Our Beloved BoA- A 20 year retrospective

Often hailed as the undisputed queen of KPop, it feels like BoA has been around longer than the wheel. In an industry that treats its stars as disposable, she has stayed consistently releasing music, touring and keeping her face out there. Whilst her talent is enormous- she is a phenomenal stage woman and dancer, hardworking vocalist and coherent artist, it is also worth mentioning BoAs tenacity and smart career choices when looking back on her career. When Lee Hyori was releasing hit after hit, instead of going head to head, BoA instead retreated to Japan and built her fanbase there. This, and the fact she has stuck to her guns, and her strengths, instead of taking the tried and tested path of devolving into acting as a ‘secure’ career path, has led to the creation of a wide spanning, multi lingual discography of someone who has grown up alongside their career, allowing us to see the many facets of BoA’s womanhood, almost as she has discovered them herself. This has allowed her to overthrow the ‘dead by 30’ stereotype of not just Kpop stars, but female pop musicians in general- whilst she may not light up the charts anymore as much as she did, she has built up enough respect with the general public and enough goodwill at her label, the behemoth SM Entertainment, to continually release music. Now, 20 years after her debut, we take a look back and rank her singles, from the not-so-great to the stratospherically amazing, to celebrate the career of one of the coolest, hardest working and underrated women in the music business.

79. Be with you (2008)- Look, something has to come last. This song isn’t bad, just…trite.

78. Lose your mind (2007)

77. Shout it out (2014)

76. Jazzclub (2018)- I actually originally had this song last in my mind originally, but it did grow on me. Props to the Uber shoutout in the video as well.

75. Make a secret (2005)

74. Woo weekend (2010)

73. Universe (2009)

72. Nanairono Ashita- Brand new beat (2006)

71. Spring rain (2017)

70. Eien (2009)

69. Do the motion (2006)

68. Rock with you (2003)

67. Who Are You (2015)

66. Key of heart (2006)

65. Suki da yo- MY LOVE (2019)

64. The Meaning of Peace (2002)

63. Midnight Parade (2003)

62. Listen to my heart (2002)

61. Amor (2018)

60. Bump bump (2009)

59. Kono Yo no Shirushi (2004)

58. I See Me (2010)

57. I did it for love (2009)

56. Your Color (2006)

55. Quincy (2004)

54. Joyful Smile (2008)

53. Love Letter (2007)

52. Winter love (2006)

51. Sweet Impact (2007)

50. Starry Night (2019)- Her newest single!

49. Be the one (2004)

48. Game (2010)

47. Kissing you (2008) - I was hoping for a cover of the SNSD classic. I was disappointed.

46. Wishing Well (2019)

45. Dakishimeru (2006)

44. Fly (2014)

43. Disturbance (2013)

42. Feedback (2019)

41. Sparkling (2008)

40. Lookbook (2015)- Did she rip this from RuPaul? This is a stomping club banger of an instrumental, but the English lyrics are enough to make anyone cringe. Sorry BoA.

39. Milestone (2011)

38. Energetic (2009)

37. Jewel Song (2003)

36. Mamoritai (2009)

35. Make me complete (2018)- This song is in English?

34. Double (2003)

33. Don’t Start Now (2001)- Not as good as Dua’s

32. Beside You- Bokuwo Yobu Koe (2003)

31. Right here, right everywhere (2018)

30. Kimochi wa Tsutawaru (2002)

29. Moto (2005)

28. Call my name (2013)

27. Earthsong (2003)- I can’t tell if this is her take on ‘Feed the world’ or just another single. Either way it’s a fun little bop.

26. Copy & Paste (2010)

25. Shine we are! (2003)

24. Dotch (2006)

23. Everlasting (2006)

22. Kiseki (2003)

21. Woman (2018)- Invented feminism. Gets extra points for walking upside down in the video and certain live stages.

20. ID Peace B (2000)- A throwback! Her debut hasn’t aged as well as some of her earlier singles, suggesting she maybe didn’t hit the ground running, but it’s cute for what it is.

19. Nega Dola (2018)

18. Amazing Kiss (2001)

17. Only one (2012)

16. Girls on top (2005)

15. Kiss my lips (2015)

14. Masayume Chasing (2014)

13. Tail of hope (2013)

12. Every Heart (2002)- Is it a staple of being a legend in the Japanese music industry to have one of your best songs be an InuYasha theme?

11. Hurricane Venus (2010)

10. Spark (2004)

9. One shot, two shot (2018) Is she going to shoot me, or offering me a drink? I’m not so sure but as long as this is playing I’m good either way.

8. Eat you up (2008) - My friend told me about this song when she linked me her BoA essentials playlist a couple years back. Three months later I was bopping in my car and nearly wrapped myself round a lamppost when I realised it was all in English. Cheers Lyd.

7. Milky Way (2003)

6. Camo- Korean (2017) - Yas Janet vibes! This song shows 15+ years on Ms. Thing still knows how to make a BOP! The video is stunning as well! Whoever style her in that long, sleek black pony deserves a raise.

5. My Name (2004) -Had me bopping to BoA before I knew who BoA was, that’s how iconic this song is and how often it is covered. Her good girl gone bad era, with the questionable hair choices to match. Literally the only person I know who can kill it in all white denim.

4. Atlantis Princess (2003)- The ticking clock and piano build up into an explosion of easily boppable teen pop? Iconic. Not as hard hitting as my top three but still an effortless and timeless banger. The fact she looks like a final fantasy 10 character in the video is also a big plus for me.

3. Merikuri (2004) - I don’t really like Christmas, nor am I a particularly outwardly romantic person, but this song evokes both of these for me, making me want to walk through a snow laden Christmas market hand in hand with someone I really love. Maybe next year. Also, for some reason Ms. Kwon decided to go all out gospel singer and really SANG here. Had the other girls looking in the wanted ads.

2. Valentini (2003) - This is actual pop perfection. Honestly this and my number one choice are tied, but number one was number one for obvious reasons. This is the type of Latin inspired early 00s pop that Ricky Martin probably wishes he had made. The foot stomping synths just make you want to move your hips and sing along, and that guitar driven middle 8? Just insane. The song starts at 100 and still manages to feel like a build up into an explosion of passion. One for the history books!

1. No.1 (2002) - It had to be. It just had to be. This is one of those songs that just perfectly encapsulates that early 00s teen pop feeling- think NSync, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears’ heydays, but on crack. This song sounds like a pure, heady, ecstatic teenage fuelled hormonal rush of emotions, in the best way possible. Perfect for screeching at the top of your lungs on a long car drive, or dancing to whilst hoovering, I can’t think of a better song to encapsulate all that BoAs music is- danceable, singable, timelessly charming and ever so fun. She’s still my no.1!

And there you have it. It took me nearly a month to listen to these, rank them and write this, as well as, you know, eating, sleeping and having a job, but it expanded my knowledge, and allowed me to find some new favourite songs, as well as develop a newfound respect for just how much BoA has achieved. Twenty years doing anything is a massive achievement, and the fact she doesn’t show any signs of slowing down is nothing if not commendable. Do yourself a favour and stream just one of the songs listed here- no matter which one you choose you won’t be disappointed!