Since debuting, the members of Girls’ Generation have experienced countless memorable “moments”: important points during their amazing careers that were highlights, turning points, and milestones on their way to becoming the global stars they are today, exactly six years later. In celebration of their sixth anniversary, here is a look back at Girls’ Generation’s debut and six career-defining moments from each year since August 5th, 2007.
Debut:
Into a New World
by bhost909
by bhost909
It’s hard to think of a career-defining moment in Girls’ Generation’s history more important than the debut, a date which fans all over the world are celebrating today. Six years ago, on August 5th, 2007, the members of Girls’ Generation stepped onto SBS’s “Inkigayo” for what would become a historic performance. There, “Into the New World” introduced Korea to nine very special young women on a small stage in Seoul, who had no idea they would one day be singing the same song for tens of thousands of people oceans away. Though it may not have made headlines overseas, this moment is still remembered today as the culmination of years of practice, sweat, and tears, as well as the beginning of an incredible journey by Girls’ Generation. August 5th, 2007 was thus the end of one era, and the start of another: an era of girls, who were going into a new world.
Year 1: August 5th, 2007 – August 4th, 2008
The “Kissing You” Era
by taengsoshi
by taengsoshi
On January 12, 2008, Girls’ Generation’s music video for “Kissing You” was released. After promotions of their first two singles, “Into the New World” and “Girls’ Generation”, “Kissing You” placed the members on the grid. The single placed first in three major broadcasting stations: twice on SBS’s “Inkigayo”, twice on Mnet’s “M! Countdown”, and once on KBS’s “Music Bank”. “Kissing You” promotions, which lasted from January to March of 2008, helped Girls’ Generation to expand their fanbase and to gain a foothold in the ever-expanding industry of K-Pop.
There is one award during their run with “Kissing You” that may stand above the rest in the girls’ memories. On February 29th, Girls’ Generation was scheduled to perform on KBS’s “Music Bank”. While traveling back from an event, they hit heavy traffic and were even involved in a minor car accident. The incident caused the members to miss their scheduled performance time. Eventually, the girls had to leave their car and run all the way to KBS Public Hall. They arrived just in time, performing right after TVXQ!, who were supposed to be the last performers on “Music Bank”. Out of breath and with perspiration running down their faces, the members were amazingly able to perform “Kissing You” flawlessly. When they were announced as winners, they could only look on with surprise and emotionally accepted their very first “Music Bank” K-Chart award.
Year 2: August 5th, 2008 – August 4th, 2009
Gee Gee Gee Gee Baby, Baby
by moonrise31
by moonrise31
January 5th, 2009 must have been a nerve-racking day, to say the least. Girls’ Generation’s previous comeback had been nearly an entire year ago, and they had already gone through more than their fair share of hardships. They were still a new group trying to gain a solid foothold in the K-Pop industry; would this song, jam-packed with cutesy brightness everywhere, from the voices to the dance steps, be enough? But as soon as “Gee” was finally released, it was clear that there hadn’t been anything to worry about in the first place.
For many, “Gee” was the defining moment that not only rocketed Girls’ Generation to stardom in South Korea, but also set them on the path to becoming “Asia’s Number One Girl Group” and gaining recognition worldwide. Today, it is “Gee” that I hear wherever I go, whether it’s blasted in a high school in the United States or on top of a mountain outside Shanghai. And this really can’t be that surprising, since it’s the single that won for nine (a magical number, is it not?) consecutive weeks on KBS’s “Music Bank” and is the first Girls’ Generation music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most viewed K-Pop videos of all time. The music industry is a tricky place, and it’s hard to ride the Hallyu to the very top, because it’s just as easy to fall off without even coming close. But it seems that “Gee” hit that perfect combination of a catchy tune, easy lyrics, iconic outfits, fun choreography, and, perhaps most importantly, nine stunningly beautiful girls (who frankly, are just about amazing in every possible way) to pull it all off.
Year 3: August 5th, 2009 – August 4th, 2010
1st Asia Tour: Into the New World
by kt9823
One of the most common questions SONEs always ask is: “When is Girls’ Generation coming to my country?” It all started with the “1st Asia Tour: Into The New World”, the group’s first ever solo tour. Capitalizing on one of the greatest year’s an artist has ever had, tickets to the inaugural Seoul concerts on December 19th and 20th sold out in three minutes. Girls’ Generation was able to greet fans from all around Asia as the girls also held stops in Shanghai and Taipei. The girls blew the stadium roof off every single venue as the setlist included their popular title songs, fan favorites, various tracks from their albums, and even special individual performances that featured guest appearances by fellow SM Entertainment stars.
The first tour allowed the girls to truly showcase their talent, versatility, beauty, stage charisma, sisterly bond, appreciation for fans, and so much more on their own stage. Girls’ Generation’s “Complete” is something so special to all SONEs, that when the girls gathered together in a circle holding hands in silence, it became an iconic moment of Girls’ Generation. “1st Asia Tour: Into The New World” was an important and amazing experience for the girls and led to two Japanese arena tours, Girls’ Generation’s “Second Asia Tour”, and the group’s first ever world tour, the “2013 Girls’ Generation’s World Tour – Girls & Peace”. “1st Asia Tour: Into The New World” was the beginning of their series of tours, something all the girls have said they’ve enjoyed the most, and marked another important moment in the career of our beloved ladies: a validation and reward for the historic year Girls’ Generation had and cementing their place as one of the top groups in K-Pop.
Year 4: August 5th, 2010 – August 4th, 2011
Japan Showcase & 1st Arena Tour
by SeraphKY & spiceshoe
Shoujo Jidai.
Who would have thought that this name would echo throughout the streets of Japan with such viral popularity? Numerous awards from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Topping Japan Billboard charts. Receiving titles at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. All of these were made possible on August 25, 2010, the date of Girls’ Generation’s Japan Showcase. Set to perform at the Ariake Colosseum near Tokyo, their single planned showcase was expanded to three to accommodate 20,000 anxious fans who wished to see them live. The crowd screamed and cheered for the nine girls making their breakthrough debut in their neighboring country, performing their hit Korean songs such as “Gee”, “Genie”, and “Oh!”. Though the concert lasted only about half an hour, many were impressed by the performance, including popular public icons DJ TORA, Oguri Kaori, and Noro Kayo, who uploaded their comments about the showcase onto their personal blogs.
Following the success of the showcase, single releases by Girls’ Generation were also very popular, and “Gee” even topped the Oricon Chart in the first week of its release. After a series of successful single releases, including “MR.TAXI”, Girls’ Generation announced the release of their first Japanese album. The release would occur one day after the start of their first Japan arena tour, and with promotions for the first album happening alongside their first Japan tour, Girls’ Generation’s self-titled album would eventually be certified by RIAJ as a “million seller”, an album that shipped over a million copies. The album would also stay in the “Oricon Top 10 Chart” for 17 weeks, a first for any foreign group.
Year 5: August 5th, 2011 – August 4th, 2012
It’s 11:35 PM on January 31st, 2012, and I’m sitting in a hotel room in New York City, my heart starting to beat a bit faster with each passing minute. I’m watching, along with millions of other people, “Late Show with David Letterman”. Tonight’s musical guest? Girls’ Generation.
“Please welcome, making their network television debut, Girls’ Generation,” says David Letterman as the live band kicks in for one of the most important performances in Girls’ Generation’s career.
The amount of pride I, and SONEs all over the world, felt for the members of Girls’ Generation was overwhelming as they showed off an amazing remix of “The Boys” on the biggest late night television show in the US. Girls’ Generation was having an historic moment for Korean artists by performing at the world renowned Ed Sullivan Theater.
Girls’ Generation had burst onto the American scene to an audience of millions. Though they have been patiently working on making their return since then, there is no doubt that those days in early 2012 were some of the most important and historic in their career. The nine members of Girls’ Generation had solidified themselves as cultural icons and legends of Korean pop music.
Year 6: August 5th, 2012 – August 4th, 2013
Social Mediaby Grizzlei
On March 17th, 2013, the Kid Leader, Kim Taeyeon, would set a precedent that grows to this day. Since that night, Taeyeon has regularly updated followers on her Instagram with all sorts of cool insights into her daily happenings. From the splendor of Japan’s natural beauty to adorable nail art, nothing was off limits. Taeyeon had opened her heart to the fans.
Hyoyeon joined Instagram on May 3rd, her first updates coming from a resort in Phuket, showing off her amazing physique in a blue swimsuit. An update from the Dancing Queen these days is always a rare sight, but a sweet one, nonetheless! Being the hipster we all know her to be, Jessica then opened an account on Weibo. She’s never one to let a pretty face go to waste and typically tortures us with glimpses of her intense beauty. One must be warned that venturing to Jessica’s Weibo will ultimately end in a growling stomach. Yuri joined the Soshigram ranks a month later on June 27th with an update from Girls’ Generation’s World Tour in Seoul, and the Black Pearl frequently updates her followers. Sunny became the most recent explorer into the realm of social media with an Instagram and Twitter account, beginning her conquest of our hearts by sharing her love of beer and cupcakes with SONEs.
In these handful of months since Taeyeon’s introduction on Instagram, SONEs everywhere have found a new glimpse into a group of amazing girls we thought we knew.
August 5th, 2013
It’s amazing to think of all the incredible moments that have marked Girls’ Generation’s career of just six years. From singing “Into the New World” at “Inkigayo” to hearing fans sing “Into the New World” for them in Taiwan; from their very first endorsement to becoming ambassadors for fashion brands, tourism, and an entire district in Seoul; from winning their first award on a music show to winning the Disk Daesang, and all the points in between, the last six years have been filled with unforgettable memories for Korea’s beloved girl group. Most amazing of all, however, is that there are surely more moments to come. Happy sixth anniversary to Girls’ Generation.
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