BoA – Identity Review
After BoA’s less than stellar attempt to break into the American market (in my opinion, the music she recorded was too dated to make an impression), she ventured back to Japan and recorded a new album. For Identity, BoA took on a producer role meaning there is a lot more accountability for this album than the ones before.
Overall, Identity is a safe Jpop album that echoes the music of the genre. A big difference is that BoA is now using her English skills a lot more on this album and it sounds very passable. All the work she put in her English-language debut sounds really good here as well.
On the flip side, her English abilities are pushed a little too far, granted the majority of Japanese fans won’t really care about the English, but some of the songs have more English than necessary and become very repetitive.
Musically, the album is the standard mix of higher tempo tracks with the ballads. I do enjoy the first third of the album more than the rest of the album, especially “Easy” which has the overused English, but the different beat and tempo make it interesting.
BoA will always be huge in Asia, her attempt in the United States was poorly planned with the music she debuted with, but she can break in the United States if the marketing team understands the Asian and Western markets.
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5 Comments
Feb 17, 201021:49
I think for an Asian artist to break in the United States, the marketing team needs someone who understands both worlds.
Of course staying in Korea or Japan will keep them the success they have, but I think the US is the grail of the music world because so much is influenced from here.
I thought Se7en had a good chance, but he is redebuting in Korea sometime this year.
Feb 22, 201017:32
it was some hiatus. I miss him like crazy. I didn’t know he had a planned comeback, look forward to that!
Jul 24, 201010:13
“BoA took on a producer role meaning there is a lot more accountability for this album than the ones before” This cracked me up.
BoA’s self produced album wasn’t a complete failure, but I know I expected way more. It seemed more like a ‘don’t forget the fans in Japan’ album.
Jul 24, 201010:17
Considering how long its been since she’s officially performed in South Korea, her Japanese albums have seemed to be much more for the Japanese audience than her fans overall.
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09:37
I agree that her US attempt was poorly planned and executed. She was not ready to debut here. Utada, regardless of having perfect English, still didn’t do as well as they’d hope. The American world of music is not only very genre-restrictive but also very small. Most Americans don’t listen to anything other than the TOP40, so each year, the music sounds a certain way.
Crossing over is possible, Selena and Enrique Inglesias both did it with flying colors. But a stronger grasp on English on BoA’s part would be needed.
Though I don’t know why she would even bother. She’s like a pop goddess in Japan. Gackt said he never plans to even play shows in the US b/c he’s happy with what he has in Japan and he’s not hungry for that kind of fame anyway.
Se7en who’s English is not all that bad was going to release a US debut, but backed out because he didn’t feel confident about his English (though I wish he would have kept making music in Korean at least).
I believe Rain was offered the option to do an English-only ablum but also declined, and I believe he said it just wasn’t something he needed (and really, he didn’t). I admire BoA’s gumption, but it’s really just guiding the lily. These artists do well enough without America’s help.
Went on a bit long, sorry. I have maybe too much to say about this issue. :p