Cherry Pop

{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Cherry Pop (Sample).ogg|title="Cherry Pop"|description= A 22-second sample of "Cherry Pop", showcasing the song's refrain which is then followed by a dubstep breakdown.|format =Ogg}}"Cherry Pop" was written by Stan herself, Lukas Hällgren and Erik Lidbom, while production was handled by both Hällgren and Lidbom. It was recorded at the Fonogram Studios in Bucharest, Romania and was additionally mixed and engineered at Lidbom's Hitfire Production in Uppsala, Sweden. Further's work on the track was done during FonoCamp2013, the first Romanian international songwriting camp held in Azuga.{{cite news|url=http://www.infomusic.ro/2014/05/alexandra-stan-cherry-pop-videoclip/|title=Alexandra Stan – "Cherry Pop" - Videoclip|date=28 May 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|language=ro| publisher=Infomusic}} Fellow Romanian and international singers were also present at the two-weeks event, such as Delia Matache, Mohombi, Smiley and Deepcentral.{{cite news|url=http://www.wowbiz.ro/smiley--delia--mohombi-si-alexandra-stan-au-fost-impreuna-in-tabara--vezi-cine-sunt-cei-care-au-reusit-sa-ii-scoata-din-tabieturi-lor-si-sa-ii-puna-sa_76060.html|title=Smiley, Delia, Mohombi si Alexandra Stan au fost impreuna in tabara. Vezi cine sunt cei care au reusit sa ii scoata din tabieturi lor si sa ii puna sa munceasca impreuna|access-date=4 September 2015|publisher=Wowbiz|language=ro|date=3 November 2013|trans-title=Smiley, Delia, Mohombi and Alexandra Stan were together at the writing camp. See who convinced them to work together.}}

Stan described "Cherry Pop" as a J-pop song, noting that while she had not worked with the genre "[it] fits my style", as she finds J-pop music "very energetic, it's got such a positive vibe to it."{{cite web|url=http://www.directlyrics.com/directlyrics-interviews-alexandra-stan-on-second-album-new-single-dance-duet-with-inna-news.html|title=DirectLyrics Interviews Alexandra Stan: On Second Album, New Single "Dance", Speaking Spanish & Romania Tourism!|author=Apaza, Kevin|date=31 July 2014|publisher=DirectLyrics|access-date=22 October 2015}} She also noticed influences to Eurodance. An administrator of IasiFun commended the recording as being influenced by house, while also describing the song's instrumentation as "electric" and "vibrant".{{cite news|url=http://iasifun.ziaruldeiasi.ro/alexandra-stan-ne-provoaca-la-un-cherry-pop/95130/|title=Alexandra Stan ne provoacă la un "Cherry Pop"|date=28 May 2014|publisher=IasiFun|language=ro|access-date=30 April 2015|trans-title=Alexandra Stan's "Cherry Pop" challenge|author=Admin}} Anthony Easton, a writer for The Singles Jukebox, described the song as a "popluxe", while Ian Mew compared it to "Bubble Pop!" by South Korean singer Hyuna. According to Popdust, "Cherry Pop" uses dubstep for its breakdown. The main idea for the song was based on Stan's first kiss which, according to her, "tasted like candy".

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|quote="I am also very surprised [about the fact that "Cherry Pop" debuted atop the Japanese iTunes Singles Chart]. I didn't think that the song would enter so speedy to the iTunes Charts in Japan. My Japanese fans were waiting for me and I think they missed me. I missed them, too, of course. That's the life. When you choose to see the things as positive and to go on, there's nothing bad that can happen to you".|source=—Stan on "Cherry Pop"{{cite news|url=http://stirileprotv.ro/show-buzz/entertainment/alexandra-stan-a-dat-lovitura-in-japonia-in-2-ore-de-la-lansare-piesa-ei-e-pe-primul-loc-in-topul-descarcarilor-pe-itunes.html|title=Alexandra Stan a dat lovitura in Japonia. In 2 ore de la lansare, piesa ei e pe primul loc in topul descarcarilor pe iTunes.|publisher=Stirile Pro TV|language=ro|access-date=11 September 2015|trans-title=Alexandra Stan is currently successful in Japan. Her single reached number one on the Japanese iTunes Chart after 2 hours instead its release there.}}

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"Cherry Pop" received generally mixed reviews from music critics upon release. The Singles Jukebox gave the song an overall rating of 5/10,{{cite news|url=http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=11852|title=Alexandra Stan – Cherry Pop|date=17 June 2014|publisher=The Singles Jukebox|access-date=30 April 2015}} with one of the writers, Andy Hutchins, confessed that "a better title for the song might have been 'Dr Pepper'". Website Popdust described the song as "outdated", but at the same time catchy and funny.{{cite news|url=http://popdust.com/2014/05/28/romanian-pop-diva-alexandra-stan-returns-cherry-pop/|title=Romanian pop diva Alexandra Stan returns with Cherry Pop|date=28 May 2014|publisher=Popdust|access-date=17 May 2015}} Hitfire praised the song's refrain as being "earwhormy" and "trashy".{{cite news|url=http://www.hitfire.eu/blog/news/255/videopremiere-alexandra-stan-mit-ihrer-neuen-single-cherry-pop/|title=Videopremiere: Alexandra Stan mit ihrer neuen Single "Cherry Pop"|date=31 May 2014|publisher=Hitfire|language=de|access-date=11 September 2015|trans-title=Video premiere: Alexandra Stan with her new single "Cherry Pop"}} They went on saying that "Cherry Pop" "doesn't reach the standards like of her previously launched songs, 'Mr. Saxobeat', 'Get Back (ASAP)' and 'Lemonade'". Music website Pop Shock described the single as a "grower track".{{cite web|url=http://thepopshock.com/2014/11/30/alexandra-stan-unlocked-review/|title=Review: Alexandra Stan -'Unlocked'|publisher=Pop Shock|access-date=22 September 2015|date=30 November 2014|author=Zasin, Dijei|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017114356/http://thepopshock.com/2014/11/30/alexandra-stan-unlocked-review/|archive-date=2015-10-17|url-status=dead}} Website Addictivoz praised overall her album Unlocked, mentioning also that the song is "ironic".{{cite web|url=http://www.adictivoz.com/2014/09/critica-unlocked-album-de-alexandra-stan.html|title=CRÍTICA: "Unlocked", álbum de Alexandra Stan|publisher=Adictivoz|trans-title=Review: "Unlocked", album by Alexandra Stan|access-date=3 October 2015|date=24 September 2014|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017115043/http://www.adictivoz.com/2014/09/critica-unlocked-album-de-alexandra-stan.html|archive-date=17 October 2015}} Another article called the song ″rather obvious″ but ″perfect for the summer″.{{cite web |last1=Bran |first1=Jan |title=Alexandra Stan – Cherry Pop {{!}} audio ufficiale |url=https://www.rnbjunk.com/alexandra-stan-cherry-pop-audio-ufficiale/ |website=RNBJUNK |access-date=7 January 2022 |ref=cprnb}} In a 2019 retrospective for Unlocked, writer Jan Bran from R&BJUNK praised Stan's ability to navigate a variety of subgenres, citing ″Cherry Pop″ as an example.{{cite web |last1=Bran |first1=Jan |title=Alexandra Stan – Unlocked {{!}} Focus su un album sottovalutato |url=https://www.rnbjunk.com/alexandra-stan-unlocked-focus-su-un-album-sottovalutato/ |website=RNBJUNK |date=17 January 2016 |access-date=7 January 2022 |ref=ucprnb}}

According to the biggest Japanese profile site, Recochoku, "Cherry Pop" became the most sought ringtone on their website within two hours.{{cite news|url=http://www.incomodph.ro/news/3135-alexandra-stan-si-cherry-pop-numarul-1-in-japonia|title=Alexandra Stan și Cherry Pop – numărul 1 în Japonia|date=19 June 2014|publisher=Incomodph|language=ro|access-date=17 May 2015|trans-title=Alexandra Stan and Cherry Pop - number 1 in Japan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107221441/http://www.incomodph.ro/news/3135-alexandra-stan-si-cherry-pop-numarul-1-in-japonia|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=dead}} The news that "Cherry Pop" achieved so much success in Japan came to Stan when she was on tour in Turkey.{{cite news|url=http://m.gandul.info/magazin/alexandra-stan-numarul-1-in-japonia-la-numai-2-ore-dupa-lansarea-piesei-cherry-pop-12791319|title=Alexandra Stan, numărul 1 în Japonia, la numai 2 ore după lansarea piesei "Cherry Pop"|date=19 June 2014|newspaper=Gândul|language=ro|access-date=17 May 2015|trans-title=Alexandra Stan, number 1 in Japan, after just 2 hours instead the release of "Cherry Pop"}} There, the organizers of her show displayed the sentence "Congratulations, Alexandra Stan, you're number 1!" on the main screen of the club. The song entered the Japan Hot 100 at number 64 on 5 July 2014. It subsequently left the chart after just one week. "Cherry Pop" also peaked at number 82 on the native Airplay 100 chart,{{cite web |url=http://www.kissfm.ro/airplay100/ |title=KissFM {{!}} Airplay 100 |publisher=Kiss FM |access-date=22 September 2018 |date=2 July 2014 |archive-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713185309/http://kissfm.ro/airplay100 |url-status=dead }} and reached number two on the Turkish Number One Top 20 compiled on 6 September 2014.

An accompanying music video for "Cherry Pop" was uploaded onto Stan's YouTube channel on 28 May 2014, where it has since amassed a total of 5 million views.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGqvU55OMu0|title=Alexandra Stan – Cherry Pop [Official Video]|date=28 May 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=YouTube}} The clip was shot by Khaled Mokhtar in Buftea, Romania in a set built specially for this project.{{cite news|url=http://www.profm.ro/muzica/alexandra-stan-a-lansat-un-nou-clip-vezi-ce-schimbare-de-look-si-a-facut-cantareata-pentru-cherry-pop|title=Alexandra Stan a lansat un nou clip! Vezi ce schimbare de look si-a facut cantareata pentru "Cherry Pop"!|access-date=14 September 2015|publisher=Pro FM|language=ro|trans-title=Alexandra Stan has released a new clip! She how she changes her look for "Cherry Pop!}} The accompanying choreography was choreographed by Romanian performer Emil Rengle and the eight "shiny and glam" different outfits used for the video were designed by Andra Moga.{{cite news|url=http://www.utv.ro/news/unews-alexandra-stan-cherry-pop-behind-the-scenes/|title=Utv.ro – Unews: Alexandra Stan - "Cherry Pop" (behind the scenes)|language=ro|publisher=Utv.ro|access-date=27 May 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJIjWpJJ97Y|title=Alexandra Stan se pregateste sa cucereasca Japonia!|access-date=11 September 2015|work=YouTube|trans-title=Alexandra Stan is ready to conquer Japan}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} Particularly, Stan described the video as incorporating "both a futuristic and a retro point of view".

The video opens with Stan and some of her male back-up dancers being presented in a dark white room. Subsequently, the room becomes enlightened and Stan is seen wearing transparent sunglasses, a white sweatband and a silver jacket. Following this, she retrieves a tennis racket from one of her background dancers and holds it in front of her face before returning the racket to a nearby dancer. Next, Stan performs the pre-refrain of the song, while two female performers clutch a hair dryer in their hands. For the refrain, she and ten other female background dancers are performing synchronized dances, with them having wigs on, and dressing white clothing and red accessories. Following this, Stan is presented standing on a yellow plate which is kept in the air by two threads. She wears a silver leotard and a multicolored wig. Next, Stan is shown walking into a tennis field, whereon she plays a tennis match against herself. For the breakdown of "Cherry Pop", the video gets introduced into a dark-lighted room. There, her previously shown male background dancers are presented; the video continues with Stan dancing accompanied by her dancers. The clip finally ends with a pink tennis ball dropping out of the ceiling, while the screen becomes black.

On 12 December 2014, Stan performed both "Cherry Pop" and "Vanilla Chocolat" on an episode of Vocea României.{{cite news|url=http://vocearomaniei.protv.ro/stiri/vocea-romaniei-promite-o-semifinala-de-exceptie-100-voce-100-munca-100-show-vineri-de-la-20-30-la-protv.html|title=Vocea Romaniei promite o semifinala de exceptie: 100% voce, 100% munca, 100% show|access-date=7 September 2015|publisher=Vocea României|language=ro|trans-title=The Voice of Romania promises an exceptional semifinal: 100% voice, 100% work, 100% show}} Shortly after her performance, juror Tudor Chirilă expressed how he was very disappointed by Stan's act, as she did not provide live vocals. In an interview with Cancan, Stan confessed that "[her] conditions of appearance at Vocea României were previously discussed with the producers of the show, so no one should have been surprised about [her] performing playback".{{cite news|url=http://www.agentiadepresamondena.com/cum-raspunde-alexandra-stan-la-acuzatiile-ca-facut-playback-la-vocea-romaniei/|title=Cum raspunde Alexandra Stan la acuzatiile ca a facut playback la Vocea Romaniei|access-date=7 September 2015|publisher=Agentia de Presa Mondena|language=ro|trans-title=How does Alexandra Stan respond to the accusations of her singing playback on Vocea Romaniei|date=15 December 2014}} "Cherry Pop" was included on the track list of her Unlocked Tour (2014) and her Cherry Pop Summer Tour (2014).{{cite news|url=http://www.fonogramrecords.ro/2014/07/alexandra-stan-cherry-pop-summer-tour/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403070033/http://www.fonogramrecords.ro/2014/07/alexandra-stan-cherry-pop-summer-tour/|archive-date=3 April 2016|title=Alexandra Stan – Cherry Pop Summer Tour|date=12 July 2014|publisher=Fonogram Records|access-date=21 March 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://wwca.dance/alexandra-stan-japan-tour/|title=Alexandra Stan – Japan Tour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320155627/http://wwca.dance/alexandra-stan-international-tour-japan-mexico-turkey-russia/|archive-date=20 March 2015|publisher=World Wide Creative Associates|access-date=21 March 2016}}

• Digital download

1. "Cherry Pop" – 3:11

• Spanish digital remix EP

1. "Cherry Pop" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios radio edit) – 3:33
2. "Cherry Pop" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni radio remix) – 3:15
3. "Cherry Pop" (CryDuom remix radio) – 3:13
4. "Cherry Pop" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios remix) – 6:24
5. "Cherry Pop" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni remix) – 4:17
6. "Cherry Pop" (CryDuom remix extended) – 4:06

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unlocked and The Collection.{{cite AV media notes |title=Unlocked |title-link=Unlocked (Alexandra Stan album) |others=Alexandra Stan |year=2014 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Roton (Barcode: 8693644012601) |location=Bucharest, Romania}}{{cite AV media notes |title=The Collection|others=Alexandra Stan |year=2015 |type=Liner notes |publisher=Victor Entertainment (Barcode: 4988002698196) |location=Tokyo, Japan}}

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Visual credits

• Ema Băniță – styling assistant
• Mihai Codleanu – editing
• Georgeta Nicoleta Cîmpeanu – make-up artist, hair styling assistant
• Irina Iancius – make-up artist, hair styling assistant
• Oana Imbrea – production coordinator
• Alex Iftimov – hair styling, make-up artist, script
• Andra Moga – styling, script
• Khaled Mokhtar – director, director of photography, script
• Laurent Morel – colorist
• Emil Rengle – choreography

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Recording and vocal credits

• Recorded at Fonogram Studios in Bucharest, Romania.
• Mixed and engineered at Hitfire Production in Uppsala, Sweden.
• Alexandra Stan – lead vocals

Technical and songwriting credits

• Lukas Hällgren – songwriting, additional producing
• Erik Lidbom – songwriting, producing
• Alexandra Stan – songwriting

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• List of music released by Romanian artists that has charted in major music markets

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• {{YouTube|vGqvU55OMu0|Official music video}}

{{Alexandra Stan}}

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Category:2014 songs

Category:Alexandra Stan songs

Category:English-language Romanian songs

Category:Dance-pop songs

Category:Romanian songs

Category:2014 singles

Category:Songs written by Erik Lidbom

Category:Songs written by Alexandra Stan

Category:Songs written by Lukas Hällgren