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I Got a Boy is the fourth Korean studio album by Girls' Generation, released on January 1, 2013.

The album was preceded by the pre-released single, "Dancing Queen", released on December 21, 2012. The title track, "I Got a Boy", was released digitally on January 1, 2013.

Background[]

Due to the album containing recordings dating back to 2008, Seohyun explained the album strayed away from the group's usual releases with it being described as a "time machine" which explored the group's past and future. Billboard described the album has a mix of multiple genres such as 1980s new wave, electronic dance music, and modern R&B, being for the taste of all, and not only the average K-pop fan.

SNSD had planned originally to make a Korean comeback during October and November. However, those plans were canceled and instead, the group focused on their Japanese promotions for the rest of 2012.

"Baby Maybe", a ballad, was written by members Sooyoung, Yuri, and Seohyun. "XYZ", with a powerful synthesizer pattern, is also written by Yuri and Seohyun. The album also contains "Lost in Love (유리아이)", a duet by Taeyeon and Tiffany. "Express 999" is a retro pop song combining various genres and is a reference to the anime Galaxy Express 999. "Dancing Queen" is a remake of Duffy's "Mercy" and was supposed to be Girls' Generation title track back in 2009, instead of Gee. Jessica and Tiffany, members fluent in English, helped in the translation of the song. "Talk Talk" has a Japanese version named "Boomerang" in their second Japanese album Girls & Peace.

Album Packaging[]

I Got a Boy was released in 10 versions, one "group" version (with a photobook that featured all nine members) and individual versions, which each had a unique photobook featuring the corresponding member. Beyond this, each version of the album either had a holographic sticker or a "colored" sticker (Sticker colors are as follows: white - group, Seohyun, Yoona, Sooyoung, Tiffany; white with black dots - Yuri, Sunny; yellow - Hyoyeon; pink - Jessica; rainbow - Taeyeon).[1] In total, this means that there are 20 unique versions of I Got a Boy that were released in Korea, with 10 unique photobooks. The album was also released physically in Japan, which also features 20 versions that are identical to the Korean press (the main difference between the two presses is the absence of the gold KOMCA sticker on the back of the Japanese press). There were no photocards released with the album.

Album Version Breakdown[]

Photobook Version Korean Press Japanese Press Total Number of Versions
Sticker Color A Sticker Color B Sticker Color A Sticker Color B
Girls' Generation Holographic White Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Taeyeon Holographic Rainbow Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) Rainbow (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Jessica Holographic Pink Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) Pink (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Sunny Holographic White with black dots Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White with black dots (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Tiffany Holographic White Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Hyoyeon Holographic Yellow Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) Yellow (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Yuri Holographic White with black dots Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White with black dots (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Sooyoung Holographic White Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Yoona Holographic White Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Seohyun Holographic White Holographic (no KOMCA sticker) White (no KOMCA sticker) 4
Total number of versions 40

Sales and charts[]

A week after the release of "Dancing Queen", the song was number one on the Gaon Single chart, then the same happened with "I Got a Boy" on January 1, 2013. "I Got A Boy" became the 11th best-selling single of 2013, having 1,354,672 of downloads, and "Dancing Queen" had 1,013,365 of download. As of July 2014, "I Got a Boy" surpassed 1,372,401 DLs.

In Korea, on the Gaon Album Chart, the album was #1 on Weekly and Monthly chart, and #2 on yearly chart, selling over 293,302 in just 2013. As of July 2014, the album had surpassed 299,786+ in Korea only.

In the USA, I Got a Boy debuted at #2 on Billboard's World Album Chart, #2 on the Heatseekers Albums Chart and #23 on the Independent Albums Chart.

The album also charted at #3 on Taiwan Album Chart, selling over 18,000+ copies there, and #13 on China album chart.

Finally in Japan, the album ranked #7 on Oricon Weekly Chart and #22 on Oricon Monthly Chart, selling a total of 53.563 copies in Japan.

The album has sold a total of  368,795+ copies in Asia only.

Track listing[]

No. Title Length
1. "I Got a Boy"   4:31
2. "Dancing Queen"   3:35
3. "Baby Maybe"   3:43
4. "Talk Talk"   2:46
5. "Promise"   3:15
6. "Express 999"   3:27
7. "Lost in Love"   4:00
8. "Look at Me"   3:01
9. "XYZ"   3:15
10. "Romantic St."   4:00

Audio[]

Spotify[]

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