Girls' night out

K-pop queens hit Bangkok

By Suwitcha Chaiyong, photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb and courtesy of SM True

Top K-pop girl group So Nyeo Shi Dae (SNSD), also known as Girls' Generation, recently had a career breakthrough when they got a foothold in the American music industry.

The girls signed up with Universal Music Group to take on the US market, and their latest single, The Boys, was produced by Michael Jackson's one-time producer Teddy Riley. The girls were also recently given a chance to perform on the popular American TV shows Late Show with David Letterman and Live! With Kelly.

Girls' Generation recently visited Bangkok for their Fanta Presents Girls' Generation Tour. A few hours before the concert, the glamorous nine-member group — leader Kim Taeyeon, 22, Jessica Jung, 22, Lee Soonkyu (Sunny), 22, Stephanie Hwang (Tiffany), 22, Kim Hyoyeon, 22, Kwon Yu-ri, 22, Choi Sooyung, 22, Im Yoon-ah, 21, and Seo Joohyun (Seohyun), 20 — met up with the press for a chat.

SWEET THAI TALK

The girls had sweet things to say to their Thai fans. Sooyung said they were impressed by the food, the weather and their fans in Thailand.

Tiffany said, "I miss you so much," in Thai, while youngest member Seohyun also spoke Thai, saying, "Please give a lot of love to SNSD."
At the end of the meeting, Taeyeon thanked the fans for their warm welcome at the airport.

"We hadn't been to Thailand for years, so we didn't expect anybody to show up at the airport," she said.

SPECTACULAR SHOW

The concert began with a huge diamond appearing on the stage, which slowly opened up to reveal the girls sitting elegantly inside.

SNSD opened the show with their hit "Tell Me Your Wish," and they didn't disappoint with their synchronised dance moves. After that, the girls sang non-stop to dance songs, including "You-Aholic," "Mr. Taxi," "I'm in Love With the Hero" and "Let It Rain."

The group then took a break to introduce themselves in Thai. Sunny, Yuri and Seohyun got the craziest screams when Sunny said, "I love you," and Yuri added, "Miss you so much." Seohyun then impressed the audience by saying, "I'm very happy to visit Thailand."

SOLO STARS

Each of the girls had chance to show off their individual charms during their solo performances at the concert. Unfortunately, most of them were lip-synced, so dancers like Hyoyeon and Sooyoung missed an opportunity to prove that they can really sing as well as dance.

Hyoyeon mimed to Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" while Sooyoung blew the audience away with her dazzling ballroom steps and her powerful singing on the Pussycat Dolls'
hit, "Sway."

Jessica mesmerised everybody with her beauty, her pleasant piano playing and her clear voice singing Tamia's "Almost."
Seohyun also deserved thumbs up for her beautiful cover of Bette Midler's song, "Stuff Like That There." Seohyun is well known for her varied talents, and as well as singing tunefully, she also wowed the crowd with her great tap dancing.

What really stole the show, though, was Taeyeon and Tiffany's version of the old favourite, "Lady Marmalade." The crowd couldn't stop screaming when Tiffany appeared in a sexy red outfit, with Taeyeon looking chic in black.

MOVING MOMENT

SNSD's fan club, Sone, arranged something special for the concert. While the girls sang their sweet ballad, "Complete," everybody in the hall held up signs that read, "785 Days of Waiting" and "Finally, We Meet." The performers were moved to tears by the love of their fans.

PROMISING PLANS

At the end of the show, Girls' Generation performed fun hits like "Gee," which had everybody loudly singing along. Sooyung said that Thai fans had given the group the loudest screams they'd ever heard.

Before SNSD left the stage, they shouted their motto with Sone — Today SNSD, tomorrow SNSD, SNSD forever — letting their fans know that someday they'll be back to perform in Thailand again.