It’s been a long time coming (and something that’ll make my K-pop Krazy friend Prophet Blog wet himself with delight), but it’s time I finally acknowledged the wonder and splendor of the force known as Girls’ Generation.

Now, I myself am more of a J-Pop connoisseur than K-Pop girl group guru (I go hard for Utada Hikaru, Namie Amuro, Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki in particular), but it’s all but impossible not to notice the extraordinary influence of Korean girl groups making their way overseas.

Girls’ Generation–sometimes referred to as SNSD (an acronym based on their Korean name)–is by far one of South Korea’s most popular acts. After their debut back in 2007, the nonet (that’s nine members) has gone on to win countless awards and smash dozens of records in both Korea and Japan, most notably for their 2009 international smash hit “Gee,” the Ke$ha-penned “Run Devil Run,” as well as their #1 Japanese hit from earlier this year, “Mr. Taxi.”

(By the way: Think a nine member group is crazy? Check out AKB48, a J-Pop group consisting of 59 members to date. Go ahead. Just try and remember their names.)

Now, quite excitingly, Girls’ Generation are set to make their official mark stateside (well, worldwide really) with the release of their third studio album The Boys, due to hit iTunes on October 19, followed by a US single release via Interscope Records sometime in November.

“The Boys” is the album’s lead single, which was recorded in both Korean and English. Today, the full song hit iTunes and the video has premiered (in both languages) and…well, it’s absolutely incredible. (To be fair: J-Pop and K-Pop videos usually slay Western videos. This is certainly no exception.)

Featuring some truly ferocious choreography, the ladies work it out in some sort of icy snow palace while rocking sky-high stilettos and killer haute couture threads. For fans of girl groups of any kind, the video relentlessly delivers everything that a good girl group video should: Fierce poses, glamorous looks, glossy styling…it’s everything!

And as for the song itself? Crafted by Teddy Riley (Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga), “The Boys” is a solid modern R&B/dance-pop effort with some attitude–a welcome change from the all-too-grating sugary-sweet sound that K-Pop girl groups tend to churn out on the regular. The chorus is an instant ear-worm. Plus, for those easily offenced by a foreign tongue hitting their ears, their accents aren’t even that strong at all–a key factor in helping them to crossover to the West.

As an English debut, “The Boys” is a pretty massive introduction for the group. I’m incredibly excited to see what the international response is to Girls’ Generation–especially in America. Yay for global pop recognition!

“The Boys” was released on October 19. (iTunes)

It’s been a minute since I last wrote about Kimberly Caldwell.

In case you’re less than familiar and/or new ’round these parts, Caldwell was the throaty seventh place runner-up of American Idol: Season 2. More importantly, she was (and remains) my favorite American Idol contestant, second only to the inimitable Kelly Clarkson.

Back in ‘the day’ (freshman year of high school to be exact), I was known as the one with her pictures of her plastered all over my binders Well, those that weren’t already covered in Britney and Utada pictures. When she got voted off, I cried and cried for days on end. Stunningly, it would still take two years for me to formally whip my hair out of the closet.

After seven years of waiting, Caldwell released her much anticipated debut single “Mess of You” last February, Caldwell announced plans to release her debut album, Without Regret, in April of 2010. I even got the chance to interview her! Then the album got pushed back to June, and then December, and now it’s apparently coming out in April of this year.

In the meantime, she’s back with a brand new beat: “Desperate Girls and Stupid Boys,” a hook-filled electro-pop rock anthem produced and penned by Tommy Henriksen, BC Jean and Zac Maloy.

Much in the same vein as Kelly Clarkson’s “I Do Not Hook Up” or P!nk‘s “Stupid Girls” and “U + Ur Hand,” Caldwell’s rowdy rock affair is a formal declaration of war against fuckery of all varieties: Boozers, users, losers, and all the other riffraff that threatens to ruin (or enhance?) your fun while you’re just trying to have a good time with your friends in the club. Worst!

So instead, why not join Kimberly in taking that party over and dancing until you die? Sounds about right to me!

“Desperate Girls and Stupid Boys” is without a doubt the most fun, radio-friendly cut Caldwell’s recorded to date–perhaps even catchy enough to garner some serious mainstream interest! Will she? Who knows.

At the very least, I’m still rooting for her…eight years and counting.

“Desperate Girls and Stupid Boys” was released on December 3. (iTunes)

International superstar Utada Hikaru will be live streaming her first of two highly anticipated WILD LIFE concerts at Yokohama Arena tomorrow, December 8th beginning at 7 P.M. in Japan (5 A.M. EST). This U-Stream will be available for fans to view across the world. (STREAM)

Since basically no one’s going to be up at that hour over here in the States, I’m assuming this will be available for replay immediately following the concert.

So incredible…I can’t wait to see what she’s going to perform! Hikki’s Boston showcase was arguably one of the top concert experiences of my life.

Thanks to U.Blog for the news!

If you happen to be a fan of music that is both (A) amazing and (B) of the highest quality, I strongly suggest purchasing Utada Hikaru‘s second greatest hits compilation: Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2.

Though the cover art isn’t all that interesting (see above), the contents are utterly out of this world. (Thus the cover art?)

The collection includes twelve of Utada’s latest singles, from 2004′s “Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro” to 2008′s “Prisoner of Love.”

The album also comes with five newly recorded tracks, including “Goodbye Happiness,” which is not only an amazing song, but arguably one of the most hilarious music videos of the year.

My copy’s headed my way in the mail right now–yet another CD to add to the growing collection!

Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 2 is released on November 24. (iTunes Japan) (CDJapan)

SIT DOWN, TAKE YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR PANTS, AND PAY ATTENTION FOR ONCE IN YOUR DAMN LIFE.

I am dying right now. Lit-rally–in tears. Shaking, crying and laughing. I die. Coffin. (WATCH)

Today, Utada Hikaru released the video for “Goodbye Happiness,” the second single to promote the legendary Japanese pop artist’s second greatest hits collection, Single Collection Vol. 2.

In what appears to be a simple YouTube (or rather, U-Tube) dance video at first glance (which hits WAY TOO CLOSE TO HOME by the way, as my closest friends can attest), the video soon erupts into an utterly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G mish-mosh of slap-happy fuckery, moments of kawaiiiiii, and several references to some of Hikki’s classic video moments, including “Automatic” and “Keep Tryin’.”

Seriously, I could NOT stop giggling the entire time.

But if there’s anything to absorb from this video, it is this glorious moment, which I have EVER SO GRACIOUSLY captured myself in .GIF format:

You are welcome.

Single Collection Vol. 2 will be released on November 24. (iTunes)

Utada Hikaru has just posted a new message on her Twitter urging her fans not to buy the recently announced English greatest hits album, Utada The Best, stating:

The release of “Utada the best” is entirely against my will. I wish that my fans won’t have to buy it. There’s no new material in it.

She then went on to say (in Japanese, translated):

Single Collection Vol. 2 is a release that’s filled with my sincerity. I plan to make a more detailed comment about Utada The Best in the days to come. But pre-orders have already started… I wrote what I did because I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Good night for tonight!

Everything about the release of Utada the Best looked and felt like a way to cash in on Single Collection Vol. 2‘s upcoming release. I bet daddy’s going to be pissed.

Go Utada for keeping it real!

Original story courtesy of Aramatheydidnt, as well as second tweet translation.

OH…K?

Utada will be releasing a “Greatest Hits” collection of her English work on November 24 called Utada The Best according to Tower Records and CDJapan, the same day as her Japanese compilation, Single Collection Vol. 2.

The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Come Back To Me
2. Easy Breezy
3. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
4. You Make Me Want To Be A Man
5. This One (Crying Like A Child)
6. Exodus ’04
7. Apple And Cinnamon
8. Automatic Part II
9. Devil Inside
10. Kremlin Dusk
11. Sanctuary opening
12. Sanctuary ending
13. Exodus ‘04 (JJ FLORES Double J Radio Mix)
14. Devil Inside (RJD2 Remix)
15. Come Back To Me (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg Radio Edit)
16. Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Radio Edit)

NOTE: There was also some dodgy artwork on the Tower website this morning, but it has since been taken down (likely just a temporary spot-holder).

Let us all pray this isn’t some kind of ‘last hurrah’ before she’s released from Island Def Jam–I literally live and breathe for her English work! I blame Kuma-Chan.

Thanks as always to U Blog for the original scoop.

Utada The Best will be released on November 24. (iTunes)

STOP THE CHATTER.

One of my favorite artists of all time, Utada Hikaru, is now tweeting.

Yes, Muusers: Just a few minutes ago, Hikki Hikki Hikaru began her journey into the Twitterverse.

What’s she tweeting about? Oh, just some bullshit about how cute her Twitter background is. What’s on her background? Why–what else would Hikaru care about? It’s drawings of Kuma-chan! (For those who don’t know what a Kuma-chan is, watch this absurd fan tribute video. It’s a sickening obsession that must be stopped.)

Oh, and now she’s freaking out about which Twitter App to choose.

You just know she’s got that stupid stuffed animal propped up with the cell phone in its paw right now while she’s off doing the dishes, secretly hoping that he will, at long last, come to life to type out a quick tweet to the fans.

Perhaps more titillating than Twitter is the fact that Utada’s about to premiere a new song! Well, not exactly a new one–it’s a cover of an old one! By Edith Piaf, no less! It’s called “Hymne a l’amour ~Ai no Anthem~,” and it’s a gorgeous, jazzy affair to be used by Pepsi in promoting their latest delightfully bubbly death serum, Pepsi NEX.

Oh–you want to hear it? Good! Just click here to watch the 15 and 30-second clips that will soon be airing across Japan. And yes, in case you were confused, those are Pepsi bottles playing drums and keyboards behind her. I don’t know either, but I’m generally in favor of what’s happening there.

Musically, this is a pretty strong turn in direction for Utada, but it’s a refreshing one, no doubt (like Pepsi, y’all!). It’s all very free-flowing and disjointed, and her voice sounds absolutely lovely on top of all those instruments. I adore it! I really think she’s found her happy place at the moment. Plus, doesn’t she look gorgeous?

Thanks to U-Blog for being the premiere source for all things Utada, as usual!