BoA

I. Introduction

BoA (보아) is a Korean pop singer under SM Entertainment. Her stage name made a backronym which is Beat of Angel. She made her Korean debut in 2000 with the album, ID; Peace B and was soon marketed as a "world" artist and she debuted in Japan. Her first Japanese pop album LISTEN TO MY HEART reached #1 on the Oricon charts and she became the first Korean artist to rank in Oricon's top twenty. BoA has since gone on to have multiple top-charting releases in both Korea and Japan. BoA has also started to learn English; in 2009 she released her debut English-language album, BoA, in the United States. Because of her huge success and achievements through-out Asia, she became No. 1 Female artist in Asia, and one of the leading and role model of new acts today. BoA has approximately sold more than 10,000,000 copies in both Japan and Korea.

Born Kwon Bo-ah on November 5, 1986, BoA's career owes as much to serendipity as talent -- she followed her older brother to an audition at the offices of record label S.M. Entertainment, and while her older brother was overlooked, his 11-year-old sister was recruited. With an eye on nurturing a future pan-Asian star, BoA was quickly enrolled in an international school where she could study Japanese and English.

II. Debut

In Korea during 2000, the 14-year-old BoA released her debut album, ID; Peace B, a mix of urban-sounding pop, slickly produced ballads, and upbeat dance tunes. The young singer's newly acquired language skills were soon put to the test when her label, Avex, launched BoA's career in the United States, getting Janet Jackson remixer Jonathan Peters and songwriter Peter Rafelson (whose credits include Madonna) on board for the English-language release of ID; Peace B in 2001. During the summer of that year, BoA launched her career in Japan with "ID; Peace B," the single that had already been a big hit in her homeland.

A single collaboration with Kumi Koda followed before BoA's debut album in Japan, Listen to My Heart, was released early the following year.

BoA's early career was characterized by her busy dance moves and breathy, youthful vocals -- more sumptuous than Hamasaki's, less dramatic than Utada's. Behind the music were some of the same songwriters who had penned hits for other idols in Japan, such as Hamasaki and Hitomi, both of whom are also on Avex. According to Oricon magazine, BoA became the first solo artist in more than 20 years to score a number one debut single and debut album in Japan, a feat that was all the more remarkable for an artist from outside of Japan.

III. Launch into Popularity

In January 2003, in the wake of a Korean boom in Japan triggered by the co-hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup between South Korea and Japan and a growing interest in Korean TV dramas, BoA released one of her biggest-selling albums to date, Valenti. The album featured several ballads that went on to propel the album to the top spot in the charts and helped it shift over a million copies. High-profile collaborations followed with respected Japanese house producer Mondo Grosso, Japanese hip-hop act m-flo, and Howie D of Backstreet Boys (on the Bratz single "Show Me What You Got").

BoA ended 2003 with a change of direction of sorts, releasing a rock-oriented single titled "Rock with You," which also featured some more adventurous production. Although the accompanying album had its fair share of dance-pop, BoA's maturing vocals meant she was more confident taking on a range of material, including songs with a harder R&B sound. The new sound was vindicated when BoA took home two MTV Asia Awards for Most Influential Artist and Favorite Artist Korea in 2004.

BoA joined a select group when her fourth Japanese album release, OutGrow, went to number one. Only Namie Amuro, Misia, and Mai Kuraki had reached number one with their first four original albums when BoA did the same in February 2006. Typical for an idol with a high media profile in Japan, BoA's songs would appear on anime television and film soundtracks. In summer 2006, she supplied the theme song to the Japanese release of the DreamWorks animated feature Over the Hedge, a movie in which she also took a voice actor role in the Japanese release.

Girls On Top released on June 24, 2005 by her native label SM Entertainment. Under the repackaged title Moto, the album was re-released on August 25, 2005 to promote the titular track, while including a previous unreleased track.

Her fifth Japanese studio effort, Made in Twenty, arrived in 2007. A year later, The Face found her dipping into electro-pop, notching her sixth straight Japanese chart-topper.

IV. American Debut and Later Career

That year, BoA took steps into the American market with the single "Eat You Up," which would later benefit from a Flo Rida remix. BoA assumed creative control over her sixth Japanese album, The Face (February 2008). A full U.S. studio effort, the self-titled BoA, arrived in 2009 on SM Entertainment USA. The album entered the Billboard 200 at number 127 and peaked in the Top Five of the Heatseekers and Dance charts. She returned to Japan for seventh album Identity, which failed to reach the same heights as her previous six efforts. Stretched thin from working three separate international markets, BoA returned home to Korea with Hurricane Venus, her first album recorded in her native language in half a decade. Hurricane Venus topped the charts and included singles "Game" and "Copy & Paste."

Her next album, 2012's Only One, would also be recorded in Korean. It featured her first self-written song, "Only One," which rose to number two on the Billboard K-pop chart.

After the release of singles compilation Who's Back in 2014, BoA issued her eighth Korean album, Kiss My Lips, in 2015. Including appearances by Dynamic Duo's Gaeko and Eddy Kim, Kiss My Lips was BoA's first self-written and self-produced effort. Over the following years, she continued to pursue acting and released standalone collaborative singles with other artists. She returned to her solo work in 2018 with her ninth Japanese-language album, Watashi Konomama De Linokana, the One Shot, Two Shot EP, and her ninth Korean-language effort, Woman.

On June 4, 2019, she released the single "Feedback", which features rapper Nucksal, alongside the song's music video. BoA embarked on her #Mood Tour, which had six dates in Japan and two dates in Seoul, from September to October 2019. On October 23, she released a new Japanese single, "Wishing Well," which she earlier debuted on the tour. On December 11, 2019, she released her second extended play Starry Night. In May 2020, BoA was featured as one of the coaches for the third season of The Voice of Korea, alongside Dynamic Duo, Sung Si-kyung, and Kim Jong-kook. On December 1, 2020, she released her tenth Korean album Better.

In May 2020, BoA was featured as one of the coaches for the third season of The Voice of Korea, alongside Dynamic Duo, Sung Si-kyung, and Kim Jong-kook. On December 1, 2020, she released her tenth Korean album Better. SpoTV News shared BoA to join as a judge for Mnet Dance program "Street Woman Fighter". It is a female dance crew competition premiering in August 2021. On November 5, 2021, BoA released the Japanese single, "My Dear", to commemorate her 20th anniversary.

BoA was revealed as a member of the supergroup Got the Beat on December 27, 2021. The group debuted on January 3, 2022.

To celebrate her 20th anniversary, BoA released the Japanese compilation album The Greatest on May 30, 2022.

V. Discography

VI. Korean Discography

VII. Albums

[2000.08.26] ID; Peace B

[2002.01.14] NO.1

[2003.05.03] Atlantis Princess

[2004.06.11] My Name

[2005.07.27] Girls On Top

[2005.08.17] MOTO (Repackage Album)

[2010.08.05] Hurricane Venus

[2010.09.24] Copy & Paste (Repackage Album)

[2012.07.25] Only One

[2015.05.12] Kiss My Lips

[2018.10.24] WOMAN

[2020.12.01] BETTER

VIII. Other Albums

[2001.03.03] Jumping into the World

[2002.09.24] Miracle

[2003.12.04] SHINE WE ARE

VIV. Mini-Albums

[2018.02.20] One Shot, Two Shot

[2019.12.11] Starry Night

[2022.11.22] Forgive Me

VV. Other Mini-Albums

[2005.12.07] Merry Christmas from BoA (Digital Mini-Album)

VVI. Singles

[2003.10.22] Double

[2003.12.03] Rock With You

[2004.12.01] Merry-Chri (메리-크리; Merry Christmas)

[2006.01.20] Everlasting

VVII. Digital Downloads

[2006.09.21] Key Of Heart

[2007.09.13] M OST Single With BoA

[2012.03.18] 'One Dream' KPOP STAR Theme Song

[2012.10.16] Younique Album Lookin'

[2013.01.28] Geuleon Neo (그런 너; Disturbance)

[2013.05.27] Sangeo OST Part.1 (상어)

[2013.07.31] Action

[2015.12.22] Winter Garden 3

[2016.06.16] No Matter What (BoA x Beenzino)

[2016.09.09] Pit-A-Pat 250 Remix (두근두근 (Pit-A-Pat) 250 Remix) (BoA x BANA)

[2016.10.20] Music is Wonderful (BoA x Beat Burger)

[2017.04.28] Bom Bi (봄비; Spring Rain)

[2017.06.26] CAMO

[2018.01.31] NEGA DOLA (내가 돌아)

[2019.06.04] Feedback

VVIII. Split Digital Singles

[2011.01.31] Paradise Mokjang OST Part.2 (파라다이스 목장)

VIX. Compilation / Other

[2000.12.12] Winter Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#6 Merry Christmas, #13 Christmas Time)

[2001.02.03] Fly to the Sky - Yaksok (#4 I want (feat. BoA & Kangta))

[2001.12.05] Winter Vacation in SMTOWN.com - Angel Eyes (#7 Feliz Navidad, #15 Gyeoulbaram)

[2002.06.11] Summer Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#7 My Boy, #14 Amazing Kiss (Korean Version))

[2002.11.11] Westlife - Unbreakable – The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Asia Ed.) (#20 Flying Without Wings (Feat. BoA))

[2002.12.07] 2002 Winter Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#5 Jewel Song (Korean Version))

[2003.06.02] 2003 Summer Vacation in SMTOWN.com (CD1 #6 Romeo, CD2 #2 Hoksi)

[2003.12.05] 2003 Winter Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#5 Feel the same (Korean Version))

[2004.01.14] Dong Bang Shin Ki - Hug (#3 Oh Holy Night feat. BoA)

[2004.06.29] 2004 Summer Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#3 Lollipop, #16 Midnight Parade)

[2004.10.13] Dong Bang Shin Ki - TRI-ANGLE (#3 Tri-Angle feat. BoA and The TRAX)

[2006.06.21] '06 SUMMER SMTOWN (#5 TOUCH)

[2006.11.15] Love Me Not OST (#18 Sunshine)

[2006.12.12] 2006 Winter SMTOWN (#7 Dotch)

[2007.07.05] 2007 Summer Vacation in SMTOWN.com (#4 Eve Gyeonggo (BoA feat. Shin Dong), #8 Jogaekkeopjil Mukkeo (A Cappella) (BoA, Xiah, Max, Lina, Sunday, Ryeowook, Yesung))

[2007.12.07] 2007 WINTER SMTOWN (#2 12wol 27il)

[2008.06.19] SBS Logo Song

[2011.02.09] Paradise Mokjang OST (Disc 1 #3 Han Saram (My Only One))

[2011.12.13] 2011 SMTOWN Winter 'The Warmest Gift' (#3 Distance)

[2013.08.14] Sangeo OST (#2 Cheonguggwa Jiog Sai)

[2017.06.23] BoA & Mad Clown - The Best Hit Pt. 4

[2018.01.16] Siedah Garrett & BoA - Man in the Mirror (Live)

[2018.12.04] Junoflo - Autopilot (feat. BoA)

[2019.01.09] Junoflo - STATUES (#4 Autopilot (feat. BoA))

[2019.06.12] U-Know - True Colors (#3 Swing (feat. BoA))

[2020.04.17] YE - Goodbye 2018 feat. BoA

VX. Japanese Discography

VXI. Albums

[2002.03.13] LISTEN TO MY HEART

[2003.01.29] VALENTI

[2004.01.15] LOVE & HONESTY

[2006.02.15] OUTGROW

[2007.01.17] MADE IN TWENTY (20)

[2008.02.27] THE FACE

[2010.02.10] IDENTITY

[2014.09.03] WHO'S BACK?

[2018.02.14] Watashi Kono Mama de Ii no Kana (私このままでいいのかな; Am I Okay Like This?)

VXII. Best Albums

[2004.03.03] K-POP SELECTION (Korean Best Album)

[2005.02.02] BEST OF SOUL

[2009.03.18] BEST&USA

[2011.08.31] BoA SUMMER SELECTION 2011 (Digital)

[2013.10.23] Winter Ballad Collection 2013 (Digital)

[2014.12.10] BoA Winter Ballad Collection 2014 (Digital)

[2022.05.30] The Greatest

VXIII. Live Albums

[2007.01.10] SHIDAX presents BoA "Winter Love" X'mas LIVE (Digital)

[2008.09.17] BoA LIVE TOUR 2008 -THE FACE- (Digital)

[2019.08.07] BoA THE LIVE 2018 "X'mas" (Digital)

VXIV. Remix Albums

[2002.08.07] Peace B.REMIXES

[2003.08.27] Next World

Other Albums

[2008.03.26] My Name (Special Edition)

[2008.03.26] Girls On Top (Special Edition)

VXV. Mini-Albums

[2005.12.07] Merry Christmas from BoA (Digital)

[2018.03.14] Unchained

VXVI. Singles

[2001.05.30] ID; Peace B

[2001.07.25] Amazing Kiss

[2001.12.05] Kimochi wa Tsutawaru (気持ちはつたわる; Feelings Deep Inside)

[2002.01.17] LISTEN TO MY HEART

[2002.03.13] Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi- (-ミンナノキモチ-; Everyone's Feelings)

[2002.05.29] Don't start now

[2002.08.28] VALENTI

[2002.09.19] Kiseki / NO.1 (奇蹟; Miracle)

[2002.12.11] JEWEL SONG / BESIDE YOU -Boku wo Yobu Koe- (-僕を呼ぶ声-; The Voice That Calls Me)

[2003.05.14] Shine We Are! / Earthsong

[2003.10.22] DOUBLE

[2003.12.03] Rock With You

[2004.02.11] Be the one

[2004.09.01] QUINCY / Kono Yo no Shirushi (コノヨノシルシ; This World's Evidence)

[2004.12.01] Meri Kuri (メリクリ; Merry Christmas)

[2005.03.30] DO THE MOTION

[2005.08.31] make a secret

[2005.11.23] Dakishimeru (抱きしめる; Holding You)

[2006.01.18] Everlasting

[2006.04.05] Nanairo no Ashita ~brand new beat~ / Your Color (七色の明日 ~brand new beat~; Rainbow's Tomorrow)

[2006.08.09] KEY OF HEART / DOTCH

[2006.11.01] Winter Love

[2007.04.25] Sweet Impact

[2007.09.26] LOVE LETTER

[2007.12.12] LOSE YOUR MIND

[2008.02.20] be with you.

[2008.06.04] Vivid

[2009.02.18] Eien / UNIVERSE / Believe in LOVE (Acoustic Version) (永遠; Eternity)

[2009.10.28] BUMP BUMP! feat. VERBAL (m-flo)

[2009.12.09] Mamoritai ~White Wishes~ (まもりたい ~White Wishes~; I Want to Protect You)

[2010.07.21] WOO WEEKEND

[2011.12.07] Milestone (DVD Single)

[2013.02.27] Only One

[2013.06.26] Tail of Hope

[2013.10.23] Message / Call my name

[2014.03.05] Shout It Out

[2014.07.23] MASAYUME CHASING

[2014.12.03] FLY

[2015.12.16] Lookbook

[2019.04.03] Suki da yo -MY LOVE- / AMOR

[2020.11.04] I believe

VXVII. Digital Downloads

[2006.12.13] Winter Love (Acoustic version)

[2008.05.28] Sparkling i-dep's GAAP mix

[2010.12.08] I SEE ME

[2011.05.04] BoA THE LIVE 2010 "X'mas"

[2013.10.09] Message

[2016.01.22] Make Me Complete

[2017.07.12] Right Here, Right Everywhere

[2018.01.24] Jazzclub

[2018.12.26] Amor

[2019.02.27] Suki da yo -MY LOVE- (スキだよ -MY LOVE-)

[2019.10.23] Wishing Well

[2020.02.19] BoA LIVE TOUR 2019 #mood

VXVIII. Vinyls

[2002.03.30] ID; Peace B

[2002.03.30] Amazing Kiss

[2002.03.30] Kimochi wa Tsutawaru (気持ちはつたわる; Feelings Deep Inside)

[2002.03.30] LISTEN TO MY HEART

[2002.09.18] Peace B.REMIXES 01

[2002.09.18] Peace B.REMIXES 02