K-Pop girl group overload in October
After the recent return of Korean girl groups like Brown Eyed Girls (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/brown-eyed-girls-sizzles-sixth-sense-comeback-081703526.html), KARA (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/u-kiss-producer-offends-kara-fans-042859216.html), and Davichi (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/billboard-launches-milestone-k-pop-chart-034152322.html), October promises to be a rewarding experience for K-Pop fans, who will enjoy the comeback of three popular Korean girl groups: Girls' Generation (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/girls-generation-releases-teasers-advance-boys-comeback-074921853.html), Secret (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/secrets-shy-boy-pays-tribute-to-male-idol-group-dances.html), and After School's Orange Caramel.
As reported, Hallyu superstar Girls' Generation (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/girls-generation-releases-teasers-advance-boys-comeback-074921853.html) would have released its latest album, "The Boys," on October 5. Since that report, though, SM Entertainment, the girls' management, has rescheduled the date to mid-October.
The possibility of a Girls' Generation release in the United States looms big and bright since Michael Jackson's producer Teddy Riley penned an R&B track for them. SME has managed to excite the SONEs, as Girls' Generation fans are known, since "The Boys" will be marketed to Korean and international audiences. Seems like "The Boys" is meant to expose the full charms of Girls' Generation members Taeyeon, Yoona, Yuri, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Jessica, and Tiffany.
The postponement of the release of "The Boys" means that Girls' Generation (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/girls-generation-releases-teasers-advance-boys-comeback-074921853.html) will run smack-dab into the comeback of another Korean girl group, Secret (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/secrets-shy-boy-pays-tribute-to-male-idol-group-dances.html).
While not remotely as popular as Girls' Generation, Secret (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/secrets-shy-boy-pays-tribute-to-male-idol-group-dances.html) has managed to hold its own in a phenomenal 2011, earning #1 radio and music show hits in "Shy Boy" and "Starlight Moonlight," as well as another solid radio hit for lead vocalist Jieun, whose "Going Crazy" also arrived to critical and commercial acclaim. She and Secret (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/secrets-shy-boy-pays-tribute-to-male-idol-group-dances.html) group mates Hyosung, Sunhwa, and Zinger will officially return on October 18. Teaser photos featuring Zinger and Sunhwa have been released. Although the title and single have yet to be released, this will be the first full-length release for Secret (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/secrets-shy-boy-pays-tribute-to-male-idol-group-dances.html) since its debut two years ago.
In another twist of fate, Secret's carrier single. "MV" is rumored to have been directed by acclaimed lensman Hong Won Gi, who, as luck would have it, also directed Girls' Generation's "The Boys."
It almost feels like a David vs. Goliath-type set up, but we trust Secret will hold its own. The group may not have much time to promote in Korea though, since TS Entertainment, Secret's management, said that the girls will release "Shy Boy," its first mini-album, in Japan on November 16.
Finally, Korean girl group After School (Hyperlink: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/cokemusicstudio/school-virgin-surprises-satisfies-055513703.html) sub-unit Orange Caramel will release "Shanghai," its new single on October 13. "Shanghai" is the third latest in its "One Asia Project," which will find Raina, Lizzy, and Nana releasing songs named after key Asian cities. After the somewhat unexpected success of "Bangkok City," Orange Caramel will cast the spotlight on one of China's most exciting cosmopolitan landscapes. Pledis Entertainment, the girls' management, is doing everything to keep the new concept under wraps, shrouding everything from the MV shoot to even the name of the producer of "Shanghai," under total secrecy.
We will just have to find out on October 13 like everybody else!
It will really be a K-Pop girl group overload this October! Who are you rooting for?
Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG!. She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas, and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.
