Girls' Generation (Hangul: 소녀시대; Hanja: 少女時代) is a popular South Korean nine-member girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2007. Its members include (in order of official announcement) Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon (the leader) , Jessica, and Sunny. International Girls' Generation fans usually refer to the group as SNSD, the acronym of the group's Korean name So Nyeo Shi Dae.Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Pre-debut 1.2 2007: Debut and first album 1.3 2008–2009: Other activities, return with mini-albums 2 Member profiles 2.1 Taeyeon 2.2 Jessica 2.3 Sunny 2.4 Tiffany 2.5 Hyoyeon 2.6 Yuri 2.7 Sooyoung 2.8 Yoona 2.9 Seohyun 3 Discography 3.1 Compilations 4 Reality TV Shows 5 Controversy 6 Awards 7 See also 8 References 9 External links
[edit] History [edit] Pre-debut
Each member was professionally trained in singing and dancing, but some were also selected to be trained in acting and modeling. Many of the members already had made names for themselves in the Korean entertainment industry through their participation in magazine ads, television commercials, and small television appearances. Before their debut, there were rumours that the group were going to be called "Super Girls", after their male counterpart, Super Junior. [edit] 2007: Debut and first album
In July 2007, Girls' Generation had their first performance on M.net M! Countdown. Although this performance was never broadcast on television, many videos were shot by fans and uploaded onto the internet. The song the girls performed was called "Into the New World" (Korean: 다시 만난 세계), which became their first single. A show documenting the girls' debut titled "M.Net's Girls Go To School" was filmed during this time.
In August 2007, the single "Into the New World" was released. This single included two other songs, "Beginning" and "Perfect for You" (Korean: 소원), later renamed as Honey for their self-titled debut album Girls' Generation. An instrumental of "Into the New World" was also included.
The group began promoting the single soon after its release. Girls' Generation performed their single on SBS's Inkigayo (literally Popular Songs), MBC's Show! Music Core, and on KBS's Music Bank.
After a short break, the group's first full album was released in late autumn 2007, with the lead single "Girls' Generation" (Korean: 소녀시대), a cover of Lee Seung-Chul (Korean: 이승철)'s hit. Promotion for the single started in early November. Marked by dance routines and vocals, "Girls' Generation" was a hit for the group, and the album has sold 121,143 copies to date, placing 12th in the year-end charts.[1] In early 2008, Girls' Generation began promoting their second single, "Kissing You". The music video featured Donghae from Super Junior. This song achieved the #1 spot in the three main TV music rankings—SBS Inkigayo, M.net M.Countdown! and KBS Music Bank.
In March 2008, the album was re-released and re-titled Baby Baby. A third single, "Baby Baby", was used to promote the album. A digital EP featuring Jessica, Tiffany, and Seohyun was released on April 2008, titled Roommate. The single from the mini-album is "Oppa Nappa" (Korean: "오빠 나빠", literally "Bad Brother", although contextually it refers to an older male friend).
Girls' Generation, along with fellow artists such as BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, CSJH the Grace, Zhang Liyin, SHINee and other SM artists participated in SM Town Live '08. The tour expanded its route to South Korea, Thailand, and China. [edit] 2008–2009: Other activities, return with mini-albums
It was announced in autumn 2008 that Girls' Generation would be starring in a reality show on M.net. Titled Factory Girl, the show chronicles the girls working as interns at fashion megazine "Elle". The program began airing in early October.[2] During their absence from the music scene, they appeared in many commercials for MapleStory and Mabinogi. It was then announced that the group's first mini-album, Gee, would be released in January 2009.[3] A teaser video was released in January 2009 and the first single "Gee" released soon after. Interest in the song rose after the digital release,[4] topping Cyworld's hourly music chart on the release day.[5] The song also went #1 on all major digital music charts within two days.[6]
The group began its album promotion on January 2009 on MBC Show! Music Core.[7] They sang their new single, "Gee", and "Him Nae/Way To Go", another track from the Gee mini-album. This song is a remake of the song "Haptic Motion" that was used in cellphone advertisements and is a mix of bubblegum pop and punk rock. Meanwhile, questions were raised when the group did not appear on KBS's Music Bank with "Gee", even after winning #1 on the music chart show.[8]
"Gee" is the record holder for the longest-running #1 on music portal M.net (for 8 weeks), surpassing the previous record of 6 weeks set by the Wonder Girls' "Nobody".[9][10] They also broke the record on KBS's music show Music Bank by being #1 for 9 consecutive weeks,[11] previously set by Jewelry's "One More Time, which had 7 wins.[12] They won the award for best-selling song for the first half 2009 for "Gee". Promotions for the song ended at the end of March.
After a short break, SM Entertainment announced that the girls would be back with a new single and showing a "Marine Girl" concept; the song, titled "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" (Korean: "소원을 말해봐", literally "Tell Me Your Wish"), the mini album was released digitally on June 22, 2009.[13][14] The mini-album includes a duet between Jessica and Shinee member Onew called "One Year Later".[15]
On May 3, 2009. Girls Generation was starred in their new reality show "SNSD Horror Movie factory", with the premier episode receiving a viewership rating of 3.3%. The show was then cancelled after 6 episodes due to low ratings. [16]
On June 26, 2009, Girls' Generation's comeback performance was recorded on KBS's Music Bank.[15] The group then had their return performances on MBC's Music Core and SBS's Inkigayo on June 27 and 28, 2009. Girls' Generation's 2nd mini-album Genie was released on June 29, 2009.
Their first win for their single "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" was obtained at the July 10, 2009 episode of KBS Music Bank. Their second award was claimed at the July 12, 2009 episode of SBS Inkigayo. The group finished promotions for "Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie)" in August 2009.
Currently, the members are carrying on with their solo activities. [edit] Member profiles This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)
[edit] Taeyeon Further information: Taeyeon Birth name: Kim Tae-yeon (Hangul: 김태연 Hanja: 金太妍) Date of birth: March 9, 1989 (age 20)
Taeyeon is said to be one of the shortest members in Girls' Generation. [edit] Jessica Birth name: Jessica Jung; Jung Su-yeon (Hangul: 정수연 Hanja: 鄭秀妍) Date of birth: April 18, 1989 (age 20)
Jessica was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She released two singles with SeoHyun and Tiffany: "Oppa Nappa" (Korean: 오빠 나빠), and "Mabinogi (It's Fantastic!)". She starred in Kim Jo-han's music video "Love is Late, I'm Sorry" and is featured in 8Eight's song, "I Love You". In their second mini-album Tell Me Your Wish (Genie), she sings a duet with SHINee's leader Onew in the track "One Year Later" (Korean: 1년 후(後)). Jessica and Park Myeong-su (Korean: 박명수) released a duet song for Infinity Challenge called, "NaengMyun" (Korean: 냉면). Her younger sister, Krystal, is a member of F(x), a band under SM Entertainment as well. She also appeared in Super Junior-M's music video "Super Girl." She has also been confirmed to play the main character, Elle Woods, in the South Korean version of Legally Blonde - The Musical. She is the elder sister of f(x)'s Krystal Jung. [edit] Sunny Birth name: Lee Soon-kyu (Hangul: 이순규; Hanja: 李順圭) Date of birth: May 15, 1989 (age 20)
Sunny was a trainee under a different entertainment company before she transferred into SM Entertainment. After several months of training under SM Entertainment in 2007, Sunny debuted as a member of Girls' Generation that same year. She was a co-DJ of ChunJi (Korean: 천방지축 라디오, literally Reckless Radio), along with Sungmin (Korean: 성민), of Super Junior until the broadcast ended on the July 30, 2008. Sunny appeared in Super Junior-H's music video for "Cooking? Cooking!". Sunny also sang the song "Finally Now" (Korean: 이제서야), on the soundtrack for the movie Story of Wine. She also co-hosts a music show called The M with SS501's Hyungjoon. She is also the niece of Lee Soo Man, the founder of SM Entertainment. [edit] Tiffany Birth name: Stephanie Hwang; Hwang Mi-young (Hangul: 황미영; Hanja: 黄美英) Date of birth: August 1, 1989 (age 20)
Born in San Francisco, California but raised in Diamond Bar, California, she was discovered in the SM Starlight Casting System 2004 in Los Angeles. Along with SeoHyun and Jessica, she released a single, "Oppa Nappa" (Korean: 오빠 나빠) and "Mabinogi [It's Fantastic!]". She was the co-host of Sonyeo Sonyeon Gayo Baekso (Korean: 소년소녀 가요백서), along with Kim Hyesung from November 5, 2007 to June 13, 2008. She sang "Na Honjaseo" (Korean: "나 혼자서", "By Myself") from the Ja Myung Go soundtrack, a duet with K.Will called "Sonyeo, Sarangeul Mannada" (Korean: "소녀, 사랑을 만나다", "A Girl Meets Love"), as well as "Feeling Only You" by The Blue (Kim Min-Jong & Son Ji Chang) with Soo Young. Tiffany and Yuri currently host MBC's Music Core. [edit] Hyoyeon Birth name: Kim Hyo-yeon (Hangul: 김효연; Hanja: 金孝淵) Date of birth: September 22, 1989 (age 20)
She was BoA's silhouette during a dance break in BoA's "Over the Top" performance at the MKMF Awards in 2005. Hyoyeon attended a hip hop dance school that specialized in waving, popping, locking, and animation. [edit] Yuri Birth name: Kwon Yu-ri (Hangul: 권유리; Hanja: 權侑利) Date of birth: December 5, 1989 (age 19)
Yuri joined the label when she took 1st place in the 2001 1st SM Youth Best Dancer Contest. She appeared in TVXQ's "Beautiful Life" music video and had a small role as a ballerina in Super Junior's movie, Attack on the Pin-Up Boys. She also had a small role in a television segment, "The King's Boyfriend", which was part of the 2005–2006 KMTV Super Junior documentary, Super Junior Show. Yuri also played a part in the sitcom Unstoppable Marriage (Korean: 못말리는 결혼), alongside Sooyoung. Yuri is also the centerpiece of K. Will's music video "Dropping the Tears" (Korean: 눈물이 뚝뚝), and appears in the music video for "JjaRaJaJja" (Korean: 짜라자짜) by Joo Hyun-Mi & SeoHyun (ft. Davichi). Apart from all her solo works, she is currently the co-host of Korean music program Music Core on MBC alongside Tiffany. [edit] Sooyoung Birth name: Choi Su-young (Hangul: 최수영; Hanja: 崔秀英) Date of birth: February 10, 1990 (age 19)
Before Sooyoung's audition to Girls' Generation, she made a brief debut in Japan as a singer in the group called "Route φ". She first debuted with Marina Takahashi with the song "Start". She was previously a DJ of ChunJi (Korean: 천방지축 라디오, literally Reckless Radio), along with Sungmin of Super Junior but was soon replaced by Sunny due to schedule conflicts. Sooyoung also played a part in the sitcom Unstoppable Marriage (Korean: 못말리는 결혼), alongside Yuri and was also in a movie with Kang-in of Super Junior and actress Lee Yeon-hee. Currently, she hosts MBC TV program Fantastic Duo (Korean: 환상의 짝꿍). She also featured in "Feeling Only You" by The Blue (Kim Min-Jong & Son Ji Chang) with Tiffany. [edit] Yoona Further information: Im Yoona Birth name: Lim Yoon-ah (Hangul: 임윤아; Hanja: 林潤娥) Date of birth: May 30, 1990 (age 19)
Yoona was the first member to join Girls' Generation and is also an actress and model. [edit] Seohyun Birth name: Seo Ju-hyun (Hangul: 서주현; Hanja: 徐珠玄) Date of birth: June 28, 1991 (age 18)
She was a 2004 SMART uniform model with TVXQ. Along with Jessica and Tiffany, they released a single "Oppa Nappa" (Korean: 오빠 나빠), and "Mabinogi (It's Fantastic!)". On February 17, 2009, her duet with trot singer Joo Hyun-Mi (Korean: 주현미), was digitally released, called "JjaRaJaJja" (Korean: 짜라자짜). Seohyun is known as the Maknae(youngest)in (SNSD) [edit] Discography Main article: Girls' Generation discography
Into the New World (다시 만난 세계) Released: August 2, 2007 Format: CD Label: Seoul Records Producer: SM Entertainment Tracks: 4 Singles: "Into the New World (다시 만난 세계)"
Girls' Generation (Re-released as Baby Baby) Released: November 1, 2007 Format: CD Label: Seoul Records Producer: SM Entertainment Tracks: 11 (14 in re-release) Singles: "Girls' Generation", "Kissing You", "Baby Baby"
The First Mini Album — Gee Released: January 7, 2009 Format: CD, digital Label: Seoul Records Producer: SM Entertainment Tracks: 5 Singles: "Gee"
The Second Mini Album — Tell Me Your Wish Released: June 29, 2009 Format: CD, digital Label: Seoul Records Producer: SM Entertainment Tracks: 6 Singles: "Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" [edit] Compilations November 23, 2007: SBS Drama Thirty Thousand Miles in Search of My Son OST Track 1, "Touch the Sky" December 7, 2007: 2007 WINTER SMTOWN Track 7, "Love Melody" January 22, 2008: KBS Drama Hong Gil Dong (TV series) OST Track 2, "만약에 (Manyage / If)" : Taeyeon Solo Track 5, "작은 배 (Jageun Bae / The Little Boat)" August 8, 2008: SBS Drama Working Mom OST Track 1, "꼭 (Ggok / For Sure)" : Yuri & Sooyoung Duet Track 2, "사랑을 몰라요 (Sarang-eul Mollayo / You don't Know about Love)" : Sunny Solo September 17, 2008: MBC Drama Beethoven Virus OST Track 7, "들리나요... (Deullinayo / Can You Hear Me...?)" : Taeyeon Solo Track 13, "Day by Day" November 15, 2008: IPTV Movie Story of Wine OST "이제서야 (Ijeseoya / Forever (Finally) Now)" : Sunny Solo March 25, 2009: SBS Drama Ja Myung Go OST Track "나 혼자서 (By Myself)" : Tiffany Solo [edit] Reality TV ShowsYear Channel Title Episode(s) 2007 M.net Girls' Generation Goes to School 9 2007 MTV SNSD 10 2008~2009 M.net Factory Girl 10 2009 MBC Girls' Generation's Horror Movie Factory 6 (Cancelled due to low ratings). 2009 KBS Girls' Generation's Hello Baby Still airing 2009 MBC Girls' Generation's Himnae-ra Him (Cheer Up!) 2 (Discontinued due to schedule conflicts).
[edit] Controversy
During the Dream Concert held on June 7, 2008 in South Korea, a silent protest was held against Girls' Generation by various other fan groups, notably E.L.F (Super Junior), Cassiopeia (TVXQ), and Triple S (SS501).[17]
Additionally, after the cover was released for their second EP Genie, there was controversy over some images used on the cover, including a fighter jet purported to be a World War II Japanese kamikaze fighter jet, as well as a badge that resembled the Nazi swastika (Luftwaffe) and two missiles. Due to the misunderstanding, SM Entertainment delayed the EP until June 29 so that the covers could be redone.[18] [edit] AwardsYears Awards 2007 2007 M.net Golden Disk Awards: Anycall Newbie Award on December 13 2007 M.net Golden Disk Awards: Anycall Popularity Award on December 13 2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards: Song of the month (January)"Gee" Cyworld Digital Music Awards: Song of the month (February)"Gee"
