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KARA

Revision as of 05:51, 10 February 2011 by Firiz (talk | contribs) (→‎Singles)
KARA promoting Jumping (2010)
Left to Right: Hara, Nicole, Seung Yeon, Gyuri, Ji Young

KARA (카라) is a Korean pop girl group formed by DSP Entertainment. They were originally a four member group where they were marketed as the second Fin.K.L, however Kim Sung Hee withdrew from the group and was replaced with Ji Young and Hara. They are best known for the "butt dance", which was a part of their "Mister" choreography, and their hit songs "Honey" and "Pretty Girl". In 2010 they changed to a darker concept with their hit song "Lupin". In Japan, they are signed under Universal Music.

On January 2011, it was stated that four KARA members (all minus Gyuri) filled a lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contracts with DSP Entertainment. However, it was later revealed that Hara decided not to join Seung Yeon, Nicole and Ji Young in terminating her contract. Due the conflict DSP Entertainment suspended any Korean group activities as they declared they will no longer be managing the three members. On the following days reports about the five members and DSP Entertainment meetings surfaced, however the company has not yet released an official statement about a possible agreement.

Members

Former Member

Information

Debut

KARA promoting The First Bloooooming (2007)

KARA debuted as a 4 member girl group marketed as the 2nd Fin.K.L by DSP Entertainment. Their first full length studio album titled The First Bloooooming was released on March 29, 2007, and the third track from their album "Break It" became the lead single. In the MV for "Break It", each member of KARA was referenced as a specific member of Fin.K.L: Kim Sung Hee as Lee Hyori, Nicole as Lee Jin, Gyuri as Ock Ju Hyun and Seung Yeon as Sung Yu Ri. After "Break It", KARA released their 2nd single from the album "Mame Deulmyeon", then released "Secret World" for the 3rd single. The First Bloooooming was met with modest success, and promotions ended in July of 2007.

After The First Bloooooming, KARA entered an extensive period of recording and preparing for their next release. It was announced that KARA was scheduled to make their comeback in March 2008, however on February 28, 2008, news broke of Sung Hee's sudden departure from the group. Subsequent days after the shocking news, further information was revealed that Sung Hee broke a pact with her father. In order to be in KARA, Sung Hee promised her father that she would be able to balance her school work and being in the group. Yet when she failed her University Enterance Exams, her father pulled her from the group and blocked any further participation with KARA.

KARA promoting 1st Mini Album (2008)

1st Mini Album

In March 2008, DSP Entertainment announced that online auditions would be held to find 2 new members for the group, 6,000 participants from all over the world took part in the auditions. After a couple of months, it was announced that Hara and Ji Young were chosen. On July 24, 2008, KARA released their 1st mini album titled 1st Mini Album and used "Rock U" as the lead single. "Rock U" harbored a noticeably different musical and image change for KARA. Previously, KARA's image and musical direction was R&B like their counter part Fin.K.L. However, the image and musical direction for "Rock U" was cute, sweet, and playful; typically found in K-pop Idol girls groups. "Rock U" was a major divergence from KARA's previous title as the 2nd Fin.K.L by DSP Entertainment. However, "Rock U" was a minor hit for them. Sequentially, they digitally released "GOODDAY Season 2", a continuation of the song "Good Day" from their mini album.

KARA promoting Pretty Girl (2008)

Pretty Girl & Pretty Girl (Special Edition)

On November 28, 2008 DSP Entertainment released a teaser video for KARA's MV "Pretty Girl"; the lead single for Kara's 2nd mini album of the same name. The teaser video accumulated over 40,000 hits within 12 hours, until it was officially released on December 2, 2008 online to rave reviews. The mini-album continued with KARA's newly formed cute image from "Rock U". DSP Entertainment said they went with a party concept for the album, and Pretty Girl was released December 4, 2008. KARA began promotions for the mini album on the release date, and performed the title song "Pretty Girl" on KBS Music Bank. Pretty Girl was repackaged into a "Special Edition" 3rd mini album titled Pretty Girl (Special Edition). DSP Entertainment let fans decide which song from the mini album would be the lead single for it. Fans voted on KARA's Official Website and chose "Honey" as the lead single. KARA received their first award with "Honey" on M!net Countdown. They received their second award, a "Mutizen", on the SBS program.

KARA promoting Revolution (2009)

Rise In Popularity`& Revolution

KARA received more exposure from the success of "Pretty Girl" and "Honey". Nicole joined Star Golden Bell on December 20, 2008. The group became VJs for MTV Korea; hosting a J-Pop show called J-Pop Wave. In March, KARA was chosen to host the 4th Season of Idol Show. Then KARA had their first reality show on MTV Korea called MTV Meta Friends.

On June 4, 2009, KARA digitally released "Ttok Gateun Mam", a song included on their "iMusician" digital single which was used for the i-Musician mobile game they sponsored. DSP Entertainment announced that KARA would release their 2nd full length studio album in mid July. Kara lost 3-5 kg in order to fit the new sexy and mature image needed for their album. The release date was postponed and Revolution was released on July 30, 2009. "Wanna" became the lead single for Revolution and charted high very quickly on various digital charts. KARA performed "Wanna" and "Mister" to promote Revolution. "Mister" quickly became popular among the public due to a certain part of the choreography nicknamed the "butt dance". "Wanna" awarded Kara the "Mutizen" on the SBS program.

KARA ended promotions for Revolution on October 18, 2009 with "Mister".

Trivia

  • Official Balloon Color: Pearl Peach
  • Official Fanclub: Kamilia (카밀리아)

Korean Discography

Albums

Mini Albums

Digital Singles

Collaboration / Other

Japanese Discography

Albums

Singles

DVDs

Box Set

Filmography

Television

Awards

  • [2007.05.05] Korean Culture Content Agency (KOCCA) - Best Rookie Album Awards
  • [2007.08.09] Cyworld Digital Music Awards - Rookie of The Month of August
  • [2009.03.05] MNet M! Countdown - Honey
  • [2009.03.08] SBS Inkigayo #1 - Honey
  • [2009.03.12] MNet M! Countdown - Honey
  • [2009.03.19] MNet M! Countdown - Honey
  • [2009.03.26] MNet 20's Choices - Honey
  • [2009.08.30] SBS Inkigayo #1 - Wanna
  • [2009.11.21] MNet Asia Music Awards: Best Dance - Honey
  • [2009.12.16] MelOn Music Awards - 2009 Top 10
  • [2010.01.03] 16th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards - Best Female Singer
  • [2010.02.03] Seoul Music Awards - Bonsang Award
  • [2010.03.04] MNet M! Countdown #1 – Lupin
  • [2010.03.12] KBS Music Bank #1 – Lupin
  • [2010.03.14] SBS Inkigayo #1 – Lupin
  • [2010.03.19] KBS Music Bank #1 - Lupin
  • [2010.03.26] KBS Music Bank #1 – Lupin
  • [2010.12.10] KBS Music Bank #1 – Jumping
  • [2010.12.12] SBS Inkigayo #1 – Jumping

External Links

v • d • e
KARA
Gyuri (L) · Seungyeon · Youngji · Nicole · Jiyoung
Topics
Images · Songs · Former Members: Sunghee · Hara
 KARA - Move Again promo.jpg
Korean Discography
Albums
Special Albums
Mini-Albums
Other Mini-Albums
Digital Singles
01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07
Video Releases
Japanese Discography
Albums
Special Albums
Best Albums
Mini-Albums
Singles
01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11 · 12
Digital Singles
01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16
Box Sets
01 · 02 · 03 · 04
DVDs
01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15
Taiwan Discography
Best Albums
Korean Official Website · Japanese Official Website
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