❃ BoA - The Discography Rate (Part 2) ❃ - Final Stats

odyism

odyism

evilsin said:
What? Didn't expect to see this going now. Surely cute songs aren't that popular with the Western fans, as we've seen time and time again with all of the divas, but the Japanese people love these, so I'm not surprised one bit, that she released something like this seemingly out of the blue.

And as always, @odyism raises some interesting arguements that never applied to me, dddd.
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My perspective is really not the intended audience, so i totally understand why Avex were dumping on the cute songs and ballads. But I think the problem isn't that she released this single out of the blue, but rather it was a continuation of a more sanitized BoA that lacked the edge and balance of her "golden age". I think by the time BoA was coming of age, they really kept pushing the winter ballad (Winter Love, Everlasting, Your Color, Mamoritai White Wishes, Be With You) or cute breezy midtempo route (Key of Heart, Nanairo no ashita, Vivid, etc). And if you look at the string of singles leading up until Vivid, you can see how there was pivot away from r&b, dance-pop, and the k-pop sound that she helped define.
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
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Oneul geu dael bon da myeon ut go i sseul ge yo
Pum e an gyeo ga rul bo nae gett jyo
Oneul geu dael bon da myeon gi na gin a peum eui i yu reul al gett jyo
If you were here tonight...

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6.441

Jumping BoAs: (8) @lalaclairi_, @odyism, @Slice of Life ; (7.75) @RUNAWAY
Still BoAs: (5) @mi|kshake, @Attis, @askew, @Crisp X ; (5.5) @Ana Raquel
Crispy's Score: 5

5 voters: #51 (average: 7.1)
10 voters: #69 (average: 6.7)
15 voters: #69 (average: 6.63)
17 voters: #72 (average: 6.441)

"오늘 그댈 본다면 (If you were here)" is the 4th track from Girls On Top, BoA's fifth Korean album, released on June 24, 2005. It was written by Kim Young-hoo, composed by JoJo Bee and Tiara Lemaks and arranged by Great Dane Productions and Yoo Young-Jin.

Still not switching gears as tonight's elimination is, again, one of the ballads from the first album in the rate. This one reminds me of the material found in Britney's early material, and the earwormy hook in particular is delivered in a way that enhances the comparison to me. I wish I was more into it because BoA does really sell it by showing a great range of emotions in her performance. I believe it suffers from its placement in the album as it comes after the bold and career defining title track, which is its antithesis sonically. It makes for a bit of a jarring transition in this context, which influenced my score. On its own, I do appreciate it a little more.

—

@evilsin (6) — "Okay, this started out as a run-of-the-mill ballad, but ended up a bit nicer with R'n'B undertones. More of that and it would've been really good."​

@Kaz D'Oerba (7) — "Not my fave but still very pretty"

@nanapop99 (7.5) — "It is one of those ballads where you just want to put your lights up in a big arena and feel all the feelings that you have to feel. The last minute of this song is my favorite part."

—

​
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
evilsin said:
Aren't there still some ballads worse than this one in?
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Let's see...



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1/2

I can stay my gold kagayakitsuzukeru yo
Chiisana negai wo hitotsu hitotsu miagenagara
I sing this song for U

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6.47

Jumping BoAs: (8.5) @RUNAWAY, @evilsin, @Ana Raquel ; (8) @clowezra
Still BoAs: (3) @nanapop99 ; (4.5) @M24
Crispy's Score: 6

5 voters: #81 (average: 5.8)
10 voters: #73 (average: 6.5)
15 voters: #72 (average: 6.466)
17 voters: #70 (average: 6.47)

"Stay My Gold" is the 11th track from OUTGROW, BoA's fourth Japanese album, released on February 15, 2006. It was written by MIZUE, composed by Miki Watanabe and arranged by K-MUTO.

Well, is this one worse? Let's ask the audience! For me personally, I'm not so sure because this mid tempo R&B affair appeals to my tastes more. The song is sprinkled with some lovely bells and plucked strings that add a cosmic fairy vibe, one that's not too far off recent K-Pop, albeit in a slower form. It means it gets close to being my catnip! It's still missing the x factor that makes it go from good to great and it overstays its welcome a little bit, but I don't mind putting revisiting it from time to time.

—

@nanapop99 (3) — "This is the poor man's version of Soundscape which is the following track and it does a mediocre job to recreate its magic... Why are there so many skips on this album?"

—




The next two cuts are from the same album...​
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
evilsin said:
Nooooo, I'm not ready to see Outgrow lose great track before some other subpar ones.
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It's okay, that album is getting a reprieve for the time being...



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2/2

Mata haru ga kuru ne machi juu ga hikaru
PUREZENTO wo erabi takatta na kimi wo omoi nagara
Machiwabita Happy birthday todokanai I love you
Kyou no kimi wa hohoenderu kana zutto soba ni itakatta noni na

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6.47

Jumping BoAs: (9) @Slice of Life ; (8.5) @RUNAWAY
Still BoAs: (3) @nanapop99 ; (4.5) @M24
Crispy's Score: 5

5 voters: #74 (average: 6.2)
10 voters: #79 (average: 6.25)
15 voters: #71 (average: 6.6)
17 voters: #70 (average: 6.47)

"Happy Birthday" is the 7th track from THE FACE, BoA's sixth Japanese album, released on February 27, 2008. It was written Chokkyu Murano, composed by Tomomi Narimoto and arranged by NAOKI-T.

This time, we're eliminating a song in a completely different register. As an album track, this slice of throwback teen pop does its job at bringing variety to the mix. I actually like the innocent, cute Y2K vibe it carries instrumentally, but I can't help but think something about it feels undercooked. I know not all uptempo songs have to be literal bangers, but everytime I put this on, I wish it popped off more. The performance below adds more punch thanks to the live instrumentation, and I end up favoring it over the studio version. Maybe its lightness is the point... that I'm missing. Watch it suddenly grow on me one day!

—

@nanapop99 (3) — "Too cheesy and fluffy for me. Next."

@M24 (4.5) — "I honestly expected something much worse from the title dddd. It's not bad, just boring."

@Attis (7) — "Pretty cute"

@Kaz D'Oerba (7) — "I legally require this to be played on my birthdays now"

—


​
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
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Naki tai toki itsudatte soba ni ite kureru
Taisetsu na you're my best friend
Kimi dakega my only best friend (yeah~)

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6.529

Jumping BoAs: (9.5) @RUNAWAY ; (9) @evilsin
Still BoAs: (3) @nanapop99 ; (4) @M24
Crispy's Score: 6.5

5 voters: #78 (average: 6.15)
10 voters: #69 (average: 6.7)
15 voters: #69 (average: 6.633)
17 voters: #69 (average: 6.529)

"Best Friend" is the 15th track from THE FACE, BoA's sixth Japanese album, released on February 27, 2008. It was written, composed and arranged by HIRO.

It's time for another album to lose its closing song, and a livelier one at that. This checks all the marks for a R&B influenced 00s J-Pop ballad, and its twee vibe is something that I suddenly crave more at the current time than back when I was rating the songlist. I may still have my gripes with the key change at the end, but it doesn't deter me from occasionally having the memorable chorus pop up in my head. The background harmonies are my favorite parts about it and make it sound even more sweeter.

—

@nanapop99 (3) — "This belongs to the ending credits of the Bratz movie soundtrack. Four albums in a row and I still haven't enjoyed any of her closing tracks." No but the Bratz soundtracks slap, remember this?



—





I'm going to be more direct about the next cut, by saying the English album is losing its first song... but which one?​
 
evilsin

evilsin

I see this rate is already hurting. Best Friend isn't the best HIRO put his name to, but it's still that nice mix of mid-tempo R'n'B and synths that I appreciate from him so much.
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
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Why don't you whisper it to me me me me
How you wanna get freaky ky ky ky
And we can get down down down
But first you gotta wait

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6.661

Jumping BoAs: (10) @Kaz D'Oerba ; (9) @RUNAWAY
Still BoAs: (3) @nanapop99 ; (4) @Monado
Crispy's Score: 6

5 voters: #71 (average: 6.3)
10 voters: #60 (average: 7.05)
15 voters: #65 (average: 6.766)
17 voters: #68 (average: 6.661)

"Dress Off" is the 10th track from BoA, BoA's first English album, released on March 17, 2009 and the 12th track on the deluxe edition, released on August 31, 2009. It was written, composed and arranged by Adrian Newman.

While a couple criticisms can be thrown at most of the albums in this rate regarding how well they more or less flow, it's interesting how the self-titled as the opposite effect for me. As much as it provides a change of pace in her then discography, the album suffers from some monotony as it mainly stays in that particular late 00s robotic electropop mould. Coming late into the album, Dress Off is proof of that as it does nothing that hadn't already been done on the previous tracks. For a few (too short) seconds, the beat suddenly gets all drum'n'bass on us, and it makes me wish the whole song followed that template, at least to add a little bit of variety.

—

@nanapop99 (3) makes a cursed comparison "Similar to Obsessed. It's overproduced, noisy, messy and that bratty chorus gives me a headache. We also have another Myah Marie situation here. Somebody else is clearly doing that high note on the bridge. BoA (Deluxe) was so ahead of its time. Britney Jean, who?" Now this is a mystery worth investigating!

@M24 (6.25) — "I know that "dress off" intonation might be off-putting to some, but I love it!"

@evilsin (7) — "Never fully got into this one, but the climax of the middle 8 is definitely something worth mentioning."

@Kaz D'Oerba (10) — "The album hoe bop we all need and deserve. Have definitely sang this in a sultry tone when by myself more than once!"

—




Let's eliminate something from the Extras again...​
 
nanapop99

nanapop99

Crisp X said:
@nanapop99 (3) makes a cursed comparison "Similar to Obsessed. It's overproduced, noisy, messy and that bratty chorus gives me a headache. We also have another Myah Marie situation here. Somebody else is clearly doing that high note on the bridge. BoA (Deluxe) was so ahead of its time. Britney Jean, who?" Now this is a mystery worth investigating!​
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Good riddance! But now I'm curious. Am I really the only one who thinks that she doesn't sing the climax of this song?
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

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Joyful Smile
Yabai ! Mou konna jikan
I must go !

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6.705

Jumping BoAs: (9.5) @RUNAWAY ; (8.5) @lalaclairi_
Still BoAs: (4) @nanapop99 ; (4.5) @clowezra
Crispy's Score: 6.5

5 voters: #62 (average: 6.6)
10 voters: #68 (average: 6.775)
15 voters: #67 (average: 6.75)
17 voters: #67 (average: 6.705)

"Joyful Smile" is the 3rd track from Vivid, BoA's 26th Japanese single, released on June 4, 2008. It was written by Satomi, composed and arranged by Masaaki Asada.

And just like that, the aforementioned single is down to one song. With an apt title, this one takes us on a bright and upbeat journey, with a bouncy beat and some plucked strings and gentle acoustic guitars guiding us along the way. The bridge is the standout part for the beach-y detour it suddenly takes, but the entire song is solid, even though it lacks a stronger hook. If I'm not going out of my way to give the entire single a listen, I tend to forget about it.

—

@nanapop99 (4) — "I always knew this song existed yet I've never bothered listening to it beforehand but I can now say that the chorus is strangely enjoyable. I might need more joyful smile in my life."

@M24 (5) — "It sounds like the other bside, "Kissing You", with some synths sprinkled in between ddd."

@evilsin (8) — "Another pleasantly sunny ditty. What a joy of a single as a whole as well."

—

​
 
Crisp X

Crisp X

she/her
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Sayonara wa watashi kara wa iwanai
Zuruku nanka nai yo piriodo wo uteru wake ga nai desho
Ima mo aishiteiru

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6.808

Jumping BoAs: (9) @RUNAWAY, @evilsin ; (8.5) @lalaclairi_
Still BoAs: (4) @M24 ; (5) @askew
Crispy's Score: 7.5

5 voters: #55 (average: 6.95)
10 voters: #65 (average: 6.875)
15 voters: #62 (average: 6.883)
17 voters: #66 (average: 6.808)

"STILL." is the 4th track from MADE IN TWENTY (20), BoA's fifth Japanese album, released on January 17, 2007. It was written by Satomi, composed and arranged by velvetronica.

I'm a bit sad to bid farewell to this song this early. This album track is a smooth jazzy number that shows that, despite the stagnancy that could sometimes be felt in her material at the time, she was still willing to expand her range and try new sounds. I love how it starts with the hook right away, before the songs fully kicks in with a surprise key change. It also makes me nostalgic for a particular reason. Before I actively started listening to pop music, I spent years listening to bands that fell under the J-Rock umbrella. Many of them would have one or multiple similar sounding songs in their discography, such as this one, to give an example. Hearing this style tackled by BoA is like meeting an old friend to me.

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@nanapop99 (6) — "This is really middle of the road in comparison to the first three tracks. I also think that the verses are not as strong as the chorus. There are definitely better midtempos on this album."

—

​
 
evilsin

evilsin

I'm already sick, don't make me puke as well. This is such an elegant and classy sounding sond and that chorus has melodies for days. Why is this out already?
 
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