KARA was originally a four-member group until former lead singer Sunghee decided to leave in February of 2008. Soon after, she was replaced by new members Hara and Jiyoung. Throughout 2008 they released 2 mini-albums and 3 singles; "Rock U", "Pretty Girl", and "Honey", all of which showcased a new, cuter image. "Honey" in particular was their biggest success yet, and became their first #1 when it topped Mnet's M! Countdown. The song also won the Mutizen award on SBS's "Popular Songs" program.
In July of 2009, KARA returned with their second full studio album Revolution, which showcased a new "upgraded" concept. Lead single "Wanna" was an instant success, topping various online charts. The second single from the album, "Mister", was an even bigger success due to a certain part of the choreography nicknamed the "butt dance" which caught on with the public.
In 2010, KARA changed once again, this time to a "darker", more mature concept for their third mini-album Lupin. 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 music program. "Lupin" also gave Kara their first #1 win on Music Bank on March 12, 2010, making it the group's first win for the music show since their debut, they held onto the position for three consecutive weeks. The song also won the Mutizen award from Inkigayo.
That same year it was announced that KARA would be making their debut into the Japanese market under Universal Music Japan. Their debut single in Japan was a Japanese version of their Korean hit "Mister". Released on August 11, 2010, the single exceeded expectations, debuting at #5 on the Oricon daily and weekly charts. This made KARA the first Korean girl group to ever achieve this feat, as well as the first non-Japanese girl group in 29 years to chart in the Oricon top 10 with a debut single. "Mister" also topped iTunes Japan, Recochoku's video charts, and was eventually certified platinum by the The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales, making them the first Korean girl group in history to achieve this.
The group followed the success of "Mister" with Kara Best 2007-2010, a greatest hits collection of all their Korean music. The album was certified gold by RIAJ, making KARA the first ever Korean group since the '90s to release an all-Korean album that was able to break 100,000 copies sold in Japan.
"Jumping", the title of both their second Japanese single as well as their fourth Korean mini-album, was released simultaneously in both Korea and Japan in November 2010. The song proved to be a huge success in both countries. In Japan, it debuted at #5 on the Oricon weekly charts and peaked at #2 on the Oricon Daily charts, eventually selling more than 100,000 copies to be certified gold. In Korea, "Jumping" won Kara their first #1 win on KBS Music Bank on December 10, 2010. Two days after their win on Music Bank, Kara won a #1 Mutizen Award for "Jumping" on SBS Inkigayo's 600th episode.
Kara released their first Japanese studio album Girl's Talk on November 24, 2010. The album was released in 3 versions and contained ten tracks including "Mister" and "Jumping", as well as the Japanese version of "Lupin". Girl's Talk sold 107,000 copies in its first week and ranked number 2 on the Oricon weekly charts, making it the first album by a non-Japanese girl group in 6 years to sell more than 100,000 copies in its first week. On January 14, 2011 Girl's Talk received a platinum certification from RIAJ, making KARA the first Korean Girl group to sell 250,000 albums. Oricon also announced KARA as 2010's best rookie artist, generating revenue of some 1.3 billion yen (or $15.4 million USD); and with a total of 493,000 copies of their releases sold that year.
In January 2011, controversy erupted when it was announced that four of KARA's members (except Gyuri) had filed a lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contracts with DSP Entertainment. However, it was later revealed that Hara decided not to join Seungyeon, Nicole, and Jiyoung in terminating her contract. Due to the conflict, DSP Entertainment suspended all group activities. The situation is still ongoing, though KARA has reached an agreement with DSP to continue with all planned activities until a permanent solution is agreed upon, which happened in April 2011.
KARA's third Japanese single "Jet Coaster Love" was announced on February 10, 2011 for a March 23rd release. However, due to the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the physical release was postponed. Digitally, the song was released on March 16, 2011 and was another huge success - topping the RIAJ Digital Track Chart Weekly Top 100, and also placing #5 on Billboard's Japanese Hot 100. It was later announced that "Jet Coaster Love" would be released physically on April 6, 2011, and that 100% of the sales would go to help the earthquake victims. "Jet Coaster Love" peaked at #1 on the Oricon Daily Charts (after debuting at #2 in it's first day of sales) and debuted at #1 on the Oricon Weekly Charts, selling 123,000 copies in it's opening week. This gave KARA their first ever #1 single in Japan, and made them the first foreign female group in history to rank at #1 on the Oricon Charts.
In late 2013, Nicole announced that she would not be renewing her contract, and would be departing KARA in January of 2014. On January 15, 2014, Jiyoung revealed she would also be leaving KARA, but in April of 2014 (after her contract ended). DSP stated that they would be trying to convince Jiyoung to stay, which annoyed fans greatly (they had previously released Nicole and deleted her from images with the group online without much effort to keep her).
Pandora
카라 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up and up ah, ah
감출 수 없는 거야
니 눈빛이 흔들려
묘한 시선 속에 심장이 뛰고 있어
거친 숨소리가
촉각을 자극해 crush, crush (crush, crush)
잠깐만 거기에 멈춰서
똑바로 바라봐봐
숨겨온 진실을 이제 다 보여줄게 자
내 맘을 잡아봐
느껴봐 close to you
And close to you
모든 걸 다 줄게
내가 보이니? Close to me
And close to me
가져가 날
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah
여기가 끝이 아냐
넌 아직 모를 거야
아직 나에 대해 반도 안 보여줬어
내 속 안에 있는
비밀을 움켜줘 crush, crush (crush, crush)
어떠니 어설픈 편견에
겁먹고 가지 말아
섣부른 판단에 내 손을 놓치지 마
자, 내 전불 알아봐
느껴봐 close to you
And close to you
모든 걸 다 줄게
내가 보이니? Close to me
And close to me
가져가 날
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah
그래 봤지, 그럼 됐지
이보다 어떻게 뭘 더해?
내가 다가가잖아 자 oh
가까이, 더 조금만 더 가까이
Stress 넌 다 줘도 못 해
뭘 기대하니 Next time?
왜 오도 가도 못해? 빙빙
시간이 카운트 다운 째깍째깍
한참을 기다렸어 (기다렸어)
너이길 바래왔어 (바래왔어)
완벽하길 whoa-whoa-ooh-whoa 빌어
느껴봐 close to you (yeah)
And close to you
모든 걸 다 줄게
내가 보이니? Close to me
And close to me
가져가 날
Up and up ah, ah (yeah-yeah-yeah)
Up and up ah, ah (up and up ah, ah)
Up and up ah, ah (oh!)
The lyrics to 카라's song "Pandora" convey a sense of empowerment and self-assurance. The song starts with the lines "Up and up ah, ah," suggesting a forward and upward trajectory. The singer declares that they cannot hide their true feelings and emotions. They feel their heart beating within the strange gazes they receive, and the rough sound of their breath stimulates their senses. The chorus encourages someone to pause for a moment and see the hidden truth that the singer is about to reveal. They want their feelings to be acknowledged and held onto.
The second verse reassures that this is not the end and that there is more to the singer than what has been shown. They ask for their secret to be protected and grasped tightly. The lyrics urge against hasty judgments and encourage not to be afraid. The singer wants the person to recognize their potential and abilities. The repetition of "close to you" and "close to me" reflects their desire for intimacy and connection. Overall, the lyrics express a plea for understanding and a willingness to reveal oneself fully.
Line by Line Meaning
감출 수 없는 거야
It's something that cannot be hidden
니 눈빛이 흔들려
Your gaze is trembling
묘한 시선 속에 심장이 뛰고 있어
My heart is pounding inside your mysterious gaze
거친 숨소리가 촉각을 자극해 crush, crush (crush, crush)
The rough sound of breathing stimulates the senses crush, crush (crush, crush)
잠깐만 거기에 멈춰서
Just stop there for a moment
똑바로 바라봐봐
Look straight at me
숨겨온 진실을 이제 다 보여줄게 자
I'll show you all the hidden truths now, come on
내 맘을 잡아봐
Try to catch my heart
느껴봐 close to you
Feel it close to you
And close to you
And close to you
모든 걸 다 줄게
I'll give you everything
내가 보이니? Close to me
Can you see me? Close to me
And close to me
And close to me
가져가 날
Take me with you
여기가 끝이 아냐
This is not the end
넌 아직 모를 거야
You still don't know
아직 나에 대해 반도 안 보여줬어
You haven't shown much about me yet
내 속 안에 있는 비밀을 움켜줘 crush, crush (crush, crush)
Hold onto the secrets inside me tightly, crush, crush (crush, crush)
어떠니 어설픈 편견에 겁먹고 가지 말아
Don't be afraid of clumsy prejudices
섣부른 판단에 내 손을 놓치지 마
Don't let go of my hand due to hasty judgments
자, 내 전불 알아봐
Now, find out my true intentions
그래 봤지, 그럼 됐지
Yeah, you saw it, then it's fine
이보다 어떻게 뭘 더해?
What more can be added to this?
내가 다가가잖아 자 oh
I'm approaching, come on, oh
가까이, 더 조금만 더 가까이
Closer, just a little closer
Stress 넌 다 줘도 못 해
Even if you give me all the stress, I can't handle it
뭘 기대하니 Next time?
What are you expecting next time?
왜 오도 가도 못해? 빙빙
Why can't I do it even if I go round and round?
시간이 카운트 다운 째깍째깍
Time counts down tick-tock
한참을 기다렸어 (기다렸어)
I have waited for a long time (waited for a long time)
너이길 바래왔어 (바래왔어)
I hope it's you (I hoped for it)
완벽하길 whoa-whoa-ooh-whoa 빌어
I pray for perfection whoa-whoa-ooh-whoa
느껴봐 close to you (yeah)
Feel it close to you (yeah)
And close to you
And close to you
모든 걸 다 줄게
I'll give you everything
내가 보이니? Close to me
Can you see me? Close to me
And close to me
And close to me
가져가 날
Take me with you
Up and up ah, ah (yeah-yeah-yeah)
Up and up ah, ah (yeah-yeah-yeah)
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah
Up and up ah, ah (oh!)
Up and up ah, ah (oh!)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jae Ho Han, Seung Su Kim, Soo Yun Song, Kwan Soo Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
김수민
곡 자체도 진짜 세련되고 트렌디해서
뇌리에 확 꽂히는 확실한 포인트가 있고
그 곡의 맛을 살려주는 의상, 안무까지 완벽
뿐만 아니라 멤버 하나 빠짐없이 외모 출중
제일 대단한 건 무대 위에서 보여주는
프로다운 퍼포먼스와 표정, 끼
이렇게 외모, 실력, 팀웍이 모두 뛰어나면서
꾸준한 활동으로 매번 색다른 컨셉의
다양한 곡과 무대를 멋지게 보여주는
여자 아이돌 그룹이 또 있을까... 너무 그립다
여타 그룹이 대신할 수 없는 카라만의 색깔
Kef
카라는 진짜 다섯명 다 인지도 있었음 ㅠㅠ
여신규리
듣보승연
스골니콜
예능캐들 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
구하라야 뭐 ㅠ진짜 인기 많았고
지영이도 설리랑 같이 자이언트 베이비ㅠㅜ
진짜 카라 시절 그립다ㅠ
영지도 매력쩔었음 ㅜㅜ
Ne Ja
카라 노래 특유의 휘몰아치는 전개 넘 좋다...요즘 보기 힘든 스타일인데
피곤해
당시에도 인기는 많았지만...엄청난 히트를 치진못했었는데 판도라스타일은 시대를 앞서간게 맞는거같음
kklkgbb25
i love this song since 2012~
오해원머리크기설윤두배
옛날 애니 오프닝 느낌이라 한국인들이 좋아할 노래 스타일은 아니라 지금 나와도 흥하진 못할거 같은데 시대를 앞서갔다? 모르겠음
여지
한승연이 최애였지만 이곡은 진짜 구하라가 너무 이뻣음 ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
솜솜
루팡이랑 판도라는 나왔을 당시에 한번도 접해보지 못한 느낌이라 충격적이고 기억에 깊이 남았는데 지금 들어도 노래 잘 만들었다는 게 느껴진다. 멜로디가 긴장감있고 3분이 짜임새있음. 이런 파워풀한 무대 못본지 오래 된 거 같네
김뭉
@Iga Allen 사람마다 다른거지 지랑 안맞다고 문외인 ㅇㅈㄹ ㅋㅋ 빡대가리?
성이름
@Iga Allen 느그 트레져보단 노래 잘빠진거 ㅇㅈ?
옹옹
@Iga Allen 2010년부터 다사랑노래 10년째 유지되고있는데요..? 요즘 저런 컨셉으로 나오는그룹도 퍼포먼스만 비슷할뿐 노래가사나 분위기는 여전히 틀안인데
Iga Allen
몇살인지는 모르겠으나 루팡같은 컨셉은 전에도 여러번 회자되기도 했는데...... 한번도 접해보지 못했다니..... 나이가 어리거나 문외한이거나.