially.

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 what to expect on the album on Harper's Bazaar.[11][12]
"I Got A Boy"
Sample of "I Got a Boy", an eclectic mix of various genres
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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 mid-tempo soul ballad composed and arranged by British songwriter Joseph Belmaati in his debut collaboration with the group. The lyrics were penned by Mo-ul and contain a message for the fans.[13] "Express 999" is retro pop combining 1980s new wave[14] influences, and 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

"Dancing Queen" was released as a pre-release single on December 21, 2012.[15] "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".[16][17]

"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.[18] 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.[19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Billboard[14]70/100
IZM[21]

I Got a Boy received generally positive reviews from music critics. David Jeffries from AllMusic called the album an "explosion," writing: "Fans will embrace it with open arms, while mega-fans should also clear some shelf space since the physical edition of the album was made available with ten different covers, one for each member of the group and then one with the whole crew."[20] Jeff Benjamin writing for Billboard wrote that the album's musical styles "satisfy not only K-pop fans but also listeners of all types of popular music" with elements of "forward-thinking" genres such as EDM, R&B, and new wave.[14] Hwang Seon-eop from South Korean online magazine IZM, however, was less enthusiastic towards the album's "experimental" styles and singled out "Baby Maybe" and "Romantic St." as the two better songs on the album.[21]

A week after the release of "Dancing Queen," the song was number one on the Gaon Single chart.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24]

Track listing

I Got a Boy – Standard edition[25]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."I Got a Boy"Yoo Young JinWill Simms, Anne Judith Wik, Sarah Lundbäck Bell, Yoo Young Jin4:31
2."Dancing Queen"Yoon Hyo-sang, Jessica Jung, Tiffany HwangStephen Andrew Booker, Aimee Ann Duffy, Kenzie3:35
3."Baby Maybe"Choi Soo-young, Kwon Yuri, Seo Joo-hyunMich Hansen, Jonas Jeberg, Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Victoria Lott3:43
4."Talk Talk" (말해봐)Kim Tae-sungMason Charlie, Oscar Michael G. Rres, Danny Saucedo2:46
5."Promise"Mo-ulJoseph Belmaati3:15
6."Express 999"Kim Jung-baeKenzie3:27
7."Lost In Love (유리아이)" (Taeyeon and Tiffany duet)Park Chang-hyunPark Chang-hyun4:00
8."Look at Me"Jun Gan-diJohan Gustafson, Fredrik Häggstam, Sebastian Lundberg, Louis Schoorl3:01
9."XYZ"Kwon Yuri, Seo Joo-hyunJonathan Yip, Jeremy L. Reeves, Ray Romulus, Victoria Horn3:15
10."Romantic St." (낭만길)Lee Shin-sung, Lee Chan-mi, SumiMatthew Heath, Hailey Collier, DK, Jordan Kyle, Hyuk Shin, Jee Yoon Yoo4:00
Total length:35:34
Notes

Personnel

Credits for I Got a Boy adapted are from album liner notes.[27]

  • 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
    • Yuri – vocal, rapper, songwriter, background vocals
    • Sooyoung – vocal, rapper, songwriter
    • Yoona – vocal, rapper
    • Seohyun – lead 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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
China (Sino Chart)[28] 13
Japan (Oricon)[29] 7
South Korea (Gaon)[30] 1
Taiwan (G-Music)[31] 3
U.S. World Albums (Billboard)[32] 1
U.S. Top Heatseekers (Billboard)[33] 2
U.S. Independent Albums (Billboard)[34] 23

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
South Korea (Gaon)[35] 2

Release history

Region Release date Format Distributor
Worldwide[36] January 1, 2013 Digital download S.M. Entertainment
South Korea[37] January 2, 2013 CD S. M. Entertainment, KMP Holdings
Singapore[38] January 7, 2013 Universal Music
Thailand[39] January 8, 2013 S.M. Entertainment
Hong Kong[40] January 14, 2013 Universal Music
Japan[41] February 13, 2013 Nayutawave Records
Indonesia[42] June 4, 2013 Universal Music Indonesia
Taiwan[43] July 17, 2013 CD + DVD Universal Music Taiwan

References

  1. ↑ "Seohyun and TVXQ! Featured in November Issue of ‘CeCi’ Magazine". Soshified. October 19, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  2. ↑ 기사입력 (December 11, 2012). 소녀시대, 내년 새 앨범 컴백 "시기 미정, 韓日활동 병행" (in Korean). tvreport.co.k. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  3. ↑ 소녀시대, '아이 갓 어 보이' 댄스 버전 티저 영상 공개 (in Korean). media.daum.net. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Hyoyeon and Yuri to Be Special MCs on Mnet’s ‘M! Countdown’". soshified.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ "‘뱀띠 스타’ 소녀시대 효연·유리, ‘엠카’ 스페셜 MC 나선다" (in Korean). bntnews.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ "[T포토 l 소녀시대] '국민 걸그룹의 인기'(V 콘서트)" (in Korean). news.nate.com. January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Girls’ Generation’s ‘Romantic Fantasy’ Comeback Program Airs on MBC". soshified.com. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Check out Girls' Generation's 'I got a Boy' performance from KBS' Hope Concert". WonderfulGeneration. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Watch Girls' Generation's full FanCams from 'Dream K-Pop Fantasy Concert' in the Philippines". Wonderful Generation. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Watch Girls' Generation's performances from Yoo Hee-Yeol's Sketchbook + English Subbed Cuts". Wonderful Generation. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  11. ↑ 2013.1월호 하퍼스 바자 수영 스캔본 by deselim – 수영 갤러리
  12. ↑ Sooyoung Appears in ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ Magazine for a Photoshoot and Interview
  13. ↑ "I Got A Boy - 4th album by Girls' Generation" (in Korean). Naver Music. January 1, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 Jeff, Benjamin. "Girls' Generation, 'I Got a Boy': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Dancing Queen – Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. December 21, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  16. ↑ "소시, 컴백 신곡은 英가수 더피 'Mercy' 리메이크" (in Korean). star.mt.co.kr. December 21, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "Girls’ Generation Releases ‘I Got A Boy’ Album and Music Video". allkpop.com. January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ 소녀시대 뮤비수정 한다 '써니모자 논란에 결국…' (in Korean). news.nate.com. January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  20. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "I Got a Boy – Girls' Generation | Songs, Reviews, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  21. 1 2 Hwang Seon-eop (January 2013). "I Got a Boy – Review". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Single Chart 2012.12.23~2012.12.29". Gaon Chart. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "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.
  24. ↑ "Charts". Girls' Generation's Facebook. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  25. ↑ "4th Album I Got a Boy" (in Korean). Naver. Naver Corporation. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  26. ↑ "I Got a Boy" (in Chinese). Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  27. ↑ I Got a Boy (liner notes) (in Korean). Girls' Generation. S.M. Entertainment. 2013.
  28. ↑ "Sino Album Chart: 2013/09/24" (in Chinese). Sino Chart. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Weekly CD Rankings". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. December 30, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014.
  31. ↑ "G-Music Albums Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on February 11, 2013.
  32. ↑ "World Music: Top Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 19, 2013. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Billboard's Heatseeker Album – Week of January 19, 2013". Billboard. Promehtheus Global Media. January 19, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Independent Album – Week of January 19, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. January 19, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart: 2013 (Year-End)" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  36. ↑ "The 4th Album 'I Got a Boy' by Girls' Generation". iTunes Store (HK). Apple Inc. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  37. ↑ "소녀시대 – 정규 4집 I Got a Boy [10종 중 랜덤]" (in Korean). Aladin Music. January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Girls' Generation – I Got a Boy". HMV Singapore. HMV Group. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Girls' Generation: I Got a Boy CD" (in Thai). Boomerang Shop. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  40. ↑ "I Got A Boy" (in Chinese). Universal Music Hong Kong. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
  41. ↑ "少女時代 / I Got a Boy【輸入盤】【CD】【2013年2月6日発売】" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Girls' Generation – I Got a Boy". Yes24.com Indonesia. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  43. ↑ "I Got a Boy (CD+DVD)" (in Chinese). Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
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