Speed Up (Kara song)

"Speed Up / Girl's Power"
Regular edition cover
Single by Kara
from the album Girls Forever
B-side	"Step" (Japanese)
Released	March 21, 2012 (see release history)
Format	CD single digital download
Genre	Electro dance-pop (Speed Up) Pop (Girl's Power)
Length	03:21 (Speed Up) 03:56 (Girl's Power)
Label	Universal Sigma
Kara Japanese singles chronology
"Winter Magic" (2011) "Speed Up / Girl's Power" (2012) "Electric Boy" (2012)

"Speed Up / Girl's Power" (スピード アップ/ガールズ パワー) is the sixth Japanese single by South Korean girl group Kara. It was released on March 21, 2012, and was the group's first double A-side single.^[1]

Background

Information about the single first emerged after someone on Twitter tweeted a picture of what appears to be of member JiYoung on the set of a music video. The picture was a screen capture from an iMac computer and showed "kara speed up" on top of the title bar.^[2] Details about a double A-side single titled "Speed Up / Girl's Power" being released on March 21 then began spreading around the internet.^[3]

Universal Music Japan eventually confirmed the single's release on February 27, 2012. On the same day Japanese program "ZIP!" aired a preview for both the song's music videos.^[1][4]

Composition

The single contains two tracks of completely different sounds. The concept of the single was to show the members’ various personalities and the different sides of the group.^[5][6]

"Speed Up" is an electro and dance-pop song with an uptempo beat that uses light vocal enchantments. The song shows the group's mature side. It was produced by Congolese R&B singer-songwriter Mohombi who had previously worked with South Korean group BIG BANG on a number of their Japanese songs.^[1]

"Girl's Power" is mid-tempo song with a softer tone. It was produced by Han-San Wong who previously worked with the group for the single, "Go Go Summer!". It shows a more feminine and softer side to the group. The song is also being used for the new commercial of DARIYA’s hair dye product line "Palty" which the group had previously endorsed in 2011.^[1]

Music video

During the February 27th episode of the Japanese program ZIP!, a preview for the music videos of both single's was shown. They also showed a brief behind-the-scenes footage of the girls while recording the videos for both the singles as well as the group celebrating member Goo Hara‘s 21st birthday while sharing a cake with the staff and crew at the studio.^[4] On February 28, 2012, the teasers for both music videos was uploaded on the Universal Music Japan and the group's YouTube channels.

The music video for both songs premiered on Japan's Mezamashi TV on separate days with "Speed Up" first airing on March 1 followed by "Girl's Power" on March 2.

Live performances

The group made the first performance of the song "Speed Up" on TBS's show Coming Soon!! in March 19 and another performances of the song on TBS's Count Down TV in March 24, on NHK's Music Japan in March 25, on TV Asahi's Music Station on April 6 during its 3-hour special^[7] and on Fuji TV's Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ in April 9.

The group also performed the songs during their Karasia tour in Japan.

Track listing

Limited Type A[8] and Regular edition:[9]
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Speed Up" (スピード アップ; Supīdo Appu)	Emyli	Mohombi Moupondo, Ivar Linsinski, Ninos Hanna, Robert Hanna	3:21
2.	"Girl's Power" (ガールズ パワー; Gāruzu Pawā)	PA-NON	Han Sang Won	3:56
3.	"Speed Up" (Instrumental)			3:21
4.	"Girl's Power" (Instrumental)			3:57
Total length:				14:34

Bonus Track (Limited Edition Version C)[9]
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
5.	"Step" (Japanese version) (ステップ; Suteppu)	Song Soo Yoon, PA-NON, Kyasu Mochizuki	Han Jae Ho, Kim Seung Soo	3:22
Total length:				17:56

Limited Type B:[10]
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Girl's Power" (ガールズ パワー; Gāruzu Pawā)	PA-NON	Han Sang Won	3:56
2.	"Speed Up" (スピード アップ; Supīdo Appu)	Emyli	Mohombi Moupondo, Ivar Linsinski, Ninos Hanna, Robert Hanna	3:21
3.	"Girl's Power" (Instrumental)			3:57
4.	"Speed Up" (Instrumental)			3:21
Total length:				14:34

DVD (Limited Edition Type A: Speed Up version)[8]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Speed Up" (Music video)
2.	"Speed Up" (Music video - Close-Up version)
3.	"Speed Up" (Music video - Behind the Scenes)

DVD (Limited Edition Type B: Girl's Power version)[10]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Girl's Power" (Music video)
2.	"Girl's Power" (Music video - Dance version)
3.	"Girl's Power" (Music video - Behind the Scenes)

Chart performance

On its first day of its physical release, the single sold 21,352 copies and quickly rose to #2 on the Oricon Daily chart. It sold 22,063 copies on the following day and placed 3rd.^[6]

Oricon chart Released Oricon Chart Peak Debut sales Sales total March 21, 2012 Daily Singles Chart 2 21,352 158,613+ Weekly Singles Chart 2 99,236 Monthly Singles Chart 6 126,975 Half-Year Singles Chart[11] 25 153,538 Yearly Singles Chart 49 158,613 Other charts Speed Up / Girl's Power Chart Peak position Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales[12] 2 Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales[12] (as Girl's Power / Speed Up) 5 Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales (2012)[12] 63 Speed Up Chart Peak position Billboard Japan Hot 100[13] 3 Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay[14] 21 RIAJ Digital Track Chart weekly top 100[15] 6 Girl's Power Chart Peak position Billboard Japan Hot 100[13] 7 Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay[14] 42 RIAJ Digital Track Chart weekly top 100[16] 6 Step (Japanese version) Chart Peak position Billboard Japan Hot 100[17] 38 RIAJ Digital Track Chart weekly top 100[18] 6 Sales and certifications Chart Amount RIAJ physical single[19] Gold (100,000+) Release history Country Date Format Label Japan February 29, 2012 Digital download (Step)[20] Universal Sigma March 14, 2012 Digital download (Girl's Power)[21] March 21, 2012 Digital download,[22] CD single References "3/21、DOUBLE A SIDE SINGLE「スピード アップ/ガールズ パワー」リース決定！". 28 February 2012. Universal Music Japan - KARA. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "kara speed up". 10 February 2012. GGul_YoenA. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "[정보] 오늘 이후 발매 예정 한국 가수 음반 (2/28 16:00 최종갱신)". 25 January 2012. Multi Lemonia Special. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "Preview for KARA’s upcoming Japanese single "Speed Up/Girls Power" + album covers revealed". 27 February 2012. Allkpop. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "KARA dominating in Japan with new double A side single album ‘Speed Up/Girl’s Power’". 21 March 2012. Allkpop x Nate. Retrieved 24 March 2012. "카라, 日 앨범 '스피드 업/걸즈 파워', 발매 당일 오리콘 2위". 21 March 2012. Nate. Retrieved 24 March 2012. "MUSIC STATION to air 3-hour special in April". 11 March 2012. Tokyohive. Retrieved 11 March 2012. "KARA / スピード　アップ / ガールズ　パワー【初回限定盤A】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2012年3月21日発売】 / KARA / UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". 28 February 2012. Universal Music Japan - KARA. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "KARA / スピード　アップ / ガールズ　パワー【初回限定盤C】【CD Maxi】【2012年3月21日発売】 / KARA / UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". 28 February 2012. Universal Music Japan - KARA. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "KARA / スピード　アップ / ガールズ　パワー【初回限定盤B】【CD Maxi】【+DVD】【2012年3月21日発売】 / KARA / UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE". 28 February 2012. Universal Music Japan - KARA. Retrieved 2 March 2012. "上半期ランキング特集『AKB48とMr.Childrenが1、2位独占！上半期の音楽シーンを振り返る』-ORICON STYLE ミュージック (2012 Half-Year singles chart)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-06-25. "Hot Singles Sales / JAPAN Charts / Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Retrieved 2012-03-28. "Japan Hot 100 / Billboard.com". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-03. "Hot Top Airplay / JAPAN Charts / Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Retrieved 2012-03-28. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue April 10, 2012" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2012-04-13. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue March 20, 2012" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2012-03-23. "Hot 100 / JAPAN Charts / Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Retrieved 2012-03-28. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue March 6, 2012" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 2012-03-09. ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2012年3月 [Record Association report: March 2012 Gold List and other approved work]. RIAJ (in Japanese). April 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13. "iTunes - ミュージック - KARA「ステップ - Single」" (in Japanese). iTunes. Retrieved 2012-03-02. "iTunes - ミュージック - KARA「ガールズ パワー - Single」" (in Japanese). iTunes. Retrieved 2012-03-13. "iTunes - ミュージック - KARA「スピード アップ/ガールズ パワー - EP」" (in Japanese). iTunes. Retrieved 2012-03-20.