Step (Kara album)

Step is the third Korean album by South Korean K-pop girl group Kara. It was released on September 6, 2011.[1][2] A special limited edition was available for pre-order starting August 25, 2011.[3][4]

Step
Studio album by
Kara
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2011
Recorded2011
GenrePop, dance-pop, EDM
Length32:01
LanguageKorean
LabelDSP Media, CJ E&M
Kara chronology
Girl's Talk
(2010)		 Step
(2011)		 Super Girl
(2011)
Singles from Step
  1. "Step"
    Released: September 6, 2011

Background and recording

On August 4, 2011, the group confirmed that they would be releasing their third official album in mid-September and would resume their activities in South Korea for the first time in over six months. It was also reported by industry representatives that the group had been recording songs for the album during their spare time while they were busy promoting their fourth Japanese single, "Go Go Summer!". DSP Media stated that the group were in the process of reviewing which songs to be used as the lead songs from the album.[5]

Concept and artwork

Regarding the concept of the album, the group was also faced with a choice between maintaining their usual bright, cute, and youthful concept or transforming into something new, in which they ultimately chose the latter.[6]

Composition

The limited edition of the album contains a bonus track called "With My Heart (Dear Kamilia)", which is the Korean version of "Ima, Okuritai 「Arigatou」" from their third Japanese single.[4]

The album's title track was released as the lead single.

Release and promotion

A special edition of the album was available for pre-order on August 25, 2011, 10 days ahead of the official release. The special edition includes a 32-page booklet, a digipack, and a bonus track. According to DSP Media, the first 100 people to purchase the album would be chosen to attend a special showcase by KARA on September 14, 2011. DSP Media also teamed up with YouTube to deliver a special online series of three episodes titled "KARA Channel", which covered the group's preparations for the release of the album. The series began airing on Kara's official YouTube channel on September 7, 2011 and ended on September 21, 2011.[7]

Due to the group's commitments with their schedule in Japan, they only promoted the album for three weeks.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementsLength
1."EY! OH!" (Intro)Park Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinPark Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinPark Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae Min1:01
2."Step"Song Soo YoonHan Jae Ho, Kim Seung SooHan Jae Ho, Kim Seung Soo, Hong Seunghyun3:21
3."Rider"Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinYoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinYoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae Min3:03
4."Strawberry"Zig Zag NoteZig Zag NoteZig Zag Note3:31
5."Follow Me" (따라와; Ddarawa)Zig Zag NoteZig Zag NoteZig Zag Note3:29
6."Date (My Boy)"Kim Won Hyun, Jang Sang HukKim Won HyunKim Won Hyun3:22
7."I Am... (Ing)" (나는..; Naneun..) (Acoustic Version))Kim Bo-Ah, Lee JoohyungKim Bo-Ah, Lee JoohyungLee Joohyung3:58
8."Kara 4 U" (Outro)Park Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinPark Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae MinPark Se Hyun, Yoo Hyun-Sang, Jang Jae Min1:03
9."Step" (Instrumental) Han Jae Ho, Kim Seung SooHan Jae Ho, Kim Seung Soo, Hong Seunghyun3:21
10."With My Heart (Dear Kamilia)" (Bonus Track)Park Hae InSimon IsogaiSimon Isogai5:49
Total length:32:01
DVD (Taiwan CD+DVD version)
No.TitleLength
1."Step" (Music Video) 
2."Step" (Teaser 1) 
3."Step" (Teaser 2) 

Notes

  • "I Am... (Ing) (Acoustic Version)" is a re-recorded version of a song that was previously included in the group's second mini-album "Pretty Girl".
  • "With My Heart (Dear Kamilia)" is a Korean version of "Ima, Okuritai 「Arigatou」", from their Japanese single "Jet Coaster Love".

Oricon Chart
Released Oricon Chart Peak
September 15, 2011 (Import Disc)
October 5, 2011 (Official release)
Weekly Albums Chart[8] 5

Release history
CountryDateFormatLabel
Japan October 5, 2011[9] CD
Taiwan[10] October 7, 2011 CD & DVD Warner Music Taiwan

Step (song)
"Step"
Japanese Digital single cover
Single by Kara
from the album Step
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2011 (2011-09-06) (KOR)
Recorded2011
GenreDance-pop, EDM
Length3:21
LabelDSP Entertainment, CJ E&M
Songwriter(s)Han Jae-ho
Kim Seung-soo
Producer(s)Sweetune
Kara singles chronology
"Go Go Summer!"
(2011)		 "Step"
(2011)		 "Winter Magic"
(2011)
Music video
"Step'" on YouTube

"Step" was released as the lead single on September 6, 2011 to online music sites. The song was ranked fourteenth on the List of 21 Greatest K-pop Songs of All Time by Spin.[11] An arranged version of "Step" is featured in the international arcade music games, DJ Max Technika 3 and Pump It Up Fiesta 2.

Release and artwork

On August 22, "Step" was announced by DSP Media as the lead single for the group's third full-length album, titled "Step", slated for release on September 6.[12][13] The song was also included onto the limited edition of the group's second Japanese studio album, Super Girl. The Japanese version of the song was released on February 29, 2012 and is also included as a bonus track on the group's sixth Japanese single, "Speed Up / Girl's Power".

Music video
Kara as they appear in the music video

The full music video officially premiered on September 6. The video features the group dancing in front of microphones while dressed in deep blue clothes with colorful patterns. In the background, there are bright lighting signs that show the names of the group's past hit songs. In other scenes, the group can be seen individually in a bright room with colored walling dressed in colored neon clothing while jumping up. During the bridge of the song, the girls are seen dressed in glittering dresses and holding onto microphone stands in a plain white room.

Release and reception

Jen Erenza from Ryan Seacrest Blog described the video as "colorful" with "out-of-this-world scenes" and asserted, "With their super cute styles and head-bopping music, there is no doubt their popularity will rise stupendously!".[14]

Live performances

The group began performing the song on TV music programs starting in September 15, on Mnet's M! Countdown. They also performed "Date (My Boy)" and "With My Heart (Dear Kamilia)" as a part of the group's performance. Due to the group's commitments with their schedule in Japan, they only performed the song on a few music shows for a total of three weeks.[5]

Chart
Song Peak chart position
KOR JPN
K-Pop Billboard[15] RIAJ Chart[16] Billboard Japan[17]
"Step" 2 2 42

Release history
Region Release date Format Label
South Korea 6 September 2011 Digital download DSP Media
Japan 22 February 2012 (Recochoku)
29 February 2012 (iTunes)		 Universal Sigma
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References
  1. (in Korean) 카라, 유튜브 통해 음원 공개 순간 모습 방송 (Kara to Release Profile Videos on YouTube After Album Release). The Chosun Ilbo. September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  2. (in Korean) 컴백 앞둔 카라, 신곡 공개후 유튜브 이색 생중계 (Soon-to-Come-Back Kara to Showcase Special Videos After Single Release). Money Today. September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  3. 카라, 정규 3집으로 국내 컴백 초읽기 (in Korean). Nate. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  4. "YESASIA: Kara Vol. 3 – Step (Special Edition) (Limited Edition) CD – Kara, DSP Media – Korean Music – Free Shipping". YesAsia. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  5. 카라 '너무 바빠' 9월 국내 컴백 '3주만 활동' (in Korean). Nate. 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  6. '9월 컴백' 카라, 타이틀곡 고심 중.."발랄이냐, 카리스마냐" (in Korean). Nate. 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  7. 카라, 유튜브 생방송으로 국내 팬들과 적극교류 시작 (in Korean). Newsen. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  8. "CDアルバム 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング (Oricon Weekly album chart for October 17th, 2011)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
  9. (in Japanese) Website of Universal Music Archived 2011-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "韓國首席女子天團【KARA】花落華納音樂 團員忙中文正名" (in Chinese). Warner Music Group. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  11. David Bevan and Chuck Eddy (June 1, 2012). "The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time". Spin. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  12. Lee, Mi-yeong. 카라, 9월 전격 컴백…소녀시대와 정면승부? (Kara Plans "Lightning" Comeback in September...Face-off with Girls' Generation?). Naver News/JoyNews. July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  13. 카라 ‘너무 바빠’ 9월 국내 컴백 ‘3주만 활동’ Naver News. August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011
  14. "On Air with Ryan Seacrest - News & More from the Live Radio Show". On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
  15. "Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Music Chart". Billboard. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  16. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue October 4, 2011" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  17. "Billboard Japan Hot 100" (in Japanese). Billboard. Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
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