BoA Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary With New Album
The K-Pop fandom in general fights quite a bit about the status of their faves, but there is one thing that all of us can agree on: BoA is the reigning queen of K-Pop and no other can compare. Are you truly a K-Pop fan if you don’t know of BoA’s legacy?
This year marks the soloist’s 20 year anniversary on the scene, no small feat in an industry that sees groups disband within a year of debuting. From pioneering the K-Pop advance into western media to total domination in Asia, BoA has done all of it and more in her 20 year career and is once again back with another iconic release to cement her status at the top of the K-Pop chain.
The Title: “Better”
Right off the bat, “Better” has an infectious R&B sound, which is a sampling from UK singer AWA’s song “Like I Do.” Early on, many in the comments were claiming plagiarism, but AWA herself came out on social media announcing that she is both credited and listed as a composer on the track. It’s a beautiful example of east and west coming together to create something truly beautiful.
The beat mixes well with BoA’s distinct vocal tone and the sexy undertones are a perfect look for the veteran singer. Beginning in her lower register, the higher register kicks in at the bridge towards the chorus, building up tension and anticipation for the drop. Everything about the song from start to finish is pleasing to the ear and it brings an early 2000s R&B-pop hybrid melody that we definitely need more of in the K-Pop realm these days.
Subtle sexy and powerful are two descriptors that immediately come to mind when looking at the music video. If there is one thing BoA has down pat, it’s execution of difficult and eye-catching choreography. Much like the opening from her track “Woman” where she is flipped upside-down and walks on air, “Better”’s choreography has the soloist literally flying at a certain point, with her entire body being lifted up over the other dancers and then her feet being placed on the back of two men. Her main dancing outfit shows just exactly how much control and strength is needed within her thighs to execute these moves and it’s beyond impressive that she can perform these moves so effortlessly. Choreography is definitely the main focus in the music video, but the interspersed shots of BoA show some flawless fashion shots that match with the track’s melodic inspiration and she pulls them off well. It is difficult to find any flaw in this title track, but who is surprised when it’s BoA we’re talking about?
The Album
BETTER contains 11 tracks, kicking off with the title before jumping into “Temptations.” This track takes a bit of a different turn from “Better,” having a more haunting and modern beat with a slower tempo, but maintaining the subtle sexy aura presented in the title. While the beat is a bit out there to begin with, the song begins flowing smoothly into the chorus, where BoA adds a flair of half scale descendants in her vocals to add to the more haunting sound. “Cloud” comes in and follows the R&B influence, but this time with a more classic, slowed down ballad that is a huge highlight for BoA’s vocals.
“All That Jazz” shifts to a more, well, jazzy sound with a more upbeat aura than the first three tracks. With a jazz piano at the center of the melody, BoA flaunts her strong vocal register alongside this catchy beat that has some summery undertones, reminding us of warmer days. “L.O.V.E” introduces a retro pop sound that brings a different feel from every other track on the album, reminiscent of early ‘90s pop like Janet Jackson. It’s incredibly nostalgic for those of us that grew up in that time and brings a new flavor to the album.
“Cut Me Off” kicks off the second half of the album with an interesting sound. The song has heavy EDM influences, but they are rather subdued in the melody. Singing in mostly her lower vocal register, BoA introduces a more melancholy type of song that has a surprising amount of bite for a song with so much trance influences and a consistent beat. “Got Me Good” returns to a more R&B influenced melody that has similarities to “Better,” especially in the chorus. But despite that, it continues to the sort of sour love theme that “Cut Me Off” started.
“Honey & Diamonds” is back to traditional pop, which is catchy in it’s own right and the soloist pulls it off well, but there’s not much else to say about this track. It’s infectious for sure, if nothing else. “Start Over” seems to bring a more upbeat feeling to the lyrics, with BoA declaring that she’s moving on from the toxic love that seems to be the main focus of the second half of the album. “Gravity” shows the first sentimental, slow tempo ballad that places heavy emphasis on BoA’s vocals, a simple and heartwarming beat accompanying her. “Little Bird” marks the end of the album, finishing off with a warm and sweet track that has a melody heavily influenced by horns, which isn’t always heard in K-Pop. It’s hard to describe this song other than comforting, and perhaps the marching band influences used are what make it so interesting. With BoA chorusing, “everything’s gonna be alright,” it’s hard not to feel some of the burden in your heart lift.
Overall, there’s no doubt that BoA has absolutely killed it with this 20 year celebration release. The title track is a brilliant showcase of both her talent and her ability to make a melody her own from a sample of another talented artist. The rest of the album does not disappoint at one turn, with different melodical influences coming together to showcase BoA’s vocal talent. One thing is for sure: BoA has earned the title of K-Pop queen and her crown certainly isn’t slipping.