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Wonder Girls
For the American rock band, see The Wondergirls.

The Wonder Girls (Korean: 원더걸스) is a South Korean girl group.[1][2] They are produced by singer-songwriter Park Jin-Young and are signed to his talent agency, JYP Entertainment.[2] Each of the five original members were selected through auditions. Debuting in early 2007, they became popular in the fall of that year with the song "Tell Me."

Since then they have scored 3 consecutive #1 hit singles with "Tell Me", "So Hot", and "Nobody", and in 2008, won two Daesangs.

History

Debut

Wonder Girls performing "Irony" at Hanyang University in May 2007. From left to right: So Hee, Hyeona, Ye Eun, Sun Ye and Sun Mi.

The Wonder Girls debuted on February 10, 2007 on MBC's 쇼! 음악 중심 ("Show! Music Core"), singing "Irony", the hip-hop single from their debut mini-album, The Wonder Begins. The mini-album sold 11,454 copies in 2007.[3]

Out of the members, Sun Ye was the first one debut in the industry through the program called 2001 Park Jin Young's Challenge of 99%. However, as a group, the Wonder Girls were introduced through the program called MTV Wonder Girls which was filmed and directed by MTV. The first four episodes contained each members' characteristics and profiles (except Ye Eun's), and showcased their schedules for the day. In the fifth episode, Ye Eun appears in the JYP audition for the search of 5th member. She battled against other final three contestants, and eventually her strong vocal and dance-style won her the fifth member spot of the Wonder Girls.[citation needed]

Not long after selecting Ye Eun as the fifth member, the Wonder Girls had their showcase in the MTV Studio. In the showcase, they performed "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls and their own songs, such as "Irony" and "미안한 마음" ("A Sorry Heart"). Sun Ye did the solo by singing Destiny's Child's "Stand Up for Love" while Hyun-a showed her dance skills by doing solo dance. The other three members — Ye Eun, Sun Mi and So Hee — performed Janet Jackson's "Together Again".

Hard times post-debut

Throughout the rest of 2007, however, the Wonder Girls were beset by various injuries and health problems. On June 25, Sohee was sidelined for a month after tearing a knee ligament falling off a motorcycle during the filming of 뜨거운 것이 좋아 ("I Like It Hot").[4] The remaining four members continued performing until late July, when Hyuna was removed from the group due to their concern over her health—in particular, chronic gastroenteritis which had her hospitalized briefly in March and April.[citation needed]

Rise to popularity

Wonder Girls performing "Tell Me" at Halla University

On September 5, 2007, Good Entertainment, the talent agency for the popular boy band Shinhwa, sent their trainee Yubin to JYP Entertainment as a replacement for Hyuna. She made her debut three days later in the group's live performance of "Tell Me" on Music Bank .[5]

Their first full-length album, The Wonder Years, was released the following week, on September 13, 2007, with "Tell Me." Due to the last-minute addition of Yubin, the album version does not contain her part. However, the performance version of the song was reworked to include a bridge with Yubin's rap. The single was a hit and reached number one on various Korean television and internet music charts, including KBS's Music Bank.

The choreography for the song was simple and widely imitated: by October, many fan performances of the dance circulated on video sharing sites such as YouTube and Daum[6], including one by a group of policemen who were eventually profiled on SBS's Star King. The dance became so popular it was known as the 'Tell Me Virus' and earned them the title of 'Korea's Little Sisters'.[citation needed]

The Wonder Girls had an extensive promotional schedule for their album and in December 2007 they began performing the second single from the album, "이 바보" ("This Fool"). They made numerous appearances on variety and game shows, sang live on radio, at music festivals, on music shows, and in special joint performances with other groups such as Big Bang. MTV has also aired three seasons of The Wonder Life, a reality TV series starring the girls. In January 2008, however, they ceased promotion of their album to prepare for their concert in United States that was scheduled for March 2008.[7]

2008: More singles & continued popularity

Wonder Girls performing "So Hot" at the M Super Concert in June 2008.

The Wonder Girls returned to Korea in spring of 2008. In May, over the course of 5 days, a picture of each member, sporting their new "sexy" image, was released, starting with Ye-eun and ending with Sohee. Following this, a preview track from the upcoming single was released. There were rumours that past member Hyuna would be returning to the group; JYP Entertainment confirmed that this was not the case.[8]

Their new single, "So Hot", was released on May 22, 2008; the song topped online charts in the next few days.[9][10] They began their comeback performances on May 31, 2008 on MBC's Music Core, performing "So Hot" and "This Time". The full single was released on June 3, 2008, containing the title track, the rap version of "Tell Me", "This Time", and "You're Out". Due to vocal cord problems, Yubin lip-synched her parts under doctor's orders[10] until late July. It was later announced that promotional activities for "So Hot" would end at the end of July 2008, and that the group would instead prepare for their third mini-album, to be released the end of September.[citation needed]

Wonder Girls performing "Nobody" at the 2008 BICHE opening ceremony in October.

In September 2008, various hints and teasers were put up on their official website, including a teaser trailer that was also put up on JYP Entertainment's official YouTube account.[11] The full music video was then released on September 22, 2008, with the single, "Nobody", being digitally released on the same day. They made their comeback the following weekend on Music Core, Music Bank, and Inkigayo. The song went to #1 on KBS' Music Bank, staying there for four consecutive weeks,[12] and also won Cyworld's "Song of the Month" award in September and October 2008.[13]

In November 2008, the Wonder Girls revealed that they would have their own makeup line, consisting of 6 different "Wonder" products,[14] and a reality show airing on M.Net, titled Wonder Bakery, in which the girls would pair up with aspiring chefs competing to win a cash prize.[15] It was also stated that the Wonder Girls have made ₩12 billion (equivalent to $9 million) as a group.[16]

At the 2008 M.Net MKMF Awards, the Wonder Girls won three awards, including "Song of the Year" and "Best Music Video" for "Nobody", and "Best Female Group".[17] The group also won an award at the 2008 Golden Disk Awards for high digital sales.[18] At the 18th Seoul Music Awards, the Wonder Girls won the Daesang ("Artist of the Year" award) for "Nobody", along two other awards.[19]

Overseas promotional activities

Wonder Girls at a May 2008 fan meeting in Bangkok.

The Wonder Girls have had several showcases in China shortly after their debut in 2007 and have been receiving Chinese language lessons.[20]

In February 2008, the Wonder Girls joined their producer Park Jin-young for his month-long concert tour through Korea and the United States (including New York City and Los Angeles) as special guests, and took the opportunity to film the music video for "Wishing on a Star" while in New York City.[21] Park had stated that the concerts were also meant to be a showcase for his other protégés, such as Min, G-Soul, and Lim Jeong Hee.[22]

The Wonder Girls held a fan meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2008, attracting over 10,000 fans. The group also performed at a festival in Flushing, Queens, New York in the Fall of 2008, joining other artists in the JYP family.

In September 2008, the Wonder Girls was selected as a top girl group by Virgin Media, which put them amidst girl groups such as the Pussycat Dolls, Girls Aloud, and Danity Kane.[23]

Also, the Wonder Girls performed "Nobody" and "Tell Me" in Singapore late 2008, attracting over 6,000 fans.[citation needed]

Member profiles

A former member, Hyun-a, left shortly before the release of "Tell Me" due to health complications.

Yubin

  • Birth name: Kim Yubin (Hangul: 김유빈; Hanja: 金瑜斌)
  • Date of birth: (1988-10-04) October 4, 1988 (age 36)[24][note 1]
  • Discovery: Good Entertainment Trainee
  • Position: Rapper

Ye-eun

  • Birth name: Park Ye-eun (Hangul: 박예은; Hanja:Hyun Ye-Eun)
  • Date of birth: (1989-05-26) May 26, 1989 (age 35)[24] [note 1]
  • Discovery: 2007 audition during the show MTV 'Wonder Girls Season 1'
  • Position: Lead Vocalist

Sunye

  • Birth name: Min Sunye (Hangul: 민선예; Hanja: 閔先藝)
  • Date of birth: (1989-08-12) August 12, 1989 (age 35)[24] [note 1]
  • Discovery: 2001 Park Jin Young's Challenge of 99%
  • Position: Leader, Main Vocalist

Sunmi

  • Birth name: Sun Mi (Hangul: 선미; Hanja: 宣美)
  • Date of birth: (1992-05-02) May 2, 1992 (age 32)[24] [note 1]
  • Discovery: JYP Entertainment Trainee
  • Position: Vocalist,Sub Rapper

Sohee

  • Birth name: Ahn Sohee (Hangul: 안소희; Hanja: 安昭熙)
  • Date of birth: (1992-06-27) June 27, 1992 (age 32)[24] [note 1]
  • Discovery: JYP Entertainment Trainee
  • Position: Vocalist, Lead Dancer

Discography

Wonder Girls discography
Singles"Irony", "미안한 마음(It's Not Love/A Sorry Heart)"
Wonder Girls discography
Singles"Tell Me", "이 바보" ("This Fool"), "Wishing On A Star"
Wonder Girls discography
Singles"So Hot", "This Time"
Wonder Girls discography
Singles"Nobody", "Nobody (Rainstone Remix)"

Television Shows

  • Wonder Girls Season 1 (2006)
  • Wonder Girls Season 2 (2007)
  • Wonder Girls Season 3 (2008)
  • Wonder Bakery (2008)

Awards

Year Awards
2007
  • Cyworld Digital Music Awards (February): Rookie of the Month[29]
  • Cyworld Digital Music Awards (October): Song of the Month ("Tell Me")[30]
  • 2007 Mnet KM Music Festival: Rookie of the Year[31]
  • 2007 National Assembly of South Korea Pop Culture & Media Awards: Pop Music Award[32]
  • Korean Music Arts Festival: Female Photogenic Award[33]
  • 2007 Mnet KM Music Festival: Newcomer Award
  • 2007 Golden Disk Awards: Digital Music Bonsang[34]
  • 2007 Golden Disk Awards: Popularity Award[34]
2008
  • 17th Seoul Music Awards: Rookie of the Year[35]
  • 2008 Nick Korea Kids Choice Awards: Best Female Singer
  • 20th Korean Producers & Directors Awards: Best Singer Award[36]
  • 5th Korean Music Awards: Best Dance & Electronic Song Award[37]
  • Cyworld Digital Music Awards (June): Song of the Month ("So Hot")[38]
  • M.Net 20s Choice: Hot Schoolgirl (Sohee)
  • M.Net 20s Choice: Hot Club Music ("So Hot")
  • Cyworld Digital Music Awards (September): Song of the Month ("Nobody")
  • Cyworld Digital Music Awards (October): Song of the Month ("Nobody")
  • 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival: Best Female Group Award[17]
  • 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival: Best Music Video Award ("Nobody")[17]
  • 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival: Song of the Year ("Nobody")[17]
  • 9th Korea Visual Arts Festival: Most Photogenic Singer Award
  • 25th Korea Best Dresser Awards: Best Dresser Award for Singer Category
  • 23rd Golden Disk Awards: Digital Bonsang ("Nobody")[18]
  • 2008 Korea Fashion & Design Awards: Style Icon of the Year
2009
  • 2009 Asia Model Festival Awards: Asia Star Award
  • 18th High1 Seoul Music Awards: Daesung Award ("Nobody")[19]
  • 18th High1 Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award ("Nobody")[19]
  • 18th High1 Seoul Music Awards: Digital Music Award ("Nobody")[19]

References

  1. ^ Yi, Dong-jun (2007-03-13). "원더걸스, "남자 가수로 구성된 팬클럽 있다!"" (in Korean). Paran Media. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  2. ^ a b "《On Air》代言人神秘美女5人组" (in Chinese). Eastday. 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  3. ^ a b "MIAK: 2007 Sales Summary" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2007-08-10.
  4. ^ Park, Eun-kyung (2007-06-25). "원더걸스 소희, 촬영 중 오토바이 사고" (in Korean). Joynews24. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  5. ^ Kim, Won-gyum (2007-09-05). "원더걸스, 새멤버 공개..19세 김유빈" (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
  6. ^ "[2007연예결산]올해의 사자성어 '원더걸스(原多渴水)'" (in Korean). Gonews. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  7. ^ Kim, Gyeong Min (2007-12-18). "원더걸스를 못본다! 내년 1월부터 휴식기 들어가" (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  8. ^ Kim, Hyeong-u (2008-05-21). "원더걸스 전 멤버 현아,복귀" (in Korean). Paran. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  9. ^ "원더걸스 'So Hot', 온라인 3관왕". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  10. ^ a b "Wonder Girls' Yubin Suffers Vocal Cord Injury". KBS World. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  11. ^ WonderGirls M/V Trailer. JYP Entertainment.
  12. ^ 원더걸스 JYP 선배 비 제치고 뮤직뱅크 1위 등극. Newsen/Joins.com. October 24, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  13. ^ 원더걸스 2달 연속 싸이월드 어워드 수상 ‘총5회 빅뱅과 동률’. Newsen/Joins.com. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  14. ^ Lee, Bitna. 원더걸스화장품 드디어 베일 벗다! (Wonder Girls Makeup Finally Revealed!). JangUp.com. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  15. ^ 원더걸스 "케이크 만들고, 꿈도 이루세요" (Wonder Girls say "Make Cakes and Make Your Dreams Come True"). HanKyung.com. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  16. ^ 원더걸스 `돈방석` 올 120억 벌었다 (Wonder Girls "Cash Cow", Have Earned 120 Billion). HanKyung.com. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  17. ^ a b c d Kim, Shi-eun. ‘MKMF 3관왕’ 원더걸스 “변치 않는 원더걸스 되겠다” (MKMF Triple Winner Wonder Girls "Will Never Change"). HanKyung.com. November 16, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  18. ^ a b Jin, Hyang-hui.추락하는 `골든디스크상`…10만장으로 `티격태격`? (Falling "Golden Disk Awards"...Bickering over 100,000?). Maeil Gyungjae. December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  19. ^ a b c d 원더걸스, `서울가요대상` 대상 (Wonder Girls, "Seoul Music Awards" Artist of the Year). JoongAng Ilgo/Joins.com. February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  20. ^ Kim, Gyeong Min (2007-04-11). "완벽한 그녀들, 원더걸스 중국 쇼케이스 현장" (in Korean). ETN. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  21. ^ "Wonder Girls to Enter U.S. Market". KBS WORLD. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  22. ^ Yang, Jeff (2008-04-09), Next stop, Wonderland, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved 2008-08-13
  23. ^ Girl groups: the ones to watch. Virgin Media. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Wonder Girls' official profile" (in Korean).
  25. ^ "MIAK: 2008. 05. Sales Summary" (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  26. ^ a b 6월 가요음반 판매량집계. Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference MIAKAugust08 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ a b 6월 가요음반 판매량집계
  29. ^ Park, Eun-gyeong (2007-03-20). "원더걸스, 디지털 뮤직어워드 '신인상' 수상" (in Korean). Joynews24. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  30. ^ Nam, An-u (2007-11-19). "원더걸스, 상복 터졌다…'10월의 노래'상도 접수" (in Korean). Mydaily. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  31. ^ Kang, Ji-hun (2007-11-17). "'텔미' 열풍 원더걸스, MKMF 신인상 수상" (in Korean). Mydaily. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  32. ^ Jung, Gyeong-hwa (2007-11-29). "원더걸스, 2007 국회대상 대중음악상 수상" (in Korean). Mydaily. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  33. ^ Choi, Hyeon-u (2007-12-07). "대한민국 영상대전, 유재석-원더걸스 등 '포토제닉'" (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  34. ^ a b Shim, Jae-geol (2007-12-14). "[골든디스크] 원더걸스, 본상-인기상 '텔미'로 싹쓸이" (in Korean). Sportsseoul. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  35. ^ "원더걸스, 서울가요대상 신인상 수상!" (in Korean). Joongang. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  36. ^ Ahn, Hyo-eun (2008-02-28). "원더걸스, '한국PD대상' 가수부문 수상" (in Korean). Mydaily. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  37. ^ Gil, Hye-seong (2008-03-05). "원더걸스, '텔미'로 한국대중음악상 '최우수 댄스&일렉트로닉 노래상' 수상" (in Korean). Starnews. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  38. ^ Park, Se-yeon (2008-07-09). "원더걸스 이달의 노래 영예.. '텔미' 넘은 '소핫' 열풍 뜨거워" (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved 2008-07-10.

http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200808.htm

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Note: ages are reckoned in the standard western manner. In many East Asian regions, age is reckoned differently; see East Asian age reckoning. As a result, certain references aimed at Korean readership may have ages listed that differ by one to two years from ages calculated from the birth dates listed. This does not indicate an error in either this article or the reference, but rather a cultural difference in the way that ages are determined.
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