001 4 I received BoA's album yesterday , and my first impression was that I thought she did a really great job on this album ! The whole album consist of dance track songs and the lyrics are catchy and her English is very clear as well . What I love about this album is that she included a couple songs that she did in Korea . . . she just put English lyrics in them . My favorite out of these 2 is Girls on Top . She still maintained the main message from her Korean version . So at least the American people who has never listened to BoA before will get a taste of how her music is in Korea .
Anyways , this album is a lot better than what I expected . I was afraid she might have some songs that wont be all that great , but I found all 11 songs to be different in their own way , that has catchy lyrics and nothing annoying about them . Even the added features like adding that electric part to her voice isn't in all her songs , or in a lot of the song . So you can hear her powerful , real voice .
Well I hope others will feel the same way as me . Of course everyone has different taste . So let's all support BoA ! And i hope people who has never heard of BoA will try to listen to her and buy her album . ^ _ ^
037 4 This Album is pretty good . Its a different sound that most of the music out in america now , although i would have chosen different singles off the album to show off . i mean the best song on there i think is Hypnotic . It starts off weird but the chorus is awesome and really memorable . but all in all , this album was very good , I'm glad i got it .
045 4 My daughters have been waiting 5 months for the release of BOA .
They love it ! ! ! ! !
055 4 This is a fun to listen to album . I like the songs , but there isn't one that sticks out for me on first listen . I'd need to listen to it several times . Dress Off is nice , but it reminds me of Janet Jackson's Throb too much . Instead of instant sex it's implying hey I want to go get nude but it's close enough . Hypnotic sounds just that , hypnotic and too repetitive . The album definitely seems rehearsed rather than BOA . BOA is great , but I don't think this representation shows who she really can probably be critically speaking . This is definitely an album made for mainstream pop . BOA's approach is still interesting in that when Utada came out with her first English album , she still tried to keep her identity and excelled at that well .
004 4 I have been a fan of Boa's for over 5 years now . When I first heard of her , I purchased all of her old albums . . . back to the very first release from her Korean debut in 2000 . I fell in love with her sound , but couldn't understand a WORD of it because I am American and didn't know a lick of Korean or Japanese . I spent the past 4 years learning both Korean and Japanese and have since been able to enjoy ALL BoA has to offer . She's an amazing artist with a great dream and an even more amazing story .
After receiving my copy in the mail yesterday , I put the album in and COULD NOT turn it off ! I was very afraid for her debut in America because I had seen so many others try and fail . But at the same time , BoA has made it clear what type of music she would be releasing , so I knew ' generally ' what to expect . From that expectation , she has MORE than outdone herself ! She blew my expectations out of the water and I don't even like the electronic voice overs on other artist's albums ! She did this in moderation and let her true voice and style shine . I have a large family and many friends and I am going to MAKE SURE that they ALL here her songs AT LEAST once ! Rule of odds says that 1 out of 10 will say yes !
If anyone is on the fence about purchasing this album , then just know that it is upbeat and fun . It is an album that will get you on your feet and moving . If you want good , fun , hot sounds to get you moving . . . then you NEED to buy this album ! !
008 4 When I first listened to the album , I almost cried .
I can't believe how much she's grown over the years .
This album is phenomenal . . . . each song . . . each beat . . . is so catchy . . .
It's AMAZING ! ! !
go on youtube and listen to any of the songs
ull fall in love . . . ( especially Touched )
This has gotta be her best album ever .
060 4 lol . . ok .
This Album . . . in one word is ' AMAZING . '
Before i bought the album , i had doubted about the songs , since the music style in United States is totally different from that of Korea , or Japan . However , when I first listened to it , i could feel the profession in her voice and music . I love ' I did it for love ( feat.Sean ) ' and ' Girls on Top ' .
The album is somewhat like britney-ish , but its understandable since britney composed some songs in this album .
well . . . the point is . . . buy and listen to it ! ! go BOA !
081 4 I already loved BoA but once I heard this cd I knew I had to spread the word about it . It is simply AMAZING ! I hope she makes a huge impact in the US and climbs her way to the top cause you deserve it babe ! No matter what happens I will always be her fan ! : D If you are looking for a playlist of songs to just jam to anytime anywhere this cd is definitely it ! I give it 5 stars and an A + !
Jazzy aka Sakura
013 4 Ok , like many others , I thought she was rushing the American market with less than perfect English , and yes , all her fans will notice that this album uses a lot of synthetic music sounds . But the album is AWESOME . The clips doesn't do it justice . Especially from a computer speaker . Trust me . If you like BoA or dance music . This is for you ! ! ! I've listened to the album ALL DAY and even when I sleep the tunes are in my head . It is addictive . Just about every song is good . Won't be disappointed .
009 4 I've been following BoA for a while here in Japan , and I was curious to see how she would sound on her American debut . I find it disappointing that her vocals are drowned in autotune . She sounds like a robot in most songs and I just could not get past it to enjoy the songs . Her vocal skills leave a lot to be desired , but would have sounded a lot better without the enhancements .
027 4 Having been an avid BoA * fan since her Korean 1.5 album , I have enjoyed almost every single song she's released . I didn't really expect much from her US album because I just don't think the transition from Korean and Japanese music to mainstream American music is that easy . She's a performer ; her vocals may be okay , but they're not excellent . Having heard Eat You Up and I Did It For Love before the other songs in the album didn't help either . But having listened to the entire album , I would just like to say that it was MUCH better than I had expected it to be . The songs are catchy and her English doesn't sound too bad . I just wish she had focused less on pronunciation and more on the quality of her singing . I know she's capable of more , but it seems like she was a bit more preocupied with her English . I also wish she had added a ballad or two that would have reflected her vocal ability .
073 4 I love her American album better than her albums overseas ! Not one song is horrible or boring . Every song is catchy , fun , and just full of dance tunes . She did really good on this album . Many people live in the past and want that Bubblegum sound to come back , but I like her new sound better ! She has more soul , more street sound , and a very mature approach to this album . She even threw in one of my Korean favorites , Girls on Top , and made it into English . I feel Boa has come a long way and I'm proud of her . I like the music she has thrown out to the U.S . Its better than that Gaga crap I hear and I feel Boa's album is worth every penny . I can't stop listening to it , its so addictive . The beats are on point and just makes you want to go partying at an all-night club .
034 4 BoA's first USA album is filled with electro , hip dance tracks that are reminiscent of Lady Gaga , Britney Spears and a bit of Gwen Stefani too . Her english pronunciation is different in some songs . Maybe some tracks were recorded early on when she wasn't tutored long enough in english . One track that really shows her strongest english pronunciation is ' Obsessed ' . Loved that she sang a english version for ' Girls on Top ' which was one of her korean songs . Overall all her songs are fabulous ! If you like flirty dance tracks this album is for you .
006 4 BoA is just too amazing ! If she does not succeed in America it would be a travesty ! You have to be amazed at her career and her excellent improvement in English over the years ! It is awesome how they incorporated an English version of ' Girls On Top ' on this CD , hopefully it will have as much success as it did in Asia . Go BoA ! ! !
033 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
BoA's first USA album is filled with electro , hip dance tracks that are reminiscent of Lady Gaga , Britney Spears and a bit of Gwen Stefani too . Her english pronunciation is different in some songs . Maybe some tracks were recorded early on when she wasn't tutored long enough in english . One track that really shows her strongest english pronunciation is ' Obsessed ' . Loved that she sang a english version for ' Girls on Top ' which was one of her korean songs . Overall all her songs are fabulous ! If you like flirty dance tracks this album is for you .
048 4 This is a great album for dancing .
If you love dance music , dancing , or creating dance routines , I HIGHLY recommend this album . A few of the songs may take a listen or two to like , but the whole album really does grow on you .
Tracks I liked the most : I Did it for Love , Did Ya , Obsessed , and Girls on Top .
051 4 Touched just did it for me . Amazing album . Amazing new artist in America . Get this album now if you love Britney Spears / Lady Gaga !
038 4 I have been a fan of BoA for about a year and was anticipating her U.S . debut for some time . Until then I was getting by BoA fix by listening to her Korean and Japanese tracks and the 1st Single eat you up . So when I got the albums I immediately played the album and it has been on constant rotation . There are no slow ballads on this album , Pura Dance and there is not a song that I did not like . Tracks 1 , 2 , 5 , and most definitely 7 , are my favorite right now . I also just so the Video for did it for Love and it is hot . BoA could seriously make headway as being the first Asian artist to make it Platinum in the American market - - - Besides fellow Korean R & B heavy weight Se7eN who is also really HOT .
036 4 The songs are very dance , and addictive ! A great beginning for a new artist , especially now emerging from South Korea , and Japan . She's on a great start to being a top star in America !
050 4 When I first heard about BoA crossing over to the States , I was really excited ! I've been a fan of BoA since I'm about 14 years old , I'm 22 now so do the math ! This album is a long time coming . I ordered a copy on Amazon just in case I had trouble finding in stores , and I went to the store yesterday and picked up a copy too , it was really easy to find in store .
I think I've never been this satisfied with a CD in my entire life .
All dance songs , no ballads , perfect for me because I usually skip ballads anyway if I'm not in the mood to hear them .
I liked listening to it online , but on the album it's so crisp and clear on the actual CD and it sounds so amazing in the car . I listened to the entire album during my errands yesterday .
This album is just . . . superawesomeamazingspecialhotsexycutesassy ! So many people say it sounds like a Britney Spears album , but honestly , no disrespect to Britney , I love her but she would not have sang these songs nearly as well as BoA lol .
BoA = Best album of 2009 so far
019 4 I love this new album of BoA ! All of the songs makes you wanna dance all day . I would have preffer to hear at least 2 songs ballads but either way the album is amazing ! I hope this album makes her famous in USA because she deserves it .
Great Album BoA ! !
025 4 I've been a huge BoA for years ( even though i live in Europe ) , but when I heard she was going to try her luck on the American market I was skeptical . Well , I'll have to take back what I said ; BoA totally delivers with her debut English Album . The tracks are fresh , groovy , and all have hit potential and would do great in clubs . I hope BoA and this album get the exposure she deserves .
039 4 ok 1st of all if i had to describe this CD in one word , that word would be Awesome ! ! i am so proud of BoA . I was able to listen to the whole CD without having to skip a song ( becuz you know how you hate some songs ? lol ) but every song was hawt , i recommend this CD for everyone who likes to Dance ~ ~ = D
042 4 This is a good album ! This CD will make you dance . You will love it . BoA stay strong !
046 4 When I heard the news of BoA having an album in English , I was a little worried about her accent . But when I actually heard her song previews , I was more than surprised by how good the music sounded ! I purchased the CD the first day it came out and I listen to it everyday . The music is catchy , upbeat , and makes you want to sing and dance ( it's all dance music ) . It is true that BoA's voice has been tweaked electronically but it still sounds good . I love this album .
059 4 The more I listen to this release the more engaged I become . After a long time of listening to her Korean and Japanese recordings I developed a certain BoA bias and expectation . This album took me out of that comfort zone at first , but after several listens I'm still in love with her music . I note from her interviews that her english is developing well . . . accent ? . . . who cares . . . I find it altogether charming . Can you speak three languages ? If you're a fan support her journey and purchase her new CD .
062 4 I love her new album ! Her English is getting better and better . The cover is very impressive , the photos inside , too . The CD is really worth buying !
064 4 I listen to Kpop everyday , but BoA was one of those artists who I listened to a song here and there . This album however , is totally different to that thought . I like every SINGLE song . This album is fun , upbeat and energetic . I had one of the best drives in to work today , traffic was horrid , and I didn't care , cause I was having my own little party in my car . I had given the link to her web site to several of my non kpop listening friends , and all have given excellent opinions on her new single . All think it will be big if given the chance . Thank you BoA for a great CD . And thank you SM for knowing how to promote her . I look foward to seeing how she does here in the US .
065 4 I listen to Kpop everyday , but BoA was one of those artists who I listened to a song here and there . This album however , is totally different to that thought . I like every SINGLE song . This album is fun , upbeat and energetic . I had one of the best drives in to work today , traffic was horrid , and I didn't care , cause I was having my own little party in my car . I had given the link to her web site to several of my non kpop listening friends , and all have given excellent opinions on her new single . All think it will be big if given the chance . Thank you BoA for a great CD . And thank you SM for knowing how to promote her . I look foward to seeing how she does here in the US .
067 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
An amazing cd filled with great bass beats and sassy lyrics . BoA really shows her stuff on her debut album . This cd is sure to keep you on your feet and coming back for more .
070 4 I am more than pleased with this album . This is probably one of BoA's smartest works to date . She has totally taken the dance genre and worked it to her advantage and I think that these catchy tunes definitely have what it takes to break into the American music scene . I put this CD in my car when I got it and I haven't stopped listening to it since . Great job , BoA !
071 4 A few days ago , I said the CD was okay . . . but maybe I had to listen to it a few times , because now I really like it . It's catchy , glitzy , and danceable . It has to grow on you , I guess . It's still not as unique and unforgettable as Utada's Exodus , it's very American and trendy , but it works , somehow . Good luck , Best of Asia !
083 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
I have 1 of the biggest boa collections worldwide , and i must say this album is horrific , s.m . really blew this album , she sounds like a squeaking cat , or Britney , i like 1 song on this junk 1 only , Boa needs to get back to Japan very SOON , actually Korea , since she hasn't released any quality material there in years . . i love all her asian music , but this junk is horrible , unless you guys plan on walking around your home dancing to techno .
076 4 If you are looking for a great dance album then I highly reccomend it . This is an album that will appeal to your body and senses more than your mind , which is a great thing to add to the mix of any playlist . Expect great electro-pop and dance tracks that rival GaGa , Britney , and even Freezepop . This album definently hits its target and intention on the dot . Great vocals as well , BoA really shows a good spectrum and variation with her voice , displaying breathy seductive tones to powerful high and low notes . There's also much less auto-tune than I expected although it does do quite a bit of digitizing , but never to the point of where it sacrifices the integrity of the artist's voice . A must buy for any Pop / dance music fan or club goer !
084 4 I have 1 of the biggest boa collections worldwide , and i must say this album is horrific , s.m . really blew this album , she sounds like a squeaking cat , or Britney , i like 1 song on this junk 1 only , Boa needs to get back to Japan very SOON , actually Korea , since she hasn't released any quality material there in years . . i love all her asian music , but this junk is horrible , unless you guys plan on walking around your home dancing to techno .
029 4 Her music is so cool ! I would love to go to a dance club , and dance with her !
030 4 This cd grows on you . You find yourself singing bits of it before you really know the words . I bought a copy for a friend too and now she wants me to send her some of BoA's Korean music : )
040 4 Loved all the songs . Very upbeat and catchy ! I hope Boa goes far in the american music industry ! = ]
041 4 The songs were great , as expected of BoA . However , the case was cracked in five places , but I just bought another cd case for it and everything was all good . Overall , I suggest you to buy this cd to support BoA !
043 4 This album is INCREDIBLE ! I think they went a bit over the top with the autotune to mask her accent , but on certain songs like I Did It For Love . It works out great ! I love BoA . I recommend this album for ANY person craving something new in the Pop genre , or anyone who is a BoA fan . You won't be disappointed . Buy it ! : )
049 4 I didn't think this album would be all that great , but I still bought it to support BoA . I didn't realize that this album would blow my mind away . It's a great album ; each song had a unique and distinct beat that makes you want to get up and dance . I wish her great success in America .
052 4 This is the first album I have ever bought and I have to say , it was worth every penny . Each song has its own unique and creative beat . If any one can break into the American market , it is definitely BoA . her English has improved so much ; I am so proud of her and wish her the best success in America . Support her , spread the word , and buy this album ! You will definitely not regret it !
053 4 I must say I was a bit disappointed when hearing the entire album . I think they used way too much technology over her voice - maybe to over compensate for her minimal accent . Boa has a great singing voice and I think they should have showed that . However , this album is very upbeat and definitely can be heard in clubs . Good luck boa : )
074 4 She is Huge in Asia now BoA is ready to make a mark in America ! ! ! I was never a fan before hand but this album is great ! ! ! I am so glad she is releasing in America all the songs are very catchy and fun ! ! ! ! This is one album you wont want to miss the only songs i skip are 3 and sometimes 10 but the rest is pure greatness : D
Peace B years , having her focus on her speaking of the English language and the pronunciation and also bringing some major producers such as Bloodshy & Avant and Sean Garrett on this album .
As for BoA , the album is a mix bag of music that I found some tracks to be really enjoyable and some just average . If anything , you get a little taste of BoA experimenting with Rihanna , Britney Spears and even Gwen Stefani style of pop music .
The first two tracks I Did It For Love and Energetic are tracks produced by Sean Garrett ( known for Usher's Yeah ! , Ciara's Goodies and Chris Brown's Run It ! ) . Musical arrangement are solid , urban and upbeat dance tracks . I Did It For Love ( her upcoming second single ) showcases BoA's willing to try out cool grooves and deep beats while Energetic is an enjoyable track that features quite a bit of the auto-tune . These tracks I can picture receiving the remix treatment and hopefully get some club play .
My favorite track on the album is Did Ya which is produced by Bloodshy & Avant ( Britney Spear's Toxic ) and in a way , has a similar type of vibe and enjoyability to Toxic . Overall , a solid pop track !
Another collaboration is with producer and musician Henrik Jonback who has major ties of working with Bloodshy & Avant and produces three of the tracks on the album . Track four titled Look Who's Talking is a track that Jonback wrote with Bloodshy & Avant , Michelle Lynn Bell and Britney Spears . I figured this is one of the tracks that the team worked back in the 2004 years with Spears but never used .
Track five features BoA's debut US song Eat You Up produced by Jonback but features writers Mikkel Johan Sigvardt and Thomas Troelsen . I know there are those who have mixed feelings of the track but overall , after a few listens when it first came out , I was hooked . If anything , after watching the music video , it was great to see BoA dancing and jamming again .
Track six Obsessed features a collaboration with producer Brian Kennedy ( known for his work with Rihanna's Disturbia , Chris Brown , Jennifer Hudson and more ) . You definitely feel that Rihanna musical vibe on this track but that's not a bad thing . A catchy , upbeat dance track !
Track seven Touched features the second and final produced Bloodshy & Avant on the album . Definitely different from Did Ya , Touched features a more R & B driven track . Deep bass and really dig the musical arrangement to this song !
Track eight titled Scream is an cover track of a song produced by Adrian Newman originally performed by German girl band Monrose . Adrian Newman has worked with BoA ( and other J-Pop / K-Pop artists ) previously . A dance track that has a catchy groove but very different style of dance music and vocal style compared to the other tracks on the album . The second Newman written / produced track is Dress Off ( track 10 ) , an upbeat , sexually charged dance track .
The ninth track Girls on Top is the sole track produced by BoA's Korean label SM ala Korean producer Young Jin Yoo and is an English version of her Korean pop track . Deep beats and an upbeat track .
The eleventh track Hypnotic Dancefloor features a Henrik Jonback upbeat , drum machine driven track . Deep drums and an upbeat dance track .
JUDGMENT CALL :
BoA is actually a fun and enjoyable album but it's a mix bag of sort .
First of all , for those who are expecting an extension of her Korean and Japanese pop music , you're not going to find it on this album . Personally , that's a good thing because I think it was smart for SM USA to focus on collaborations with well-known producing talents Sean Garrett , Bloodshy & Avant , Henrik Johnback , Brian Kennedy , Adrian Newman and focusing on the dance pop music that can helpfully garner attention on the club circuit .
Because the album is produced by producers who bring something different , sometimes the changes are welcomed such as Bloodshy & Avant's Did Ya , Garrett's I Did It For Love , Johnback's Eat You Up , etc . But I can picture some of her hardcore fans not liking the fact that her US musical identity becomes more Britney-ish , more Rihanna-ish in audio presentation . And then some fans who will like the variety in the music .
But I have to admit , for a pop artist to accomplish what BoA has in Asia and to come to the US and try out this new territory , there have been a good number of positive situations with these collaborations and have to admit , this one of the better album releases to come from an Asian pop diva compared to others who have tried to crossover to the US .
But with that being said , those who are passionate about BoA's music overseas will miss the classic ballads that she's known for , the Asian-driven pop style that they've been used to hearing in the past few years and now with this US release , some people are open to change and some are not .
For me , I actually enjoyed a good number of the songs on the album . There were several solid tracks that have a good dose of energy , vitality and quite interesting to hear her utilized in the music from the talented producers that she worked with .
So , in a way , having reviewed so many of BoA's Japanese albums and singles , listening to this album made me happy because it was different from the usual type of upbeat J-pop tracks that I have heard in the past few years . And to be truthful , those tracks from her previous Japanese albums outside of the normally released CD singles really never caught my attention . I felt that BoA's music needed some synergy and possibly a new direction and thus , I enjoyed the fact that we get more club-inspired dance tracks produced by successful and talented producers .
Overall , an enjoyable , catchy and solid US album debut for BoA . I just hope that America's open for an Asian pop artist and hope BoA receives good promotion from her on in .
002 4 Honestly . . . I was waiting for BoA's album for a quite a long time , and when I heard the 30 sec clips , I was kind of disappointed with how the album turned out to be . But after listening to the whole album , all I can say is WOW ! Even though BoA's music is basically mainstream pop , if you're looking for an album that you can just listen to , have fun , and sing along to , you won't find another pop album that is as catchy , funky , groovy , and danceable as this .
Every song on this album deserves an airplay , and I'm not saying this just because they're by BoA . The songs are that catchy .
005 4 What happened to BoA ? Her singing was great , her languages were great , what the heck is this ? The lyrics are lame , her english isnt good enough to record , and she sounds like a robot . If this was some other artist , Id say whatever , its ok . But to hear this from BoA is dissapointing .
Well , good dance music , heavy stuff . Nothing like her old music though .
007 4 Here is my review taken from my blog ( atunes dot wordpress dot com ) .
I Did It For Love ft Sean Garrett - A strong opener for the album . It's actually a good indicator of what to expect throughout the rest of the cd . Heavy processing and vocoder use on BoA's vocals , which I think works in this particular situation . I like this song much more than ' Eat You Up ' . I think it's better balanced and polished plus it's got a great uptemp beat . Sean Garrett adds a nice touch to the song but he kind of comes off as a copycat Akon . Elements of the song remind me of Son Ho Young's ' I Know ' if it were sped up a little .
Energetic - This song comes off as a more bland version of ' I Did It For Love ' . The fact that it follows the song and also featuring Sean isn't helping it's case ( although he interestingly doesn't get the feature credit ) . It's got a decent enough beat but it doesn't stand out overall . Plus it's sort of awkward to hear BoA say The energy in here is FIYA and the speakers too ! . It's just an OK track .
Did Ya - Let me start off and say I love the production on this one . It's got a great throwback , hyped up kind of feel . Plus BoA's vocals are a little less processed on this one , which is good since I like the tone of her natural voice . Plus the chorus is easy to sing along too . I think this song would have been incredible if they got a good rapper on here . But hey , its strong enough on it's own that I can't complain . Probably my favorite track .
Look Who's Talking - So as I was listening I was thinking this song is so Britney Spears ' style . And of course I check the album book and she has writing credits . Figures . If you look Britney Spears , you'll like this song . I like the chorus more than the verses . The lyrics are a little too narcissistic for my tastes but maybe that's just me .
Eat You Up - Ah yes . The title track which I'm sure we've all heard by now . If you don't pay attention to the lyrics this is a fine dance track . But once you start listening to what's saying it all falls apart . I'm still not really sure why they chose this to be the first single . I dont think it's the best sounding song on the album , and I definitely don't think it's the best written . The quasi-suggestive lyrics and weird phrasing ( So Yum Yum ! ) all kind of paint a strange picture . I like the bass heavy riffs and drums but overall I still can't say I'm a fan of this song .
Obsessed - This song starts well with a great bass line . Overall the song feels like it's borrowed from a bunch of different places . The vocoder effect makes a return but I'm not as into it here . Despite all this it has a certain charm though . I think they could have upped her vocals a little bit , the beat sort of swallows her up at some points . It's a fun song but not great .
Touched - There is definitely more of a hip-hop beat to this one . I think this song could inspire some great dance choreography . It has a very Pussycat Dolls / Danity Kane feel , especially they way they worked some of the harmonies . I like this one more with each listen , except with this weird screwed vocal effect they user in the middle for a few seconds . The production is great here .
Scream - Eh . It's all I can really say . Feels like a b-side to ' I Did It For Love ' or something . The beat is OK but I'm not really digging some of the melody choices and the general stylistic direction of the rest of the song . Forgettable .
Girls On Top - This inferior to it's original , and I'm not even that into the original either . In the Korean version BoA sang much stronger but she's a little more subdued here . With that said , this song is probably the only song that really gives even a small chance for BoA to show off that she really can sing . It's another decent dance song but it comes off as an inferior translation . Not really digging the rapper either . I like it because BoA sings well though not as well as the original .
Dress Off - Another song that screams Britney . I think the chorus is mind numbingly repetitive and dumb . It's really similar to Hyori's ' Get Ya ' ( which is another Britney sound-a-like ) . And once again the mildly suggestive lyrics are kind of awkward . Probably my least favorite song .
Hypnotic Dancefloor - The song reminds me of Paula Abdul's ' Dance Like Theres No Tomorrow ' . Which isnt really a bad thing as thats another decent pop dance record . But the theme and sound have a lot of similarities . Though I wonder what makes her feel an erotic charge , almost like a pain . . . . wtf ? Haha weird phrase aside , it's an enjoyable closer .
Conclusion :
So what can be said about BoA's highly anticipated debut ? Well , first of all , it doesn't suck . Let's be thankful for that much . Now with that said , is it any good ? Yes , but it's not amazing . It's a real strong collection of dance songs . And by dance songs I mean dance songs . There is not one ballad or mid tempo track here . So if you're looking for ' Meri Kuri ' , look elsewhere . Also , this album is very , very current . Lot's of electronica elements and heavy synth / bass beats and heavy , heavy vocal production . In case you haven't picked up my drift its a fairly one-dimensional , currently relevant , poppy , but enjoyable album . The lyrics are pretty shallow but what do you expect ? Her English is pretty decent and definitely comprehendable . A lot of the sounds feel lifted from various influences and there are definite Britney / PCD ( and to a smaller extent Danity Kane ) - esque moments scattered about . Also , similar to the Far East Movement's ' Animal ' , I wonder how well this album will hold up over time . My biggest complaint is the lack of variety in sound and themes but if you take it for what it is , a pop dance album , I think you'd find it enjoyable . A pretty decent introduction to the Western world . My favorite song of hers is still ' No . 1 ' though . That's right , I said it .
Must Listen : I Did It For Love , Did Ya , Touched
Score : 7.5 / 10
010 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
I'd heard of BoA a little bit and liked some of her japanese / english songs a lot , so I was pretty excited when I heard she was doing an American album - then I heard Eat You Up and got REALLY excited ! I love that song so much , it's so much fun and the video is just perfect !
Immediately I preordered the album , and after months of listening I still enjoy this CD a lot . I Did it for Love is a great kinda hip hop song with a techno twist . Energetic is a fast-paced banger that forces you to dance . Did Ya is bittersweet , I LOVE the buddha's delight sampling , but sometimes the vocals seem a bit off . Look Who's Talking is another favorite of mine that sounds a lot like a Britney track - which made even more sense when I found out she co-wrote it !
To be honest there's not a * bad * song on the album . Every production is brilliantly done and the beats are hot . Some of the songs lack the catchiness to make them life-long hits , but others will be stuck in your head for months ! Especially Eat You Up ! I won't say this is the greatest pop record , but if you like high-energy uptempo club tracks , miss BoA is way better than the Black Eyed Peas new album and most of the other top 40 stuff out there .
011 4 I'd heard of BoA a little bit and liked some of her japanese / english songs a lot , so I was pretty excited when I heard she was doing an American album - then I heard Eat You Up and got REALLY excited ! I love that song so much , it's so much fun and the video is just perfect !
Immediately I preordered the album , and after months of listening I still enjoy this CD a lot . I Did it for Love is a great kinda hip hop song with a techno twist . Energetic is a fast-paced banger that forces you to dance . Did Ya is bittersweet , I LOVE the buddha's delight sampling , but sometimes the vocals seem a bit off . Look Who's Talking is another favorite of mine that sounds a lot like a Britney track - which made even more sense when I found out she co-wrote it !
To be honest there's not a * bad * song on the album . Every production is brilliantly done and the beats are hot . Some of the songs lack the catchiness to make them life-long hits , but others will be stuck in your head for months ! Especially Eat You Up ! I won't say this is the greatest pop record , but if you like high-energy uptempo club tracks , miss BoA is way better than the Black Eyed Peas new album and most of the other top 40 stuff out there .
012 4 Undoubtedly talented and an admirable entertainer , Boa is some one worth knowing . Her self titled debut U.S . album is filled with pop-dance type music , comparable to mainstream American songs you'd hear on the radio , such as Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls . In contrast to Boa's Korean and Japanese music , these songs , though catchy and upbeat , are less refreshing and novel . Rather , the strength of her vocals are drowned out as synthesized vocals , and by loud electronics . Not a bad approach if she wishes to fit in to mainstream America , but in trying to break barriers , perhaps standing out is the better approach .
Also , Boa ought to be careful not to be labeled as a Britney Spears wanna-be or imitation . I prefer to see Boa as just Boa , with out the ' Asian Britney Spears ' as a tag line . In other words , Boa has the capabilities and talent to succeed in the American market with out such an association .
I personally would prefer at least one ballad or not-so-pop-dance song be tossed in to showcase her vocal strengths . Otherwise , songs are catchy and appropriate for those who are into pop / dance music .
Three stars because 1 ) I've heard better from her , 2 ) Albums needs more variety , and 3 ) Lacks novelty .
014 4 I love BoA , but I'm not loving this album . What a dreadful mess ; most of the songs sound the same ( or does it just seem that way because of incessant , overdigitized techno thumping ) , and her lovely voice is drowned out in over-produced songs . This album is not going to make her a star in America , no matter how heavily it is promoted .
Go back to what you do best , girl , because you are really good at it . You are a great singer , and don't let the producer of this disaster near you again .
015 4 I was a bit discouraged by this album ; as a whole , all of the songs sound monotonous when it comes to BoA's debut album , BoA . Of course , I don't hate all the songs , though . Rather than that , this album needed various kinds of music types such as not only dance and R & B styles like Eat You Up but also catchy tunes like Brand New Beat . I could have enjoyed this album if she had tried therapeutic songs like Shine We Are , Brand New Beat , Milky Way in English version . Of course , ballad songs like Love Letter and Key of Heart would be fine . Again , I wouldn't like you to sing the same pattern of songs in English like this debut album in the United states , BoA !
The Japanese version didn't bore me like the USA version . Let me put it this way ; Japan Best suits her better than the US debut album . Esp , Brand New Beat , Key of Heart , Sparkling , and Love Letter are my faves ! I have no idea why these sort of tunes don't exist in her USA debut album .
017 4 BoA ( Best of Asia ) , known for her countless number of hits in Korea and Japan has her sights set on the US . First , kicking off her first foray with her all English pop track Eat You Up and performing in various events in Los Angeles and New York and now following up with her first album in the US titled BoA .
I've written about my impressions of BoA's announcement of her crossing over to the US and my best wishes to the marketing of her in the US and if there is one thing that has been done right is that she has been booked at events where other major artists and bands have performed at ( non-Asian ) . Whereas in the past , there was such a push of focusing on just the Asian accomplishments of a talented Asian artist for their US promotional campaign , I have to give credit so far to SM USA for at least being persistant and not giving up after a month and making sure they are sticking with it for now and developing her as an artist , bringing her back to her dance choreography style that we loved during her ID : Peace B years , having her focus on her speaking of the English language and the pronunciation and also bringing some major producers such as Bloodshy & Avant and Sean Garrett on this album .
As for BoA , the album is a mix bag of music that I found some tracks to be really enjoyable and some just average . If anything , you get a little taste of BoA experimenting with Rihanna , Britney Spears and even Gwen Stefani style of pop music .
The first two tracks I Did It For Love and Energetic are tracks produced by Sean Garrett ( known for Usher's Yeah ! , Ciara's Goodies and Chris Brown's Run It ! ) . Musical arrangement are solid , urban and upbeat dance tracks . I Did It For Love ( her upcoming second single ) showcases BoA's willing to try out cool grooves and deep beats while Energetic is an enjoyable track that features quite a bit of the auto-tune . These tracks I can picture receiving the remix treatment and hopefully get some club play .
My favorite track on the album is Did Ya which is produced by Bloodshy & Avant ( Britney Spear's Toxic ) and in a way , has a similar type of vibe and enjoyability to Toxic . Overall , a solid pop track !
Another collaboration is with producer and musician Henrik Jonback who has major ties of working with Bloodshy & Avant and produces three of the tracks on the album . Track four titled Look Who's Talking is a track that Jonback wrote with Bloodshy & Avant , Michelle Lynn Bell and Britney Spears . I figured this is one of the tracks that the team worked back in the 2004 years with Spears but never used .
Track five features BoA's debut US song Eat You Up produced by Jonback but features writers Mikkel Johan Sigvardt and Thomas Troelsen . I know there are those who have mixed feelings of the track but overall , after a few listens when it first came out , I was hooked . If anything , after watching the music video , it was great to see BoA dancing and jamming again .
Track six Obsessed features a collaboration with producer Brian Kennedy ( known for his work with Rihanna's Disturbia , Chris Brown , Jennifer Hudson and more ) . You definitely feel that Rihanna musical vibe on this track but that's not a bad thing . A catchy , upbeat dance track !
Track seven Touched features the second and final produced Bloodshy & Avant on the album . Definitely different from Did Ya , Touched features a more R & B driven track . Deep bass and really dig the musical arrangement to this song !
Track eight titled Scream is an cover track of a song produced by Adrian Newman originally performed by German girl band Monrose . Adrian Newman has worked with BoA ( and other J-Pop / K-Pop artists ) previously . A dance track that has a catchy groove but very different style of dance music and vocal style compared to the other tracks on the album . The second Newman written / produced track is Dress Off ( track 10 ) , an upbeat , sexually charged dance track .
The ninth track Girls on Top is the sole track produced by BoA's Korean label SM ala Korean producer Young Jin Yoo and is an English version of her Korean pop track . Deep beats and an upbeat track .
The eleventh track Hypnotic Dancefloor features a Henrik Jonback upbeat , drum machine driven track . Deep drums and an upbeat dance track .
JUDGMENT CALL :
BoA is actually a fun and enjoyable album but it's a mix bag of sort .
First of all , for those who are expecting an extension of her Korean and Japanese pop music , you're not going to find it on this album . Personally , that's a good thing because I think it was smart for SM USA to focus on collaborations with well-known producing talents Sean Garrett , Bloodshy & Avant , Henrik Johnback , Brian Kennedy , Adrian Newman and focusing on the dance pop music that can helpfully garner attention on the club circuit .
Because the album is produced by producers who bring something different , sometimes the changes are welcomed such as Bloodshy & Avant's Did Ya , Garrett's I Did It For Love , Johnback's Eat You Up , etc . But I can picture some of her hardcore fans not liking the fact that her US musical identity becomes more Britney-ish , more Rihanna-ish in audio presentation . And then some fans who will like the variety in the music .
But I have to admit , for a pop artist to accomplish what BoA has in Asia and to come to the US and try out this new territory , there have been a good number of positive situations with these collaborations and have to admit , this one of the better album releases to come from an Asian pop diva compared to others who have tried to crossover to the US .
But with that being said , those who are passionate about BoA's music overseas will miss the classic ballads that she's known for , the Asian-driven pop style that they've been used to hearing in the past few years and now with this US release , some people are open to change and some are not .
For me , I actually enjoyed a good number of the songs on the album . There were several solid tracks that have a good dose of energy , vitality and quite interesting to hear her utilized in the music from the talented producers that she worked with .
So , in a way , having reviewed so many of BoA's Japanese albums and singles , listening to this album made me happy because it was different from the usual type of upbeat J-pop tracks that I have heard in the past few years . And to be truthful , those tracks from her previous Japanese albums outside of the normally released CD singles really never caught my attention . I felt that BoA's music needed some synergy and possibly a new direction and thus , I enjoyed the fact that we get more club-inspired dance tracks produced by successful and talented producers .
Overall , an enjoyable , catchy and solid US album debut for BoA . I just hope that America's open for an Asian pop artist and hope BoA receives good promotion from her on in .
020 4 When I first heard the previews for BoA's first english album , I wasn't sure if I would like her new electronic sound , but when I got my album in the mail , listened to the entire CD OVER 5 TIMES , I was amazed . BoA is a really great dance album with wonderful english vocals from BoA . The best songs would have to be Did Ya ( a fun dance song about a guy who missed his chance to make things up ) , Hypnotic Dancefloor ( a perfect club anthem ) , and Girls On Top ( A girl power dance track that any old time BoA fan knows ) .
Of course her title tracks : I Did It for Love , Eat You Up , and Look Who's Talking are great too , but the rest of the songs on her album are even better .
One of the downsides to the album is that BoA still has a slight accent when she sings , but its hard to detect unless you try realy hard to hear it . Although I love the albums catchy dance tunes I really wish that she had put a few ballad songs on the album to really show off her voice .
As a whole , I am really proud of what BoA has been able to accomplish , I'm sure that she worked really hard to learn english and sing powerful dance tracks . BoA is pretty well deserving of 4 Stars .
021 4 As a debut album to the U.S . , I gotta give her props . I wasn't doubting her , but I was afraid that Americans might not like it . And here I am , reading her chart ratings and I am well impressed .
The album has not come for me , but I have heard half of Did Ya and half of I Did it for Love ; full versions of Look Who's Talking and Eat You Up . ALL four of these songs have gotten stuck in my head , multiple times . From the moment I wake , when I come from school , when I'm doing my daily routine , all the way to when I fall asleep .
I seriously am anticipating this album and I can't wait to pop it in as soon as I get it on my front porch : )
- sLaVe
023 4 Asian pop princess BoA mixes dance , pop , and electronica in her English-language album debut . The weakest songs are those featuring Sean Garrett , which includes BoA's current video , I Did It For Love and the second track , Energetic . Both are exceedingly repetitive and unmelodic , and could give potential buyers a negative impression of the rest of this album , which is much better and varied than these two tracks would suggest .
One of the best songs on this album is Eat You Up ( which I've also reviewed here on Amazon.com ) , as well as Look Who's Talking , both of which have been crowd-pleasing staples of her pre-release live performances .
Did Ya is an upbeat , quirky number that mixes pop / rock with a hint of old-school J-pop . Obsessed has a rhythm reminiscent of Rihanna's SOS , as well as a similar theme about obsessive love . It , like Did Ya , is among the few tracks on this album which dispenses with electronica , allowing the listener to hear BoA's singing voice for what it is .
Though BoA and Britney Spears are vastly different in terms of image , the comparisons of their work exist for a reason . On this album , Britney even co-wrote a song ( Look Who's Talking ) , while some of BoA's vocals - - like the breathy wanna be touched in Touched - - are delightfully Britney-esque .
And , like Britney , BoA is at her best when performing songs by Scandinavian songwriters . There are several on this album , including Scream , which has an interesting history . This song was recorded in Korean as part of Samsung's superstar promotional group Anyband , of which BoA was a part . The original Scream was recorded by German girl group Monrose , and it is this recording which BoA attempts to cover . As good as the track is , it suffers because it's nearly impossible for a solo artist's layered vocals to give a song the vocal depth that three singers with three different voices can provide . If this album comes out in Europe , it will be interesting to see how Europeans will receive it , compared to Monrose's original .
Girl On Top is the English version of Girls On Top , easily one of BoA's most popular songs . While it loses nothing in translation , some of the English lyrics are awkwardly forced into the melody . This makes BoA's heretofore minor accent sound more pronounced , as she struggles to make the poorer lyrics work - - something a native English speaker couldn't even do . I just wanna needs the accent on the word just and the first syllable of wanna . Instead , the accent is on the word I and the second syllable of wanna . The word can't is also crammed into a short note more than once , making it sound like can . So BoA sounds as if she's saying You can judge me by the way I look , when the opposite is intended . This is a shame , because it's a great song with a good message , weakened by a clumsy lyric . . . and a male Korean rapper whose thick accent makes his rap unintelligible .
Dress Off stands out on this album , in that it is the most revealing of the strengths and weaknesses in BoA's voice . She has always struggled with lower notes , and this song remains in alto range too much for her range . And yet , near the end of the song , she reaches her comfort zone , at which point she lets loose with a power she hasn't displayed since Girls On Top .
The album comes to a close with Hypnotic Dancefloor , which is a nice slice of electronica . Though it can be somewhat repetitive , at least it has enough variation in the melody and the altering of the vocals , that it doesn't become an annoyance .
BoA's producers were wise to eschew all ballads on this first album , because dance music is what BoA does best . Even when BoA's English is polished enough to do ballads on a future release , it would be wise to keep them to a minimum . Because the Western world has plenty of ballad singers , but not enough all-around performers who can energize audiences with upbeat dance pop songs . In a chart world filled with gripe-rock and slow , boring rappers , we need all the upbeat music we can get .
024 4 I am a Fan of BoA's for a long time now ever since she really began hitting it big in Japan . After hearing her plans on trying to break into the American Market , I was very excited and hoped that her plans are serious not something to be bragging about ( while nothing is heard of after that ) . So after seeing her advance into the U.S . this much and ultimately releasing an album , I was very excited and proud of her efforts of staying true to her journey .
After that , I worried about her quality of her debut album . Considering Japanese Pop Queen Utada Hikaru trying her debut album with Exodus ( only failing quite badly in my opinion ) , I was really worried on what kind of music would appear on this album . But with the release of BoA's album , I listened to all the tracks and was quite impressed . These songs are very addictive and something that can definitely be used for clubs . I do wish they would include a more diverse tracklisting . . . but I am quite happy with release . Is the album a breakthrough that would make her name known in America ? well that I am not sure . The songs are very mainstream and is not really that unique that it would capture the audiences ears . But I hope that this album does well and that she could continue on with her American activities .
026 4 By overpowering them with bad techno beats .
I've listened to BoA in the past and never had any issues with her , but this is just awful . She's trying to make it big in America , but this isn't the way to go . All her songs have the same bad thumping bass and awful lyrics . Her inability to speak English well is painfully obvious throughout the music , which is why the vocals are drowned by the music .
What's worse is that the team that brought the world Britney Spears's Toxic also wrote Did Ya . Wanna know a dirty little secret ? It's the exact same song they wrote for the movie Music and Lyrics , only the lyrics are different . It's a rehash of Buddha's Delight . Am I to believe that the writers said Hey , that song is awesome . People just didn't give it a chance . Let's get someone else to record it . I'm sure this Japanese pop star who is unheard of in mainstream America will make it a hit ! Wasn't the whole point of the song in the movie to make fun of pop stars ' contrived songs ?
Do yourself a favor and skip this completely . Stick to her Japanese work .
028 4 There is a remix of Eat You Up that's not included on the Amazon version of this album . Worth the extra $1 you pay on iTunes .
Did Ya is my new favorite song from BoA .
031 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
While it's the first album that i've bought by Boa . I've bought some of her songs off of Itunes and i was interested enough . I decided to purchase this one upon seeing the vid for I Did It For Love . I loved that song and as well the rest of the album .
The album is all about dance , pop music which is so not a bad thing . Its something that you can listen to anytime , anywhere and get amped before going to a club or possibly hear it while at the club . There's no song on the cd that I wouldn't listen to or download to my Ipod . Every song on the album is there .
I do love I Did It For Love , Energetic , Eat You Up , Obsessed , Girls on Top , Dress Off and Hypnotic Dancefloor . These are ones that i can listen to over and over again without fail . I enjoy the other 4 songs as well . But those listed above are my favorites . I've been hearing / reading a lot of good reviews on this album which helped make my decision as well . I hope more people will pick this one up .
BoA is a cd that should be listened to and enjoyed by just about anyone . Fun , energy , beats that you can't help but dance to and no I don't have a problem with the vocal effects on some songs here . It only adds a certain edge and flair to them that makes them that much more enjoyable .
If your on this fence about purchasing this cd . Check out the reviews here and then make your decision . It's not something that you will want to miss though .
Excellent first album , BoA !
032 4 While it's the first album that i've bought by Boa . I've bought some of her songs off of Itunes and i was interested enough . I decided to purchase this one upon seeing the vid for I Did It For Love . I loved that song and as well the rest of the album .
The album is all about dance , pop music which is so not a bad thing . Its something that you can listen to anytime , anywhere and get amped before going to a club or possibly hear it while at the club . There's no song on the cd that I wouldn't listen to or download to my Ipod . Every song on the album is there .
I do love I Did It For Love , Energetic , Eat You Up , Obsessed , Girls on Top , Dress Off and Hypnotic Dancefloor . These are ones that i can listen to over and over again without fail . I enjoy the other 4 songs as well . But those listed above are my favorites . I've been hearing / reading a lot of good reviews on this album which helped make my decision as well . I hope more people will pick this one up .
BoA is a cd that should be listened to and enjoyed by just about anyone . Fun , energy , beats that you can't help but dance to and no I don't have a problem with the vocal effects on some songs here . It only adds a certain edge and flair to them that makes them that much more enjoyable .
If your on this fence about purchasing this cd . Check out the reviews here and then make your decision . It's not something that you will want to miss though .
Excellent first album , BoA !
047 4 I have been listening to BoA since 2000 starting with her Korean debut and her subsequent Japanese releases . Now , BoA has broken into the USA market . BoA's release is solid in comparison to her contemporary Asian Pop sensation Utada . Unlike Utada's debut , BoA's CD is thematically solid . Although many songs have similiar elements like instruments and tempo , it's a more cohesive effort than Utada's . Utada's was too experimental for a first time market entry . Although , like others , I wish there were some ballads thrown in , but I can understand rolling it out with a dance tempo offering , it's about Momentum . My comparison to Utada is not to put down Utada as an artist because I love Utada as well .
The songs I like least are Scream , Dress Off , and Hypnotic Dancefloor . It's because of the production . BoA's voice gets a little lost in the production and instrumentation . Dress Off is by far the one I dislike the most because it's too upfront and sexual ( lacks mystery ) and the lyrics are the worst of all the songs . However , I will say if I compared it to Lady Gaga ( Just Dance is her best track ) - this is tame and much better . So , I won't frown too much . Lady Gaga gets a bit disgusting . At least BoA , comes to the edge and doesn't become disgusting .
BoA needs to show off her voice more , and I am afraid that there was some sacrificing on this CD to catch a trendy sound style ( electro-pop ~ reviving the 80s ) , but she needs to garner attention and get a secure footing for SM . If anyone can do it , she can . I am excited for her . I just hope she doesn't work herself into an early grave - spreading herself across 3 music markets .
I really love Energetic and Look Who's Talking . Look Who's Talking intrigues me because there is a slight Industrial / DnB Elemental feel in the instrumentation .
This is a party CD for sure . It is definitely my new workout CD . If BoA wants to keep down this path . Girl friend needs to hook with the guys of Orbital , Hybrid , and Pendulum . : )
054 4 Her new album is all right . The only reason why I gave her a three star is because of the beat ( it should have been two star but I am giving her more credits than usual ) . The beat is good and is something you can move your head to it . Otherwise , the lyrics are poor and shallow . In my opinion , you can tell that she's trying too hard to make her lyrics sound bad . If I was a stranger and never heard of BoA , I seriously would have made fun her lyrics . She may have not written the lyrics , but she is the singer that is singing to the lyrics . So , she basically get blame and make fun of since she is the image of her name and her songs . Since I have heard of BoA and have listen to her since her first album , I'll say she's doing good . You can say I am being a little bit bias for the fact that I am a fan of BoA , but I am a fan that will tell the truth . The truth will be harsh , but it is the truth . Another thing , if you don't like or appreciate my comments , then I could careless . That's because I don't sugarcoat my commments to satifise anyone .
056 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
The following review was first published in Viiki-World.Net :
BoA's first English album has been anticipated for months , if not years . Once she announced that she was going to start a battle in the US market , her many fans , Koreans , Japanese , and even many other people of different ethnicities that fell under her spell , waited with bated-breath for the release of her English album .
When Eat You Up first came out , some fans were sort of disappointed in the direction that BoA is going . Eat You Up simply lacked the energy that BoA usually provided in her music . It seem like her music was a struggle , like she wasn't sure what song would be the best to earn her a place in the US music industry . However , when fans heard Look Who's Talking , which is co-written by pop-queen Britney Spears , they understand that BoA's album can't be a total disappointment . Look Who's Talking is upbeat and catchy , very similar to what Britney would actually sing . If BoA were to follow Brit's footsteps , then her album wouldn't be in a bad place .
Eventually , the entire album came out and I read many reviews that said the album rocks ! or Wow , this album is the best ! I have to agree . After listening to the entire album , I was deeply impressed . Although BoA didn't participate in writing any of the songs in her album , the group of writers her producer gathered for her first album is simply awesome . They produced some really good songs on her album . The only song that didn't appeal to me as much is , of course , Eat You Up . Besides that , every song has their own appeal . Each song has their own beats that gets you dancing to it . The only thing that annoys me is that BoA's voice didn't stand out in the album . Whenever she had a back-up singer singing the chorus with her , I can't hear BoA's voice at all . . . just the back-up singer . Meaning , BoA has to work on singing louder .
Besides that , I notice that some of her songs are pretty suggestive . I never though BoA would sing these sort of songs . I have never read the lyrics to her Japanese or Korean songs , so I don't know if her lyrics are as suggestive . Maybe it's just her way of battling into the US market , because nowadays , suggestive songs clouded the whole English music market .
Overall , highly recommend this album . I hope people will start noticing BoA's album ( so I can find it in Wal-Mart ) .
057 4 The following review was first published in Viiki-World.Net :
BoA's first English album has been anticipated for months , if not years . Once she announced that she was going to start a battle in the US market , her many fans , Koreans , Japanese , and even many other people of different ethnicities that fell under her spell , waited with bated-breath for the release of her English album .
When Eat You Up first came out , some fans were sort of disappointed in the direction that BoA is going . Eat You Up simply lacked the energy that BoA usually provided in her music . It seem like her music was a struggle , like she wasn't sure what song would be the best to earn her a place in the US music industry . However , when fans heard Look Who's Talking , which is co-written by pop-queen Britney Spears , they understand that BoA's album can't be a total disappointment . Look Who's Talking is upbeat and catchy , very similar to what Britney would actually sing . If BoA were to follow Brit's footsteps , then her album wouldn't be in a bad place .
Eventually , the entire album came out and I read many reviews that said the album rocks ! or Wow , this album is the best ! I have to agree . After listening to the entire album , I was deeply impressed . Although BoA didn't participate in writing any of the songs in her album , the group of writers her producer gathered for her first album is simply awesome . They produced some really good songs on her album . The only song that didn't appeal to me as much is , of course , Eat You Up . Besides that , every song has their own appeal . Each song has their own beats that gets you dancing to it . The only thing that annoys me is that BoA's voice didn't stand out in the album . Whenever she had a back-up singer singing the chorus with her , I can't hear BoA's voice at all . . . just the back-up singer . Meaning , BoA has to work on singing louder .
Besides that , I notice that some of her songs are pretty suggestive . I never though BoA would sing these sort of songs . I have never read the lyrics to her Japanese or Korean songs , so I don't know if her lyrics are as suggestive . Maybe it's just her way of battling into the US market , because nowadays , suggestive songs clouded the whole English music market .
Overall , highly recommend this album . I hope people will start noticing BoA's album ( so I can find it in Wal-Mart ) .
058 4 When I first heard ' Eat you up ' and ' I did it for love ' I was greatly disappointed .
Then , those darn melodies just stuck in my head ! !
( like one of those songs get stuck in your head until it annoys the hell out of you . Rihanna songs , My humps , etc )
Now it's the only album I listen to on my iPod . . .
It's Pop . It's annoying & good at the same time .
Other than that . . .
061 4 This review is from :
BoA ( Audio CD )
I love her new album ! Her English is getting better and better . The cover is very impressive , the photos inside , too . The CD is really worth buying !
063 4 I've been listening to BoA since I was a kid , always was a fan of her voice and her music . When I heard she was making a debut in the U.S.A . ( where I live ) I was excited , and anticipating this . She's already skyrocketed to the top 10 in 2 categories on Amazon sales , which spells out a lot of promise for her . This album is a hybrid of ultra-modern dance pop , with a high influence on American Pop culture , and Japanese pop culture fused together perfectly . I recommend this album for all fans of pop & dance music , and if you're a new fan from the U.S . , wondering more about her , just think Britney Spears with a stronger voice , and equally as creative .
The album features several club bangers , and several traditional pop & R & B songs . Buy it ! or you'll be missing out .
066 4 Kwon BoA is a delight . Great voice , great stage presence , and the dancing abilities of Michael Jackson . Also well managed . Still , like Utada , her US album bombed miserably . Too much electronical augmentation of her voice . . . which is totally unnecessary . Her voice shines without the techno crap . I also would like to see her move away from the R & B , Hip-Hp , Thug crap . . . and back into some of the stuff she did on Valenti and Made In Twenty . I find it amazing that the great Asian talents ( BoA , Utada , Koda Kumi , Faye Wong , Takahashi Youko , Kotoko , and Ishida Yoko ) haven't made it big in the US . I guess people prefer the pablum that Cyrus and Spears turn out . Someday , either BoA or Utada ( hopefully both ) will finally strike gold in the US . Remember , only one Japanese song has ever reached #1 ( and has ever charted in the T - 100 for that matter ) , and that was Ue Wo Muite Arukou by the late Sakamoto Kyu .
The best cuts on the CD are Eat You Up and Dress Off . It is hard to believe that this is the same little girl we saw on Korean TV at 11 . She is now 23 and has 12 years experience ! Although this album is very worth it . . . I would like to see her return to great work like , The Meaning of Peace , Valenti , and Meri Kuri .
Buy it . . . you will not be disappointed .
072 4 BoA has released a pretty good album for her first U.S . release . The songs all have good beats and are pretty good to listen to .
The reason why I don't give this 5 stars is because the songs are - perhaps expectantly - focused more toward women . As a guy I do enjoy listening to the songs because they have a nice beat , but most of their lyrics don't connect with me .
For example , one song is about a guy who missed his chance , another is a look at me , now I'M the hot stuff kind of song . . . they're empowering , but they're for a different audience .
Also , none of the songs show off her ability to sing . I have listened to some BoA songs that were released in Japan and Korea , and she has a surprisingly good voice . You would never know that if you only had this album to listen to . The reason for this is because each of her songs either use vocal effects , or she's speaking too quickly to show you what she can really do . This style fits the theme of the album , but I am curious to see if she'll add a track or two on her next album that allows her to truly shine .
Still , the songs and music are good to listen to regardless . The hard work has definitely paid off , and she has herself a good U.S . launch album that's well worth listening to .
075 4 I listen to Kpop everyday , but BoA was one of those artists who I listened to a song here and there . This album however , is totally different to that thought . I like every SINGLE song . This album is fun , upbeat and energetic . I had one of the best drives in to work today , traffic was horrid , it was foggy , and I had a headache coming on . . and I didn't care , because I was having my own little party in my car .
Some people complain about her ' accent ' or such , but I don't notice it . My seven year old son , is a BIG BoA fan , and he learned all the lyrics to Eat You Up by ear . This says to me , her accent isn't enough to deter someone from hearing the words nor understanding them . And in alot of the stuff played on US airwaves today , I don't understand half of the ' native ' speakers english in their songs .
I had given the link to her web site ( www.boaamerica.com ) to several of my non-kpop listening friends , and all have given excellent opinions on her new single . All think it will be big if given the chance . Thank you BoA for a great CD . And thank you SM for knowing how to promote her . I look foward to seeing how she does here in the US .
077 4 I was very excited when i learned BoA was finaly debutin in america just like all her other fans . The album is simply amazing ! Every song on here is well produced and BoA's vocals are top notch like usual . I highly reccomend this album to anyone .
Honestly this cd is worthe every penny , this album is gonna be friken huge in america !
078 4 After hearing all of the tracks on BoA's American debut I was surpised at how flawless her vocals were ( overproduced as well ) she doesn't have a hint of Korean accent in her singing and it sounded as if she was raised on American electropop . That being said I was however disappointed that they decided to use a computer on her amazing voice because she can sing . Other than that the album was wonderful .
080 4 i loved boa's first album , despite the lack of ballads , which shes actually very good at singing . i loved her past ballads . but her new songs are very catchy and addictive . totally worth buying ! !
please support her so she'll keep coming back here !
082 4 Excellent Album , as good as it can be .
I already bought some , going to buy more .
Must support this girl because she put in tons of effort for this great album .
085 4 Despite hearing her cyborg-like performances of her new songs , I still hoped that her US debut CD would be worthwhile .
Alas . . .
Barely catchy songs that escapes the mind as soon as the song ends ( except 2 ) . Grating-teetering-on-annoying voice despite heavy digital alteration . Fail . That one ( generous ) star was for effort .
