"U-Go-Girl" is a song by South Korean recording artist Lee Hyori, featuring rapper Nassun. It was first made available to digital outlets in South Korea a three days prior to the release of her third studio album, It's Hyorish, on July 12, 2008. A dance-pop number with hip hop influences, "U-Go-Girl" was written and produced by songwriting duo E-Tribe, who would later compose Girls' Generation's "Gee" (2009) and Miss A's "Hush" (2013). "U-Go-Girl" was made available via Mnet.com along with the second title track "Hey, Mr. Big" as one of the pre-releases.[1]
| "U-Go-Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Lee Hyori | ||||
| from the album It's Hyorish | ||||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Released | July 12, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop | |||
| Length | 3:09 | |||
| Label | Mnet Media | |||
| Songwriter(s) | E-Tribe | |||
| Producer(s) | E-Tribe | |||
| Lee Hyori singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "U-Go-Girl" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editLee's third studio album along with its two title tracks were unveiled on July 9, 2008, and was originally intended to be released a week later on July 16. The album marked Lee's first album since Dark Angel in 2006.[2] Mnet Media initially planned to pre-release five of the upcoming album's songs, including "U-Go-Girl" and "Hey, Mr. Big", on July 14. After several of the album's songs were illegally leaked to YouTube, however, Mnet Media pushed up the release of "U-Go-Girl" to July 12, 2008. The full album was released a day earlier than intended, on July 15.[3]
Composition and promotion
edit"U-Go-Girl" is a hip-hop dance number with its lyrical content directed towards her female fans, featuring lyrics that loosely translate to "don't be shy, show yourself boldly".[4] Lee appeared and promoted the single on several South Korean music programs, including Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo.[5] In December 2008, Lee performed the song at her first solo concert titled Lee Hyori the Invincible at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium.[6]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award-giving body | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Mnet KM Music Festival | Best Female Artist | Won | [7] |
| Best Dance Performance | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | [8] |
| Program | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Inkigayo | July 27, 2008 | [9] |
| August 3, 2008 | [10] | |
| August 10, 2008 | [11] | |
| M Countdown | July 31, 2008 | [12] |
| August 14, 2008 | ||
| August 21, 2008 | ||
| Music Bank | August 1, 2008 | [13] |
| August 8, 2008 | [14] | |
| August 15, 2008 |
Music video
editThe music video for "U-Go-Girl" was shot during the first week of July 2008. An official from Mnet said that the video's concept would be "fit for the summer mood."[15] Upon the video's release, however, it was met with controversy as Lee, who wore a nurse outfit in the video, was accused of representing nurses as a sexual object. Several scenes in the video was also criticized for resembling Christina Aguilera's work. The music video was soon re-uploaded and the controversial scenes were deleted.[16]
Covers
editThe song has been covered various times by other K-pop artists. Girls' Generation covered "U-Go-Girl" on the 200th episode special of Show Music Core on February 20, 2010.[17] In 2015, the song was performed by Nayeon, Chaeryeong, Mina, and Jeongyeon during the girl group survival show Sixteen;[18] while the show's final lineup, who formed the girl group Twice, performed the same song at the 2016 MBC Korean Music Festival on December 31, 2016. Seventeen also performed a cover of the song at the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejeon,[19] while (G)I-dle covered it on a Show! Music Core special stage on August 11, 2018. Everglow performed a cover of the song for CON:nected Live in 2020, while Itzy's Yuna performed the song at the 2022 KBS Song Festival on December 16.
References
edit- ^ 이효리, 14일 3집 수록곡 중 5곡 선공개 [Lee Hyori, pre-release of 5 songs from her 3rd album on the 14th]. Star News (in Korean). July 11, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ 이효리, 3집 제목은 '잇츠 효리시(Hyorish)' [Lee Hyori, 3rd album titled 'It's Hyorish']. Yonhap News (in Korean). July 9, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ '음원유출' 이효리, 음반 15일로 앞당겨 발매 [Lee Hyori songs leaked, the album will be released earlier on the 15th]. Star News (in Korean). July 14, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ "Lee Hyo Ri Vol. 3 - It's Hyorish CD". YesAsia. July 18, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ 이효리 3집, '악재' 불구 온라인 장악 [Lee Hyori's 3rd album takes over online despite 'controversy']. Segye Ilbo (in Korean). July 16, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ "이효리, '핫팬츠 섹시 퍼포먼스 8000명 만원관중 홀렸다'" [Hyori Lee, 'hot pants sexy performance captivated 8,000 people']. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. December 19, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
- ^ "2008 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list" Archived December 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
- ^ "2008 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1" Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ 이효리, 두번째 '인기가요'서 정상 등극 [Lee Hyori ranks top of 'Inkigayo']. Edaily (in Korean). July 27, 2008 – via Daum.
- ^ 이효리, '인기가요' 2주 연속 뮤티즌송 [Lee Hyori, 'Inkigayo' Mutizen Song for 2 weeks in a row]. Star News (in Korean). August 3, 2008 – via Daum.
- ^ 이효리 '유-고-걸', '인기가요' 뮤티즌송 3관왕 [Lee Hyori wins 3 Mutizen Songs for 'U-Go-Girl']. My Daily (in Korean). August 10, 2008 – via Daum.
- ^ Lee, Jung-hyuk (August 3, 2008). 섹시퀸 이효리, 음반 판매 6만장 육박 등 '거침없는 인기' [Sexy Queen Lee Hyori, 'unstoppable popularity' with nearly 60,000 album sales]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ 이효리, 브레이크 없는 인기 질주..음악 순위 프로 4관왕 [Lee Hyori, sprinting in popularity without a break.. 4 wins in music rankings]. My Daily (in Korean). August 3, 2008 – via Daum.
- ^ 이효리, 뮤직뱅크 'K-차트' 2주 연속 1위 [Lee Hyori topped Music Bank's 'K-Chart' for 2 weeks in a row]. Star News (in Korean). August 8, 2008 – via Daum.
- ^ 이효리, 극비리 섹시미 물씬 풍기는 뮤비 촬영 [Lee Hyori, secretly filming a sexy MV]. Star News (in Korean). July 7, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ 이효리, 간호사 비하 논란 뮤비 '유고걸' 일부 장면 삭제 [Lee Hyori deletes some scenes from 'You Go Girl' in controversy over nurses]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). July 15, 2008 – via Naver.
- ^ "소녀시대, 청순버전 '유고걸' 무대 '男心흔들'" [Girls' Generation, innocent version of 'You Go Girl' stage 'shakes men's hearts']. Newsen (in Korean). February 20, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "'식스틴' 모모, 세 번째 탈락자 됐다 '눈물'" ['Sixteen' Momo becomes the third eliminated, 'tears']. Xports News (in Korean). June 9, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "[2016 SBS 가요대전] 세븐틴, 'S.E.S부터 소녀시대까지 걸그룹 따라잡기'...못하는 게 뭐야?" [[2016 SBS Gayo Daejeon] Seventeen, ‘Catching up with girl groups from SES to Girls’ Generation’... What can’t they do?]. Sedaily (in Korean). December 26, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2024.