Girls' Generation

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"SNSD" redirects here. For other uses, see SNSD (disambiguation) and Girls'
Generation (disambiguation).

Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation in August 2022

L–R: Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yoona,

Seohyun, Yuri, Taeyeon, Sooyoung

Background information

Origin Seoul, South Korea

K-pop
Genres
bubblegum pop

electropop

J-pop

Years active 2007–2017

2022–present

Labels SM

EMI Japan

Interscope

Spinoffs Girls' Generation-TTS

Girls' Generation-Oh!GG

Members Taeyeon

Sunny

Tiffany

Hyoyeon
 Yuri

Sooyoung

Yoona

Seohyun

Past members Jessica

Website smtown.com/artist/musician/44

Korean name

Hangul 소녀시대

Hanja 少女時代

Revised Romanization Sonyeo Sidae

McCune–Reischauer Sonyŏ Sidae

Japanese name

Kanji 少女時代

Hiragana しょうじょじだい

Revised Hepburn Shōjo Jidai

Kunrei-shiki Syôjo Jidai

Girls' Generation (Korean: 소녀시대; RR: Sonyeo Sidae), also known as SNSD, is a

South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight
members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun.
Originally a nine-piece ensemble, Jessica departed from the group in September 2014.
Among the prominent South Korean figures and most popular K-pop groups worldwide,
Girls' Generation has earned numerous accolades and the honorific nickname "The
Nation's Girl Group" in their home country.
Girls' Generation debuted on August 5, 2007, with the single "Into the New World" from
their eponymous Korean album. The group rose to fame in 2009 with the single "Gee",
which claimed the top spot on KBS's Music Bank for a record-breaking nine consecutive
weeks and was Melon's most popular song of the 2000s decade. The group cemented
their popularity in Asia with follow-up singles "Genie", "Oh!", and "Run Devil Run", which
were released between mid-2009 and early 2010. Their second Korean studio
album, Oh! (2010), won the Golden Disc award for Album of the Year (Disk Daesang),
making the group the first and only female act to win the Album Daesang.
Girls' Generation ventured into the Japanese music scene in 2011 with their eponymous
Japanese album, which became the first album by a non-Japanese girl group to be
certified million by the RIAJ. The group's third Korean studio album, The Boys, was the
best-selling album of 2011 in South Korea. An English version of the single "The Boys"
was released in an attempt to expand the group's endeavor to the global music scene.
 The group's fourth Korean studio album, I Got a Boy (2013), was supported by the title
track, which won Video of the Year at the inaugural YouTube Music Awards. Girls'
Generation continued to build upon their popularity with their fifth and sixth Korean
studio albums, Lion Heart (2015) and Holiday Night (2017). Following a five-year hiatus
to focus on their individual careers, they returned with their seventh Korean studio
album Forever 1 (2022).
The group's signature musical styles are characterized as electropop and bubblegum
pop, though their sound has varied widely, incorporating various genres including hip
hop, R&B, and EDM. In 2017, Billboard honoured Girls' Generation as the "Top K-pop
Girl Group of the Past Decade".[1] They are the first Asian girl group to achieve five
music videos with over 100 million views on YouTube with "Gee", "I Got a Boy", "The
Boys", "Mr. Taxi", and "Oh!". In Japan, they became the first non-Japanese girl group to
have three number-one albums on the Oricon Albums Chart, and their three Japanese
concert tours attracted a record-breaking 550,000 spectators.

Contents

 1Name
 2History
o 2.12000–2008: Formation and debut
o 2.22009–2010: Breakthrough and Japanese debut
o 2.32011–2012: Japanese success, The Boys, and international expansion
o 2.42012–2014: I Got a Boy, worldwide recognition, and Jessica's departure
o 2.52015–2021: Lion Heart, Holiday Night, and hiatus
o 2.62022–present: 15th anniversary reunion, and Forever 1
 3Subgroup and solo endeavors
 4Artistry
o 4.1Musical styles
o 4.2Lyrics and themes
o 4.3Image
 5Legacy
 6Endorsements
 7Discography
 8Tours
o 8.1Headlining
o 8.2Concert participation
 9Filmography
 10See also
 11Notes
 12References
 13External links

Name[edit]
The group's Korean name is So-nyuh Shi-dae (Korean: 소녀시대; Hanja: 少女時
代; RR: Sonyeo Sidae), from the Sino-Korean root meaning "Generation of Girls"; they
are also known as SoShi (소시) or SNSD, both of which are abbreviated forms of the
group's Korean-language name.[2][3] Because their name consists of Chinese roots, the
group's name is similar in Chinese and Japanese: in Japan the group's name is
pronounced as Shōjo Jidai (少女時代),[4] and in Mandarin Chinese as Shàonǚ
Shídài (simplified Chinese: 少女时代; traditional Chinese: 少女時代).[5]

History[edit]
2000–2008: Formation and debut[edit]
Prior to the group's debut, some of the members were already involved in the
entertainment industry. Yoona had gone through about 200 auditions for music videos,
dramas, and movies before becoming a singer for Girls' Generation. [6] Sooyoung was
exposed to the Japanese music scene as a member of a pop duo named Route θ,
which disbanded one year after its debut in 2002. [7][8]
The first member of the group to join SM Entertainment's training system was Jessica in
2000, after she and her sister, Krystal Jung, were scouted in a mall in South Korea
during a family vacation.[9] That same year, members Sooyoung and Hyoyeon were cast
into S.M.'s training system through the 2000 S.M. Open Audition, in which Hyoyeon
danced for her audition. Yuri was the next Girls' Generation member to become an S.M.
trainee after coming second in the 2001 S.M. Youth Best Dancer competition. Yoona
was cast the following year through the 2002 S.M. Saturday Open Casting Audition,
where she sang and danced to her favorite singers, BoA and Britney Spears.
[10]
 Seohyun, the group's youngest member, was scouted in the subway by an S.M.
scout; she then auditioned in 2003, singing children's songs. [11]

Girls' Generation performing at the 2008 Beach Volleyball Competition at Jamsil Arena in Seoul

The group's leader, Taeyeon, was cast in 2004 after winning first place in the S.M.
Youth Singing Competition.[12][13] That same year, member Tiffany auditioned at S.M.'s
Starlight Casting System in Los Angeles, and joined the company in October 2004. [14]
[15]
 The final member of the group to be added was Sunny, who had become an S.M.
trainee in 1998 and trained for five years before moving to another company, Starworld.
At Starworld, she trained to debut in a duo named Sugar, which never debuted. In 2007,
on the recommendation of Korean-Japanese singer IconiQ, Sunny moved back to S.M.
Entertainment and became a member of Girls' Generation. [16]
In July 2007, Girls' Generation had their first stage performance on Mnet's School of
Rock, where the group performed their first single, "Into the New World" (다시 만난 세
계; Dasi mannan segye).[17] On August 5, 2007, the group officially made their debut
on SBS's Inkigayo, where they performed the same song.[18] Girls' Generation
subsequently released their self-titled debut studio album in November 2007, which was
preceded by the singles "Girls' Generation" (소녀시대; Sonyeo sidae)—a remake of Lee
Seung-cheol's 1989 song, and "Kissing You". Girls' Generation became the twelfth best-
selling album of 2007 in South Korea, selling 56,804 copies. [19] The album has sold over
120,000 copies in the country as of 2009.[20] In March 2008, the album was re-released
under the title Baby Baby.[21] The album was preceded by a single with the same name,
which was released on digital music sites on March 17, 2008. [22]
2009–2010: Breakthrough and Japanese debut[edit]
Though Girls' Generation had gained some attention with their 2007 debut album, it was
not until 2009 that the group rose to stardom. [23] On January 7, the group released their
debut extended play (EP) Gee, which has sold over 100,000 copies in South Korea.
[20]
 Its title track claimed the number-one position on KBS's Music Bank for a record-
breaking nine consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running number-one song
on Music Bank until 2012, when Psy's "Gangnam Style" claimed the top spot for ten
consecutive weeks.[24][25][26] It was the best-selling single of 2009 in South Korea. [27] The
group's second EP, Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) (소원을 말해봐; Sowoneul malhaebwa)
and its titular lead single were released in June 2009.[28] The EP sold 50,000 copies
within its first week in South Korea,[29] and charted at number eight on the Taiwanese G-
Music chart.[30] In November 2009, S.M. Entertainment announced the group's first
concert tour, Into The New World, whose tickets for the South Korean shows were sold
out in three minutes.[31][32] The tour visited Seoul in December 2009, Shanghai in April
2010, and Taipei in October 2010.[31][33][34]

Girls' Generation attending the 2010 Golden Disk Awards

Girls' Generation's second studio album, Oh!, was released in January 2010.[35] The

album peaked atop South Korea's Gaon Album Chart[36] and has sold over 234,500
copies in South Korea as of 2014.[37] The album's title track peaked atop South
Korea's Gaon Digital Chart and was the second best-selling digital single of 2010 in the
country, selling over 3.3 million copies.[38][39][40] Oh! was re-released under the title Run
Devil Run in March 2010,[41] which also reached number one on the Gaon Album Chart.
[42]
 Its titular single reached the top spot on the Gaon Digital Chart. [43][44] Oh! and Run Devil
Run were the second and fourth best-selling albums of 2010, respectively. [45]
In mid-2010, Girls' Generation signed with Nayutawave Records (present-day EMI
Records Japan), a division of Universal Music Japan, to venture out to the Japanese
music scene.[46] Their debut release in Japan was a DVD titled New Beginning of Girls'
Generation, released in August 2011, which features seven of the group's music videos
and a special bonus footage.[47] The DVD debuted at number four on the
Japanese Oricon DVD Chart on August 23, 2010,[48] making Girls' Generation the first
Korean girl group to earn a top-five DVD on the Oricon chart. [49] It was certified gold by
the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[50] In September 2010, Girls'
Generation released the Japanese version of "Genie" as their debut single in Japan.[2] It
peaked at number four on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[51] and was certified
platinum by the RIAJ.[52] The following month, the group released their second Japanese
single, "Gee", which reached number two on the Oricon Singles Chart. [2] "Gee" became
the first single by a non-Japanese girl group to enter the top three of the Oricon chart
since 1980.[53] It sold 207,000 copies and achieved a million certification for sales of one
million units by the RIAJ.[54][55] Amidst their Japanese activities, they also participated in
the SMTown Live '10 World Tour alongside their labelmates, which started on August
21 at Seoul Jamsil Olympic Stadium.[56]
Girls' Generation's third Korean EP Hoot (훗; Hut) was released in October 2010.[57] It
charted atop the Gaon Album Chart and at number two on the Oricon Album Chart, and
became the third best-selling album of 2010 in South Korea. [45][51][58] The title track debuted
atop the Gaon Digital Chart.[59][60] At the 2010 and 2011 Seoul Music Awards, the group
won two consecutive Artist of the Year awards, becoming the fourth South Korean act
and the first girl group to do so.[61][62]
2011–2012: Japanese success, The Boys, and international
expansion[edit]

Girls' Generation performing "The Boys" at the 2012 LG Cinema 3D World Festival

Girls' Generation continued their success in Japan with the single "Mr. Taxi / Run Devil
Run", released in April 2011. The single peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles
Chart and as of April 2017, was certified Million by the RIAJ. [63][64] After releasing three
singles in Japan, their debut eponymous Japanese studio album was released in June
2011.[65] To promote the album, Girls' Generation embarked on The 1st Japan Arena
Tour, which started in Osaka on May 31, 2011.[65][66] The album was met with tremendous
success in Japan, peaking atop the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart and becoming the
first album by a foreign girl group to top the Oricon chart. [67] Within its first month of
release, Girls' Generation sold 500,000 copies and earned a double platinum
certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. [68][69] The album became the
fifth and fifteenth best-selling album in Japan in 2011 in 2012 respectively, with total
sales figures of 871,097 copies.[70] A repackaged version titled The Boys was released in
December 2011 and peaked at number five on the Oricon Albums Chart. [51] In May
2012, Girls' Generation was certified million by the RIAJ, denoting shipments of one
million copies in the country—it became the first album by a South Korean girl group
and the second by a South Korean act to earn such achievement. [26][71] The album won
the award for Album of the Year at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
[72]
 Following their successful Japanese debut, the group was regarded as the most
popular K-pop girl group in Japan alongside Kara, which also earned several top five
Japanese singles around the time.[73]
Girls' Generation's third Korean studio album, The Boys, was released in October 2011.
[74]
 The album was released in the United States by Interscope Records, marking Girls'
Generation's debut album in the country. [75] To help The Boys connect with audiences
worldwide, the group made their debut on US television upon performing on Late Show
with David Letterman on January 31 and Live! with Kelly on February 1.[76] They also
performed on French television show Le Grand Journal on February 9.[77] The Boys was
commercially successful in the group's home country, having sold over 460,000 copies
and becoming the highest-selling album of 2011. [78][79] The lead single, "The Boys",
peaked atop the Gaon Digital Chart and sold over 3.03 million copies in 2011. [80][81] The
group's endeavor to the United States, meanwhile, was met with limited success; [82] The
Boys entered the Billboard Top Heatseekers at number 17 and sold 21,000 copies.[13]
In June 2012, Girls' Generation released their fourth Japanese single, "Paparazzi",
which reached number two on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart and was certified
Gold by the RIAJ.[51][83] According to SoundScan Japan, the single sold 103,000 copies
within its first month of release.[54] Three months later, the group released their fifth
Japanese single "Oh!", which was their first number-one single on the Oricon Singles
Chart, and achieved a gold certification by the RIAJ. [51][84] Girls' Generation released their
second Japanese album, Girls & Peace, in November, which sold 116,963 copies within
its first week of release and peaked at number two on the Oricon Albums Chart. [85] It was
subsequently certified platinum by the RIAJ and became the forty-first best-selling
album of 2012 in Japan with 141,259 copies sold. [86][87] The album was further preceded
by a single titled "Flower Power".[88]
2012–2014: I Got a Boy, worldwide recognition, and Jessica's
departure[edit]
In December 2012, Girls' Generation released "Dancing Queen"—a remake of British
singer Duffy's "Mercy" (2008)—as the lead single from their then-upcoming 2013
Korean studio album.[89] On New Year's Day of 2013, the group released their fourth
Korean studio album titled I Got a Boy,[90] and held an MBC special television
program, Girls' Generation's Romantic Fantasy.[91] The album peaked atop the Gaon
Album Chart;[92] and Billboard's World Albums Chart.[93] The title track reached number
one on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100 and the Gaon Digital Chart,[94] and sold over
1.35 million copies.[95] Its music video won Video of the Year at the inaugural YouTube
Music Awards in 2013, beating other popular nominees including Psy and Justin Bieber.
This attracted attention from Western media outlets as the group was considered
lesser-known compared to other candidates at the time. [96][97][98]
In February 2013, Girls' Generation embarked on the Girls & Peace: 2nd Japan Tour,
which started in Kobe on February 9.[99] The accompanying DVD was released in
September 2013 and topped the Oricon DVD Chart. [100] The group's first world tour, Girls'
Generation World Tour Girls & Peace, spanned from June 2013 to February 2014 and
consisted of ten concerts in seven Asian countries. [101][102] Girls' Generation released
a remix album titled Best Selection Non Stop Mix in March,[103] and a live
album titled 2011 Girls' Generation Tour in April 2013.[104] The former charted at number
six on the Oricon Albums Chart,[51] while the latter peaked at number one on the Gaon
Album Chart.[105] Girls' Generation's third Japanese studio album, Love & Peace, was
released in December 2013.[106] The album debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums
Chart and was certified gold by the RIAJ.[107][108] The album spawned two singles: "Love &
Girls" and "Galaxy Supernova", charting at numbers four and three on the Oricon
Singles Chart, respectively.[51]

Girls' Generation promoting "Mr.Mr" on M Countdown

Girls' Generation's fourth Korean EP, Mr.Mr, released in February 2014,[109] reached

number one in South Korea.[110] With sales of over 163,000 copies, the EP was the 5th
highest-album of the year in South Korea.[111] In the United States, the EP debuted at
number 110 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 3,000 copies.[112] The title
track was a number-one single on the Gaon Digital Chart and sold over 900,000 units. [113]
[114]
 In July 2014, the group released their first Japanese greatest hits album, The Best,
which is composed of the group's previous singles and four new tracks. It topped the
Oricon Albums Chart for two consecutive weeks and has sold over 175,000 copies in
Japan.[115][116] With The Best reaching number one in Japan, Girls' Generation became the
first non-Japanese female group in Asia to have three number-one albums in the
country.[117] They also completed their third concert tour in Japan, Love & Peace, within
that month. The group's three Japanese concert tours attracted 550,000 spectators in
total, setting the record for a K-pop girl group. [118]
On September 30, 2014, member Jessica announced that she had been dismissed
from the group. SM Entertainment confirmed this and stated that Jessica was no longer
a member of Girls' Generation due to conflicts between her and the group's schedules.
Girls' Generation continued to promote as an eight-member group thereafter. [119] During
an event held in the same day in Shenzhen, the members were visibly emotional. The
next day, the group's leader Taeyeon apologised to their fans, saying "From the start,
we've only wanted to protect Girls' Generation ... Please believe in us one more time." [120]
The remaining eight members proceeded with the group's activities, holding The Best
Live concert at Tokyo Dome on December 9, 2014. The concert was a sellout and
attracted 50,000 spectators.[121] The recorded show was released as a DVD in April 2015,
which topped both Oricon's DVD and Blu-ray charts simultaneously. [122]