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:Paparazzi (Girls' Generation song)

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{{Infobox song

| name = Paparazzi

| cover = PaparazziSNSD.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Digital and CD-only edition cover.

| type = single

| artist = Girls' Generation

| album = Girls & Peace

| language = Japanese

| released = {{Start date|2012|06|27}}

| recorded = 2012

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{flatlist|

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=47}}

| label = Nayutawave

| writer = {{flatlist|

  • Fredrik Thomander
  • Johan Becker
  • Junji Ishiwatari}}

| producer = Miles Walker

| prev_title = The Boys

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Oh!

| next_year = 2012

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IUqP1xzRZkw|"Paparazzi"}}}}

}}

"Paparazzi" is a song recorded in the Japanese language by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation for their second Japanese-language studio album, Girls & Peace (2012). It was released as the album's lead single on June 27, 2012. Written by Fredrik Thomander, Johan Becker, and Junji Ishiwatari, and produced by Miles Walker, the track was described as an electropop and R&B song. To promote the single, Girls' Generation appeared on Japanese music programs Music Station and Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, while a music video for the song directed by Toshiyuki Suzuki premiered on June 10, 2012, to accompany the release of the song.

Upon its release, "Paparazzi" received mixed reviews from music critics, who compared the song to the group's previous Japanese-language single "Mr. Taxi" in 2011. The track was ranked number 19 on Spin's list of top 20 K-pop songs of 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2012/12/k-pop-2012-life-after-psy/3/| title= Life After Psy| work=Spin| publisher=Spin Media| first=David| last=Bevan| date=December 12, 2012| access-date=May 20, 2015}} The single was a commercial success in Japan, peaking atop the Japan Hot 100 and at number two on both the Oricon Singles Chart and RIAJ Digital Track Chart. "Paparazzi" was certified Gold in Japan for the sales of the single's digital and physical release, respectively.

Recording and release

"Paparazzi" is a song recorded in the Japanese language, which was described as a hybrid of electropop and R&B.{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523151258/http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/6459/Kara-vs-Girls-Generation| url=http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/6459/Kara-vs-Girls-Generation| title=Kara vs Girls' Generation| work=Time Out| location=Tokyo| first=James| last=Hadfield| archive-date=May 23, 2013| date=December 4, 2012}} It was written by Swedish songwriters Fredrik Thomander and Johan Becker, while production was handled by American producer Miles Walker. Japanese songwriter Junji Ishiwatari provided additional writing credits.{{cite AV media notes| title=Girls & Peace| others=Girls' Generation| year=2012| language=Japanese| type=CD liner notes| publisher=Nayutawave Records under exclusive license to Universal Music Japan| id=UPCH-20305}} The track was released as the lead single from the group's second Japanese-language studio album, Girls & Peace (2012), as part of the group's comeback to Japanese promotions.{{cite book| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fEGDBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT158| title=The International Rise of the Korean Music Industry| chapter=Hallyu and the K-pop boom in Japan| page=158| publisher=Routledge| first1=Jung Bong| last1=Choi| first2=Roald| last2=Maliangkay| year=2014| isbn=9781317681793}} It was released for CD and DVD sales in Japan by Nayutawave Records, which is affiliated with Universal Music Group, on June 27, 2012. The song was made available for digital purchase globally on the same day. "Paparazzi" was also released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea in mid-2012 under license by Universal Music Hong Kong, Universal Music Taiwan, and S.M. Entertainment, respectively.

Promotion

To promote the single, Girls' Generation performed "Paparazzi" on the Japanese music program Music Station on June 22, 2012, where the group wore tuxedos and pink gloves.{{cite web| url=http://tower.jp/article/news/2012/06/18/n04| title=June 22: Linkin Park, Matsumi, KAT-TUN, Girls' Generation and Maeda Atsuko Appeared on 'Music Station'| publisher=Tower Records. Rovi Corporation| date=June 18, 2012| access-date=April 3, 2016| language=ja}} On July 9, 2012, the group staged their second performance of the song on Fuji Television's Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, where the members wore tuxedos with black gloves.{{cite AV media| title=Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ| publisher=Fuji Television| language=ja| date=July 9, 2012| location=Tokyo| others=Girls' Generation}} The accompanying music video for "Paparazzi" was directed by Toshiyuki Suzuki and is almost seven minutes long.{{cite web| url=http://www.takahashi-office.co.jp/?p=3281| title=Girls' Generation – Paparazzi| publisher=Takahashi Office. Space Inc| language=ja| access-date=April 3, 2016}} In the video, Girls' Generation performs on stage in a theatre, with the set inspired by classic musicals. The video begins with the members wearing trench coats and "whimsically prancing" to Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain".{{Cite web | title = Girls' Generation Hop into a Musical for New 'Paparazzi'MV | first = Grace Danbi | last = Hong | work = enewsWorld | date = June 15, 2012 | access-date = May 24, 2016 | url = http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/8006/girls-generation-hop-into-a-musical-for-new-paparazzimv | publisher = Mwave }} During the main performance of "Paparazzi", the video is intercut with scenes of the members being followed by photographers. They perform in two different outfits – showgirl-inspired costumes and tuxedos with pink gloves.{{cite AV media notes| title=Paparazzi| medium=music video| publisher=S.M. Entertainment / Universal Music Japan| language=ja| others=Girls' Generation, Toshiyuki Suzuki}} Jeff Benjamin from Billboard praised the dance routines for their "perfect nine-piece synchronization" and opined that the pink gloves of the girls resembled those worn by Marilyn Monroe.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/481799/girls-generation-push-japanese-domination-with-paparazzi-1-million-albums-sold| title=Girls' Generation Push Japanese Domination With 'Paparazzi,' 1 Million Albums Sold| date=July 12, 2012| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=April 3, 2016| first=Jeff| last=Benjamin}}

Reception

{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Girls' Generation - Paparazzi (song sample).ogg| title="Paparazzi"| description=A 22-second sample of "Paparazzi", an electropop and R&B song which music critics compared to the band's previous single, "Mr. Taxi" (2011).}}

Upon its release, "Paparazzi" received mixed reviews from music critics. Jeff Benjamin from Billboard named it a "high-energy" track. James Hadfield, writing for the Tokyo edition of Time Out, compared the song's R&B styles to those of the group's previous 2011 Japanese-language single "Mr. Taxi" and called it a "redux" of the latter single, writing that "you'd struggle to spot many real improvements."

"Paparazzi" was a commercial success in Japan, debuting at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart on the chart issue dated July 9, 2012; the number one position belonged to KAT-TUN's single "To the Limit". The following week, it dropped to number ten.{{cite web| url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2012-07-16/| title=Weekly Singles Chart: July 16, 2012| publisher=Oricon. Oricon Entertainment Inc| language=ja| access-date=April 3, 2016}} "Paparazzi" became the 58th best-selling physical single of 2012 on the Oricon chart, selling 136,181 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2012/musicrank1220/index03.html|title=Oricon Top 100 Singles of 2012|publisher=Oricon. Oricon Entertainment Inc|language=ja|access-date=May 26, 2015}}

The single debuted at number 31 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 on July 2, 2012.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2012&month=07&day=2| title=Japan Hot 100: 2012.07.02| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=April 3, 2016}} The following week, it rose up to the top position on the chart. On the chart issue dated July 16, 2012, the single dropped to number seven.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2012&month=07&day=16| title=Japan Hot 100: 2012.07.16| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=April 3, 2016}} "Paparazzi" ranked at number 50 on the year-end chart of 2012. The track as well charted at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales,{{cite magazine| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174809/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2012&month=07&day=9| url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales&year=2012&month=07&day=9| title=Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| language=ja| archive-date=March 3, 2016}} number five on the Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay,{{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=adult_airplay&year=2012&month=07&day=9| title=Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Radio| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055605/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail/?a=adult_airplay&year=2012&month=07&day=9| archive-date=March 4, 2016}} and number two on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Paparazzi" has sold 103,000 digital copies in Japan as of July 2012.

Track listing

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;Digital Download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/paparazzi-single/533452550|title=Paparazzi – Single by Girls' Generation|date=January 2012 |publisher=iTunes Store (NZ). Apple Inc|access-date=June 27, 2012}}

  1. "Paparazzi" – 3:47
  2. "Paparazzi" (Instrumental) – 3:46

;Regular Edition CD single – Type A{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/upch80279|title=少女時代 / PAPARAZZI【DVD付通常盤】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2012年6月27日発売】|language=ja| publisher=Universal Music Japan|access-date=June 10, 2012}}

  1. "Paparazzi"
  2. "Paparazzi" (Instrumental)
  3. "Paparazzi" (Music Video)

{{col-2}}

;Regular Edition CD Single – Type B{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/upch80278|publisher=Universal Music Japan|title=少女時代 / PAPARAZZI【通常盤】【CD Maxi】【2012年6月27日発売】|language=ja|access-date=June 10, 2012}}

  1. "Paparazzi"
  2. "Paparazzi" (Instrumental)

;Special Edition{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/upch89119|publisher=Universal Music Japan|title=少女時代 /PAPARAZZI【スペシャルエディション初回限定盤】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2012年6月27日発売】|language=ja|access-date=June 10, 2012}}

  1. "Paparazzi"
  2. "Paparazzi" (Instrumental)
  3. "Paparazzi" (Music Video)
  4. "Paparazzi" (Music Video: close-up version)

{{col-end}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the CD issue's liner notes{{cite AV media notes| others=Girls' Generation| title=Paparazzi| type=CD liner notes| publisher=Nayutawave Records / Universal Music Japan| language=ja| id=UPCH-80279| location=Japan}}

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Charts

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=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! Chart (2012)

! Peak
position

scope="row"| Billboard Japan Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2012&month=07&day=9|title=Japan Hot 100|language=Japanese|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=April 25, 2015}}

| 1

scope="row"| Japanese Oricon Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2012-07-09/|title=Weekly Singles Chart: July 9, 2012|publisher=Oricon. Oricon Entertainment Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=April 25, 2015}}

| 2

scope="row"| Japanese RIAJ Digital Track Chart{{cite web|url=http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2012f&weeklyCd=20120626&rankKbn=50|title=Weekly Ranking: 2012.06.26|publisher=RIAJ Digital Track Chart. Recording Industry Association of Japan|language=Japanese|access-date=April 26, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193728/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2012f&weeklyCd=20120626&rankKbn=50|archive-date=June 10, 2015}}

| 2

scope="row"| South Korean Gaon Album Chart{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T¤t_week=34¤t_year=2012&chart_Time=week|title=Gaon Album Chart: Week 34, 2012|publisher=Gaon Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart|language=Korean|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105164412/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T¤t_week=34¤t_year=2012&chart_Time=week|archive-date=November 5, 2013}}

| 1

scope="row"| US World Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine| url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2012-11-17/world-digital-songs| title=World Digital Songs: November 17, 2012| magazine=Billboard| publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=July 27, 2015|url-access=subscription }}

| 20

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=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! Chart (2012)

! Position

scope="row"| Billboard Japan Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/japan-hot-100|title=Japan Hot 100: 2012 Year-End|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=April 25, 2015}}

| 50

scope="row"| Japanese Oricon Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2012/p/6/|title=Yearly Singles Chart: 2012|language=Japanese|publisher=Oricon. Oricon Entertainment Inc|access-date=April 25, 2015}}

| 58

scope="row"| South Korean Gaon International Albums{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2012&targetTime=12&nationGbn=E|title=Gaon International Albums|publisher=Gaon Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart|language=Korean|access-date=April 25, 2015}}

| 4

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Sales and certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|award=Gold|title=Paparazzi|artist=少女時代|certmonth=6|certyear=2012|note=physical single|access-date=May 19, 2015|relyear=2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|award=Gold|title=Paparazzi|artist=少女時代|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|certmonth=10|note=digital download|digital=true|refname="JpnDigi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|nocert=yes|artist=Girls' Generation|title=Paparazzi |salesamount=14,663|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! Region

! Date

! Format

! Label

scope="row"| Worldwide

| rowspan="3"| June 27, 2012

| Digital download{{cite web| url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/paparazzi-single/569339397| title=Paparazzi – Single by Girls' Generation| date=January 2012| publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc| access-date=April 2, 2016}}{{cite web| url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/paparazzi-single/533452550| title=Paparazzi – Single by Girls' Generation| date=January 2012| publisher=iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc| access-date=April 2, 2016}}{{cite web| url=https://music.apple.com/es/album/paparazzi-single/533452550| title=Paparazzi – Single de Girls' Generation| date=January 2012| publisher=iTunes Store (ES). Apple Inc| language=es| access-date=April 2, 2016}}

| Nayutawave Records

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Japan

| CD{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/PAPARAZZI-%E5%B0%91%E5%A5%B3%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3/dp/B00876CIEA| title=Girls' Generation – Paparazzi| language=ja| publisher=Amazon.co.jp| access-date=April 2, 2016}}

| rowspan="2"| Nayutawave Records, Universal Music Japan

CD + DVD{{cite web| url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/girlsgeneration/products/upch-89119/| title=Girls' Generation – Paparazzi| language=ja| publisher=Universal Music Japan| access-date=April 2, 2016}}
scope="row"| Hong Kong

| July 11, 2012

|CD{{cite web | url=http://www.hmv.com.hk/product/korean.asp?sku=70510 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107165251/http://www.hmv.com.hk/product/korean.asp?sku=70510 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 7, 2013 | title=少女時代 – PAPARAZZI | publisher=HMV Hong Kong | language=Chinese | access-date=October 3, 2012 }}

|Universal Music Hong Kong

scope="row"| Taiwan

| July 13, 2012

|CD{{cite web| url=http://www.umusic.com.tw/album.php?id=4481| title=Paparazzi – Girls' Generation / 少女時代| publisher=Universal Music Taiwan| language=zh| access-date=April 2, 2016}}

|Universal Music Taiwan

scope="row"| South Korea

|{{Start date|2012|08|16}}

| CD + DVD{{cite web |url=http://www.hottracks.co.kr/ht/record/detail/8809314511989 |title=소녀시대 – PAPARAZZI [CD+DVD] [통상반] |publisher=Hot Tracks |language=Korean |access-date=October 3, 2012}}

|S.M. Entertainment

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|IUqP1xzRZkw|"Paparazzi" music video}}

{{Girls' Generation songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2012 singles

Category:2012 songs

Category:Girls' Generation songs

Category:Songs in Japanese

Category:SM Entertainment singles

Category:Billboard Japan Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Junji Ishiwatari

Category:Songs written by Fredrik Thomander