Step (song)
Encyclopedia
"Step" is a song by Korean pop girl group
Kara
. It is the group's title track from their third full-length album Step
and was released to online music sites on September, 6 2011.
". DSP Media responded to the news by stating that the group are in the process of reviewing which song is to be used as the lead song from the album.
", slated for release on September 6.
Regarding the concept of the album and its title track, the group was faced with a choice between maintaining their usual bright, cute and youthful concept which Kara was popular for in South Korea or transforming into something new and unique.
". The song is a dance pop song, with some rock-electronica theme. In the song, the group sings about encouraging people who have been put down by sorrow and pain to stand up and "Step it up".
clothes with some colorful patterns around it. In the background, there are bright lighting signs that show the names of the group's past hit songs. In other scenes the group can be seen individually in a bright room with colored walling dressed in colored neon clothing while jumping up. During the bridge of the song the girls are seen dressed in glittering dresses and holding onto microphone stands in a plain white room. This scene was initially from another teaser video for the Step
album that was uploaded on the group's YouTube page on August 29, 2011 before revealing the teaser for the music video, which featured the "Kara 4 U (Outro)" playing in the background.
The music video has managed to gain over 3 million views within two days after its release. Jen Erenza from Ryan Seacrest Blog
described the video as “colorful” with “out-of-this-world scenes“, and asserted, “With their super cute styles and head-bopping music, there is no doubt their popularity will rise stupendously!”.
for national digital singles ranking with 38,333,607 points.
The song also managed to chart in Japan
despite no local promotions for the song. At the Recochoku's Chaku-Uta Ringtone Weekly Ranking, Daily Single Ranking and Daily Digital Download Chart the song managed secure a spot at #1 making an extremely noteworthy achievement for the group for having a song written in Korean
and reaching the top of the charts in the Japanese market while competing with local Japanese artists. With these achievements, the group has become one of the few Korean artists who were able to dominate both the Korean and Japanese charts simultaneously.
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Kara
Kara (band)
Kara is a popular South Korean girl group signed with DSP Media . The band name Kara comes from the Greek Word "chara" Kara (Hangul: 카라, Japanese: カラ, often stylized as KARA) is a popular South Korean girl group signed with DSP Media (DSP). The band name Kara comes from the Greek Word "chara" Kara...
. It is the group's title track from their third full-length album Step
Step (Kara album)
Step is the third full-length album by South Korean K-pop girl group Kara. It was released on September 6, 2011. A special limited edition was available for pre-order starting August 25, 2011.- Background and recording :...
and was released to online music sites on September, 6 2011.
Background
On August 4, 2011, the group confirmed that they will be releasing their third official album on mid-September and will resume their activities in South Korea for the first time in over six months. It was also reported by industry representatives that the group has been recording songs for the album during their spare time while they were busy promoting their fourth Japanese single, "Go Go Summer!Go Go Summer!
is the fourth Japanese single of South Korean girl group Kara. The song was released digitally on iTunes Japan on June 22, 2011, while the full single was physically released on June 29, 2011. It is the group's second Japanese single to sell over 100,000 copies during its first week, following...
". DSP Media responded to the news by stating that the group are in the process of reviewing which song is to be used as the lead song from the album.
Release and artwork
On August 22, "Step" was eventually announced by DSP Media as the lead single for the group's third full-length album, titled "StepStep (Kara album)
Step is the third full-length album by South Korean K-pop girl group Kara. It was released on September 6, 2011. A special limited edition was available for pre-order starting August 25, 2011.- Background and recording :...
", slated for release on September 6.
Regarding the concept of the album and its title track, the group was faced with a choice between maintaining their usual bright, cute and youthful concept which Kara was popular for in South Korea or transforming into something new and unique.
Composition
The song was written and composed by Han Jae-ho and Kim Seung-su, also known as "Sweetune", the producers behind many of the group's hit songs including "MisterMister (song)
is the Japanese debut single of South Korean girl group Kara. The single was released on August 11, 2010. It was released in four editions, one includes a DVD, another one is CD with a 28-page photobook, and two CD only editions, first press and regular...
". The song is a dance pop song, with some rock-electronica theme. In the song, the group sings about encouraging people who have been put down by sorrow and pain to stand up and "Step it up".
Music video
The teaser for the music video was released on September 1, 2011. The full music video officially premiered on September 6. The video features the group dancing in front of microphones while dressed in deep blueDeep Blue
Deep Blue was a chess-playing computer developed by IBM. On May 11, 1997, the machine won a six-game match by two wins to one with three draws against world champion Garry Kasparov. Kasparov accused IBM of cheating and demanded a rematch, but IBM refused and dismantled Deep Blue...
clothes with some colorful patterns around it. In the background, there are bright lighting signs that show the names of the group's past hit songs. In other scenes the group can be seen individually in a bright room with colored walling dressed in colored neon clothing while jumping up. During the bridge of the song the girls are seen dressed in glittering dresses and holding onto microphone stands in a plain white room. This scene was initially from another teaser video for the Step
Step (Kara album)
Step is the third full-length album by South Korean K-pop girl group Kara. It was released on September 6, 2011. A special limited edition was available for pre-order starting August 25, 2011.- Background and recording :...
album that was uploaded on the group's YouTube page on August 29, 2011 before revealing the teaser for the music video, which featured the "Kara 4 U (Outro)" playing in the background.
Release and reception
The teaser for the music video was released on September 1, 2011. The full music video officially premiered on September 6.The music video has managed to gain over 3 million views within two days after its release. Jen Erenza from Ryan Seacrest Blog
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
described the video as “colorful” with “out-of-this-world scenes“, and asserted, “With their super cute styles and head-bopping music, there is no doubt their popularity will rise stupendously!”.
Chart performance
Within hours after the digital release, the album including the song had already ranked number one on various online music charts across South Korea including Melon, Olleh, Bugs, and Soribada. The song also debuted at #2 on the Gaon ChartGaon Chart
The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts...
for national digital singles ranking with 38,333,607 points.
The song also managed to chart in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
despite no local promotions for the song. At the Recochoku's Chaku-Uta Ringtone Weekly Ranking, Daily Single Ranking and Daily Digital Download Chart the song managed secure a spot at #1 making an extremely noteworthy achievement for the group for having a song written in Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
and reaching the top of the charts in the Japanese market while competing with local Japanese artists. With these achievements, the group has become one of the few Korean artists who were able to dominate both the Korean and Japanese charts simultaneously.
Chart
| Song | Peak chart position | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | KOR | JAP | |
| Gaon Chart Gaon Chart The Gaon Chart is a national record chart of South Korea. It is complied by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and sponsored by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; with an aim to create a national chart for Korea similar to the Billboard charts and Oricon charts... |
K-Pop Korea K-Pop Hot 100 The Korea K-Pop Hot 100 is a music singles chart in the United States and South Korea. It is launched in conjunction with Billboard and Billboard Korea on August 25, 2011 and is based on digital sales via leading websites as well as downloads from mobile service sites using an industry-standard... Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... |
RIAJ Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... |
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| "Step Step (song) "Step" is a song by Korean pop girl group Kara. It is the group's title track from their third full-length album Step and was released to online music sites on September, 6 2011.-Background:... " |
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