SNSD

K-pop MVs: Girls’ Generation’s “I Got A Boy”

Mei-Mei3 Comments

Girls’ Generation (or SNSD, an abbreviation of their name in Korean) is one of the most popular girl groups in K-pop, and this is one of their most popular videos.  It even won Video of the Year at the inaugural YouTube Music Awards  in 2013.

The song is so eclectic I didn’t know what to make of it at first.  And the video looks like Rainbow Brite threw up all over it, what with the multicolored, BeDazzled 80s fashions.

Tiffany and Jessica often speak English lines during SNSD’s songs;  in IGAB, Tiffany does an intro just before the minute mark (“Hey let me introduce myself…) and Jessica transitions back to the chorus around 4:00 (Don’t stop…).  These two girls were actually born in the US and spent their early childhood there, so they have perfect American accents when they speak English.  (Several other members speak English very well also.)

The members (in the order they start singing):

  • Sooyoung (0:31)—vocalist, lead dancer
  • Yuri (0:44)—vocalist, lead dancer
  • Tiffany (0:57)—lead vocalist
  • Jessica (1:11)—main vocalist (she recently left the group)
  • Taeyeon (1:13)—leader, main vocalist
  • Seohyun (1:24)—lead vocalist, maknae
  • Sunny (1:34)—lead vocalist
  • Yoona (2:40)—vocalist, lead dancer, visual
  • Hyoyeon (2:46)—main dancer (often raps as well)

“Main” is ranked higher than “lead” in these positions.  The leader is typically the oldest, and the “maknae” is the baby of the group.  The visual is basically the most attractive member, who does promotional work.

More from Girls’ Generation:

K-pop MVs: Girls’ Generation’s “Run Devil Run”

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If there’s one group you should know that epitomizes K-pop as a genre, it would be Girls’ Generation, also known as GG or SNSD (an abbreviation of their name in Korean).

GG has so many great videos; I chose “Run Devil Run” to start for several reasons:

  • The clean, cool monochromatic visuals
  • Lens flare 😉
  • A transition to a sexier concept from their previous “cuter” concepts
  • First MV where I could tell all these girls apart!
  • One word: Ahri

Ahri the Nine-tailed Fox is a mage/assassin character from the multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends.  She’s obviously Asian-inspired, based on East Asian mythology of nine-tail foxes (in Korea, the kumiho).  Her dance moves are taken directly from this MV.  Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

One of her skins, Popstar Ahri, is clearly based on Girls’ Generation and features dance moves from their “Genie” MV.  You can see that comparison here.

The members (in the order they start singing):

  • Jessica (0:12)—main vocalist (she recently left the group)
  • Yuri (0:19)—vocalist, lead dancer
  • Yoona (0:27)—vocalist, lead dancer, visual
  • Taeyeon (0:34)—leader, main vocalist
  • Tiffany (0:41)—lead vocalist
  • Sooyoung (0:49)—vocalist, lead dancer
  • Hyoyeon (0:53)—main dancer (often raps as well)
  • Sunny (1:00)—lead vocalist
  • Seohyun (1:08)—lead vocalist, maknae

“Main” is ranked higher than “lead” in these positions.  The leader is typically the oldest, and the “maknae” is the baby of the group.  The visual is basically the most attractive member, who does promotional work.

More from Girls’ Generation: