BoA is the first English studio album (twelfth overall) by South Korean recording artist BoA. The album was released on March 17, 2009, in the United States through SM Entertainment USA. BoA was released in Japan through Avex Trax the following day and was boxed with her second greatest hits album, Best & USA, as a 2-in-1 CD.[1] The record was originally titled Look Who's Talking, and was recorded at studios across the United States, Australia, and Thailand.
Commercially, BoA became the first album by a South Korean artist to appear on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 127. It also peaked at number 3 on the US Top Heatseekers and number 5 on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart. On August 31, 2009, BoA: Deluxe was released digitally via iTunes and included 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]
Singles
During her press conference, SM Entertainment announced "Eat You Up" was chosen to be the lead single from the album.[13] 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 BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart peaking at the number 8 spot.[14] "Look Who's Talking" was first performed at MTV World Presents: BoA Live in New York on December 3, 2008.[15] BoA also performed the single at the 2008 Jingle Ball, which was held at the Anaheim Honda Center.[16]
"I Did It for Love" was the second official 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. On May 30, before their performance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, BoA and Sean Garrett confirmed in an interview[17] 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 5, 2009.[18] The music video was released online on July 21, 2009, through EW.com. The single charted on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart at number 17.[2]
Promotion and live performances
In order to promote the album, BoA performed at the YouTube Live Tokyo event in November.[15] 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.[15] BoA also performed at the 2008 Jingle Ball, as an opening act.[19] She also promoted in South Korea at the 2008 SBS Gayo Daejun.[20] 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]
