French Kiss (Kara song)

"French Kiss" (フレンチキス, Furenchi Kisu) is the tenth Japanese single by South Korean girl group Kara. It was released on November 27, 2013 with seven editions.[1] It serves as the lead single for their compilation album Best Girls, which was released on the same day. It is the last single to feature former members Nicole Jung and Kang Jiyoung, after their departure from the group's Korean agency, DSP Media, on 2014.[2][3]

"French Kiss"
Regular Edition cover
Single by Kara
from the album Best Girls
B-side	"Girlfriend"
Released	November 27, 2013 (2013-11-27)
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	4:08
Label	Universal Sigma
Songwriter(s)	Shirose
Producer(s)	Shirose Heroism Hikki
Kara singles chronology
"Damaged Lady" (2013) "French Kiss" (2013) "Mamma Mia" (2014)

Background

The initial rumors about the single's release started in October, when a South Korean digital store put the single and the album Best Girls for pre-order, with the release day stated for November 27.[4][5] They were later confirmed by the group's Korean label, DSP Media,[6] and by their Japanese label, Universal Sigma, on October 31.[7] With the confirmation, they revealed track lists, jacket covers and prices for both single and album.

Editions

• Limited CD+DVD (UMCK-9641): The limited CD+DVD edition includes the CD single and a DVD including music video of "French Kiss", a close-up version and making of it.[8]
• Regular CD only (UMCK-5450): The regular CD only edition includes only the CD single itself.[9]
• Limited Solo CD+DVD (PDCS-5907 - 5911): The limited solo CD+DVD editions includes the standard CD single track list and a DVD featuring solo shots and making of from the music video of "French Kiss", one edition per member. These editions of the single were only sold at Universal Music Japan's digital store.[10]

Composition

"French Kiss" was written by Shirose, who also composed the song with Heroism and Hikki. "Girlfriend", b-side of the single, was written by Glory Face, who also composed and arranged the song, and Jam-9. This is the first time that a Japanese single of Kara does not include a bonus track.

Music video

A short version of the music video of "French Kiss" was released in November 12, on Kara's Japan YouTube account.[11] The full version aired in November 15, on the music TV channel M-On!. It was directed by Hong Won-ki.

Track listing

All editions track list

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (フレンチキス; Furenchi Kisu)	Shirose	Shirose Heroism Hikki	Shirose Heroism	4:08
2.	"Girlfriend" (ガールフレンド; Gārufurendo)	Glory Face Jam-9	Glory Face	Glory Face	3;25
3.	"French Kiss" (instrumental)				4:07
4.	"Girlfriend" (instrumental)				3:25
Total length:					15:03

DVD (limited CD+DVD edition):[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – close–up version)
3.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of)

DVD (limited CD+DVD Gyuri edition):[12]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video – Gyuri version)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of Gyuri version)

DVD (limited CD+DVD Seung-yeon edition):[13]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video – Seung-yeon version)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of Seung-yeon version)

DVD (limited CD+DVD Nicole edition):[14]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video – Nicole version)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of Nicole version)

DVD (limited CD+DVD Hara edition):[15]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video – Hara version)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of Hara version)

DVD (limited CD+DVD Ji-young edition):[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"French Kiss" (music video – Ji-young version)
2.	"French Kiss" (music video – making of Ji-young version)

Chart performance

Oricon chart

Oricon Chart	Peak	Debut sales	Sales total
Daily Singles Chart	4	32,677 (weekly)	35,505+
Weekly Singles Chart	7
Monthly Singles Chart	19
Yearly Singles Chart	206

Billboard charts

Chart	Peak position
Billboard Japan Hot 100	24
Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales	9
Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay	83
Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay	100

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
Japan	November 20, 2013	Ringtone	Universal Sigma
	November 27, 2013	Digital download,[17] CD single

References

1. "「フレンチキス」 KARA│オリコン芸能人事典-Oricon Style" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
2. "KARA、5人体制見納め？　ニコル号泣「思い出をありがとう」" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013-11-25. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
3. "Kara Member Nicole Leaving in 2014, Another Possibly Following". Billboard. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
4. "제이팝 NO.1 제이케이엠 - KARA / フレンチキス (통상반)". JKM store. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
5. "제이팝 NO.1 제이케이엠 – Kara / Best Girls (DVD부착첫회한정반A)". JKM store. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
6. "Newシングル「フレンチキス」 リリース". DSP Media Japan. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
7. "New Single＆Best Album 11/27リリース決定！". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
8. "Kara – フレンチキス【初回限定盤】 – Universal Music Japan" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
9. "KARA – フレンチキス【通常盤】 – UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
10. "Kara / フレンチキス　メンバーソロVersion　5枚セット【ストア限定盤】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2013年11月27日発売】 / Kara / Universal Music Store" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
11. "KARA - フレンチキス - YouTube" (in Japanese). YouTube. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
12. "Kara – フレンチキス【ギュリVer.】 – Universal Music Japan" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
13. "Kara – フレンチキス【スンヨンVer.】 – UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
14. "Kara – フレンチキス【ニコルVer.】 – Universal Music Japan" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
15. "Kara – フレンチキス【ハラVer.】 – Universal Music Japan" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
16. "Kara – フレンチキス【ジヨンVer.】 – Universal Music Japan" (in Japanese). Universal Music Group. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
17. "iTunes – ミュージック – Kara「フレンチキス – EP」" (in Japanese). iTunes Store. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2013-11-26.