Catch Me If You Can (Girls' Generation song)

"Catch Me If You Can"
This cover artwork displays the words "Catch Me If You Can", the title of a song performed by South Korean artist Girls' Generation, having it shown on a black background.
Single by Girls' Generation
B-side"Girls"
ReleasedApril 10, 2015 (2015-04-10)
Recorded2014–15
GenreEDM
Length3:45
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Girls' Generation singles chronology
"Mr.Mr."
(2014) 		"Catch Me If You Can"
(2015) 		"Party"
(2015)
Alternative cover
Japanese 12-inch single cover
Music video
"Catch Me If You Can" on YouTube

"Catch Me If You Can" is a song recorded in two languages (Japanese and Korean) by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. The Korean version was released by SM Entertainment and KT Music on April 10, 2015, while the Japanese version was released on April 22 by EMI and Universal Music Japan. The song was composed by Erik Lidbom and Jin Choi, with the Korean lyrics written by Mafly and Choi A-reum, and the Japanese lyrics written by Junji Ishiwatari and Jeff Miyahara. Musically, it was described by critics as an EDM track. The song marked the first release of Girls' Generation as an eight-member group following the expulsion of member Jessica Jung in September 2014.

The single received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who not only praised its musical styles, but also compared the song to works by American musicians such as Zedd and Skrillex. Commercially, the single peaked at number 19 on the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart and number 8 on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart. Two music videos were created for the single, one for the Korean version and one for the Japanese version, which were released simultaneously on April 10, 2015.[1] The music videos were hailed for their "mind-blowing" choreography, as described by Billboard magazine.

Background

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South Korean girl group Girls' Generation had achieved success on the Asian music scene with hit singles such as "Gee" and "I Got a Boy" since their 2007 debut as a nine-piece girl group, consisting of members Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun.[2][3] In September 2014, Jessica announced that she had been dismissed as a member of Girls' Generation by their parent company SM Entertainment, due to her schedule conflict between the group's mutual music activities and her own fashion business Blanc & Eclare;[4] the release of "Catch Me If You Can" marked Girls' Generation's first release as an eight-member group.[5]

On February 18, 2015, it was announced that Girls' Generation was preparing for their comeback in Japan by releasing their ninth Japanese single named "Catch Me If You Can", which was scheduled to be released in Japan on April 22, 2015.[6] On March 23, further information regarding the single was announced: the Japanese version of "Catch Me If You Can" would be distributed under three formats: CD single, digital download, and 12-inch single.[7] The Korean version was released digitally worldwide by SM Entertainment on April 10, 2015.[8] Due to its popularity on YouTube, the song also received airplay on SiriusXM Hits 1 radio during the week of April 20, 2015.[9] Both versions of the single contain a B-side track titled "Girls".[10][11]

Composition and reception

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"Catch Me If You Can"
A sample of the Japanese version of "Catch Me If You Can", an EDM song
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The music for "Catch Me If You Can" was composed by Erik Lidbom and Jin Choi. The Korean lyrics were written by Mafly and Choe A-Leum, while the Japanese lyrics were written by Junji Ishiwatari and Jeff Miyahara.[12][13] Musically, the song was described as an electronic dance music (EDM) track.[14] Jeff Benjamin, writing for Fuse, noted it as a departure from the group's signature bubblegum pop styles and named it "high-turbo" EDM.[15] The song is instrumented by "surging" synthesizers, tribal house beats, and bass drops.[15] Upon its release, "Catch Me If You Can" received generally positive reviews from music critics.[16] Benjamin further compared the track's breakdowns to the musical styles of Russian–German DJ Zedd and wrote that the song "rise[s] above any mediocre label".[15] He also wrote an article for Billboard where he compared its musical styles to those of Zedd and American DJ Skrillex, labelling it a "smart move".[17]

Chart performance

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The Korean version of "Catch Me If You Can" peaked at number 19 on the Gaon Digital Chart and has sold 135,068 digital downloads.[18][19] It also peaked at number 2 on the US World Digital Songs chart by Billboard magazine, becoming the group's highest-charting single on the chart.[20] The Japanese version debuted at number 8 on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart, selling 20,835 physical copies in its first week of release.[21] It becoming the 31st highest-selling CD single of April in Japan, selling 23,167 physical units.[22] It has since sold 28,208 copies in Japan as of January 2017.[23] It additionally charted at number 9 on the Japan Hot 100 by Billboard Japan.[24] In Taiwan, the single charted atop the G-Music J-pop chart in the first week of May 2015.[25]

Music videos and promotion

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On April 10, 2015, SM Entertainment released the Korean music video on YouTube and other online web-sharing websites, while the Japanese music video was disclosed on the group's Japanese official website. The audio was revealed simultaneously on several South Korean online distributors.[26][27]

Prior to the release, the members of Girls' Generation had promoted the new song on their social network profiles, including Instagram and Sina Weibo.[28][29][30] SM Entertainment also started a selfie contest with the hashtag "#catchGG" on Twitter, accompanying the group's comeback.[31][32] Following the release of the song, the group did not do any official promotion in South Korea.[33] However, Girls' Generation later performed the song on South Korean music program Show! Music Core, in conjunction with the release of the group's subsequent single "Party", in July 2015.[34] They also performed the song on NTV's Live Monster concert in Japan during the same month.[35]

The music video for "Catch Me If You Can" was directed by Toshiyuki Suzuki and features the members dancing in white tank tops and orange uniforms at a construction zone.[36][37] Jeff Benjamin from American music magazine Billboard described the choreography as "powerful and sexy" and "mind-blowing". He further commented that the members sure "can dance their asses off" and compared the video to Ciara's 2009 music video for "Work" for the same construction zone background and the white tank top look.[17] Similarly, Filipino channel Myx praised the music video's visual, commenting that the group were "keeping it hot with their steamy moves and outfits".[38] In June 2015, an earlier version of the music video featuring ex-member Jessica was unofficially released onto the Internet.[39] It was presumably filmed before she was dismissed from the group in September 2014.[39]

Track listings and formats

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Digital download – Korean version[8]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Catch Me If You Can"Mafly, Choi A-reum (Jam Factory)Erik Lidbom, Jin Choi3:45
2."Girls"Lee Seum-ranRoel De Meulemeester, Guy Balbaert, Stefanie De Meulemeester3:56
Total length:7:41
CD Single / 12" Single / Digital download – Japanese version[40]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Catch Me If You Can"Junji Ishiwatari, Jeff MiyaharaErik Lidbom, Jin Choi3:45
2."Girls"MiwaRoel De Meulemeester, Guy Balbaert, Stefanie De Meulemeester3:56
Total length:7:41
CD Single Limited Press Special Package – Japanese version (bonus track)[41]
No.TitleLength
3."Catch Me If You Can" (without vocal track)3:45
Total length:11:26
DVD – Japanese version[41]
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."Catch Me If You Can" (music video)Toshiyuki Suzuki4:21

Chart

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Release history

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Country Release date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide April 10, 2015 Digital download
[43]
Japan April 22, 2015 CD + DVD
[44]
Digital download [40]
Taiwan April 24, 2015 CD + DVD Universal Music Taiwan [45]
Japan June 5, 2015 12" single
  • EMI
  • Universal Music Japan
 [46]

Credits

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Credits adapted from single's liner notes.[47]

Studio

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Personnel

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  • SM Entertainment – executive producer
  • Lee Soo-man – producer
  • Girls' Generation – vocals, background vocals
  • Choi A-reum – Korean lyrics (track 1)
  • Mafly – Korean lyrics (track 1)
  • Lee Seum-ran – Korean lyrics (track 2)
  • Junji Ishiwatari – Japanese lyrics (track 1)
  • Jeff Miyahara – Japanese lyrics (track 1), vocal directing (all tracks), recording (track 1)
  • Miwa – Japanese lyrics (track 2)
  • Jin Choi – composition, arrangement (track 1)
  • Erik Lidbom – composition, arrangement (track 1)
  • Roel De Meulemeester – composition, arrangement (track 2)
  • Stefanie De Meulemeester – composition (track 2)
  • Guy Balbaert – composition (track 2)
  • Patrick Hamilton – arrangement (track 2)
  • Keita Joko – chief engineer (all tracks)
  • Kim Cheol-sun – recording, digital editing (all tracks)
  • Jon Rezin – mixing (track 1)
  • Miles Walker – mixing (track 2)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering (all tracks)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Girls' Generation New Single 'Catch Me If You Can' Released Simultaneously on April 10th". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  2. ^ Rothman, Lily (November 4, 2013). "Who is Girls' Generation, the Group that Beat Bieber for Video of the Year?". Time. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  3. ^ Cho, Jaeki (November 13, 2011). "Girls' Generation Talk Fame, K-Pop, and World Domination". Complex. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  4. ^ S. Kwaak, Jeyup (September 30, 2014). "K-Pop Earthquake: Girls' Generation Member Jessica Jung Ousted". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  5. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (March 23, 2015). "Girls' Generation Announce First New Music Without Jessica Jung". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Girls' Generation, 2015 release decision! The Excitement of Tokyo Dome Concert Video Package, and a New Single of 2 Items!" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. February 18, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "April 22 New Single "Catch Me If You Can" Details and Visuality Publicized!" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. March 23, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "iTunes – Music – Catch Me If You Can". iTunes Store US. April 10, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015.
  9. ^ Hodges, Aaron (April 20, 2015). "This Week's YouTube Top Tunes". SiriusXM Hits 1. Sirius XM Holdings. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "'Catch Me If You Can'으로 돌아온 소녀시대, 한 번만 들어봐?… 중독성 강한 멜로디". The Dong-a Ilbo. April 11, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  11. ^ Lim Jeong-yeo (April 10, 2015). "Girls' Generation releases 'Catch Me If You Can'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  12. ^ "Single "Catch Me If You Can"" (in Korean). Melon. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Catch Me If You Can (CD liner notes) (in Japanese). Girls' Generation. SM Entertainment & Universal Music Japan. 2015. UPCH-89198.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ "Girls' Generation to Release New Single in Japan". The Chosun Ilbo. April 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c Benjamin, Jeff (April 10, 2015). "Girls' Generation Embrace EDM on 'Catch Me if You Can'". Fuse. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  16. ^ "Amidst Girls' Generation Disbandment News: 'Catch Me If You Can' Soars in Music Charts; Fans Ecstatic". Venture Capital Post. April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Benjamin, Jeff (April 10, 2015). "Girls' Generation Show Mind-Blowing Dance Routine in 'Catch Me If You Can' Video". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 17th Week of 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  19. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – The Month of April of 2015" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "World Digital Songs : Apr 25, 2015 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. (subscription required)
  21. ^ "CDシングルランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015.
  22. ^ "Monthly Rankings: April 2015" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  23. ^ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree'] (in Korean). Oricon. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Japan Hot 100: Week of May 4 2015". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "G-Music J-Pop Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015.
  26. ^ "Girls' Generation, Today (10th) at Noon the Song 'Catch Me If You Can' Revealed" (in Korean). MSN. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  27. ^ "Girls' Generation, Japanese Single 'Catch Me If You Can' Korean Version Music—MV Release". Herald Business (in Korean). April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  28. ^ Lim Jeong-yeo (April 5, 2015). "SNSD upcoming music video sneak peak[sic]". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  29. ^ Sarah, Yoon (April 2, 2015). "Girls' Generation rev up for musical comeback". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  30. ^ "STARHOME > From Girls' Generation". SM Town. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  31. ^ "Selfie Photo and Video Application Planning "#catchGG" Start!" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  32. ^ "Girls' Generation Becomes Kiro! Selfie Contest Started" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  33. ^ "Girls' Generation We're Living In". Naver News. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  34. ^ "'음악중심' 소녀시대, 걸그룹 레전드의 귀환 '캐치 미 이프 유 캔', '파티'". TenAsia (in Korean). July 11, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  35. ^ "『LIVE MONSTER』一夜限り復活 ドリカム・ゲス乙女・ユニゾン・少女時代が共演". Oricon. July 6, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  36. ^ "[鈴木利幸] 少女時代 "Catch Me if You Can" Music Video" (in Japanese). Takahashi Office. May 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  37. ^ Catch Me If You Can (music video). Girls' Generation (performers). SM Entertainment. 2015.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ^ Carlos, Jac (April 14, 2015). "Watch: Girls' Generation Unveils 'Catch Me If You Can' Music Video". Myx. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Benjamin, Jeff (June 22, 2015). "New Video of Girls' Generation's 'Catch Me If You Can' Featuring Ex-Member Jessica Jung Surfaces". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  40. ^ a b "Catch Me If You Can – Single" (in Japanese). iTunes Store Japan. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  41. ^ a b "Girls' Generation Discography – Catch Me If You Can" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  42. ^ "Girls' Generation Discography" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  43. ^ "Catch Me If You Can" single release worldwide:
  44. ^ "Japanese release for 'Catch Me If You Can'" (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  45. ^ "Girls' Generation – Catch Me If You Can" (in Chinese). Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  46. ^ "Catch Me If You Can" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  47. ^ Girls' Generation (2015). Catch Me If You Can (photobook). South Korea, Japan: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
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