"Roly-Poly" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was taken from their second mini albumJohn Travolta Wannabe which was released on 29 June 2011. The song was written and produced by Shinsadong Tiger and Choi Kyu-sung,who were also behind the group's 2009 song "Bo Peep Bo Peep". "Roly-Poly" won three weekly music program awards on M Countdown and Inkigayo. Only a month after release,the song accumulated over US$2.3 million in digital sales with over $280,000 per day.[2] Despite peaking at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart,it went on to become the best-selling song of 2011 in South Korea with over 4,000,000 digital downloads,the highest figure for a K-pop girl group single on Gaon in the 2010s.[3]
"Roly-Poly" was released on 29 June 2011,as the lead single of T-ara's John Travolta Wannabe with 3 different music videos,a short dance version,a long drama version and special version made by CCM that compiled several covers of the song from fans around the world and was titled "Roly Poly Version 3". The music video was revealed to be viewed in over 70 countries. Stereogum ranked the music video of the song No. 12 on its list of 20 Best K-pop videos.[4]
A remix of the song titled "Roly-Poly in Copacabana" was released on 2 August[5] and was used for the group's follow up promotions. In 2012,The song was re-released in Japanese on 29 February 2012,as the group's third single.[6]
The song was re-released in Japanese on 29 February 2012,as the group's third single in the Japanese market. The single peaked at 3 on Oricon and at 5 on Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Critical reception
Since its release,the song has received positive reviews from critics. The song was listed among the best hit songs of the last decade and of all time by multiple local and international publications. Chinese media Sina Music described "Roly-Poly" as the most dazzling retro dance music recently,"and it has the strength to bring the retro style back again".[7]
In 2021,Gabriela Caeli Sumampow of Vice included Roly Poly in her "bubbly K-pop" guide on "The Guide to Getting Into K-Pop,South Korea's Record-Breaking Pop Music".[8]PopMatters gave "Roly-Poly" a positive review;"Its success propelled the start of a disco trend in K-pop,as heard later in songs like Dal Shabet's "Bling Bling" (2011) and Nine Muses's "Figaro" (2011). The magazine also referred to the song as "one of the catchiest K-pop songs ever made".[9]Stereogum ranked the music video of the song No. 12 on its list of 20 Best K-pop videos.[4]The song was selected as the song of the summer by club DJs.[10] In January 2024,the song was placed at No. 12 on Hello Music Theory's list of 15 Of The Best K-Pop Songs Of All Time describing it as a cultural phenomenon.[11] The same year,NME ranked it at No. 2 on its list of the best T-ARA songs to date.[12]
Commercial performance
On the Gaon Digital Chart dated 26 June 2011,"Roly-Poly" debuted at number three,before descending to number eight the week after. On its third week it bounced back to number two,the song's peak on the chart. "Roly-Poly" managed to hold at the runner-up slot for two more weeks (stuck behind three different songs nonetheless),before descending down the chart. Only a month after release,the song accumulated over US$2.3 million in digital sales with over $280,000 per day.[2] Despite never topping the weekly or monthly chart and having a little less than half a year to chart,"Roly-Poly" managed to become the best-performing song of the year on the Gaon Digital Chart. It went on to become the best-selling song of 2011 in South Korea with over 4,000,000 digital downloads,the highest figure for a K-pop girl group single on Gaon in the 2010s.[3]
In popular culture
"Roly-Poly" appeared on multiple South Korean television series and films since its release including in the first episode of KBS's Dream High 2 in 2012.[13] The song was also played in the 2011 horror movie Gisang Spirit.[14] In 2017,the song was played on the 7th episode of the KBS drama Manhole. The song was covered on the 2019 TV series Welcome To Waikiki 2. It was also played on the 5th episode of the 2020 SBS drama Backstreet Rookie in a form of karaoke. In 2021,it was played in the first episode of the webtoon-based drama Work Later,Drink Now. The same year,its Japanese single album appeared on KBS2's drama Cheat on Me If You Can.[citation needed]
Legacy
Since its release,"Roly-Poly" achieved nationwide popularity due to its retro influences and outfits. The song's popularity spread with T-ara's constant promotion overseas. Since then,the song has been played in several TV series,films and campaigns. K-pop artists such as Oh My Girl,[15]Itzy,[16]Wanna One,Mamamoo,[17]Davichi,[18]STAYC,[19]Iz*One,[20]DKZ,[21] covered the song on different occasions. In September 2012,popular comedian Kim Shin-Young performed a parody of the song on MBC's "World-Changing Quiz" on Chuseok special episode which gathered attention for the unique stage presented by the comedian.[22] On 24 December 2012,Gag concert members Park Ji-sun,Jang Do-yeon,Oh Na-mi,Kim Min-kyung,Park Na-rae,Heo Min,Park So-young,Heo Anna and Ahn So-mi covered the song on 2011 KBS Entertainment Awards.[23] On 17 May 2019,the song was covered by a group of female university professors called "SSAM" at the "28th Gamatbee University Festival". The event was held at Gumi University.[24]
In June 2017,South Korean girl group G-reyish released a new song named "ohnny GoGo" using the same disco style of the 1980s and modern pop music elements. In an interview with "FN News",the group said "T-ara presented the concept of retro after going through many activities [...] we hope that we can present a retro style as soon as we debut,so that fans can be impressed by us in the future". Member Yena Jung also said,"It's something I'm grateful for just being mentioned with T-ara."[25] In May 2021,during their release showcase,girl group Rocket Punch revealed that they took "Roly-Poly" and its performances as an influence for their 80s inspired song "Ring Ring",where they said "If you look at the stages,there are many things we can imitate from the props and gestures."[26]
In March 2012,"Roly-Poly" was used as a representative political campaign song by the Saenuri Party ahead of the 19th general election of South Korea. It was reported that more than ₩10 million were spent to use the song in addition to the ₩2 million copyright fees and production costs.[27] On March 22,2018,the song was performed by Hari Won at the reception party held to welcome South Korea's former president Moon Jae In in Vietnam.[28]
The song also received two musical adaptations in 2012.[29] "Roly-Poly" was made into a stage musical starring T-ara's Hyomin,Jiyeon and Soyeon,Kang Min-kyung (Davichi),Jang Hye-jin (I Am a Singer),veteran musical actress Park Hae-mi,Han Ji-sub,Kim Jae-hee and Yoon Young-joon.[29][30] The first press conference for the musical was held on 4 January at the Seoul Press Center.[31][32] Due to the success of the musical,another one was produced and premiered on 2 May 2012. However,the T-ara members did not participate in it due to their busy schedules.[33]
1 2 The approximate conversion of ₩2.5 billion and ₩300 million in 2011 (₩1 = US$0.00094)
티아라 ‘롤리폴리’ 일매출 3억 올 최고가 경신, 누적 30억원 대박[T-ara's 'Roly Poly' hits 300 million won in daily sales, record high of 3 billion won]. Newsen (in Korean). 4 August 2011.
1 2 올해 가장 많이 팔린 음원은? 티아라 '롤리폴리'[What is the best-selling song of the year? T-ara 'Roly Poly']. Osen (in Korean). Naver. 14 December 2011.
↑ 韩国唱片综述：无限挑战三连冠 MBLAQ转型回归_影音娱乐_新浪网[Korean Record Review: Infinite Challenge’s three consecutive championships, MBLAQ’s transformation and return]. Sina Entertainment. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ "티아라, 유명 디스코 클럽 이름 딴 '롤리폴리 인 코파카바나' 발표"[T-ara announces 'Roly-Poly in Copacabana' named after famous disco club]. tvdaily.co.kr. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
↑ 드림하이2, 뮤직비디오 뺨치는 기숙사입방식 댄스배틀 눈길 | 연예가화제: 네이트 연예[Dream High 2, dormitory-style dance battle that looks like a music video]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Nate. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
↑ 클럽에 티아라가 떴다?…영화 ‘기생령’ 미공개 스틸 공개[T-ara appeared at the club?... Release of unreleased stills from the movie ‘Gisaeng Spirit’]. News Prime (in Korean). Retrieved 3 November 2022.
↑ 오마이걸, 5월 8일 첫 정규 앨범으로 컴백…"열심히 준비중"[Oh My Girl, comeback with their first full-length album on May 8... "Preparing hard"]. MK Sports (in Korean). Nate. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ 있지, ‘팬파티 라이브’서 ‘믿지’ 최초 공개…“따뜻한 위로 받아”[Itzy, First publicity of ‘Midzy’ at ‘Fan Party Live’… “Receive warm comfort”]. AsiaToday (in Korean). 21 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ '발라드' 다비치, 연말콘서트 '섹시+댄스' 작렬..열광['Ballad' Davichi, year-end concert 'Sexy+Dance' exploded... Enthusiasm]. Star News (in Korean). Nate. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ [TF비하인드] "타임머신 태운다"는 스테이씨, 기획자는 정말 '급식이'일까?[[TF Behind-the-Scenes] STAYC "Burns the time machine", is the planner really 'lunch food'?] (in Korean). Nate. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ 아이즈원, 온라인 콘서트 'ONE, THE STORY' 성료…화려한 피날레[Iz*One successfully completed the online concert 'One, the Story'... spectacular finale]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Nate. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ '아이돌 라디오' 동키즈, 바퀴 달린 신발&스탠드 마이크로 가든 스튜디오 장악!['Idol Radio' Dongkiz takes control of Micro Garden Studio with Wheeled Shoes & Stands!]. iMBC (in Korean). 20 November 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ 김신영, 고기예찬? ‘롤리폴리’ 개사 ‘고기빨리’ 화제! 역시 패러디 여왕[Kim Shinyoung, Praise meat? The title song of ‘Roly-Poly’ is ‘Quick Meat’! parody queen]. Hankyung (in Korean). 12 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ 개콘 아이돌 파격 변신 ‘박지선 오나미 김민경 티아라 깜짝패러디’ (2011 KBS 연예대상)[GaCon idol transformation ‘Park Ji-sun Oh Na-mi Kim Min-kyung T-ara surprise parody’ (2011 KBS Entertainment Grand Prize)]. Newsen (in Korean). Nate. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
↑ 걸그룹 변신 '여교수들'…교내 축제서 7080패션으로 춤·노래[Girl group transformation 'female professors'... Dancing and singing in 7080 fashion at school festivals]. Yonhap News (in Korean). 17 May 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ "흥+에너지 폭발"…로켓펀치, 'RING RING'으로 전세대 취향 조준 완료(종합)["Excitement + energy explosion"... Rocket Punch completes targeting the tastes of all generations with 'Ring Ring' (comprehensive)]. MBN TV (in Korean). Nate. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
↑ 선거철 '숨은 당선자', 로고송의 세계[Election season 'hidden winner', the world of logo song]. Money Today (in Korean). 22 March 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ 티아라 `롤리폴리` 뮤지컬로 재탄생[T-ara 'Roly Poly' reborn as a musical]. Star Today (in Korean). 9 November 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ 공연의 모든 것 - 롤리폴리우리들의 청춘[All About the Performance - Our Youth, Roly Poly]. PlayDB. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
↑ "올해 TV홈쇼핑 배경음악 1위는?"[What is the No. 1 TV home shopping background music this year?]. Chosun Biz (in Korean). 27 December 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
↑ "[서울가요대상]티아라 '디지틀음원상'-아이유 '최고앨범상' 2관왕"[[Seoul Music Awards] T-ara wins 2 awards: 'Digital Music Award' and IU wins 'Best Album Award']. Edaily (in Korean). 19 January 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
↑ "티아라 '롤리폴리 '엠카' 2주 연속 1위"[T-ara's 'Roly-Poly' wins 1st place on 'M Countdown' for 2 weeks in a row]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
↑ "티아라, '롤리폴리'로 '인기가요' 첫 1위 '눈물'"[T-ara's first 'tears' on 'Inkigayo' with 'Roly Poly']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
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