Music Asia

K-pop girl group debuts on major American TV networks with “The Boys”

Amidst overseas and domestic press interest in the mainstream appeal of K-pop in the U.S., nine-member girl group Girls’ Generation made their American TV network debut on CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Jan. 31 (Feb. 1 in Seoul) and followed it up with an appearance on ABC’s “LIVE! With Kelly Ripa.”

Nine-member South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation made their major American broadcast TV network debut on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday, Jan. 31 (Wednesday, Feb. 2 Seoul time) (Photo credit: S.M. Entertainment)

Fans hoping for a lengthy appearance might have been disappointed by the relatively brief showing the popular K-pop idols made on both talk shows.

Sans interview, Girls’ Generation performed the Teddy Riley-produced remix of their U.S. debut single “The Boys” to a live band in the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Decked out in skin-baring black outfits, the girls worked the stage with slinky moves and perfectly in sync choreography. Guest Bill Murray joined them on stage for the closing.

The following morning, the group performed their single on “LIVE! With Kelly Ripa” followed by a brief, casual interview with host Kelly Ripa and guest co-host Howie Mandel.

Ripa appeared pleasantly surprised by the warm audience response to Girls’ Generation, saying: “I’ve never seen such audience participation in my life, congratulations.”

“We were just saying you are such a gorgeous group of women,” Ripa praised the girls.

Guest co-host Mandel had the audience and the girls laughing when he said, “I loved the dancing. Your moves were tremendous. It reminded me of me.”

A representative of Girls’ Generation’s agency S.M. Entertainment said that the talk show appearances were not about targeting an adult audience so much as introducing the group to “general viewers.”

“Those in their teens can learn about Girls’ Generation through various channels like the Internet,” the representative explained over the phone.

According to the representative, plans for an official U.S. debut have yet to be made as well as future plans with their U.S. label Interscope Records.

“I think we will continue to do promotions,” the representative said regarding working with Interscope. 　

Meanwhile, K-pop continues to hit American TV this week with South Korean girl group the Wonder Girls’ upcoming TV movie, which is scheduled to start airing on TeenNick on Feb. 2 in the States and the following day in Korea.

By Jean Oh
(oh_jean@heraldm.com)

한글 기사

소녀시대, 美토크쇼 출연..관객 반응 뜨거워

그룹 소녀시대가 미국 ABC TV의 인기 토크쇼 ‘라이브 위드 켈리(LIVE! with Kelly)’에 출연해 히트곡 ‘더 보이즈’를 선보이며 한류스타의 매력을 뽐냈다.

2일 소속사 SM엔터테인먼트에 따르면 소녀시대는 1일 오전 9시(현지 시간)에 방송된 ‘라이브 위드 켈리’에 출연해 지난해 미국에서 발매한 스페셜 앨범 타이틀곡 ‘더 보이즈’를 라이브로 소화했다.

진행자인 켈리는 소녀시대가 “한국에서 큰 인기를 얻고 있고, 미국에서도 인기 돌풍을 일으키는 그룹”이라고 소개했으며, ‘더 보이즈’ 무대가 끝난 후에는 “너무 멋진 무대”라고 극찬했다.

그는 관객들이 서툰 한국어로 소녀시대를 연호하는 등 뜨거운 반응을 보이자 “이렇게 적극적인 관객들은 내 생애 처음”이라며 감탄하기도 했다.

켈리는 소녀시대 멤버들에게 오디션 절차 및 데뷔 전의 연습 과정 등을 물었다.

이에 멤버들은 “우리는 열 살, 열다섯 살에 연습을 시작했으며, 춤과 노래 등 모든 것을 연습했다”고 답했다.

이날 방송 출연에 소녀시대의 미국 현지 레이블인 인터스코프 레코즈의 날 제이 콥슨 AR 부사장은 “대단히 성공적”이라고 평가하면서 “이런 훌륭한 통로가 더 많이 생기기를 기대한다”고 말했다.

소녀시대는 앞서 지난달 31일 미국 CBS TV의 간판 토크쇼인 ‘데이비드 레터맨쇼 ‘에도 출연했으며, NBC TV의 연예정보 프로그램 ‘엑스트라 TV’와도 인터뷰했다.

Seven and GD on Set of “Even Though I Can Not Sing” Music Video Shoot

By Surh Jung-min, Music Correspondent

A screening of The Day, a documentary on the daily life of K-pop group JYJ, was cancelled Monday, prompting questions over the real reason for cancellation. JYJs management C-Jes Entertainment stated The Day was to be released in theaters on Feb. 9 in more than 20 CGV theaters. The relevant contracts had been signed. But on Jan 20, one day after initial reporting on the film, CGV unilaterally gave us notice of cancellation. C-Jes Entertainment also stated, We filed claims to the Fair Trade Commission and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on Jan 27. In addition, we are taking steps to file law suits.

Initially, The Day was to be shown on cable TV channel QTV, but this plan was also suddenly cancelled just a few days before the screening. In reaction to this, the film version to be shown in theaters, but this has failed as well.

CGV is an affiliate of CJ EM, which operates the music channel Mnet. As a result, suspicion has arisen amongst fans that companies could be minding SM Entertainment, members of JYJs former management.

In response, CGV explained, External pressure from SM Entertainment is nonsense. It added,There have been many internal issues such as not having had internal screening, therefore we made the decision to cancel the screening.

(Translated by Kim Joon-ki, Intern)

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Seven and GD on Set of “Even Though I Can Not Sing” Music Video Shoot

Girls’ Generation, undisputably the hottest K-pop star now, will appear on the “Late Show with David Letterman” today (Korean Standard Time).
By Noh Hyun-gi

K-pop stars have proven their influence in Asia — most of them taking their first steps entering the Japanese pop music scene.

Encouraged by the success in the neighboring country, the agencies — SM, JYP, and YG — are looking to the United States. Or rather, the agencies are once again eying the American market.

Surely, there exists a teen-driven market for stars like Justin Bieber and Senela Gomez. Still, even that niche is difficult to crack into, as seen in the case of BoA of SM and Wonder Girls of JYP. Yet the failed attempts are not stopping the star makers who are preparing to play the American game once again this year.

BoA pioneered the exporting of home-bred artists in 2001 with the Japanese version of her debut album “ID Peace B.” It took her a while to become a star in the island nation -she spent most of her career in Japan much to the Korean fans’ despair. SM tried to make BoA a star in America in 2009 with the album “Eat You Up.” Though the press and the agency hyped things up for the album and the music video’s release, the talk died down quietly — whether BoA was even noticed is questionable.

SM recently flaunted that Girls’ Generation got on the plane Monday to meet with multiple press like the Associated Press and E in America.

The group will appear on the “Late Show with David Letterman” at 1:35 p.m. today (KST) as well as “LIVE! with Kelly” at 11 p.m.
Though Girls’ Generation has been successful at translating the catchiness of their songs in Japanese versions, the English versions of their songs are ambiguous like the line in their title track, “The Boys,” which goes “Call all emergency; I’m watching the phone ring.”

The album ranked 22nd out of 25 albums on the Heatseekers Album chart on Billboard.

JYP, led by singer-songwriter Park Jin-young, has been channeling its American dream into the five-member Wonder Girls. Yet, the group’s ability to succeed in America is still dubious. In November, the artists came back to Korea briefly to release their official second album “Wonder World.” On various talk shows, the members confessed difficulty in learning English.

But the group is knocking on the door of the U.S. market once again. The group’s made-for-TV movie “The Wonder Girls” will premier on Feb. 2 on Teen Nick, a channel for teens. The movie will star a local girl group School Gyrl who also debuted with a movie on Nickelodeon, a TV channel for children. Little is known about School Gyrl outside their appearance on Nickelodeon.

Popular culture critic and professor at Kyonggi University, Jin Jong-hoon, told The Korea Times that K-pop is neglecting great marketing channels — global firms like Samsung and Hyundai are ubiquitous in America.

“K-pop artists can act as the promotional faces for global firms to benefit from collaboration,” Jin said. “Many people are well-aware of the products of such companies but honestly some are still confused whether they are Korean or Japanese.” By featuring in advertisements or campaigns with corporations who already aggressively target the United States, Jin believes K-pop artists can effectively approach the American audience.

Jin admits that K-pop artists are not likely to join the mainstream U.S. music scene. However, he believes K-pop can appeal to specific listeners who are seeking for alternatives similar to their performance in Europe. “K-pop will most likely be received as a temporary uniqueness.” According to Jin, to influence a culture, a newcomer must present advanced content and whether K-pop can offer that to American culture is questionable

Jung Duk-hyun, a culture critic, thinks music agencies’ efforts to tackle the global market deserve credit. “J-pop quickly demised because its suppliers relied on the domestic market. Japan has a substantial market already that the producers only target Japan.
However, makers of K-pop, well aware of the limited domestic consumption, have their eyes on the international market when they produce the songs and choreograph the dances. ”

Jung, like Jin, doesn’t believe that K-pop will become the next big sensation in America. “The artists are particularly well received in Southeast Asia because they are considered cultural products from ‘more developed’ countries, but this will not be the reaction in America.”

By Robert Michael Poole

Zuma Press
Girls’ Generation in concert in Seoul. The band performs an English-language version of its hit single ‘The Boys’ on ‘The Late Show’ Tuesday. View photos

Girls’ Generation is performing on CBS’s “The Late Show With David Letterman” tonight, the latest inroad by K-pop into the U.S. market.

The nine-piece pop act, which already plays to packed concert venues around Asia, will sing an English-language version of their male-baiting single “The Boys,” which was co-written by Teddy Riley, famed for his work with Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown and Usher.

While Girls’ Generation has played in the U.S. before, the TV appearance marks a new level of mainstream American exposure for the group, and Korean pop in general, as its world-wide audience grows. SM, which manages Girls’ Generation, organized a Madison Square Garden concert in October that sold out. In November, Big Bang, a boy band, took the “World Wide Act” award at MTV’s Europe Music Awards, while MTV Iggy, which focuses on music from outside the U.S., named Korean group 2NE1 its “Best New Band in the World.” JYP, the agency that works with the Wonder Girls, is set to break a Teen Nick made-for-TV movie, starring the girl band, in February.

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