BoA Begs for Forgiveness in New Single… Or Does She?

BoA’s new single “Forgive Me” is the title track and name of her third mini-album, featuring six brand new songs, both released November 22, 2022. The pop-rock single was written by BoA; composed by Omega, Jordan Reyes, BoA, Kriz, Rosina “Soaky Siren” Russell, and Brooke Tomlinson; and arranged by Omega and Jordan Reyes.

Can you say black and white vintage glamor combined with a bad girl image and an elegant feast of wine and pomegranates? You can try, but only BoA is able to pull off so many contrasting concepts in one music video. Don’t even get me started on her concepts throughout her career. And those high notes? No wonder people call her the “Queen of K-Pop”.

BoA has many personalities in “Forgive Me” as she body-pops from black and white to full color, leading to an edgy chorus. The props are just as contradicting as the scenes, as the sun sets with a British phone box in the corner, burnt buildings surrounding her and her backup dancers, people in white suits with big white hats covering their faces, and a red hallway featuring a minimalist dinner. What is BoA truly trying to say here?

Getting into the terminology, pomegranates symbolize death and fertility, while wine symbolizes happiness and friendship. Red signifies danger and love, while white signifies purity and innocence. With so much contrast and contradiction, “Forgive Me” is a sarcastic term. The story behind the lyrics suggests that BoA’s partner has taken advantage of her more than once, but he doesn’t know that she’s one step ahead. As she explains her “on-off” relationship to the audience, she refuses to spare her ex another glance. Trying to let him leave “at a good time,” she doesn’t want their breakup to turn sour, but his “frenzied crying and clinging” and “ham-fisted” actions turn BoA evil as she thinks of her next move.

In the end, BoA says she’d rather have her ex-partner hate her than have to explain her thoughts.

He doesn’t know what he did wrong, explains the lyric, “You’re clueless and weak.” BoA takes pity and tells him to “leave quietly” and she’ll pretend that everything’s okay with a smile. She doesn’t feel anything when she leaves and says she’s “no mistake.” But is that true? In the last scene, BoA holds a pomegranate as she turns and reveals her gothic form. Did she really leave or did those random props, not to mention the blood splatters on the floor of a wide tub, reveal a murder plot? Is she “no mistake” or was it the murder?

Edited bt Rashelle B.