Paparazzi (Girls' Generation song)

"Paparazzi" is a song recorded in the Japanese language, which was described as a hybrid of electropop and R&B.[2] It was written by Swedish songwriters Fredrik Thomander and Johan Becker, while production was handled by American producer Miles Walker. Japanese songwriter Junji Ishiwatari provided additional writing credits.[3] The track was released as the lead single from the group's second Japanese-language studio album, Girls & Peace (2012), as part of the group's comeback to Japanese promotions.[4] It was released for CD and DVD sales in Japan by Nayutawave Records, which is affiliated with Universal Music Group, on June 27, 2012.[5] The song was made available for digital purchase globally on the same day.[6] "Paparazzi" was also released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea in mid-2012 under license by Universal Music Hong Kong, Universal Music Taiwan, and S.M. Entertainment, respectively.

To promote the single, Girls' Generation performed "Paparazzi" on the Japanese music program Music Station on June 22, 2012, where the group wore tuxedos and pink gloves.[7] On July 9, 2012, the group staged their second performance of the song on Fuji Television's Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, where the members wore tuxedos with black gloves.[8] The accompanying music video for "Paparazzi" was directed by Toshiyuki Suzuki and is almost seven minutes long.[9] In the video, Girls' Generation performs on stage in a theatre, with the set inspired by classic musicals. The video begins with the members wearing trench coats and "whimsically prancing" to Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain".[10][11] During the main performance of "Paparazzi", the video is intercut with scenes of the members being followed by photographers. They perform in two different outfits – showgirl-inspired costumes and tuxedos with pink gloves.[12] Jeff Benjamin from Billboard praised the dance routines for their "perfect nine-piece synchronization" and opined that the pink gloves of the girls resembled those worn by Marilyn Monroe.[11]

Upon its release, "Paparazzi" received mixed reviews from music critics. Jeff Benjamin from Billboard named it a "high-energy" track.[11] James Hadfield, writing for the Tokyo edition of Time Out, compared the song's R&B styles to those of the group's previous 2011 Japanese-language single "Mr. Taxi" and called it a "redux" of the latter single, writing that "you'd struggle to spot many real improvements."[2]

"Paparazzi" was a commercial success in Japan, debuting at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart on the chart issue dated July 9, 2012; the number one position belonged to KAT-TUN's single "To the Limit".[13] The following week, it dropped to number ten.[14] "Paparazzi" became the 58th best-selling physical single of 2012 on the Oricon chart, selling 136,181 copies.[15]

The single debuted at number 31 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 on July 2, 2012.[16] The following week, it rose up to the top position on the chart.[17] On the chart issue dated July 16, 2012, the single dropped to number seven.[18] "Paparazzi" ranked at number 50 on the year-end chart of 2012.[19] The track as well charted at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales,[20] number five on the Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay,[21] and number two on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart.[22] According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Paparazzi" has sold 103,000 digital copies in Japan as of July 2012.[11]

Credits adapted from the CD issue's liner notes[27]

• "Paparazzi" music video on YouTube