BoA (album)

BoA
Studio album by BoA
Released	March 17, 2009
Recorded	2008–2009
Genre	Pop, R&B, dance-pop, electropop
Length	38:47 (Standard) 49:00 (Deluxe)
Language	English
Label	SM Entertainment USA/Arsenal
Producer	Soo-Man Lee (Executive producer), Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett, Henrik Jonback, Brian Kennedy, Clubba Langg, Adrian Newman, The Phantom Boys, Chief Wakil
BoA chronology
The Face (2008) BoA (2009) Best & USA (2009) Singles from BoA "Eat You Up" Released: October 21, 2008 "Look Who's Talking" Released: December 3, 2008 "I Did It for Love" Released: June 2, 2009
BoA: Deluxe
Singles from BoA: Deluxe
"Energetic" Released: July 21, 2009

BoA is the first eponymous US studio album by Korean pop singer BoA and her twelfth studio album overall. The album was released on March 17, 2009, in the United States. BoA was released in Japan boxed with her second greatest hits album, Best & USA, as a 2-in-1 CD.^[1] BoA debuted on the Billboard 200 at #127 and topped the Billboard's Top Heatseekers (Pacific). On August 31, BoA: Deluxe was released digitally via iTunes and includes the single version of "Energetic" and two bonus songs, "Crazy About" and "Control". On September 22, 2009, the album was released worldwide.^[2]

Background

In January 2008, it was reported that BoA was planning to enter the US market.^[3] However, Lee Soo Man, the head of BoA's label SM Entertainment, denied this, saying there was still more work to do in Asia.^[4] On August 29, 2008, SM Entertainment announced it had started a subsidiary label in the U.S., SM Entertainment USA. News reports started to surface once again about BoA breaking into the U.S. market.^[5][6] On September 2, 2008, BoA's label officially announced that she would be entering the US market under their subsidiary label.^[7] On September 10, a press conference was held at the Seoul Imperial Palace Hotel to further clarify her plans.^[7] With the album, BoA hoped to become a "world-renowned entertainer" in the vein of Janet Jackson.^[8]

Production

For the album, BoA worked with well-known music producers such as Bloodshy & Avant, Brian Kennedy and Sean Garrett.^[9] The recording of the album took place in Thailand, Australia, Atlanta and Los Angeles.^[10] On Space Shower Music Update during her interview, BoA said that the album consisted of upbeat songs and the use of a vocoder.^[11] The album was originally titled Look Who's Talking.^[12]

Promotion

In order to promote the album, BoA performed at the YouTube Live Tokyo event in November.^[13] A taping was held on December 3, 2008, at the MTV studio in Times Square of a live performance titled MTV World Presents: BoA Live in New York. She performed "Eat You Up", "Look Who's Talking" and the title song of her fifth Korean studio album, Girls on Top. MTV World Presents: BoA Live in New York is due to be released in China, Australia, Korea and Japan.^[13] BoA also performed at the 2008 Jingle Ball, as an opening act.^[14] She also promoted in South Korea at the 2008 SBS Gayo Daejun.^[15] BoA herself told EW.com that she has a "repackaged album [to be] released in September", with the new songs "Control" produced by Brian Kennedy and "Crazy About", produced by Sean Garrett.^[2]

Track list

BoA

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer	Length
1.	"I Did It for Love" (featuring Sean Garrett)	Sean Garrett, Melvin K. Watson Jr., Matthew I. Irby	Sean "The Pen" Garrett, The Phantom Boys	3:01
2.	"Energetic"	Sean Garrett, Yirayah Garcia	Sean "The Pen" Garrett, Clubba Langg	3:41
3.	"Did Ya"	Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Negin Djafari	Bloodshy & Avant	2:59
4.	"Look Who's Talking"	Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Michelle Lynn Bell, Britney Spears	Henrik Jonback	3:08
5.	"Eat You Up"	Mikkel Johan Sigvardt, Thomas Troelsen	Henrik Jonback	3:13
6.	"Obsessed"	Bryan Seals Kennedy, Troy Verges, Hillary Lee Lindsey	Brian Kennedy, Chief Wakil	3:46
7.	"Touched"	Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Magnus Wallbert, Toby Gad, Arama Brown	Bloodshy & Avant	3:06
8.	"Scream^1"	Charlie Mason, Kay J, Apollo Andel, The Provider	Adrian Newman	3:16
9.	"Girls on Top^2"	Young-Hu Kim, Lola Fair (Xperimental Music)	Young Jin Yoo	3:37
10.	"Dress Off"	Adrian Newman	Adrian Newman	3:41
11.	"Hypnotic Dancefloor"	Paolo Galgani, Lisa Rachelle Greene	Henrik Jonback	3:43
Total length:				38:47

Bonus Tracks (iTunes Edition)
No.	Title	Producer	Length
12.	"Eat You Up (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Radio Edit)"	Henrik Jonback	3:38

• ¹Cover of the 2007 B-side by German girl group Monrose.^[16]
• ²English self-cover of the song with the same name from her fifth Korean studio album.

BoA: Deluxe bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Energetic" (Radio Edit)	Sean Garrett, Yirayah Garcia	Sean "The Pen" Garrett, Clubba Langg	3:25
2.	"Control"	Brian Kennedy, Dwanna Orange, Julian Lowe, Isaiah Freeman, Lavender Don Gibson	Brian Kennedy[17]	3:00
3.	"Crazy About"	Sean Garrett	Sean Garrett, Davenport & Spencer[18]	3:35

Note: * The bonus tracks are on the CD track 1, 2 and 3. Further is everything the same, except "Energetic" is track 14.

Singles

• "Eat You Up": During her press conference, SM Entertainment announced "Eat You Up" was chosen to be the lead single from the album.^[19] The track was produced by Henrik Jonback (who worked with artists such as Britney Spears and Madonna). "Eat You Up" was released online on October 21, 2008. The single charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart peaking at the number 8 spot.^[20]
• "Look Who's Talking": The single was first performed at MTV World Presents: BoA Live in New York on December 3, 2008.^[13] BoA also performed the single at the 2008 Jingle Ball, which was held at the Anaheim Honda Center.^[21]
• "I Did It for Love": Will be the second single from the album. A 1:30 snippet of the song was released online on February 17, 2009, on various websites.^[9] The track was written and produced by Sean Garrett, who is featured on the single. The single charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart peaking at the number 18 spot.
• "Energetic": On May 30, before their performance at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan, BoA and Sean Garrett confirmed in an interview^[22] that "Energetic" would be the new single. It is another track written and produced by Sean Garrett, therefore continuing their partnership. According to Kenny Wormald, one of BoA's backup dancers, the music video for Energetic was shot between June 3 and June 5, 2009.^[23] The music video was released online on July 21, 2009 through EW.com. The single charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, so far peaking at the number 17 spot.^[2]

Charts and certifications

Chart (2009)	Peak position	Sales Figures	Certification (thresholds)
U.S. Billboard 200	127[24]	8,000[25]	N/A
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers	3[24]
U.S. Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums	5[24]
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums	16[24]
Korean Hanteo Pop	1[26]	15,000	Platinum
Japan Oricon Charts	c/o Best & USA	132,570 See Best & USA	Gold

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States	March 17, 2009	CD, digital download	SM Entertainment USA/Arsenal/Fontana
Japan	March 18, 2009	CD, digital download	Avex Trax
South Korea		CD	SM Entertainment
Canada	March 17, 2009	Digital download	SM Entertainment USA
	April 7, 2009	CD
Taiwan	April 3, 2009	CD	Avex Asia
Worldwide	August 31, 2009	Digital download	SM Entertainment USA/Arsenal
Worldwide	September 22, 2009	CD	SM Entertainment USA/Arsenal
Philippines	November 18, 2009	CD	Universal Records[27]

Credits and personnel

• Mastering: Tom Coyne (Sterling Sound)

Deluxe Version

• Mastering: Hoon Jeon (Sonic Korea)

References

1. "First! BoA’s best album and American debut album combined" (in Japanese). Livedoor. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
2. "BoA, 'Energetic': Korean pop superstar debuts exclusive video, talks Britney, Weezer, and more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
3. "Asia's Star BoA, U.S. Operation In the Works... Top Secret Album" (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
4. "Lee Soo Man, BoA and TVXQ not ready for America? "We Have a lot to Do In Japan and Asia"" (in Korean). Newsen. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
5. "BoA, a Step Closer To USA?" (in Korean). Yahoo! Korea. 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
6. "BoA, to Enter the U.S. Market Next Year" (in Korean). Newsen. 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
7. "BoA Plans Debut in US". The Korea Times. Han Sang Hee. 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
8. "Rap-Up.com - Korean Pop Star BoA Prepares U.S. Takeover". 23-09-08. Retrieved 07-02-14. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
9. "#1 Pop Star From Asia Gears Up to Launch New Single Recorded With Top Hit-Maker Sean Garrett". Marketwire. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
10. "Natalie - [Power Push] BoA Special Content". natalie.mu. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
11. (Japanese) BoA's interview. Space Shower Music Update. Space Shower. 2009-02-17
12. "BoA's US debut plans" (in Korean). Yahoo! Korea. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
13. "BoA to Make US Debut Through MTV". The Korea Times. Han Sang Hee. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
14. "BoA to Perform in 'Jingle Ball' Concert in U.S". Korean Broadcasting System. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
15. "BoA Famous Movie Star And a New Year's Greetings'" (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
16. "Let Me Hear You "Scream"!". MySpace. Charlie Mason. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
17. "Promotion Plans for BoA Deluxe". blog.ningin.com. Fontana Distribution. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
18. "Davenport & Spencer's Myspace". myspace.com. Devonport & Spencer, Myspace. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
19. "Singer BoA to Knock on US Music Market". The Korea Times. Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
20. "Hot Dance Club Play rank". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
21. "BoA to Perform in 'Jingle Ball' Concert in U.S". Korean Broadcasting System. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
22. "DJ Kaori interviews BoA & Sean Garrett". MTV. 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
23. Kenny Wormald's Twitter
24. "Artist Chart History - BoA". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
25. "Asian pop star BoA takes on the U.S". Reuters. 2009-04-24. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
26. "Korean Hanteo Pop Yearly chart" (in Korean). Hanteo. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
27. SUPER JUNIOR-M & BoA ALBUMS RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED ! Universal Records Philippines @ facebook.2009-11-14.

External links

• BoA's official U.S. website