Writers' Review May 2012: 'Twinkle'

Girls’ Generation’s first subunit mini-album, Girls’ Generation – TTS’s “Twinkle”, was recently released to wide acclaim. The title track was an instant hit, getting an all-kill on the Korean charts within hours of release, and the album itself set records on the US iTunes and Billboard charts for a Korean artist. This month, MoonSoshi9 and SeraphKY will take a look at “Twinkle” and see how Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun explored a variety of new styles as Girls’ Generation – TTS. MoonSoshi9 The “Twinkle” concept pictures were certainly…interesting, to say the least. Say what you will about the eclectic and colorful outfits and makeup, but it sure makes for a visually striking album. The mini-album comes with sixteen postcards with pictures of Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun in their crazy costumes, along with a photo card and a poster. Just like “The Boys”, you get a lot of goodies along with the CD. As for the music itself, Girls’ Generation – TTS is a breath of fresh air. “Twinkle” is one of Girls’ Generation’s best albums to date. Every song has its own appeal, whether it’s from “Twinkle”‘s funky sound and soaring ad-libs, to “Love Sick”‘s smooth R&B flow. The live band sound for most of the songs fits so well with Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun’s voices. “Checkmate” in particular gives off a strong vibe, and the drums and guitar on the track really bring out the personality of the song and the girls’ singing. “Library” is an insanely fun song that gets stuck in your head almost immediately, while “Good-bye, Hello” continues the fun in a more light-hearted, bouncy style. Tiffany’s favorite song on the album, “OMG”, is reminiscent of “Chocolate Love” with a really cool chord progression. The way Tiffany descends with “Oh my god” at the end of the first verse into the repetition of the line is so fierce it hurts. Along with “Twinkle”, “Baby Steps” is my other favorite track. The girls sound so absolutely incredible with the melody and harmonizing toward the end of the song that I get chills every time I listen to it. Simply put, I cannot recommend “Twinkle” enough. There’s a reason it broke so many records when it was released. It’s that good. Packaging: 7/9 Songs: 8/9 Overall: 8/9 SeraphKY Let me get this straight before I start. I absolutely love the girls. However, with all those bright colors, funky hair styles, and whatever else you have in there, it is probably one of the most aesthetically displeasing albums I have seen. Thankfully, that only applies to the appearance of the album. The musical content itself makes this mini-album by Girls' Generation – TTS a worthwhile purchase. With a bit of cute, some retro-funk, a rocking dance, and heartbreaking ballads, this album has a little bit of something for everyone. It doesn't hurt to have all those little extras either, such as the digital photo booklet if you bought it off iTunes or the cute message from the members. "Twinkle" is the title song of this album, and it's the little bit of retro-funk in the album. It is a fun song that is most likely inspired from Taeyeon and Tiffany's rendition of "Lady Marmalade", which they performed during the Japan Arena Tour and 2nd Asia Tour. It’s a good song that showcases everyone's vocals, especially Seohyun, who adds a little spice to the song by belting out all the same notes that Taeyeon and Tiffany do, even though she took a step outside of her comfort zone with this genre. "Baby Steps" is one of two soft ballads on the album, and if I had to pick, the better of the two as well. Even though it is a ballad, it has a catchy chorus that flows well. The song also contains those long notes that break your heart every time the girls sing them. Though I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw this song performed live because it had choreography to go along with the song. As for the song "OMG", does anyone else feel a little cheated? I mean, we have "Gee" and "Oh!", so why not make a song titled "M" or something to that effect? But apparently SM decided that was too much of a hassle and just skipped right to "OMG". That aside, the song has a nice jazzy feel to it, since there is a continued presence of wind instruments in the background. It’s easy to sing along to, even if the only words you know and understand are "oh my gosh" or "oh my god". Three cheers for catchy choruses. Next up is "Library", the song where everyone was joking about how Seohyun just might sing it solo. However, despite the calming atmosphere that most people will think of when talking about a library, the song was anything but calming. "Library" is a cute song that will have you jiving along unconsciously, but don't think it is just cute, because the vocals in this song are nothing to scoff at. The different blend of voices and parts brings together an amazing harmony. Out of all the songs on the album "Good-bye, Hello" was probably my least favorite. Not to say it was bad, but in comparison to all the other songs, it felt a little bland. "Love Sick" is the second ballad on this mini-album. The emphasized beat alongside the soft tunes really make this song stand out. You can almost feel the emotion gushing out of the vocals every time it matches up with the bass. The beginning of the song also makes you feel like you’re entering a new world, and then it swells into a crescendo when you finally immerse yourself in the world. The last song is "Checkmate". It's the end of the line for everyone. You have no more moves left as you are captured by the loud bass and heavy beats. The edgier vocals also leave you a little breathless, which is capped off by a short but intense drum solo. If anything, you'll probably be bobbing your head along to the song when you are blasting it out of your speakers. Packaging: 4/9 Songs: 8/9 Overall: 7/9 Written by: MoonSoshi9@soshified, SeraphKY@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? E-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/writers-review-may-2012-twinkle

Hyoyeon Impresses with Her Work Ethic on 'Dancing with the Stars 2′

As Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon continues to improve each and every week on “Dancing with the Stars 2″, viewers and the staff of the show have taken notice of her hard-working attitude and determined mindset. After only placing sixth with their very first performance on the reality dancing competition, Hyoyeon and her partner, Kim Hyungsuk, have since worked their way to the top and even won first place on the show’s third episode. Hyoyeon has now become known as a “practice bug” for her constant practice in preparation for her performances. The reason why Hyoyeon’s challenge on “Dancing With the Stars 2″ is so moving is because the way she takes on the program is like no other. Of course, the other contestants’ effort at attempting sports-dancing on “Dancing With the Stars” always garners attention, but because she is an idol, Hyoyeon is watched with colder eyes and is more strictly judged. Nonetheless, Hyoyeon has risen to the challenge and thrived, displaying both her dancing talents and charms while impressing the show’s staff with her work ethic. In an interview with Osen, the producer of “Dancing with the Stars 2″ revealed, “Hyoyeon is a person who changed my perception of idols. She’s working hard despite her ridiculous schedule. It made me think, ‘They are Girls’ Generation because they work so hard.’ (Translator’s note: the producer is saying that Hyoyeon lives up to Girls’ Generation’s reputation for always working hard.) Not only is she good at dancing, but she really is respectful to her seniors and livens up the atmosphere on the set.” “Dancing with the Stars 2″ has provided Hyoyeon with the opportunity to show off her charms and hidden talents. With her hard work and a little luck, she will hopefully continue to impress for months to come. Source: Osen Written by: bhost909@soshified Contributor: ch0sshi@soshified Edited by: MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/hyoyeon-impresses-with-her-work-ethic-on-dancing-with-the-stars-2

Yuri Interviewed by 'Sports Chosun'

Yuri took part in an interview for “Sports Chosun” in which she talked about her experiences with working on her drama, “Fashion King”. With endless support from oppa and samchon fans alike, being known as Yuri, a member of Girls’ Generation, would have been enough. However, she decided that she would not stick with that popularity alone. Showing off her lively charm and fresh appeal, Yuri of Girls' Generation transformed into Kwon Yuri, the actress, with a smile. SBS's "Fashion King" ended on the May 22nd. She was young and still new to acting, but Yuri never let herself become discouraged by the greater skill of her co-actors, performing her part without a word about it. As this was her first attempt at acting, her expectations were initially low. Even so, as she slowly took baby steps, her presence as an actress began to shine. "At first, I felt all sorts of regrets. What was I thinking when I took on this character that was beyond my capabilities? I felt that I got greedy, and that I was too eager to show to people a character who is the opposite of Girls' Generation's Yuri. There are advantages to being Girls' Generation's Yuri though, and since this was my first drama, I was careful to show that this was her breakthrough as much as actress Kwon Yuri's." We met Yuri on the 21st filming set for "Fashion King", at SBS Ilsan Production Center. There, she talked to us about her thoughts on the drama. "'Fashion King' is really meaningful to me. I suffered from insomnia when work on the drama began, and throughout filming my face and hands would get hot and sweaty. Although it was agonizing and painful, the drama was something I sincerely wanted to work on. Because of that, I was still happy.” In "Fashion King", Yuri acts as Choi Anna, who is in some ways the character that you feel the most sympathy for. As she keeps bumping into unfortunate situations, both her love life and her work always seem to fall short. "You can't feel a hundred-percent of sympathy for Choi Anna, but I think she is a very realistic character. Every woman must have felt similar feelings before, since there aren't many people with the natural ability to adapt. Behind a fashion designer's luxurious background, I feel that there is also a hidden side, which I think is similar to me. I may be a member of Girls' Generation who entertains on stage, but in the end I am still just a person. In some parts of the drama, Choi Anna does a few stupid things and often gets angry. I realized that I felt sorry for her because of that." The Korean audience responded well to her confident acting. "I went to a department store with my mom for the first time before filming started. Usually, I would hear people say to me, 'I'm a Girls' Generation fan. I love your songs!' But on that day, rather than hearing that, they were instead saying, 'Yuri, why are you so depressed? Why won't you laugh?' and 'She usually has a bright personality. If she's being so depressed, then did she fail to succeed?' But even if what I hear are only worries, I am still thankful when I listen to people who are concerned about me." "I want to be an actress who can act in a wide variety of genres. I didn't think that I could discover Anna’s character, but now that I have, I believe that in the future I will be able to bring out more personalities from inside of me. Because I enjoy exercise, the genre that I want to do the most is action." Yuri also managed to make friends with the other actors despite being new to the acting scene. "When Yoo Ah-in oppa wanted to express his character, he did it by living and breathing it, to the point that even the other actors became inspired by his passion. In Lee Jaehoon oppa's scenes, he doesn't act as himself, but as his drama persona, Jung Jaehyuk. When I watched one of his movies called ‘An Introduction to Architecture’, he never once faltered in his role as Seungmin. He is always immersed in his acting. Shin Sekyung may be younger than me but she can be very sensitive when expressing her emotions. Whenever I watch her, I find a lot of moments when I think that she really is a true actress." Yuri’s drama, "Fashion King", failed to obtain satisfactory ratings, but in spite of that, Yuri has shown hard work along with a devoted will to act. "In the future, I will make sure to commit to my work so that I am able to meet the public's expectations." Source: Sports Chosun Translated by: jyhwang@soshified Edited by: Best Served Soup@soshified, nicholys@soshified, NeonCyro@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/yuri-interviewed-by-sports-chosun

Yoona Voted by Netizens As Idol Who Reminds Them of Their First Love

With her soft features, charming smile, and beautiful looks, Yoona handily came out on top in a recent polling of idols netizens found to remind them of their first love. With the poll held from May 22nd to the 29th on DC Inside, Yoona placed first with 6,278 votes, roughly 42.7% of the total 14,711 votes cast. Many attributed her participating in the popular drama “Love Rain” as being a deciding factor for her large margin of victory, in addition to her aforementioned charm. Coming in second after Yoona was Han Hyo Joo with 4,219 votes (28.7%), and Han Ji Min with 1,271 votes (8.6%) came in third. Other idols listed included Moon Geun Young, miss A's Suzy and Han Ga In. Source: YahooOMGPH, Newsen Written by: SNSDave@soshified Edited by: residentbenchwarmer@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/yoona-voted-by-netizens-as-idol-who-reminds-them-of-their-first-love

Fans Commemorate Yoona's Birthday with Newspaper Advertisement

In celebration of Yoona’s birthday on May 30th, fans of Girls’ Generation placed an advertisement containing a poem and a photo in a newspaper. The poem on the advertisement reads: “It is raining petals It is Goddess ‘Yoona’s’ ‘Love Rain’ Intoxicated by Yoona’s fragrance, We, who fell in love Go by the name ‘SONE’ We became a fan. Happy birthday ♥Yoona♥ Happy 23rd birthday to Girls’ Generation’s Yoona♥ Please let love rain so we can love each other ^o^ We are happy SONEs that support Girls’ Generation anytime/anywhere [SONEs' prayer] For Goddess Yoona’s love rain to rain all over the world ♥” Be sure to check out Soshified’s birthday dedication feature for Yoona and leave a message for her in her birthday message thread. Source: OBS News Translated by: jyhwang@soshified Edited by: bhost909@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/fans-commemorate-yoonas-birthday-with-newspaper-advertisement

Yoona Reflects on Her Time in 'Love Rain'

Yoona, who starred in KBS 2TV’s Monday-Tuesday drama, “Love Rain”, (script by Oh Sooyeon, directed by Yoon Sukho), talked with Star News on May 30th through SM Entertainment. She said, "During ‘Love Rain’, I reflected on myself and considered it to be valuable time." Yoona continued, "It's been a while since I was in a drama. 'Love Rain' is a drama that has allowed me to experience a lot of different emotions which I couldn't feel before in my previous works. But above all, it was good to have time to reflect on myself once more.” Yoona also mentioned, “I was even happier that I got to work with good actors and staff. I will try my best to grow and improve for everyone." She also said to the viewers, “Thank you so much to those who showed their support for ‘Love Rain’.” She told them, “Look forward to Yoona's different image," adding that, "She will become a more mature actress." The last episode of "Love Rain" aired on the May 29th, which brought a conclusion to the love story between Jang Geunsuk and Yoona's characters, Seo Joon and Jung Hana. Source: Star News Translated by: jyhwang@soshified Edited by: nicholys@soshified, minigiglo@soshified, SeraphKY@soshified, Best Served Soup@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/yoona-reflects-on-her-time-in-love-rain

Sooyoung Casted as New MC of SBS's 'Midnight TV Entertainment'

On May 30th, the producers of SBS’s “Midnight TV Entertainment” revealed that Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung and Yoon Dohyun have been casted as MCs of the popular show to replace Seo Kyungsuk and Yoo Inah, who recently had their farewell episode. A representative of the show expressed the reasons for the casting of the two MCs, revealing, “Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation has an excellent look which appeals to the public, is able to sing well, and is also good at narration. Sooyoung’s overflowing energy and charms will give a boost to ‘Midnight TV Entertainment.’” He added that after seeing Yoon Dohyun’s narration in “Law of The Jungle”, they picked him as he had confidence in speaking. Sooyoung and Yoon Dohyun will be taking over as MCs from Seo Kyungsuk, who has held the position for seven years and one month. In addition to her new position as an MC, Sooyoung is also currently filming for a new drama, “The 3rd Hospital”, which is scheduled to begin airing in July. Sooyoung and Yoon Dohyun will make their first appearances as MCs on June 6th. Source: ohmynews Written by: NeonCyro@soshified Contributors: jyhwang@soshified Edited by: bhost909@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/sooyoung-casted-as-new-mc-of-sbss-midnight-tv-entertainment

'PAPARAZZI' MV Is the Biggest Girls' Generation MV by Scale

Girls’ Generation’s upcoming Japanese single, “PAPARAZZI”, will have a music video that is much bigger in scale than any other music video Girls’ Generation has filmed before. The music video will start off with a scene of the girls avoiding the paparazzi as they head to the stage, and the highlight is a different style of costume in each scene. In order to prepare for the filming, a set was built that faithfully reproduced a foreign street, including each nuance that would be on a street. With a total of over 30,000 lights used, a week needed to create the buildings, 120 people hired on staff, and 300 people casted for the music video, this set is the biggest in scale compared with what Girls’ Generation has worked with in the past. In relation to the title “PAPARAZZI”, the choreography includes the action of taking pictures, and this certainly goes with the girls’ surroundings of continually being the main focus of the media’s attention as they travel around the world. To read more about the upcoming single, go here: “Update: Girls' Generation to Release New Japanese Single 'PAPARAZZI'“. To pre-order the new single, please visit the following sites: Special edition limited first press: CDJapan, HMV, or Universal Music Regular CD and DVD edition: CDJapan, HMV, or Universal Music Regular CD edition: CDJapan, HMV, or Universal Music Source: Modelpress Translated by: arghninja@soshified Edited by: residentbenchwarmer@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/paparazzi-mv-is-the-biggest-girls-generation-mv-by-scale

The 'Alligateer' Face of Girls' Generation: A Portrait of Yoona for Her 22nd (23rd) Birthday

I won this award for singing “Happy Birthday” to myself. Don’t judge. It is no small feat to be named the face of Girls' Generation, to be in the center of each group photo and the center of attention at many public events. Out of a group of nine beautiful girls, Yoona nonetheless deserves the spotlight. A gorgeous goddess, she has been the group's visual front and center from the start. She has also taken this job and run with it, expanding the group's renown while broadening her own capabilities. Just looking over what I should do next. Like any good employee, Yoona dutifully completes any requests that SM Entertainment has for her, including being the center of Girls' Generation, as was mentioned before. However, it's a testament to Yoona's character that for someone who is in the public spotlight day in and day out, Yoona does not bask in the fact that she is officially the face of the group. She does her best with what she has to do, however, and while Girls' Generation was still getting its footing, the most famous member at that point was always introducing herself as "Girls' Generation's Yoona", trying to bring more attention to the group as a whole. Maybe if I acted nonchalant, people will notice the other girls more. It's no wonder Yoona has succeeded in this task, with all of the activities she has participated in. Outside of being a part of Girls' Generation, Yoona may be best known for acting in TV shows. After her guest appearance on "Unstoppable Marriage" with all of the other members, Yoona got to star in her own program, taking on a lead role in "You Are My Destiny". Even though this role was her first major acting experience, Yoona received quite a few awards, including the Best New Actress Award and Popularity Award from the 2009 45th Baeksang Arts Awards, the Netizen Award from the 2008 Drama Festival, and the Netizen Award and Best New Actress Award from the 2008 KBS Drama Awards. The next year, Yoona drastically changed her appearance, cutting her long hair short and dying it red, when she took on another lead role in "Cinderella Man". It was in this show that she officially became the first Girls' Generation member to be seen kissing someone else, breaking many people's hearts, so much so that the Girls' Generation official website had to issue a statement the following day reminding people that Yoona was merely acting, and providing a candid photograph of Yoona to appease her fans. After a break in acting to rejoin her fellow Girls' Generation members on tours, Yoona returned to the small screen in the recently completed "Love Rain", taking on not one, but two characters at the same time in the drama. Wait, I have to play two characters??? Yoona is obviously very professional in her work and very thoughtful. But we all know she has her silly, or "choding" side. She is a notorious prankster, perhaps most known for feeding her fellow members salty kimbap on "Hello Baby". She has performed her "ssanti" (cheap) dance or made her flounder face on various variety shows. While she is known for her beauty, especially her deer eyes, Yoona is also compared to a completely different type of animal, opening her mouth as wide as an alligator when she laughs, becoming a supposedly weird yet cute hybrid animal called “Alligateer”. This is how an “Alligateer” pouts. Now all of these are a few of the reasons why we love Yoona. But her dedication to her craft and her continuous endeavor for improvement make us respect her. When she first came on the scene, she was known as just a pretty face, someone SM could plug into the middle of photos to get people to take notice. Her singing was not the best, but she has worked on it so much the past five years that it has improved drastically. She has been featured as a dancer since the beginning, and she has tried to perfect that aspect of her performance as well, so much so that she has been featured along with the other dancers in the group on dancing shows. Yoona's acting has gotten better as time has gone on as well, showing that she is willing to improve in every aspect she can. Yoona has become so versatile that she has been featured in many different types of media. Of course, she has modeled for various magazine photoshoots. She is a widely sought-after spokeswoman for various companies, including Eider, Innisfree, Carribean Bay, S-Oil, and many others. She participated in “Family Outing 2″, showing off her variety chops. She has emceed a few awards shows. And she has shown her witty self through many UFO’s. I’ma keep climbing as I get older. Yoona is known as the most popular member among those who are not fans of Girls' Generation, if only because of all the attention she garners during the girls' promotions. But how she has handled them and converted outsiders into SONEs is a testament to her character and work ethic. She may not be the most innately talented of any of the members, but she works just as hard, and deserves every bit of success she has gotten over the years. Hopefully, with the wisdom of another year, more success will continue to come her way. Sources: chunyoon, Eider, Limyoona, Love Rain, Soshified Gallery, SMTOWN Facebook Written by: residentbenchwarmer@soshified Contributors: bhost909@soshified, michaelroni@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/the-alligateer-face-of-girls-generation-a-portrait-of-yoona-for-her-22nd-23rd-birthday

Update: Girls' Generation to Release New Japanese Single 'PAPARAZZI'

[Updated with teaser videos]: A teaser video for Girls’ Generation’s new Japanese single “PAPARAZZI” aired today on Japanese television. In the video, all nine girls are shown gathering on the stage of a theater which is filled with a large audience. The girls were shown wearing trench coats once the curtain opened to reveal the stage. Later, a short cut of the song was played as concept photos of the members appeared on screen. The full teaser video can be viewed below as well as the Japanese news segment with the audio preview.   Teaser video from SMTOWN YouTube.  Japanese news segment which contains “PAPARAZZI” audio teaser.  [Original article]: Girls’ Generation’s Official Japanese Mobile Fansite recently announced that the new Japanese single, “PAPARAZZI”, will be released on June 27th. The last single released in Japan by Girls’ Generation was “MR.TAXI”, which was released on April 27th, 2011. The girls also released their first Japanese album, self-titled “Girls’ Generation”, last year on June 1st. The album, along with the repackaged version, shipped over one million units, which is a first by a Korean girl group. The album was also certified double platinum by the Recording Industry of Japan. Alongside the release of their first Japanese album, Girls' Generation had also started their first Japan Arena concert tour on May 31st, which ended on July 18th last year. The concert tour had a total of fourteen performances with around 140,000 fans turning out to watch the girls. Having achieved these amazing feats in Japan with their last Japanese album, anticipation is running high for the new single. The members of Girls’ Generation have been increasing the excitement by dropping little hints about the single, saying that it had a difficult, but powerful dance choreography. Stay tuned to Soshified for the latest updates on the upcoming Japanese single. Source: Japanese Mobile Fansite Video source: AMZTT@YouTube, SMTOWN@YouTube Written by: SeraphKY@soshified Edited by: taengsoshi@soshified Contributors: letaengbutt@soshified, BestServedSoup@soshified, LetsGo@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/girls-generation-to-release-new-japanese-single-paparazzi

Instead of Calling Them Idols, Call Them Artists

When talking about Girls' Generation, one of the most succinct ways to describe them would be to say, "female idol group". But do those words truly describe them for who they are? Not in the slightest. The only accurate words in that description would be "female" and "group". However, the context of the word "idol" is completely wrong in this case. Nowadays, the word "idol" is synonymous with "pop singer", or someone that is active in many parts of the entertainment industry. Not only does the accepted meaning of the word not describe the girls in full, but it can also burden them with unfair prejudice from the general public. So if they aren't an "idol group", how would we go about describing them? For me, I prefer to call them "artists". Maybe not necessarily on the same level as some of the greatest musical artists of our time, but calling them "idols" is understating how much talent they have and how much hard work they put into getting where they are today. The dictionary definition of the word “idol” is “someone you admire”, or you could even say is “role model”. But in reality, because of expanding pop culture, a variety of shows were spawned based off of the new “an idol is an entertainer” definition, such as "American Idol" and subsequent variations all around the world. However, these kinds of shows only made the new definition mainstream. It already had its own niche in Asia where the term had been used to describe many people involved in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, riding on the coattails of the term “idol” was a stigma that was almost impossible to shake off. It was a stigma saying that you were only there to look pretty and that you had no real talent for anything else. Even the members of Girls' Generation have faced such accusations before. Yet, here they stand as one of the most successful groups that are currently active. Can it be considered fair to brush aside talent backed by years of hard work, only to have the general masses throw them to the side because they are "idols"? Of course not. Still, such behavior persists, and it not only burdens Girls' Generation but others as well. Some might argue that it's only fair that they be called idols because they undergo a “grooming” process through many years of training. It is a fair argument, but at the same time, the same could be said of people that are just singers. The only difference would be that they only focused on one aspect, whereas those who are considered idols went through a more diverse training regimen. Does the hard work they put in make them any less of an artist? For example, is a person who participates in a triathlon any less of an athlete than a pure swimmer? Obviously not, as they just practiced for more than one thing. Let's take Taeyeon for example. She is an idol by definition, but definitely much more than that. Out of all the members, Taeyeon loves singing the most. Taeyeon has even stated that she would like to become the kind of singer who could sing a wide variety of songs. She is a student of music: someone who continually strives to become better and isn't content with being stagnant. On the flip side, you have Hyoyeon, maybe not the most prodigious of singers, but definitely a dancing virtuoso. Is she any less of an artist than Taeyeon? Of course not. She merely has a different talent, a different form of expression that is more suited to her. While on the topic of artists, we can’t forget Jessica with her "amazing" talent for drawings and paintings. Her drawing of Sunny received such rave reviews and international coverage that michaelroni's "The Cucumber" even reported that she received an offer from a famous art museum to display her drawing. Jokes aside, the members of Girls' Generation are obviously more than just "idols" that are pretty with no talent, so why not recognize them as artists? The girls spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to move beyond the little box that is defined by being an "idol". Yuri and Sooyoung wrote the lyrics for "Mistake" and "How Great is Your Love?" respectively, and if that isn't considered a step towards being an artist, then I don't know what is. Sooyoung herself has mentioned on KBS 2TV's "Star Life Theater" that she wanted to be considered as more than just an idol that could dance, but as an actual artist. A part of her essay reflects on the path she took as an idol, stating that she thought it was art. Sooyoung further explains that it is difficult to determine the full spectrum of art, but continued by saying that art can be influenced by the emotions in an individual’s life. There is a lot of truth in what Sooyoung says about art. It is difficult to gauge what should be considered art. But it shouldn't mean that if someone takes a different path that they can't be considered an artist like others can. If art can be considered an expression of emotions, then regardless if it is the dancer who dances, the author who writes, the painter who paints, or the singer that sings, each and every person can become an artist. However, not everyone should be called an artist. Obviously, people have attempted to tread these paths before. Some fail right away, while others make it farther, and there are those who are capable of continuing down that path but choose to not walk down it. So then, who can be considered an artist? For me, the answer is the people that aspire for excellence: those people who work tirelessly to improve, to continue to chase their dream despite the obstacles they counter, and to leave more than a fleeting impression behind, creating an everlasting path that others can draw inspiration from in order to achieve even greater heights. Girls' Generation does this and more. Since the group’s debut, the members have faced challenges both as a group and as individuals. The songs they promoted weren't always similar to their personal tastes, but they took what they were given and did the best they could with it. The multitude of criticisms the girls have faced throughout their careers in not only singing, but dancing, acting, song-writing and whatever else they have attempted were taken to heart and used to make themselves better. Jessica herself stated in an interview that she strives not only to spread Girls' Generation around the world, but also K-Pop so that younger artists like her sister, Krystal from f(x), may one day surpass even her own achievements. No one can deny the talent that Girls’ Generation possesses, and no one can ignore just how much hard work and dedication they put into getting where they are today. We should leave behind the mainstream definition of an “idol”, which says that they are mere “entertainers” or “talentless people who only look good”, acknowledge the effort they put into being respectable artists, and not make slight of their dreams to pursue new heights. Girls’ Generation is a group of artists that continue to hone their talents in hopes that their work will inspire other people. They are so much more than idols. Disclaimer: Views expressed are solely those of the author and are not representative of the Soshified community as a whole. Written by: SeraphKY@soshified Edited by: michaelroni@soshified, FrozenArctic@soshified, bhost909@soshified Contributions: taengsoshi@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/instead-of-calling-them-idols-call-them-artists

Soshified Spotlight May 2012 Part 2: cedge

We’re back with Part 2 of this month’s Soshified Spotlight, thankfully before the month has turned. Just like every other month, we’re once again highlighting a regular member in Part 1, and a Soshified staff member in Part 2. In Part 1, we met desmondyoona, or Desmond, a soccer fanatic from Singapore. In Part 2, we return to Singapore, and meet one of the hardest-working staffers around, cedge. Originally starting out as a SoShi Subs Editor, Cedge has taken on more duties around Soshified over the years, including coordinating the Subbers, helping organize Soshified events, and taking care of Soshified’s media outlets. He has a unique taste in fashion, which to be honest he should be commended for, and so far has a penchant for collecting nicknames. ***** What is your first name? Having a unique first name makes it way too easy to Google stalk me :< It's not something I keep secret, but I don't go announcing it online either. :P Hang around awhile and you'll figure it out! How did you find out about Soshified and why did you decide to join? Long version or short? Short version: 1) SoShi Subs 2) YouTube 3) ??? 4) PROFIT!!! (^that's a meme reference: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/profit) Long version: Like almost everyone else, it started with YouTube and related links. My first encounter with K-Pop was Nobody by the Wonder Girls in late 2008. Here’s how it went: Introduced to Wonder Girls -> Nobody MV -> Tell Me MV -> MTV Wonder Girls & misc. variety shows & inevitably hearing about SNSD -> WG’s cross stage perf of Kissing You on Music Bank -> Soshi’s cross stage perf of Tell Me -> Ooh, interesting -> Just in time for Gee comeback -> Gee MV -> CUTE! -> oh hey what's this MTV SNSD, that sounds familiar -> oh it’s the SNSD version of MTV Wonder Girls, I should check this out -> SoShi Subs -> LOL THIS SNSD GROUP IS HUGE AND I CAN ONLY RECOGNISE TAEYEON BUT THEY ARE SO FUNNY ON VARIETY SHOWS -> We Got Married (Taeyeon) -> she is so dorky and cute and oh my god I love this show -> Factory Girls -> This Soshified site subbing all these shows is pretty awesome, I should join and have a poke around -> Farewell to life as I knew it How did you come up with your screen name? Kind of a hint as to my real name. Basically someone in secondary school (high school) was bored and repeating my name, shortening it, and somehow ended up with cedge. I hated it at first, but it's amazing how nicknames stick. Where are you originally from, and where do you currently reside (city and country for both)? Born in London, UK! Came to Singapore when I was young and have been living here ever since. Can't say I remember much of London, sadly. Though I do retain a fondness for British culture. If we were visiting you where you live for one day, where would you take us? Why are these places so significant? Since it's just for a day, I should probably state some important cultural destination but well… I'm going to go with Universal Studios Singapore. I love that place to bits. When the sun isn't searing our skin. Also when the rain isn't soaking us. But you know, other than that. Besides that, FOOD EXCURSIONNNN! There's so much good food in Singapore, I don't even know where to start. Maybe Newton Food Centre? Oyster omelette: http://www.twitpic.com/4i91tk/full Satay (marinated, grilled meat on skewers, served with sauce): http://www.twitpic.com/4i92al/full Hokkien mee (stir-fried noodles): http://www.twitpic.com/4i948i/full Mmm. Tell us a little about your life. What do you do full time and in your free time? I work at a telecommunications/ICT company! Not terribly gripping stuff, so let's not go into that. Most of my time outside of work revolves around fandom. What's the most interesting thing about you and/or that has ever happened to you? Most interesting thing to happen recently was probably meeting Kim Jongkook (SPARTAAAA!) by chance in Seoul last year. This is the guy I watched through the years on Family Outing and Running Man, so it was pretty incredible to see him up close in person. I even managed to take a picture with him! Looking farther back… Getting lost in the jungle past sunset was pretty interesting. It was meant to be a simple orientation trek in the late afternoon, but we were too ambitious and got lost. Then the sun set and yeah FREAKK OUTTTTT. Well at least that's how I felt inside. Outwardly it was just Keep Calm and Carry On. We eventually got out safely. Compulsory army service is pretty depressing sometimes, but it's one of those things people look back on years later and go "yeahhhh that was pretty awesome." Maybe not the supernatural encounters though. Those aren't quite so awesome. For people who are first meeting you (like most of us), how would you describe yourself? Meeting in person? It really depends on the circumstance… But generally I'd go with "reserved". Unless the first time you're seeing me is at a concert. Tell us some things that most people don't know about you that you think they should. I'm hard to get close to, but once someone earns my trust, I'm extremely loyal. But that also means I get affected particularly badly if someone I trust breaks that. Is there anything big in your life that you're working on? (This can be related to school, career, hobbies, family, friends, etc.) I'm currently organising a screening of SMTOWN documentary film "I AM." in Singapore. That ought to be fun ^_^ How’s the organization of the “I AM” screening going? Is this a Soshified project, and can you give us any details? Not too bad. The theatre with capacity of 396 is nearly filled, I think we'll have a good time watching with other SONEs ^_^ Yes, it's a Soshified project! The thread is in the projects subforum. The screening will be on 2 June 2012, 7PM at GV Marina. I thought it'd be nice to watch the movie with other SONEs, so why not book a whole cinema theatre if there's interest? Made a few enquiries, did a quick survey for interest, and set up the booking! What are your interests outside of Girls' Generation? Gaming and metal music! I used to play a lot (a lot, A LOT) of World of Warcraft. Nowadays I can't really afford the time needed to keep up with MMORPGs though. Some of my favourite games – WoW, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout 2, and the Monkey Island series. Before K-Pop, I was a total metalhead. Wardrobe filled with band T-shirts! My favourite metal bands are Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian and Dream Theater. I still listen to metal, but not as much as before the K-Pop invasion. I play guitar and bass too, but haven't been practising in recent years. My beautiful guitars: Epiphone Les Paul electric: http://twitpic.com/2ydol2/full Yamaha bass: http://twitpic.com/2ydo63/full Samick acoustic: http://twitpic.com/2ydoev/full You are well known for your flowery shoes. Why did you choose that particular fashion statement? I got them because of Taeyeon! http://style.soshified.com/2011/06/taeyeon-nike-x-liberty-of-london/ I liked the design and decided to get a pair for myself. Didn't expect the reactions I got though. People have mentioned that you have an obsession with Siwon. Could you explain that? I refute this! Obsession is such a strong word… Let's go with "admiration". There, so much better. I just think he's very good-looking, with a body sculptured like a Greek god. Beauty has to be acknowledged. What is the background behind this “cedrina” nickname/personality? It's basically a girlified sounding version of cedge. doe created it as a joke and just like I mentioned earlier… it's amazing how nicknames stick. You’re known to be very blunt with people, but looking at your responses you have a really fun side. How do you reconcile these two traits? Being blunt doesn't mean I'm no fun :) I can be impatient and short-tempered. When I see things that I dislike intensely, I don't make an effort to conceal my contempt for it. Things such as bigotry, laziness and demanding people who have no right to be so. I'm also very strict with myself when it comes to work on Soshified, and expect the same from others. When I see things that could have been done better, I feel dissatisfied until it's fixed, or until I tell the person about it. Perhaps I'm occasionally too blunt… But I think it's easier all around to be straightforward than to sugarcoat things and leave the situation none the better. In the past I've been overly critical and nitpicky over minor things, but I'd like to think I've learned to differentiate between what's important and what's not. Live and learn! How did you first become a fan of Girls' Generation? It was because of SoShi Subs, really. Before watching subbed SNSD variety shows, I was kind of indifferent. Can't remember where this quote is from, but it stands out in my mind – "Their beauty caught my attention, but their personalities won my heart." Who is your favorite member and why? This is probably THE most frequently asked question whenever someone discovers I'm a fan of SNSD. And my answer for the past few years has been the same. "I like all of them." I don't understand some of the reactions to that answer, though. Occasionally I get the "Hahahah come on, there's definitely one member you like most", or sometimes it's the *dubious look* "Okay, if you say so." Honestly, for me it's just like asking a parent which child he or she loves most. It's not a question I can answer easily. I love all the members, and though there are some that I have a special affection for, it's not something I feel the need to announce to the world. But I can say that my favourite thing is SoShi Bond/OT9. What is your favorite Girls' Generation song and MV and why? Kissing You! This is a question I've had difficulty answering ever since I truly got into the fandom, so I'll go with Kissing You, since it was my first favourite song and the first SNSD MV that I watched. I loved Kissing You because of the super fluffy lyrics matched with an upbeat happy tune, and that dance with the lollipops was adorable. It never fails to brighten my mood. Besides that, Into the New World will always have a special place in my heart. A song filled with hope and promise, the opening notes give me the chills every time. The first time I saw SNSD perform ITNW live at a concert, I totally choked up. It was just a very special moment to see the song that started it all, and think of how far the girls have come since 2007. Also, the roars of the audience… incredible. What is your favorite Girls' Generation moment and why? Another difficult question, since there are SO many wonderful moments. But these two in particular stand out in my mind: http://i.minus.com/ibq0WxjDbFDrAw.jpg – This picture is breath-taking. Nine girls as one, under the spotlight, holding their hands in silent perfection as the world watches on. I might be dramatizing it a bit, but yeah I love this picture so much. http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/large/68f1acf9gw1dl1pi6qi2rj.jpg – This is from the concert in Taiwan when they celebrated Hyoyeon's birthday! Unfortunately, Sooyoung was still recuperating and wasn't there. Even so, there's just something about this picture that I absolutely adore. Their smiles captured in a sublime moment of joy. How has Girls’ Generation impacted your life, in specific areas or even as a whole? In every way possible, really. I couldn't even say in what way they *haven't* impacted my life. What do you like most about Soshified, and why? Any section in particular you’re attracted to? A sprawling community website for people with a common love of SNSD <3 I'm grateful that we have Soshified. What would I do without it? I can't even imagine what fandom would be like. Why did you decide to join the Soshified staff, and why the particular job you have now? I was really grateful to Soshified and SoShi Subs in particular when I first joined, and wanted to give back, to contribute in some way or another. I applied for the first position that opened where I felt I could succeed – as an editor for SoShi Subs. What exactly do you do? Do you enjoy this position? What do you like about it? I started out as a SoShi Subs editor, but my job scope kind of gradually grew… Some of the things I do now are: - Subbing (not so much nowadays) - Subbing coordinator - YouTube/Dailymotion uploader/coordinator - Updating video gallery (http://soshified.com/pages/videos) - Updating Soshified portal video embed - Soshified social media monkey - Projects for SONEs - Probably some things I can't remember until they need to be done Subbing requires a massive time commitment, which was fine when I was still a student, but nowadays with work and other things to take care of, I can't find much time to sub anymore. By the way, SoShi Subs is in need of active translators so apply here if you're fluent in Korean and English! http://soshified.com/forums/topic/35148-soshi-subs-korean-translator-applications/ I started helping out with Soshified YouTube channels shortly after becoming a subber… the good ol' days when we only needed one or two channels since they weren't so heavy on copyright. I'm particularly proud of the ssfclassics/soshisubsclassics (http://www.youtube.com/user/soshisubsclassics/) channel. SSF social media monkey – I can't even remember how I got started on that. I've been doing it since around the Hoot era, so it's been about 1.5 years. Basically I keep Soshified Twitter and Facebook updated. Out of all the things, this is probably the most time-consuming thing I do. Projects – Before the "I AM." screening, I helped to organise stuff for the support of SNSD's concert in Singapore. Lack of sleep and an insane amount of stress, that was a pretty rough period. What is your favorite project that you’ve ever been involved in? Rather than my favourite, the most memorable project is support for SNSD's concert in Singapore. The planning and execution were tough but I think it paid off quite decently in the end. Although, if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I'd do it again. If I did, I'd definitely scale down on what we hope to accomplish. Too many things to do in too little time with too few people makes for a crazy ride! If we're talking about my favourite project subbing-wise – Invincible Youth season 1 was pretty fun. It was incredible that we kept up with subbing the series week after week, with the insane standard of quality we set for ourselves. I grew really emotionally attached to Invincible Youth over the months. I rarely ever show emotion to the point of tears, but just broke during Ep 32 (Sunny & Yuri's last ep). Was fine during the episode, but at the last few minutes when Sunny said farewell to Greeny and they showed the cow and Sunny both shedding tears… T_T Any interesting experiences when interacting with members? It's always interesting to meet SONEs. The Soshified Field Trip to Seoul in 2011 was an absolute blast! I'll never forget that trip. Is there anything else about you that you would like to add? Thanks for reading! ^_^ ***** Huge thanks goes out to Cedge for participating in Soshified Spotlight this month. As usual, you can submit nominations for future Soshified Spotlights if you’d like to participate or if you’d like to get to know a fellow member better. Instructions on how to do so can be viewed at the Soshified Spotlight Solicitation announcement. You can also read past Soshified Spotlights by clicking on the “Soshified Spotlight” tag below. Compiled by: residentbenchwarmer@soshified.com Graphic by: cioco@soshified.com Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/soshified-spotlight-may-2012-part-2-cedge

Hyoyeon Shows Her Charms and Talents Through 'Dancing with the Stars 2′

Hyoyeon has been receiving the spotlight through “Dancing With the Stars 2″, and on May 25th, she perfectly showed off her charms through the popular reality dancing competition. During this episode, Hyoyeon performed a flawless rumba. She was the most beautiful contestant, wearing a pink dress which emphasized her back. She and her partner, Kim Hyungsuk, showed the greatest teamwork and flew around the stage. While practicing, Hyoyeon had trouble because she could not become familiar with the rumba. It was to the point where partner Kim Hyungsuk criticized her facial expressions. He asked Hyoyeon, "How do you look when you're falling in love?", and requested a soft facial expression from her. However, Hyoyeon expressed her trouble with making awkward facial expressions. Then when they were practicing the lifts, Kim Hyungsuk commented, "Why are you so heavy? I think you'll have to lose some weight." Hyoyeon didn't even flinch at his jokes and replied, "I'm heavy, right? It's because I ate a lot," gaining laughs. She reassured her partner by adding, "I'll try to lose a little more weight before the live broadcast." However, once they got on stage, Hyoyeon showed off all her sensual sexiness as if she never experienced troubles with the dance. Once their performance ended, judge Song Seunghwan commented, "Their teamwork is getting better and better," and awarded them six points. Kim Joowon awarded them seven points and said, "The deep expressions were manifested well." Because Hyoyeon couldn't get rid of her habits of dancing powerfully, she had trouble at the beginning of “Dancing With the Stars 2″. Hyoyeon eventually expressed her troubles to Kim Hyungsuk, saying, "It would be easier if I had never danced before." After their first performance, they unfortunately landed in sixth place with a total of eighteen points. However, seeing how Hyoyeon has improved with every passing day, worries have become chances. She has been improving every week, as if she has her mind set. She has satisfied the expectations viewers had from not just an idol, but a Girls' Generation member. Hyoyeon became a very likely candidate to win the entire show after they landed in first place on May 18th. Also, Hyoyeon's charms were shown with her fresh appearances with her partner, Kim Hyungsuk. It is true that Hyoyeon has not been active on variety shows compared to her other members. However, the Hyoyeon seen through “Dancing With the Stars 2″ showed that she is just as charming, and she is a person who has her own variety show skills. Hyoyeon even turned her first awkward meeting with her same-age partner into a scene similar to one from “We Got Married”, making her partner and viewers smile. Hyoyeon has been showing all her charms she has been hiding through “Dancing with the Stars 2″. Even after being stripped of her “dancing machine” title, Hyoyeon was still very beautiful. Hyoyeon has found her place through “Dancing with the Stars”. You can download Hyoyeon’s “Dancing with the Stars 2″ performance on May 25th from Soshified’s Video Downloads Section. Sources: Newsen, Xportnews Translated by: ch0sshi@soshified Edited by: bhost909@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/hyoyeon-shows-her-charms-and-talents-through-dancing-with-the-stars-2

Girls' Generation – TTS Wins 'Mutizen Song' Award for Triple Crown on 'Inkigayo'

On May 27th, Girls’ Generation – TTS won first place on SBS’s “Inkigayo” for the third week in a row, earning the show’s Triple Crown for their first song as a subunit, “Twinkle”. Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun have now won three times in a row on all of the major music shows, including Mnet’s “M! Countdown”, MBC’s “Show Champion”, and KBS’s “Music Bank”, in addition to “Inkigayo”. As always, Girls’ Generation – TTS delivered a fun and exciting performance of “Twinkle” before the winner was revealed. Sporting brand-new outfits with shirts that showed their concept photos, they performed for a supportive audience which responded with fanchants and by singing along. Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun also appeared in a brief interview segment to receive their award won during last week’s “Inkigayo”, which they were unable to attend due to SMTOWN Live in Los Angeles. You can download the interview segment, Girls’ Generation – TTS’s performance of “Twinkle”, and the acceptance speech for this week’s win from Soshified’s Video Downloads Section. Source: TVReport Written by: bhost909@soshified Edited by: MoonSoshi9@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/girls-generation-tts-wins-mutizen-song-award-for-triple-crown-on-inkigayo

The Weekly Soshi News Wrap

Videos Behind-the-Scenes Footage from Sooyoung’s Photoshoot for “High Cut” Released Behind-the-scenes footage of Sooyoung’s photoshoot for the 77th issue of “High Cut” magazine has been released. Sooyoung can be seen in a blonde wig, striking several poses as she puts on various elegant outfits for the shoot. Arirang TV’s “Korea Today” Interviews Girls’ Generation – TTS DJ Young John Kim, a host for Arirang TV’s morning program, “Korea Today”, recently conducted an interview with Girls’ Generation – TTS. In the interview, the girls talked about their song, “Twinkle”, and explained its concept with details such as the point to the choreography and the various outfits they wore for the MV. Super Junior’s Heechul Calls Taeyeon on “Sundong Cafe Radio” Super Junior’s Heechul, who is a DJ on “Sundong Cafe Radio”, called Taeyeon during the show’s broadcast and conducted a short talk with her for the radio’s listeners. At the end of their conversation, Taeyeon asked for the radio station to put “Twinkle” on air. Heechul used her statement to make a funny joke by shouting at the person in charge of selecting songs to quickly play “Twinkle”. Others Hong Kong Newspaper Reports on Hyoyeon Getting First Place on “Dancing With The Stars 2″ A Hong Kong newspaper reported on Hyoyeon’s recent first place achievement on last week’s episode of “Dancing With The Stars 2″. In addition to summarizing Hyoyeon’s success, the article also briefly mentioned Girls’ Generation – TTS. “Rolling Stone” Lists Girls’ Generation Among “Ten K-Pop Groups Most Likely to Break In America” U.S.-based magazine “Rolling Stone” recently listed Girls’ Generation in an article as one of ten K-Pop groups with a strong chance of succeeding in America. The article talked about Girls’ Generation’s endeavors on “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Live! with Kelly”. It also mentioned Girls’ Generation – TTS’s recent ranking on the “Billboard 200″ chart with “Twinkle”. In the closing statements, the article praised the girls, stating, “Girls’ Generation has both a versatility and coherence that define their broad appeal.” Taeyeon, Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Yoona Answer UFO Messages Recently, a few members of Girls’ Generation took some time out of their busy schedules to reply to UFO messages from their fans. In one of the messages to Yuri, a fan expressed sadness at being unable to attend SMTOWN LA. Yuri replied, “My heart is already at the LA concert hall.” All of the translated UFO messages can be found in Soshified’s Translated Goodies Section. Nell Talks About Girls’ Generation Nell, a South Korean rock band, declared themselves fans of Girls’ Generation. The guitarist, Lee Jaekyung, said that he considers “Complete” to be the best pop song in South Korea. Kim Jonghwan, who is in charge of the vocals, added that he has always liked Girls’ Generation the most. Also, Jung Jaewon, the drummer, decided that his favorite member is Tiffany. “MyPaper” Publishes Two Articles on Girls’ Generation On May 22nd, “MyPaper”, which is a newspaper based in Singapore, released an article saying that Girls’ Generation has the most fans out of all the female K-Pop groups. Then on May 25th, “MyPaper” published a review of Girls’ Generation – TTS’s mini-album “Twinkle”, recommending the songs “Twinkle”, “OMG”, and “Good-bye, Hello”. Photos Girls’ Generation – TTS Featured on May Cover of “Y.G. Malaysia Magazine” Girls’ Generation – TTS was featured on the front cover for the May issue of “Y.G. Malaysia Magazine”. The design for the cover boasted a flowery design that closely followed the theme of the “Twinkle” mini-album. Simon Curtis and Sam Lansky Take Photos with Jessica and Sooyoung Simon Curtis, a singer and songwriter, managed to get a picture taken with Jessica and Sooyoung while he was backstage during SMTOWN LA. He posted the picture on his Twitter account and said that Jessica is now tied with Sooyoung as his favorite member. Sam Lansky, writer and editor of various pop culture happenings, also managed to catch Jessica and Sooyoung during their break and took individual pictures with them. He then posted the photos in two separate tweets, mentioning that Jessica was part of the “highly flawless k-pop girl group Girls Generation.” SISTAR's Bora Poses with Sunny and Amber On May 22nd, SISTAR's Bora uploaded a photo on Twitter with her “Invincible Youth 2″ castmates Girls' Generation's Sunny and f(x)'s Amber. In the tweet, Bora talked about how she "found" her "family members". Sunny Gets Photo Taken with Legendary Music Producer Quincy Jones SM Entertainment has recently released a photo showing Sunny with famed music producer Quincy Jones at the post-SMTOWN LA event. Quincy Jones is most known for his work on Michael Jackson's "Thriller"as well as for being a producer of the American TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. “Show Champion” Twitter Account Uploads Picture of Girls’ Generation – TTS The official Twitter account for MBC’s “Show Champion” posted a backstage photo of Girls’ Generation – TTS to commemorate the subunit’s third win in a row on the program. The tweet mentioned that this was an unprecedented feat in the history of "Show Champion" and that Girls' Generation – TTS unfortunately could not attend due to overseas activities. Fans of Girls’ Generation Nominated in “O Music Awards” SONEs, fans of Girls’ Generation, have been nominated for the “O Music Awards” in the “Fan Army FTW” category. You can vote for Girls’ Generation’s beloved fandom on the “O Music Awards” website here using your Twitter or Facebook account. New Sets of Pictures Fashion King - Yuri1, Yuri2, Yuri3, Yuri4, Yuri5, Yuri6, Yuri7, Yuri8 Innisfree - Yoona KBS Joy (Girls’ Generation – TTS) - Group1, Group2, Group3 Love Rain - Yoona1, Yoona2, Yoona3, Yoona4, Yoona5, Yoona6, Yoona7, Yoona8, Yoona9, Yoona10, Yoona11, Yoona12, Yoona13, Yoona14, Yoona15, Yoona16, Yoona17, Yoona18, Yoona19, Yoona20 Vogue Girl - Jessica1, Jessica2, Jessica3, Tiffany1, Tiffany2, Tiffany3, Group1, Group2 SONE Picture/Video of the Week At one point during a fansign event for “Twinkle” on May 24th, Taeyeon was startled by a small moth that flew by. The fan she was signing for immediately shooed the bug away, thus earning a grateful smile from Taeyeon as well as her signature. The fan’s heroic deed was captured on camera. If you have any pictures or videos you’d like to submit for SONE Picture/Video of the Week, please feel free to do so by sending them to the Soshified Writing Team at tip@soshified.com or posting at the official SONE Picture/Video of the Week thread Sources: taengsoshi@twitter.com1, taengsoshi@twitter.com2, simoncurtis@twitter.com, samlansky@twitter.com1, samlansky@twitter.com2, Vogue Girl, sistarsistar@twitter.com, sosiz1, sosiz2, sosiz3, sosiz4, sosiz5, sosiz6, High Cut, Rolling Stone, showchampion1@twitter.com, SMTOWN Facebook, arirangtoday@YouTube.com, Naver, vodkaice9@twitter.com1, vodkaice9@twitter.com2, bestiz, O Music Awards Written by: Best Served Soup@soshified, NeonCyro@soshified, nicholys@soshified, moonrise31@soshified, SeraphKY@soshified Edited by: bhost909@soshified Contributors: minigiglo@soshified, ch0sshi@soshified, residentbenchwarmer@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soshified for the latest on Girls' Generation.

URL: http://soshified.com/2012/05/the-weekly-soshi-news-wrap-38