Lupin (Hangul: 루팡) is the third Korean extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Kara, released on February 17, 2010, by DSP. The concept and artwork of the album is based on French writer Maurice Leblanc's fictional gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.[1] The EP sold over 64,000 copies in 2010, ranking as the 16th best-selling album of the year in South Korea.

Lupin
EP by
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2010
Recorded2009–10
GenreDance-pop
Length16:25
LabelDSP
Producer
  • Han Jae-ho
  • Kim Seung-soo
  • Han Sang-won
  • Lee Joo-hyung
Kara chronology
Revolution
(2009)
Lupin
(2010)
Kara Special Premium Box for Japan
(2010)
Singles from Lupin
  1. "Lupin"
    Released: February 17, 2010

Background and concept edit

In early February, DSP Media announced that Kara would be coming back with "Lupin" and showing a darker, more mature concept.[1] The song was released to digital outlets on February 17, 2010, and topped various charts the following day.[2] Han Seung-yeon noted that, although the group had a cute image with singles like "Pretty Girl" and "Mister", "Lupin" would allow the girls to portray a "chic" concept.[3] Media reports noted that the group would be going up against Girls' Generation, who had made their comeback a few weeks earlier with "Oh!".[4]

Music video edit

The music video was released on February 22, garnering more than 90,000 views in the first two hours.[5] After the popularity of the group's "butt dance" with "Mister", netizens were curious to see the choreography of "Lupin"; as such, parts of the dance, including the "Emergency Exit" dance and the "Halla" dance, were highlighted by viewers.[6] Other moves of interest were Goo Hara's hair flip.

Promotion edit

Kara made their comeback in late February, starting with Mnet's M! Countdown on February 25, 2010.[7] The group then performed on all major network music shows over the weekend.[8] On March 4, 2010, Kara won their first #1 award for "Lupin" on M! Countdown. The following week, Kara won yet another #1 award on M! Countdown, making it their second consecutive win on the program.[9]"Lupin" also gave Kara their first #1 win on Music Bank on March 12, 2010, making it the group's first win on the music show since their debut,[10] and held onto the position for three consecutive weeks.[11] The song also won the Mutizen award from Inkigayo.[12] "Lupin" is among a handful of Kara tracks featured in the arcade music game, DJ Max Technika 3.

Accolades edit

Music program awards
Song Program Date Ref.
"Lupin" M Countdown March 4, 2010 [13]
March 11, 2010
Music Bank March 12, 2010 [11]
March 19, 2010
March 26, 2010
Inkigayo March 14, 2010 [12]

Track listing edit

All lyrics are written by Song Soo-yoon except track 4, which was written by Hang Sang-won

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Tasty Love"Han Jae-ho, Kim Seung-soo3:04
2."Lupin (루팡)"Han Jae-ho, Kim Seung-soo3:10
3."Umbrella"Han Jae-ho, Kim Seung-soo3:24
4."Rollin'"Han Sang-won3:22
5."Lonely"Lee Joo-hyung3:25
Total length:16:25

Charts edit

Album charts edit

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Japanese Weekly Albums (Oricon)[14] 100
South Korean Weekly Albums (Gaon)[15] 1
South Korean Monthly Albums (Gaon)[15] 2
South Korean Yearly Albums (Gaon)[16] 16

Single charts edit

"Lupin"
Chart (2010) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[15] 1
South Korea Year-end (Gaon)[15] 18

Sales edit

Chart Amount
Gaon physical sales 75,197[17]
Oricon physical sales 4,354

Release history edit

Country Date Format Label
South Korea February 17, 2010 Digital download, CD DSP Media
Japan February 23, 2011

References edit

  1. ^ a b (in Korean) 베일 벗기 시작한 카라 컴백, 어떨까 ‘괴도루팡 깜짝변신’ Archived May 11, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Nate. February 10, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  2. ^ (in Korean) Kim, Seong-han. '루팡' 카라 1위 휩쓸어 (Kara's "Lupin" #1 Rampage) Archived June 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Hankook Ilbo. February 19, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  3. ^ (in Korean) 카라, “도도하고 시크한 '루팡' 기대해 주세요”(인터뷰) (Kara: "Please Wait for Haughty and Chic 'Lupin' (Interview)") Archived February 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. MyDaily. February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  4. ^ (in Korean) 카라 '루팡' M/V, 공개 2시간만에 차트 1위 (Kara's "Lupin" Music Video Hits #1 Two Hours After Release) Archived February 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Sports Seoul. February 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  5. ^ (in Korean) ‘엉덩이춤’ 카라 이번엔 어떤 춤? ‘비상구춤 -할라춤 대박예감’ Archived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Newsen.com. February 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  6. ^ (in Korean) ‘엉덩이춤’ 카라 새 비밀병기는 ‘비상구 춤’ 화제만발 ("Butt Dance" Kara's New Secret Weapon is "Emergency Exit Dance", is Hot Topic of Conversation) Archived July 13, 2012, at archive.today. Joins.com/Newsen. February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  7. ^ (in Korean)카라 ‘루팡’ 오늘(25일) 드디어 공개 어떨까 ‘비상구춤 기대만발’(Kara Releases "Lupin" Today, "Emergency Exit dance" hoped with great expectations.) Archived March 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine News en. February 25, 2010.
  8. ^ (in Korean) 걸그룹 카라 '루팡' 티저만 공개했을 뿐인데…"최고다" (Girl Group Kara Releases "Lupin" Teaser Only, but Already "Awesome") Archived August 4, 2012, at archive.today. Medical Today. February 12, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  9. ^ "카라, '루팡'으로 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "카라 한승연, 데뷔 3년만에 '뮤뱅' 첫 1위 눈물 '그래도 예뻐'" [Kara Han Seung-yeon, 1st place on 'Music Bank' 3 years after debut]. Newsen. Daum. March 12, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  11. ^ a b 카라, '루팡'으로 3주 연속 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 [Kara, 1st place on 'Music Bank' for 3 consecutive weeks with 'Lupin']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. March 26, 2010. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "카라, 음악차트 올킬!" [Kara, music chart all-kill!]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). March 14, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "카라, '루팡'으로 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위" [Kara, 'Lupin' 1st place for 2 consecutive weeks on 'M Countdown']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. March 11, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  14. ^ (in Japanese) ルパン KARAのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE Archived March 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Oricon. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d "Gaon Search – KARA" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  16. ^ "Gaon album chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  17. ^