French Kiss (Kara song)
{{Infobox song
| name = French Kiss
| cover = Kara - French Kiss cover.jpeg
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = Regular Edition cover
| type = single
| artist = Kara
| album = Best Girls
| B-side = Girlfriend
| released = {{Start date|2013|11|27}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance-pop
| length = 04:08
| label = Universal Sigma
| writer = Shirose
| producer = {{Flatlist|
- Shirose
- Heroism
- Hikki}}
| chronology = Kara Japanese
| prev_title = Thank You Summer Love
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Mamma Mia
| next_year = 2014
}}
{{nihongo|"French Kiss"|フレンチキス|Furenchi Kisu}} is the tenth Japanese single by South Korean girl group Kara. It was released on November 27, 2013 with seven editions.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/503091/products/music/1049952/1/|title=「フレンチキス」 KARA│オリコン芸能人事典-Oricon Style|date=|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}} It serves as the lead single for
their compilation album Best Girls, which was released on the same day. It was the last single to feature members Nicole Jung and Kang Jiyoung, after their departure from the group's Korean agency, DSP Media, on 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2031232/full/|title=KARA、5人体制見納め？ ニコル号泣「思い出をありがとう」 |date=2013-11-25|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/5748061/kara-member-nicole-leaving-in-2014-another-possibly-following|title=Kara Member Nicole Leaving in 2014, Another Possibly Following |date=2013-10-04|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=}} before their return for the group reunion in 2022.
The title track showcases KARA's vibrant vocals and energetic choreography, creating a lively and entertaining music experience.
Background
The initial rumors about the single's release started in October, when a South Korean digital store put the single and the album Best Girls for pre-order, with the release day stated for November 27.{{cite web|title=제이팝 NO.1 제이케이엠 - KARA / フレンチキス (통상반)|url=http://www.jkm.co.kr/shopping/good_details_album.asp?prodid=38572&cagid=1247|publisher=JKM store|accessdate=October 31, 2013}}{{cite web|title=제이팝 NO.1 제이케이엠 – Kara / Best Girls (DVD부착첫회한정반A)|url=http://www.jkm.co.kr/shopping/good_details_album.asp?prodid=38443&cagid=1247|publisher=JKM store|accessdate=October 31, 2013}} They were later confirmed by the group's Korean label, DSP Media,{{cite web|title=Newシングル「フレンチキス」 リリース|url=http://www.karaweb.jp/news/41418956?ref=release&p=1|publisher=DSP Media Japan|accessdate=October 31, 2013}} and by their Japanese label, Universal Sigma, on October 31.{{cite web|title=New Single＆Best Album 11/27リリース決定！|date=31 October 2013 |url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/news/2013/10/20131031topics/|publisher=Universal Music Japan|accessdate=October 31, 2013}} With the confirmation, they revealed track lists, jacket covers and prices for both single and album.
=Editions=
- Limited CD+DVD (UMCK-9641): The limited CD+DVD edition includes the CD single and a DVD including music video of "French Kiss", a close-up version and making of it.{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/umck-9641/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【初回限定盤】 – Universal Music Japan|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
- Regular CD only (UMCK-5450): The regular CD only edition includes only the CD single itself.{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/umck-5450/|title=KARA – フレンチキス【通常盤】 – UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
- Limited Solo CD+DVD (PDCS-5907 - 5911): The limited solo CD+DVD editions includes the standard CD single track list and a DVD featuring solo shots and making of from the music video of "French Kiss", one edition per member. These editions of the single were only sold at Universal Music Japan's digital store.{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/kara_single/d2cs1005|title=Kara / フレンチキス メンバーソロVersion 5枚セット【ストア限定盤】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2013年11月27日発売】 / Kara / Universal Music Store|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
Composition
"French Kiss" was written by Shirose, who also composed the song with Heroism and Hikki. "Girlfriend", b-side of the single, was written by Glory Face, who also composed and arranged the song, and Jam-9. This is the first time that a Japanese single of Kara does not include a bonus track.
Music video
A short version of the music video of "French Kiss" was released in November 12, on Kara's Japan YouTube account.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epyhkGvH9mM|title=KARA - フレンチキス - YouTube|date=2013-11-12|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}} The full version aired in November 15, on the music TV channel M-On!. It was directed by Hong Won-ki.
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = All editions track list
| extra_column = Arrangement
| total_length = 15:03
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = {{lang|ja|フレンチキス}}; Furenchi Kisu
| lyrics1 = Shirose
| music1 = {{Flatlist|
- Shirose
- Heroism
- Hikki}}
| extra1 = {{Flatlist|
- Shirose
- Heroism}}
| length1 = 4:08
| title2 = Girlfriend
| note2 = {{lang|ja|ガールフレンド}}; Gārufurendo
| lyrics2 = {{Flatlist|
- Glory Face
- Jam-9}}
| music2 = Glory Face
| extra2 = Glory Face
| length2 = 3;25
| title3 = French Kiss
| note3 = instrumental
| length3 = 4:07
| title4 = Girlfriend
| note4 = instrumental
| length4 = 3:25
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD edition):
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – close–up version
| length2 =
| title3 = French Kiss
| note3 = music video – making of
| length3 =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD Gyuri edition):{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/pdcs-5907/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【ギュリVer.】 – Universal Music Japan|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video – Gyuri version
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – making of Gyuri version
| length2 =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD Seung-yeon edition):{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/pdcs-5908/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【スンヨンVer.】 – UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video – Seung-yeon version
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – making of Seung-yeon version
| length2 =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD Nicole edition):{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/pdcs-5909/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【ニコルVer.】 – Universal Music Japan|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video – Nicole version
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – making of Nicole version
| length2 =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD Hara edition):{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/pdcs-5910/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【ハラVer.】 – Universal Music Japan|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video – Hara version
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – making of Hara version
| length2 =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = DVD (limited CD+DVD Ji-young edition):{{cite web|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/sigma/kara/products/pdcs-5911/|title=Kara – フレンチキス【ジヨンVer.】 – Universal Music Japan|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}}
| extra_column =
| total_length =
| title1 = French Kiss
| note1 = music video – Ji-young version
| length1 =
| title2 = French Kiss
| note2 = music video – making of Ji-young version
| length2 =
}}
Chart performance
=Oricon chart=
| class="wikitable" style="width:500px;" |
| style="text-align:center;"|Oricon Chart
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak ! style="text-align:center;"|Debut sales ! style="text-align:center;"|Sales total |
|---|
| align="left"|Daily Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|4 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|32,677 (weekly) | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|35,505+ |
| align="left"|Weekly Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
| align="left"|Monthly Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|19 |
| align="left"|Yearly Singles Chart
| style="text-align:center;"|206 |
= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] charts =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart !Peak |
| |Billboard Japan Hot 100
|align="center"| 24 |
| |Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales
|align="center"| 9 |
| |Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay
|align="center"| 83 |
| |Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay
|align="center"| 100 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" | |||
| scope="col"| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Japan
| November 20, 2013 | Ringtone | scope="row" rowspan="2"| Universal Sigma | |||
| November 27, 2013
| Digital download,{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/french-kiss-ep/1445129296|title=iTunes – ミュージック – Kara「フレンチキス – EP」|date=2013-11-27|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=2013-11-26|language=Japanese}} CD single |