Girls’ Generation’s “I Got A Boy” album was released worldwide on January 1st at 5PM KST, and only a few days later, its international impact is already evident. The positive response from the American media is noteworthy, especially with the girls’ visit to the United States as part of their American “The Boys” promotions.
An article on the website of the Los Angeles Times described “I Got A Boy” as something “as strange and structurally progressive as anything in the current commercial pop realm”, likening the song to a crossword puzzle or a “modern-day ‘Bohemian Rhapsody'”. The author also compared “I Got A Boy” to the works of popular artists in the American music industry today, including Skrillex and Ellie Goulding. These songs all share the “structural dissonance” that makes “I Got A Boy” a “beautiful mess”, one that the author theorized responds to the theme of impatience that is so prevalent in current American society.
MTV Style, meanwhile, looked at a different aspect of “I Got A Boy”: the girls’ fashion sense. The article declared the music video to be a “fashion whirlwind” and “total TREASURE TROVE of outfit inspiration”, featuring items from popular labels including Lazy Oaf, Stussy, and Obey. The article also pointed out specific pieces for the readers’ enjoyment, such as Taeyeon’s “Good Vibe” tee and Sooyoung’s Batman shirt.
Girls’ Generation was also featured on GRANTLAND, a sports and pop culture website owned by ESPN. The site listed “I Got A Boy” first in its “Songs of the Week” article. The author mentioned K-Pop’s significant break into the American music scene with PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and continued by commenting on “I Got A Boy”‘s musical complexities and unique lyrics.
Billboard.com released a review for “I Got A Boy”, which is the first Billboard track-by-track review of a non-English album. The title song got high praise as “one of the most-forward thinking lead pop singles heard in any country” for its intense mix of different sounds and melodies. Jeff Benjamin, the author, commended Girls’ Generation for “[setting] the bar truly high for pop in 2013” with “I Got A Boy”. Benjamin greeted the remaining nine tracks of “I Got A Boy” with praise. Billboard.com retweeted a shout-out tweet by Benjamin to over 700,000 followers, thanking SONEs for their warm reception.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, MTV Style, GRANTLAND, Billboard.com, [email protected]
Written by: moonrise31@soshified
Edited by: bhost909@soshified, Grizzlei@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified
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i believe the 9 angels are getting closer to another dream/goal, and that is World Domination. so proud that they are the 1st Kpop group to have their entire kpop album reviewed by one of the most popular music news source in America, Billboard.com. i must say that i’m grateful to us young peeps (ages 10-35) that are listening and liking this refreshing “beautiful mess”. usually i’d rather listen to music from 2000 back down to classics 50’s because i’m a “old soul” in a young body, but i make SNSD an exception because i love them dearly. with these babies it’s like love at 1st sight and it won’t change i think for a long time. if it was anybody else, i’d just let it go and don’t even think to check it again. anyway i’m waiting for you ladies to finally finally make your stamp on US soil and release that English album. i pray it be a great debut album. btw peeps y’all need to purchase IGAB on iTunes if you haven’t yet. please support them, they need us. for those that can’t support, sorry to hear that but at least you support through viewing their MVs. SNSD & SONES the best <3<3<3<3
kamsahamnida SSF for updates :)
so proud with u girls :’)
i’m so happy to hear it. it’s like an evidance that this song is such a great song. really great song.
i’ve read a lot of negative comment on some kpop site, and i feel hurt and thought is it that bad, because i enjoy this song.
but after i read this news, i realize that GG is in the right track. and always be.
i love the “beautiful mess” quote!
A-Yo GG!!
I’m not really sure that they will surpass PSY, because it’s kinda different..
But however, all my love and support is always for SNSD..
:)
Awesome <3
oh yeah! a very good start of the year! fell in love with the uniqueness of the music and love the translation of the song! <3
Forever Girls' Generation!
IGAB: another viral KPOP song??
I hope so.
i always get so excited when the girls’
recognition continues to expand…and
it’s when they’re not even trying to
promote abroad…people wonder why
they put so much effort in the american
promotions last year…this is why…
the girls made themselves known last
year…made people take notice…and
now they’re being noticed without
even making much of an effort outside
korea…please don’t think i’m saying the
girls don’t try in general…and the praise
they are receiving is not just good…
they are being hailed as innovators for
musical creativity and fashion among
other things…they aren’t just part of
the international pop scene anymore…
they are leading it!!!
AWESOME!
pretty good start for our girls~! really. troll and negative comments
made them stronger and they’ve proven what they are capable of.
the song is really nice. i mean, it’s really catchy and totally different.
i can’t stop pressing the replay button. hahaha~! Soshi year, yeah!
i love love the Mcore perf today! they are so damn! i’m out of words :D
That’s great, but Jessica is who wear it the Batman’s t-shirt just that…
I think this is the major single of our girls since The Boys, they don’t need translate this song into english, they can be succesful in Korean! Ayo GG!
I’m so happy…I really can’t describe my happiness. Reading this was very emotional for me. I’ve been following all the American media for the past few days about the “I Got A Boy” reviews. I was quite surprised that the media bloggers here are impressed with the song. I have no doubt in my mind that the girls are ready to take over here in the USA!!! They are also on the front page of Z100 also which is one of the biggest radio stations on the East Coast!!! THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! lol I barely slept last night because I’m so happy for my 9 angels. Global Generation, here we go!!! <3 2013 has only just begun too! ;)
Wow, this really is good news! I’m so proud of our girls!! I’m glad the American media has noticed the girls and I believe their US debut will be a success too! Well…GG’s songs are always good, aren’t they? I hope many people in the world can enjoy their music :)
beautiful mess! Thats right! Awesome!
2013 is no doubt going to be a SoShi year! I cannot wait for their English debut, this article demonstrates exactly why they can be amazingly successful be it England or US. Bring it on!!
As I suspected, many non K-pop fans love the song. I let several people listen to it & they loved it. I love it, the change in image was a surprise but needed. The fact that they can garner attention without promoting out here says a lot. Hopefully the rest of the American public can accept them when they make their official debut out here.
it’s the start of 2013 yet the Soshi unnies are getting high praises and much attention even from the American Media… CONGRATULATIONS!!! i hope this continues all throughout the year and to the next years to come. SONYEOSHIDAE FIGHTING! SONES FIGHTING!
I’m so glad they’re getting so many positive reactions from abroad ^^ The album really is good, it feels like SM put more effort in it than usual which was a surprising but welcome change.
Yeeees but i don’t know why koreans leave bad comments this song is freaking amazing
Yayyyy! Go GG! Proof that Global Generation has officially begun. Love it!
their album broke out in the international media in less than a week. they’re awesome.!
Really its been only a couple of days since the release and look where they are at!!!!!! over 16+ million views, and even the ppl in the US are noticing the girls’ popularity and AWESOMENESS, already complimenting the song, the fashion sense and lyrics of the song, they deserve they recoginition that they are getting. Soshi Hwaiting!!!!!!!
“The article also pointed out specific pieces for the readers’ enjoyment, such as Taeyeon’s “Good Vibe” tee and Sooyoung’s Batman shirt.”
Wasn’t it Jessica that wore a Batman shirt?
Oh ^^;; Sooyoung wore one too.
Rlly? then i must have misst Sooyoung lol
hmm another excuse to keep wachting the m/v :)
Omg! Im so happy for them. 2013 is really a GG year! FIGHTING!! Congrats!
who wouldn’t be sought by this big change of appearance of our lovely girls? :’)
They broke the record… congratulations, girls!
I’m glad the reviews were positive. I get so worried with American media. They usually lean on the negatives.
The past year has seen a lot of American press glancing at Kpop and Girls’ Generation in particular and not a whole lot I’ve read could be considered even mildly negative. I’m more worried about the stubborn idiots posting rude and offensive comments on YouTube, news articles, etc.
Grizzlei, don’t worry about YouTube trolls, they are annoying but in the big scheme they don’t mean anything unless you let them get to you. Don’t feed the trolls and they’ll go away.
On a more positive note, I’m happy that SNSD is getting more attention internationally! They deserve it! =)
Not even a week into 2013 and SNSD is already putting in the first toes in their steps to conquering America. My words cannot express how happy I am to see this :) Soshi Hwaiting!