Girls’ Generation Hits New York: The First Official US Fan Signing
We were thankful it wasn’t raining. A chilling breeze rustled as SONEs
waited patiently around the Best Buy store in Union Square. Armed with
blankets, music, and any other form of entertainment, SONEs showed
nothing short of sheer determination to camp out in the cold for the
sake of seeing Girls’ Generation. Around midnight, a crowd was beginning
to gather and before we knew it, we had formed an unofficial line up
hours before expected. As the minutes slowly ticked away, SONEs passed
time by bonding with each other. The more energetic ones began singing
to their favorite Girls’ Generation song, while others simply huddled
together for quick power naps. Through the exchange of short
conversations, this fandom never ceases to astonish me with its
diversity. It’s truly amazing how one event, no matter how small or how
short, it can act as a magnet that draws SONEs together. One thousand
people from countless cities were present that morning in an attempt to
get a yellow wristband that guaranteed a spot for the fan sign event.
Only three hundred were able to make the cut.
It wouldn’t have been hard to believe that the seven hundred who
didn’t make the limit would just forget about the event and move on with
their lives. No, when SONEs began lining up again two hours before the
start of the fan sign, the number of people seemed to have increased.
Despite the fact that many would never make it to see Girls’ Generation,
that didn’t stop them from showing their support. This was Girls’
Generation’s debut on American soil, and SONEs wanted to do everything
in their power to spread their love for these nine girls. As the fans
waited in front of the store again, SONEs came back with posters and
signs. Reporters and curious bystanders stopped to take pictures and ask
about the event. They were intrigued. Who in the world was present
inside Best Buy to have hundreds of people flock around the store,
chanting and cheering? Each and every person standing in this crowd may
have come from a different corner of the world; however, at this moment
we were able to unite as one. We were able to unite with one predominant
thought in mind: We were so proud of Girls’ Generation for coming so
far and finally being recognized as a worldwide idol group. SONEs were
so proud of them.
As security began to usher those with wristbands into the store, a long
line was formed for those without wristbands—a glimmer of hope for a
chance to see Girls’ Generation. It didn’t take a long time for this
line up to wrap around the building. SONEs were determined, and they
would not go down without a fight. Back inside Best Buy, excitement
levels were reaching a climax. SONEs were busy chatting away excitedly
with one another as they held on to the CD Girls’ Generation would soon
sign. Many fans had bought gifts to give them too. From the peapods that
Taeyeon adores, to pillows, unicorns, roses and even written
messages, SONEs wanted to express their love and support in every way
possible.
Before the line started moving, a few selected people were asked to
wait by the escalators at the entrance of the store. Some moved away as
if they were locked in a daze. Others couldn’t hold back their happiness
as it overflowed through tears. They were the lucky few able to attend
all three events, as well as the fan sign, entering them for a chance to
take a picture with Girls’ Generation! After all the countless hours of
waiting until their feet ached, sleeping in the cold and not eating
even one proper meal a day, these lucky seven people totally deserved to
win! Congratulations!!
As the clock ticked closer to 7pm, a loud cheer of sheer excitement
erupted from the front of the lineup. Camera flashes and the blinking of
shutters all but overwhelmed our elation to finally see Girls’
Generation—up close! SONEs were going crazy! The event, for everyone
present, slowly engulfed us into a surreal reality that many believed
could only be visualized in our dreams.
The interactions with Girls’ Generation could never be copied or
duplicated as they were unique experiences varied between each and every
SONE. Through the exchange of simple greetings, the smiles we wore
couldn’t have been brighter. Girls’ Generation really has the power to
put people under a spell—to make even the calmest of fans weak in the
knees. One by one, SONEs moved across the long table where eight members
of Girls’ Generation sat (Jessica left for Korea the day before to film
her drama), radiating their goddess-like image and signing our
merchandise. The girls laughed with us, spoke with us and showed just
how thankful they were of our support. We thanked them for taking the
time to participate in this event, and we reminded each and every member
how proud we were of their achievements. Girls’ Generation has come
such a long way since their debut in 2007. With supporters from
practically every country, the world needs to get ready, because right
now, it’s Girls’ Generation!
After the fan signing event drew to a close, the streets of Union Square
were flooded with ecstatic fans. The feeling for every SONE at that
moment was absolute bliss. For many people, this was their first time
being only inches apart from Girls’ Generation, and it felt like we were
living out a dream. Some were vividly re-telling one another about
their experiences with each member while others simply stood, rooted to
the ground, staring at their signed album. There was only one word to
describe this night: surreal. After this, many SONEs will return to
their usual routines. However, this time, the SONE flame inside each of
us will burn a little brighter. It will burn brighter as the world
slowly readies itself to be dominated by nine girls.
This event was nothing short of fantastic. Officials at Best Buy
stated that this was the first time they had to call the police for
crowd control since Lady Gaga’s appearance. Girls’ Generation’s US debut
was a phenomenal success, and they can walk on confidently knowing that
SONEs worldwide will be cheering and supporting them each and every
little step of the way.
_______________________________
Jessica Dons a Wedding Dress on ‘Wild Romance’
Girls’ Generation’s Jessica is currently making her drama debut in KBS’s “Wild Romance”, in which she made her first appearance
on January 25th. In the drama, Jessica plays the role of Kang Jonghee
while actor Lee Dongwook plays the role of Park Moo Yeol. Jessica’s
acting is also receiving much praise from fans, as she has portrayed a darker side to her character in the drama.
After performing a kissing scene with Lee Dongwook’s character,
Jessica will continue to break fans’ hearts by wearing a wedding dress
for an upcoming episode. Jessica commented, “Because it is the first
time that I’m wearing a wedding dress onscreen, my heart fluttered and I
was really happy.”
Girls’ Generation Continues Promotions for ‘The Boys’ in France
After successful American debut performances on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Live! with Kelly“, Girls’ Generation will continue with their promotions of “The Boys” in France. They will be appearing on popular French talk shows “Le Journal De 20H” for an interview and “Le Grand Journal” for a performance of “The Boys”. “Le Journal De 20H” will air on February 9th at 8pm CET and “Le Grand Journal” on February 10th at 7pm CET, both prerecorded a day before their respective broadcast dates. “Le Grand Journal” is the number one talk show in France, where a host of popular artists, such as Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Usher, Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas, have performed.
“The Boys” album will be released in France on February 13th under France’s largest music label company Polydor, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, which is also a parent for Interscope Records, Girls’ Generation’s American record label. Girls’ Generation is taking another step towards “Global Generation” with their French promotions, which is just shortly after their album release and performances in the United States.
Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung and Seohyun Shed Tears for the ‘Dangerous Boys’
Yoon Hyunjoon, the PD of “Girls’ Generation and Dangerous Boys”, said that Sooyoung and Seohyun shed tears for the boys during their performance.
All of the Girls’ Generation members went to watch the boys perform at “Street Jam Competion”, which is located in AX Hall, on February 5th, except for Jessica and Yoona, who had schedules on the day itself.
In a phone call with OSEN, Yoon Hyunjoon said, “Girls’ Generation gave an amazing reaction to the boys’ performance. They were proud and also moved by the hard work put in by the boys.” He also added, “Sooyoung and Seohyun even shed tears. Seohyun cried a lot, but Sooyoung tried hard not to cry.”
Girls’ Generation were there three to four hours before the competition started to encourage the boys. Yoon Hyunjoon said, “Girls’ Generation cheered the boys on even before the competition started and did so till the end. They also attended the after-party.”
[Editors note: Non-Girls' Generation related information omitted]
Further Details About Taeyeon’s Upcoming Cameo Appearance on SBS’s ‘Salamander Guru and the Gang’
Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon will make a surprise appearance on SBS sitcom, “Salamander Guru and the Gang”.
On February 10th, there will be a scene where genius hacker Minhyuk (played by SHINee’s Minho), who is searching for his father, almost kisses the daughter of a wealthy family, played by Taeyeon.
In order to avoid discussing her arranged marriage, Taeyeon escapes her home by going out a window and climbing down a pole. Taeyeon falls from the window and lands on top of Minhyuk, who is busy investigating below. Soon after, Taeyeon falls in love with Minhyuk and tries her best to captivate the cold Minhyuk by talking with a lisp (Editors note: It’s implying that Taeyeon is trying to talk with aegyo), using eye smiles and showing other types of aegyo.
Minho stated, “Taeyeon’s appearance was greatly supportive to me. Despite her tight schedule appearing on the US CBS talk show and performing in Paris, she did not refuse the overnight filming. I am deeply thankful for her supporting me throughout the numerous shoots.” The staff also stated, “Taeyeon’s first acting attempt was good. Her lines and expressions were all perfect. With Taeyeon’s appearance, other male staff members, along with Minho, were able to work more energetically than ever.”
Meanwhile, in this episode, BEAST’s Yong Junhyung and INFINITE’s L will also be making cameo appearances along with Taeyeon.
Girls’ Generation Performs on ‘Music Bank’ in Paris
Girls’ Generation joined seven other K-pop groups in Paris and performed “The Boys” as well as a medley of “Hoot”, “Gee”, and “MR. TAXI” on a special KBS “Music Bank”. Approximately 10,000 fans filled Paris’s Bercy Stadium in order to watch all of the groups and show their support. In addition to Girl’s Generation’s group performances, Hyoyeon also had a special dance stage with 4Minute’s Hyuna, T-ARA’s Hyomin, and SISTAR’s Bora.
The special edition of KBS “Music Bank” has not been broadcast yet, so there are no official performance videos at this time. A fancam of Girls’ Generation’s “The Boys” performance has been posted in Soshified’s Fancam Video Downloads section. Stay tuned to Soshified, as official broadcast performance videos will be posted as soon as they become available. Official photos from “Music Bank” in Paris can be found here, and a backstage photo of the girls was also posted on Twitter by KBS MC Sohn Mina.
Tada~ A proof shot with Girls’ Generation! I was a Girls’ Generation [member] at heart at this moment, too~ㅋ An unnie’s heart flutters this much, I wonder how it is for oppas and samchons. These girls with lovable smiles despite their deadly schedules. I hope they become more mature and great, and that they take steps towards becoming world stars
Seohyun and Yoongun of ‘Brown Eyes’ to Release Duet ‘Don’t Say No’
Seohyun will be collaborating with famed R&B/Soul singer Yoongun of the group Brown Eyes to release a duet titled “Don’t Say No”.
Girls’ Generation’s official Facebook page posted a teaser picture saying that Seohyun will perform a duet with the owner of the red scarf. Yoongun had also posted a funny teaser picture on his twitter account showing a picture of a goguma (sweet potato) to represent Seohyun, saying the girl he would be singing with has a sweet voice.
“Don’t Say No” will be an unplugged pop song, composed by Yoongun himself, carrying the sounds from a guitar and piano. The lyrics draw out a love confession to one’s lover. The song will be a warm gift to fans in light of the upcoming spring season.
Seohyun and Yoongun’s duet will be released as a digital single on various music sites such as Olleh, Bugs, Melon, etc. on February 13th at midnight KST.
Girls’ Generation Makes a Surprise Visit to SBS ‘Survival KPOP Star’
Supearls and Girls’ Generation have met. On an upcoming episode of SBS “Survival KPOP Star”, the meeting between Girls’ Generation and Supearls, who rearranged and showed a perfect performance of “The Boys” in a past episode, will be revealed.
Girls’ Generation made a surprise visit to contestants who were chosen to train under SM. The contestants were surprised and expressed their happy hearts by saying, “It feels like my heart is going to stop. I feel more nervous than when I’m auditioning.” In particular, Lee Michelle, Park Jimin, Lee Seungjoo, and Lee Jungmi, the members of Supearls, were chosen in the casting audition finals by Boa and have been receiving special training under SM. Because of this, the meeting between them and Girls’ Generation gained attention.
In reality, Girls’ Generation showed special interest in Supearls before even meeting them. Supearls reunited to sing “The Boys” in front of Girls’ Generation. Upon witnessing their skills, Girls’ Generation members commented, “They sing better than us.” A staff member stated, “With the appearance of Girls’ Generation, the contestants’ fighting spirit towards their goals have become stronger. They will gain an extra week of training during this second time around, unlike the first training period.”
Check out Supearls’ original cover of “The Boys” below.
Following their recent U.S. promotions in New York City, Girls’ Generation performed on their first ever French television broadcast on “Le Grand Journal”, the number one talk show in France. They captivated French viewers with a shortened version of “The Boys”.
SONEs were present to show support for the girls, giving audible fan chants throughout the performance. Afterwards, Girls’ Generation had a short interview with the hosts, who expressed their surprise by stating that they have not seen a phenomenon like Girls’ Generation and their fans before. One host stated, “I don’t know which member to choose. They are all great,” and another jokingly commented, “I have a moral contract with my wife. I must leave the set now.” “The Boys” album will be released on February 13th in France.
As Girls’ Generation continues their promotion of “The Boys”, they will be in Bangkok, Thailand as part of their “Second Asia Concert Tour” on February 12th. They will be performing in front of a sell-out crowd in Impact Arena.
Sunny Shows Her Love for Wine on ‘Invincible Youth 2′
Sunny of Girls’ Generation, one of the most influential groups, has gained attention for her love of alcohol that she displayed on “Invincible Youth 2″.
With G8 officially starting farm work, Sunny went to a winery to learn the process of manufacturing “G8 brand grapes” for the grapes they will be cultivating this fall. As soon as they arrived at the winery, Sunny could not hide her excitement by commenting, “I can smell the grapes already,” and they headed towards the [wine] sampling site.
While sampling the different types of wine, Lee Soogeun asked G8, “Do you guys usually drink this stuff?” Jewelry’s Yewon commented, “Sunny usually drinks somaek (soju+beer),” exposing Sunny as a person who likes drinking. To Yewon’s joking manner, Sunny replied, “The end of alcohol is somaek.” She then said, “Hello, I’m ‘Soolkyu’”, making everyone laugh by making a nickname out of her real name “Soonkyu”. (T/L note: sool=alcohol in Korean)
Also, Sunny followed the traditional method of stepping on grapes to create the one and only “Sunny brand domestic wine”. She also showed a lot of knowledge about wine, proving that Sunny likes and enjoys wine.
Fans Celebrate Sooyoung’s Birthday with Volunteer Work and a Newspaper Advertisement
Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung received a very special birthday gift.
Girls’ Generation’s fanclub CISTUS decided to perform volunteer service to commemorate Sooyoung’s 23rd birthday on February 10th. (Editor’s note: Sooyoung is 22 according to her Western age and is 23 according to her Korean age) Every year, this fanclub has held donation and volunteer service events to celebrate the birthdays of every member of Girls’ Generation.
On February 4th, members of the fanclub visited the “One Love Facility for Young Disabled Kids” in Gwangju, where they volunteered in Sooyoung’s name to clean and look after the kids. They also donated Naver Happy Beans to a children’s organization. (Editor’s note: Happy Beans are a charity item within Naver. People who make lots of blog/cafe posts, comments, and email replies are given Happy Beans. They are worth a few hundred won, and can be donated to various charities and foundations.)
In addition, CISTUS congratulated Sooyoung on her birthday by posting an advertisement in Sports Chosun. The advertisement made use of Sooyoung’s comment in a show, where she said, “I’m very envious of Yuri, who is really good at swimming”, and grabbed the readers’ attention by writing, “Until Sooyoung wins a gold medal in swimming, we love you”.
The entire advertisement reads:
“February 10th is ‘The Day of Sooyoung’s Birth’ It’s Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung’s 23rd birthday.
The loving heart The longing heart The waiting heart The pounding heart The laughing heart The joyful heart That is the hearts of S♡NEs
With all the loving hearts gathered together, We wish you a happy birthday
We wish that you are always healthy, and that your happiness and laughter stays with you.
Girls’ Generation fan cafe ‘CISTUS’. Oppa/Samchon Support Group ‘Gateway to Soshi Heaven’
Until Sooyoung wins a gold medal in swimming, we love you…^0^”
(translator’s note: “Sooyoung” means “swimming” in Korean)
Fans on Twitter also celebrated Sooyoung’s birthday, as “Happy Birthday Choi Sooyoung” trended in second place worldwide.
Be sure to leave a message in Sooyoung’s birthday message thread and read Soshified’s special birthday dedication to Sooyoung here.
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