Go Go Summer!

"Go Go Summer!" (GO GO サマー!, Gō Gō Samā!) is a song performed by South Korean girl group Kara. It was released as the fourth Japanese single on June 29, 2011^[1] but was earlier released digitally on iTunes Japan on June 22, 2011.^[2] It was released in four different versions, three limited editions and one regular edition.^[3]

"Go Go Summer!"
Type C and Regular edition cover
Single by Kara
from the album Super Girl
B-side	"Girls Be Ambitious!" "To Me"
Released	June 22, 2011 (2011-06-22)
Genre	Pop dance-pop
Length	3:20
Label	Universal Sigma
Songwriter(s)	Han Sang-won Lee Sang-ho Kimzart Hwang Seong-je
Kara Japanese singles chronology
"Jet Coaster Love" (2011) "Go Go Summer!" (2011) "Winter Magic" (2011)

The single went to sell over 100,000 copies during its first week becoming their second Japanese single to do so after "Jet Coaster Love", which sold 123,000 copies during its first week.^[4] It was certified Gold by the RIAJ in June 2011 for selling over 100,000 physical copies.^[5] The song earned their first nomination for "Best Song Award" at the Japan Record Awards. A 2012 version of the song was released as a digital single on July 25, 2012.^[6]

Background

Kara promoting "Go Go Summer!"

Rumors of a fourth Japanese single first surfaced when the group was spotted leaving the Incheon International Airport and were said to be bound for Thailand to film a music video or a commercial. Despite the rumors, no official announcements or comments were made by DSP Media. On May 25, 2011, DSP Media officially announced that Kara will be releasing their fourth Japanese single in late June and will be leaving for previously arranged promotions in early June.^[7] On June 1, 2011, it was announced the group was chosen by LG as the endorser for the cellphone brand "Optimus Bright" (a Japanese variant of Optimus Black) and the single was used in the commercial for the brand.^[8]

The 2012 Version was used for Live Dam's karaoke system "Furikara". This version remains its original lyrics but with a different electronic instrumental. It was later included in their compilation album Kara Collection (2012) and their third Japanese album Girls Forever (2012). A Korean Version was performed on August 18, 2014, on the Day & Night showcase. It was also performed on May 26, 2015, on the In Love showcase.

Composition

The B-side "Girls Be Ambitious" was used for promoting DARIYA's hair dye product line "Palty".^[9] "To Me" (originally titled "2Me") was included as a bonus track for the Regular CD Only First Press Edition. It is a Korean song previously released on the single "We Online OST Part 2" in South Korea and used for promoting the online game "We Online: Secret Expedition."

Commercial performance

The single has sold over 100,000 copies during its first week, following their third single, "Jet Coaster Love", which sold 123,000 copies during its first week making it the group's second single most successful single. It was certified gold by the RIAJ in June 2011 for physical copies shipped to stores.^[4][5] It currently holds the record for the best selling single by a foreign female artist. The single has also performed well digitally as it has topped the Recochoku's monthly chart of July, as well as topping 4 other charts in 'Ringtone', 'Full Version Ringtones', 'Video Clip', and 'Callback Tone' earning the group a Recochoku Award. It also took 2nd place on the 'Waiting Call Tone'. It has also topped Mora, Musico, Music Japan, and other major record charts.^[10][11]

Music video and promotion

On May 13, 2011, it was reported that Kara was set to film a music video for their upcoming Japanese single due to be released sometime in June. The music video was said to be filmed in Phuket, Thailand and the group was spotted leaving the Incheon International Airport during that day.^[12] A teaser of the music video was released on Universal Music Japan's YouTube channel on June 15, 2011. The full music video premiered the following day at Space Shower TV on June 16, 2011.^[13]

The group made their first live performance at TV Asahi's Music Station on June 17, 2011, where they performed a special medley with their previous single, "Jet Coaster Love". The group made another appearance on the show the following week on June 24, 2011, where they only performed the single. On June 26, 2011, the group appeared on Music Japan and performed the song. The group made an appearance on Count Down TV on July 3, 2011, where they were placed at #1 for the Recochoku "Chaku Uta ®" Top 10 chart.^[14][15]

Track listing

Japanese CD single

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Go Go Summer! (GO GO サマー)"	Yu Shimoji	Han Sang-won, Lee Sang-ho, Kimzart	3:20
2.	"Girls Be Ambitious! (ガールズ ビー アンビシャス)"	PA-NON	Hwang Seong-je	3:35
3.	"Go Go Summer!" (Instrumental)			3:20
4.	"Girls Be Ambitious!" (Instrumental)			3:36
Total length:				13:47

Bonus Track – Limited Edition Version C

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
5.	"To Me"	Joo Young-hoon	Joo Young-hoon	3:31
Total length:				17:18

DVD – Limited Edition Version A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Go Go Summer!" (Music Video)
2.	"Go Go Summer!" (Music Video – Dance Version)
3.	"Go Go Summer!" (Music Video – Behind the Scenes)

2012 version

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"Go Go Summer! 2012 (GO GO サマー！ 2012)"	Yu Shimoji	3:19

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2011) Peak position Japan Singles (Oricon)[16] 2 Japan (Japan Hot 100) 2 Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart)[17][18] 1 Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart) Girls Be Ambitious! 42

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position Japan Singles (Oricon)[19] 25 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[20] 8 Japan Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] 14 Japan (RIAJ Digital Track Chart)[22] 11

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[23] Physical single	Gold	230,813[24]
Japan (RIAJ)[25] PC download	2× Platinum	500,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[26] Chaku-Uta	2× Platinum	500,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[27] Chaku-Uta Full	Platinum	250,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Version	Country	Date	Format	Label
Go Go Summer!	Japan	June 22, 2011	Digital download	Universal Sigma
		June 29, 2011	Digital download, CD single
Go Go Summer! 2012		July 18, 2012	Ringtone
		July 25, 2012	Digital download

References

1. "Go Go Summer! - EP on iTunes". iTunes. June 28, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
2. "Go Go Summer! - Single on iTunes". iTunes. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
3. "KARA Universal Music Japan website" (in Japanese). June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
4. "KARA sets another Oricon record with "Go Go Summer"". Nate (in Korean). July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
5. ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2011年06月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (June 2011)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 10, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
6. "iTunes - ミュージック - KARA「GO GO サマー! 2012 - Single」". iTunes Store (in Japanese). July 25, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
7. '카라 2.0' 가을에 터진다 (in Korean). May 25, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
8. "KARA becomes the Japanese CF models for 'LG Optimus Bright'". June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
9. "KARA's adorable CM for DARIYA's "Palty"". April 16, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
10. 카라, 일본서 보아 넘었다 (in Korean). August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
11. "Month Award for Best Music Award Chok Records Announced for July 2011" (in Japanese). Recochoku. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
12. 카라, 뮤비 촬영차 오늘 泰출국..활동재개 스타트 (in Korean). May 13, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
13. "Space Shower TV Music Video Program". Space Shower TV (in Japanese). June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
14. "Recochoku "Chaku Uta ®" Top 10 chart" (in Japanese). TBS. July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
15. "KARA's Media/Live activities in Japan" (in Japanese). TBS. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
16. "Kara Japanese Singles Discography on Oricon Style" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
17. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue June 28, 2011" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
18. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue July 5, 2011" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
19. "年間ランキング特集『AKB48が5作ミリオン突破の快挙！2011年オリコン年間CD＆DVDランキングを大発表！』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック (Oricon Yearly Chart for 2011)". Oricon (in Japanese). December 19, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
20. "Japan Hot 100 Music Chart / Billboard Japan". Billboard. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
21. "Hot Singles Sales Year End Music Chart / Billboard Japan". Billboard. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
22. "レコード協会調べ 2010年12月15日～2011年12月13日「着うたフル(R)」 2011年有料音楽配信「年間チャート」（通称：レコ協チャート）" [Record Association Analysis: December 16, 2009—December 14, 2010 Full-length Cellphone Download 2010 paid digital sales "Yearly Chart" (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart)] (PDF). RIAJ. December 21, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
23. "Japanese single certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2011年06月 on the drop-down menu
24. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese).
25. "Japanese digital single certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2011年09月 on the drop-down menu
26. "Japanese ringtone certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2011年9月 on the drop-down menu
27. "Japanese ringtone certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2011年8月 on the drop-down menu

External links

• Official Music Video teaser on Universal Music Japan's Channel on YouTube