Mr.Mr. (song)

"Mr.Mr."
"Mr.Mr."
Song

"Mr.Mr." is a Korean-language song by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation, released on February 28, 2014, as the title track from their fourth Korean EP, Mr.Mr.. The song was produced by American production team The Underdogs.

Background and release

"Mr.Mr.", is an electropop dance song which incorporates elements of R&B, produced by the American record production team The Underdogs, who have also worked with Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, and Chris Brown.^[1]

The concept for "Mr.Mr." was described to be a "classy, mystery girl" rather than "sexy". SM Entertainment stated, "We're going to show a transformation that only Girls' Generation can show."^[2] The dance for the title song "Mr.Mr." is choreographed by choreographer Jillian Meyer, who has worked with Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, and Kylie Minogue.^[3]

A Japanese version of Mr.Mr. was initially released on March 21, 2014, and later on as a track in Girls' Generation's The Best.

"Mr.Mr." was considered by Time to be one of the "Top 25 Best Songs of 2014". Journalist Lily Rothman wrote, "Fans of K-pop juggernaut Girls' Generation (a.k.a. SNSD) won't be disappointed by their latest dance-friendly single, and the addition of a scratchy electronic bass line and a hint of darkness should even attract listeners who don't dig their usual bubblegum sound."^[4]

The music video of "Mr. Mr." was ranked number 2 as the world's most watched K-pop music video for the 1st half of 2014.^[5]

Lyrics

The lyrics for The Underdogs' tune were provided by local Jam Factory lyricists Jo Yungyeong and Kim Hee-jeong, both of whom have been part of the songwriting team attached to Girl's Generation for 8 years.^[6] Jo Yungyeong, who also supplied lyrics to "Back Hug" and "Soul" on the same Mr.Mr. EP. The lyrics of the song Mr.Mr. are sung from Girls' Generation's familiar singer standpoint of a woman in love. The song begins:

"Let's go! 뭘 걱정하는데 넌, 됐고 뭐가 또 두려운데? 재고 또 재다 늦어버려 Uh- Uh-"

"Let's go! Mwol geokjeonghaneunde neon, dwaetgo mwoga tto duryeounde? Jaego tto jaeda neujeobeoryeo eo- eo-"

"Let's go! What are you worrying for? What are you afraid of? If you keep thinking about it'll be too late. Uh,uh."

However in comparison to songs like I Got A Boy (아이 갓 어 보이 ai gat eo boi) which talks about a "Prince" flying her to heaven, the lyrics of "Mr.Mr", such as "What are you afraid of?" push the man to take more proactive action.^[7]

Music video

Background

While the music video for "Mr. Mr." was being edited, some of the footage was lost due to the file becoming damaged. Thus, even though Girls' Generation originally planned to release "Mr. Mr." and its music video on February 19, it was released on February 28 instead after some of the scenes were re-filmed. Their comeback schedule was also delayed for two weeks,^[8] and they had their first comeback performance on Mnet's M!Countdown on March 6.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Synopsis

The music video starts with operating equipment such as drugs, breathing masks, and the girls holding up injection shots. The guy is not brave enough to confess to the girl he likes and seems cold even when he is close to the girls. He had a cardiac acute heart disease. Therefore, he is going to do surgery. The girls give him some anesthetic drug and that is why the guy's vision becomes blurred. The member of the group is on blurred vision, and then remembers memory about them on that black and white scene. He also dreams about why he is still cold to the girls. The girls pretend as male doctors and then they operate him, changing his heart so that he can be brave enough to confess. The operation became successful and when he wakes up, he had a vision of a lovely girls like he used to think before.

Critics

"The group proves they can keep making fantastic visuals even by opting for sophisticated charm and toning down the sugary sweetness a notch."
— Billboard.com, ^[12]

"Being pretty is a prerequisite for being in a pop group, but K-pop princesses Girls' Generation are so good looking that they make every other girl band in history look like Jay-Z in drag by comparison."
— Popdust.com, ^[13]

Charts

Chart	Peak position
Gaon Singles Chart^[14]	1
Gaon Monthly Singles chart^[15]	3
Gaon Yearly Singles chart^[16]	54
Gaon Mobile Ringtone chart^[17]	7
Billboard K-Pop Hot 100^[18]	3
Billboard World Digital Songs^[19]	4

Credits

Girls' Generation – Vocals
- Taeyeon – Main vocals, Background vocals
- Jessica – Main vocals, Background vocals, Raps
- Sunny – Lead vocals, Background vocals, Raps
- Tiffany – Main vocals, Background vocals, Raps
- Hyoyeon – Vocals, Raps
- Yuri – Lead vocals, Raps
- Sooyoung – Vocals
- Yoona – Vocals
- Seohyun – Lead vocals, Background vocals
The Underdogs - producer, songwriter, audio mixing

References

^ Girls' Generation collaborates with 'The Underdogs' for new album English.yonhapnews.co.kr (February 12, 2014). Retrieved on December 23, 2014.
^ "Girls' Generation to make comeback with mystery concept!". SM Town Now. S.M. Entertainment. February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
^ 소녀시대 태연-윤아-서현, 신곡 이미지 공개. 단순 섹시 뛰어넘었네!. News.Nate.com, Sports Chosun (in Korean). Sports Chosun, SK Communications. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
^ Girls' Generation's "Mr.Mr." Makes Time Magazine's List of Top Songs of 2014
^ World's most watched K-pop music video of the 1st half of 2014 (in Korean) News.naver.com (July 9, 2014). Retrieved on July 9, 2014.
^ [리뷰'소녀시대' 욕심과 자신감, 대중성·실험성 둘 다…Mr. Mr.] 25 February 2014 "조윤경·김희정이 붙인 노랫말은 데뷔 8년째로 어느덧 20대 중반인 소녀시대 멤버들의 성숙함을 대변한다. "나는 나는 바본가봐요 그대 그대 밖에 모르는 바보 그래요 그댈 보는 난"('지'), "그래요 난 널 사랑해 언제나 믿어 꿈도 열정도 다 주고 싶어 난 그대 소원을 이뤄주고 싶은(싶은) 행운의 여신"('소원를 말해봐'), "두근 두근 가슴이 떨려와요 자꾸 자꾸 상상만 하는 걸요 어떻게 하나 콧대 높던 내가 말하고 싶어"('오!') 등 소녀시대의 노래에서 여성 화자는 '사랑에 빠진' 다소 수동적인 여성이었다. "
^ Girls' Generation's Mr. Mr review (in Korean) Newsis.com (February 25, 2014). Retrieved on September 29, 2014.
^ [단독] 소녀시대, 뮤비 데이터 파손 사고 발생..'컴백 비상' (in Korean). Osen.mt.co.kr. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
^ Yahoo Philippines (February 23, 2014). "SNSD to Unveil 'Mr.Mr' Today (2/24) at 5PM".
^ Global Post (February 24, 2014). "Girls' Generation unveils new album on iTunes".
^ "소녀시대, 오늘 기습 컴백.."오후 5시 'Mr.Mr.' 발표"". Osen. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
^ Girls' Generation Plays Dreamy Nurses in 'Mr.Mr.' Video: Watch Billboard.com (February 28, 2014). Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
^ Girls' Generation's 'Mr.Mr.' Music Video Is Proof That They're History's Most Attractive Girl Group Popdust.com (February 28, 2014). Retrieved on July 23, 2014.
^ South Korea's Gaon chart's weekly singles sales from February 23, 2014 - March 1, 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
^ South Korea's Gaon chart's monthly singles sales for March 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
^ South Korea's Gaon chart's 2014 Year End Chart (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (2014). Archived on January 17, 2015. Retrieved on January 17, 2015.
^ South Korea's Gaon chart's Mobile Ringtone sales from March 2 - 8, 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
^ Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100 (March 19, 2014) Originally from Billboard. Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
^ Soyu & Junggigo's 'Some' Fends Off Top Idols for K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1 Billboard (March 7, 2014). Retrieved on September 29, 2014.

[1] Girls' Generation collaborates with 'The Underdogs' for new album English.yonhapnews.co.kr (February 12, 2014). Retrieved on December 23, 2014.

[2] "Girls' Generation to make comeback with mystery concept!". SM Town Now. S.M. Entertainment. February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.

[3] 소녀시대 태연-윤아-서현, 신곡 이미지 공개. 단순 섹시 뛰어넘었네!. News.Nate.com, Sports Chosun (in Korean). Sports Chosun, SK Communications. February 13, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.

[4] Girls' Generation's "Mr.Mr." Makes Time Magazine's List of Top Songs of 2014

[5] World's most watched K-pop music video of the 1st half of 2014 (in Korean) News.naver.com (July 9, 2014). Retrieved on July 9, 2014.

[6] [리뷰'소녀시대' 욕심과 자신감, 대중성·실험성 둘 다…Mr. Mr.] 25 February 2014 "조윤경·김희정이 붙인 노랫말은 데뷔 8년째로 어느덧 20대 중반인 소녀시대 멤버들의 성숙함을 대변한다. "나는 나는 바본가봐요 그대 그대 밖에 모르는 바보 그래요 그댈 보는 난"('지'), "그래요 난 널 사랑해 언제나 믿어 꿈도 열정도 다 주고 싶어 난 그대 소원을 이뤄주고 싶은(싶은) 행운의 여신"('소원를 말해봐'), "두근 두근 가슴이 떨려와요 자꾸 자꾸 상상만 하는 걸요 어떻게 하나 콧대 높던 내가 말하고 싶어"('오!') 등 소녀시대의 노래에서 여성 화자는 '사랑에 빠진' 다소 수동적인 여성이었다. "

[7] Girls' Generation's Mr. Mr review (in Korean) Newsis.com (February 25, 2014). Retrieved on September 29, 2014.

[8] [단독] 소녀시대, 뮤비 데이터 파손 사고 발생..'컴백 비상' (in Korean). Osen.mt.co.kr. Retrieved February 14, 2014.

[9] Yahoo Philippines (February 23, 2014). "SNSD to Unveil 'Mr.Mr' Today (2/24) at 5PM".

[10] Global Post (February 24, 2014). "Girls' Generation unveils new album on iTunes".

[11] "소녀시대, 오늘 기습 컴백.."오후 5시 'Mr.Mr.' 발표"". Osen. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.

[12] Girls' Generation Plays Dreamy Nurses in 'Mr.Mr.' Video: Watch Billboard.com (February 28, 2014). Retrieved on July 23, 2014.

[13] Girls' Generation's 'Mr.Mr.' Music Video Is Proof That They're History's Most Attractive Girl Group Popdust.com (February 28, 2014). Retrieved on July 23, 2014.

[14] South Korea's Gaon chart's weekly singles sales from February 23, 2014 - March 1, 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.

[15] South Korea's Gaon chart's monthly singles sales for March 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.

[16] South Korea's Gaon chart's 2014 Year End Chart (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (2014). Archived on January 17, 2015. Retrieved on January 17, 2015.

[17] South Korea's Gaon chart's Mobile Ringtone sales from March 2 - 8, 2014 (in Korean) Originally from Gaon Music Chart (March 2014). Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.

[billboard_june1-18] Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100 (March 19, 2014) Originally from Billboard. Archived on July 24, 2014. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.

[19] Soyu & Junggigo's 'Some' Fends Off Top Idols for K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1 Billboard (March 7, 2014). Retrieved on September 29, 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]