It isn’t the holidays until a Christmas song from BoA re-enters Japanese music charts. Though BoA’s legendary feats extend far past her holiday hits, the success of a song like “Merry-Chri” cannot go unacknowledged. Since 2000, BoA has delivered Christmas songs for fans of all backgrounds to enjoy. From covers of English Christmas songs, a trilingual mix of Korean, Japanese, and English, and original tracks of her own, she covers all the bases for any Christmas celebration. 

BoA on SMTOWN Christmas Albums: 2000 to Present

SM Entertainment’s history of company Christmas albums spans all the way back to 1999. BoA first appeared on 2000’s Winter Vacation in SMTOWN.com, released three months after her debut. This 14-track album included songs from H.O.T, S.E.S, SHINHWA, Fly to the Sky, Yoo Youngjin, and BoA. BoA sang “Marry Christmas” and “Christmas Time.” Then 14-year-old BoA proved her talents among other SM Entertainment artists. 

BoA would go on to contribute to SMTOWN’s 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2022 winter-related albums. In 2015, the company decided to release a winter EP focused on female artists: BoA, f(x), and Red Velvet sang new Christmas songs for Winter Garden. BoA’s “Christmas Paradise” delivered a sweet carol, continuing to showcase her beautiful singing 15 years after her first Christmas track under SM Entertainment. 

“Merry-Chri” (“メリクリ”)

“Merry-Chri,” BoA’s most famous Christmas song, released two decades ago on December 1, 2004. This winter classic was released simultaneously in Korean and Japanese. The song reflects on a love that keeps one warm during the winter season. BoA sings about feeling healed through this relationship. In the music video, BoA stares lovingly at the sky but also wishes that the special person could be at her side again. 

The ballad’s popularity still maintains its longevity to this day, especially when the Christmas season hits in Japan. As of publication, “Merry-Chri” sits at 84 on the LINE MUSIC Top 100 Chart and 70 on 

Apple Music’s Top 100 in Japan. BoA re-recorded “Merry-Chri” for her 2015 Japanese single album Lookbook, released ahead of the 15th anniversary of her Japanese debut. 

Merry Christmas from BoA

BoA couldn’t celebrate Christmas with just “Merry-Chri.” On Christmas Day 2005, she released a special EP with only holiday songs. Released in both Korea and Japan, Merry Christmas from BoA included “Merry-Chri” and its new Christmas remix, a cover of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” a cover of Mel Tormé’s “The Christmas Song,” a multilingual version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” including Korean, Japanese, and English lyrics, and BoA’s new Christmas song: “First snow.” 

Not to be confused with the EXO winter song of the same name, BoA’s “First snow” uses piano and a soft pop instrumental to welcome the snowfall. She sings about falling in love in tandem with the snowflakes making their descent. BoA also included “First snow” on her fourth Japanese album OUTGROW, released in 2006.  

“Winter Love” and “まもりたい ～White Wishes～”

Released in 2006 on her Japanese single album of the same name, “Winter Love” delivers a melancholic Christmas song. In the song’s music video, BoA waits in a house of ice as she yearns for her former lover. She asks for her lover’s permission to keep loving them.  

In 2009, BoA expressed wanting to start a relationship in “まもりたい ～White Wishes～.” In this orchestral song, BoA sings about an unstoppable love she believes will make both individuals stronger. The game Tales of Graces featured this song as its title theme with Japanese and English versions.

Edited by Clark Royandoyan