Girls’ Generation’s latest Japanese single, “PAPARAZZI” was a big hit, selling over 100,000 copies and topping Japanese charts. Girls’ Generation tried something a little different with “PAPARAZZI” by releasing many versions of the music video. With a combined total of over 21 million views on YouTube, the music videos have proven to be quite popular. This month we take a look at each version and see what makes them unique.
Regular Version:
letaengbutt
I’m really glad that this music video sort of has a story line. As compared to the previous videos where the girls simply dance in a box, this is definitely a huge improvement. I love how in the beginning, the girls all walk in while the paparazzi are busy taking photos of them. It gives off a “make way for the mega star coming through” sort of vibe and that is exactly what Girls’ Generation is. Also, the theater concept is pretty interesting because we’ve never seen something like this from Girls’ Generation before. My favorite shot from this scene is when the girls are getting ready right before the song starts to play and they toss their trench coats up. The lighting and angle of the shot makes the whole set up look really cool.
Also, I think that their costumes suit the theme pretty well. The red, black and white theme gives off a sultry and sort of sexy vibe which suits the girls very well. As usual, the girls are all dressed similarly yet differently and I really liked Hyoyeon’s in particular.
MoonSoshi9
The “PAPARAZZI” music video has a pretty interesting structure. It’s book-ended by “story” related sequences that show off the girls in a manner fitting with the title of the song. I love how in the beginning we get to see all nine members strutting their stuff while all the flash photography is going off. It really gives off a vibe of “Wow these girls are massive celebrities.” The style and look in the sequence before the curtain opens in the theater is pure class and totally befitting of Girls’ Generation.
As the curtain opens we see the girls playing around with each other all in trench coats, but their expressions quickly change once the paparazzi start snapping pictures. The trench coats symbolize their personal lives. Once the cameras come out, they symbolically transform from their normal selves as playful girls into bold and flashy pop stars by tossing aside their trench coats. At the end of the video we see the girls back in their trench coats, wistfully disappearing back to their personal lives. I find these sections of the music video the most interesting, and it is surprisingly deep compared to many of Girls’ Generation’s other videos.
As for the middle and the actual performance of the song, this version of the music video might be the best purely because of Sooyoung’s “boom boom boom” at 5:01.
Dance Version:
letaengbutt
I love the choreography. It is simply amazing. This brings Girls’ Generation dancing in synchronization to a whole new level, and of course, they pull it off fantastically. What I particularly like, is the dance intro in the beginning. Each of the members have their own moves but they all come together really well in the end. Their steps are so precise even though many parts of their choreography includes dancing in smaller groups and still moving together as a unit. I think that this is the video that I’ve watched the most number of times because I really like their choreography. Not to mention, Tiffany’s “Ra Ta Ta” is incredibly sexy.
MoonSoshi9
As much as I like the regular music video, the dance version is actually the one I’ve watched the most. I don’t have to sit through any prologue or epilogue; it just gets right to the point with the song and dance, and I love it. The choreography for “PAPARAZZI” by Rino Nakasone and Shim Jaewon is some of the most demanding and interesting that Girls’ Generation has done since “Into The New World”, and it is incredible. It’s so intricate, with a lot of the members having individual or duo parts and sections where half the group does one thing while the other members do something else. I love the complexity of the choreography and how it matches the complexity of the song itself. There are still the solid moments of group unison that are fantastic like the killer head swaying at 1:31 and the quick turn leading into the second verse. Also, Tiffany with all kinds of swagger at 3:41 is just awesome.
Close-up Version:
letaengbutt
Out of all the music videos of “PAPARAZZI”, this is actually my least favorite. I don’t appreciate the camera focusing on one member and flashing onto the next one in a matter of half a second. It is also pretty messy and hard to follow because the camera man seems torn between showing actual close-ups of the members and filling in the gaps with their dancing. On the other hand, when the camera actually pauses long enough for you to catch a glimpse of the members, we get to see a lot of expressions from the girls that just makes our heart melt.
MoonSoshi9
The close-up version of the music video from the DVD that comes with “PAPARAZZI” focuses on the girls in their red, black, and white outfits for the most part. While there are some scenes with Waitress Generation, this version is perfect to appreciate the varied styles of each member. Hyoyeon especially stands out with her mostly white outfit. I am a big fan of these types of feathery outfits, especially the bold black and red colors, and all the girls look stunning. Even Sooyoung’s puffy pants and shoulders have a certain charm. The best part of this music video is that each member gets a lot of solo shots, so we get to see a lot of smiles and expressions as the girls play to the camera.
Gold Version:
letaengbutt
I have yet to appreciate using dishwashing gloves as stage costumes.
MoonSoshi9
The pink gloves are awesome! Haters gonna hate!
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Written by: MoonSoshi9@soshified, letaengbutt@soshified
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They are 100% superstars now!
i have to say..
i really like the part of the dance when all of them have 9 different poses for like 3 seconds!
it’s like a pause and it’s so cool!
ooh pink gloves. can’t find them around LOL
thanks for the review :D
I like this song, its very catchy and the girls look great (as usual). My favorite video is the Dance Version. The dance to this song seems to more details. I love how when they move in separate groups they still seem to be moving together, If that makes any sense xD. Good Song, Good Videos, and Great Review!
tiffani Ra ta ta with yuri at aside is so sexy and amazing
I have to agree with a lot of points made here.
1 – Sooyoung’s Boom boom boom is win and makes me love the whole dance ^_^
2 – The choreography is actually pretty demanding. At first, I thought “hmm…not as complex as I thought” but then I looked closer and noticed that each member was practically doing an entirely different dance I realized that it was complex in a different manner. Each member’s movements may be fairly simple but when put all together the work of having to match with others and not run into others requires a lot of focus and skill.
3 – I enjoy watching the dance version most of all. Because of the fact that there are so many unique movements, the dance version is actually very intense and really gives me the chance to eye one member throughout. Also – I enjoy not having to hear “singing in the rain” before and after the main song.
4 – The trench coats: I didn’t actually think of the coats symbolizing their personal lives. I was able to pick up the storyline of they were just hanging out being them when they were suddenly ambushed by paparazzi. But then I felt a bit confused when they through them off. Seeing the interpretation here really made sense of that for me.
Other points I think:
The gold dance version is only good for learning the dance. It does less confusing camera angle switching and flashing so that people can just focus on the dance.
i agree with the pink gloves XD must grab one!~ kekeke~
This song is freaking awesome! hav quite many variation in tone! <3
their outfit for this mv is clearly unique… just like any others styles they tried on! <3
my second jap fav song ! first is still MR TAXI <33
SNSD hwaiting :D
I love Close-up version the most! I can clearly watch the face of all members. They can show all their skills in their own close-up screen-time. The camera man adjust the time perfectly. Most of the members screen-time are equal. Good Job, Girls’ Generation! I hope everyone help to share this video ^^
Soshi can rock anything and it’ll look dope. hehe! they’re trend setters ♥. like y’all i do love all versions, and yes i love Fany’s Ratata. Sexy with her R rolling on her tongue. thanks SSF staffs for your reviews :)
Pink gloves (didn’t even notice the dishwasher gloves bit), Red+Black+White outfits, golden stage set, the street style set, and then the Ra Ta Ta!
This is indeed a FTW moment! It’s my third favorite song from them, but hey, I like it nonetheless. :P
Also, whenever I think of the sound of the ‘cocking sound’ (gun cocking or something like that), makes me feel like using my arms to do the gun ‘cocking’ motion XD
The PAPARAZZI MVs as a whole get a 4/5 from me until that fabled fifth music video comes out.
i have only ever watched the official, full video,
and i will agree on two things…one good, one bad.
the good thing is i absolutely agree with loving the
bad ass vibe that the girls give off at the beginning
and throughout the video. i love me some mature,
sexy snsd, and that is just a full, heaping helping!
the thing i agree with that is bad is the constant
switching between frames. you don’t even have
enough time to set your eyes and the picture changes.
not saying this was especially bad with this video.
this is a consistent style. those times whe the camera
is steady for a couple seconds, i cherish them! LOL!
I can see why some people don’t like the pink gloves. But personally I like them. They never came across as dishwashing gloves until I heard it mentioned. I love pink, just as much as Tiffany does, which is one reason I like her the most; I feel relatable to her bcuz of the some of the similarities in our personalities. I also personally do NOT like Sooyoung’s red outfit, as much as I LOVE her. Its just all sorts of funky that rubs me the wrong way. I think I like the regular version best, but there are times the dance version is best bcuz then I don’t have to sit there for more than five minutes for a song. I do not understand why their second outfits look like a waitress since I don’t see what it has to do with the video. Unless its a hint towards another disguise like the trench coats? Haha..Well this song is amazing nonetheless. :D I think their japanese music videos are more polished and clean compared to the Korean ones, as much as I do like those ones too. :D
The only beef I have with the Paparazzi MV (Story Ver.) is that it’s a tad too long for me. Having to sit through an introduction that’s 1 minute 40 seconds long for me kills the excitement a tad too much. And then you got another minute or so in the ending… I’d rather have the MV end with the newspaper scene and that’s it, just to keep with the paparazzi concept.
Aside from that, great song, great choreo (and it’s darn harder than it looks, so hats off to the Girls). Great performance. Pink dishwasher gloves FTW!!! Who would have thunk.
i wait for the english version and korean version of Paparazzi
SNSD Jjang
I guess the 5th version will be Korean version of this song, like Mr. Taxi…
My favorite version i’s the dance one, but i really apreciate that the intro has a relation with the song itself. When we compare this MV with “the boys” it’s really a big difference!
Just notice something, in the close up version, the song doesn’t match the lips movement!?!?They made this version way too fast, like “hey, we have filmed so many things, let’s use it all together” and the result is a mv with a very bad rythm of images. It’s remind me the “mv” for OMG that SM made for the fan only…
Even the though the Story Ver. is a little long for my taste I still enjoy it the most out of the four that have been released. Yuri last part at 4:49 transitioning into Tiffany’s “Ra Ta Ta” is probably my favorite part of the video. I wonder if they’ll ever release the 5th version of this? :x
The dance version is my favorite! :D
I like all versions ;)
I like all versions, but the original one seems the best for me. And I have to agree with u, Tiffany’s part “Ra ta ta ~~~” is daebak!
i love watching the dance version especially when i was on the mood learning up their choreography. on the originial version, i love the storyline which portrayed the stars of the show. very good MVs! :)
I really hate reviews I can’t even read this it makes me sick. SNSD are perfection best always let’s leave it at that. Nothing to say but good things. Meanies
Love the song, choreography and all the MVs! I love watching the Gold version though..maybe its because i find the pink gloves captivating and cool?? Lol! But i really can’t believe they pulled off the dance with pink gloves. I totally love Hyoyeon’s outfit!
I love the end xD Pink gloves FTW :P
But seriously, this song is really catchy and the dance moves are really awesome
Speaking of which… I think I should watch all the mvs again :P