20 years. It feels like a long time.
You can grow up to be an adult.
I think that's long.
But also feels like time just flew by.
Making a debut in Japan was an adventure, but a worthwhile adventure.
There were
a lot of challenges.
Including language and cultural differences.
I was only 14 years old,
and wasn't used to leaving Korea.
Because of that, I was homesick.
I was still immature,
so there were many difficulties from that as well.
-Lyrics- Lyrics is really about
how I can express my feelings without trying to be cool, and how everyone can empathize with those feelings.
So rather than trying to make fancy sentences,
I tried to put into words what I was feeling at that time
and that has not changed since, when I write my songs now.
That is why 「Moon & Sunrise」's lyrics are all in Hiragana characters
and only the word tears is in Kanji. Isn't that sad.
Now, it's really hard to read.
It’s all in Hiragana, so definitely difficult to read.
When Kanji has ruby characters on top, it's more understandable and easy to read now.
But back then, it was only 1 or 2 years since I started coming to Japan
and I only knew Hiragana. The term tears, that appears in the lyrics a lot is pretty easy to remember.
That is how I learned that word.
-What triggered to writing Japanese lyrics to Korean songs-
I wonder when.
「ID;Piece B」was my debut song, so changed that to Japanese
and made it my debut single song in Japan, but
songs after that
I sang songs made by Japanese composers with Japanese lyrics.
Like 「Only One」and「Kiss My Lips」
More of the recent songs are songs with Japanese lyrics added.
It's very hard to remember them.
The songs were good and were a big hit,
so there were voices that said they want to listen to it in Korean, or want a Japanese version
I think that's how it all started,
but the interesting thing is that
there are Korean Fan's that say they like 「VALENTI」 in Japanese, or 「Merry Chri」 in Japanese
but, Japanese Fan's say they prefer 「Only One」 in Korean.
There are unexpected opinions.
-What to keep in mind when writing lyrics-
I keep in mind to create a good song and to deliver it.
To make a good song, and to sing it
whether or not I composed it or have written the lyrics to it, the most important thing is to sing a good song.
-First tour-
"I'll be singing and dancing to great songs, so please enjoy everyone."
-Biggest impression in mind of live concerts-
I've done so many live concerts in so many forms.
Trendy fashion, hair styles that were in age by age,
those arena tours where you put on many wigs at one concert
that's still pretty embarrassing when I see them now.
-Reason to be called a rainmaker- That's because of the live concerts too.
When the concert begins its not raining,
but when the concert finishes and when everyone starts leaving, it starts to rain.
So that's why they call me a rainmaker, but I think that's just at work.
I don't know since I haven't had any concerts recently,
but people tell me I bring the sun.
It was also because the Zepp Tour was beginning, but
at that time, before the first day of the Tour
I hurt my foot a few weeks before and was not in a condition to dance.
The dancers of course danced, but took out all the dancing for myself
since I couldn't dance,
and that became a change to a more singing focused live concert.
There were originally songs that had big movements from the intro,
and stage performances like that, but my foot wasn't danceable
so changed my shoes, and stage directions.
That's how BoA The Live clearly added color to its style.
As a result, I think it was good.
A live focused on songs, a live you can listen to.
As for the X'mas Live's, BoA The Live has already become a brand
So we decided to do the lives as X'mas Lives. That's how it began.
The flow began to be that way, but
especially the very first BoA The Live X'mas was extremely fun.
Reason is, performing partially with the strings, then having 20 minute intermissions in between
and showing some dance created a fun X'mas atmosphere, we made lives' like that
but I never had a chance to sing with an orchestra.
It was very luxurious
I was able to cover Christmas songs I always liked,
and add some arrangements to my own songs as well.
I've always worked on live concerts that have plenty to see in context
but taking a step away,
I was able to do a live concert that was musically gorgeous,
so the very first X'mas Live is memorable for me.
As a foreigner, having a representative song that represents the season in a different country
I have some pride for that.
People around me tell me when they hear 'Merry Chri' they feel like the winter season has arrived in Japan.
That's an artist that gets recalled by season
I have high pride in that.
"I'm so sorry. I can't sign any more.
Thank you.
I think it was a very warm and young 「Merry Chri」
I think it’s the first time in life that I couldn't sing 'Merry Christmas.'
From the beginning to 「Milestone」I've sang many songs, and thought, I've worked hard.
A music video that leaves a big impression,
each music video has its own memories.
For example,
I've never thought a hair dryer will become a microphone at「LISTEN TO MY HEART」
When it was complete, I wondered why I was holding a hair dryer.
The falling snow at 'Merry Christmas' on the later half.
Many think that it's computer graphics, but it actually was the first snow from Tomamu (Hokkaido).
There was a lot of snow, and I think the lens caught the natural scenery.
Also, filming aboard, filming in Korea,
we retook 「Only One」 again for the Japanese version.
We had to take 「Kiss My Lips」 in both Korean and in Japanese in Korea.
That was tough.
I started to loose my on and off switch in my mind.
There are a lot of memories.
-Song that represents summer-
I think it's 「VALENTI」 but some people say 「Shine We Are!」
some say 「KEY OF HEART」 opinions split.
I wonder what the far most representative summer song is.
But yea, could be 「VALENTI」?
-Activities becoming more borderless- I initially never thought I would be living in a world where you can spread anything with one click.
Life was offline back in the 2000's.
Meeting in person, going and coming to see each other
at the same time, spending the time together.
But nowadays, it's also because of COVID-19, but
I feel it's interesting that we've come to an age where interacting with the world online has become a norm.
-The presence of Fan's- Fan's feel like they are my local friends who I know for a long time.
It's 20 years. That makes them not just friends, more like childhood homies.
Even if you don't see them for a while, whenever you see them, if feels like you were together yesterday.
That's the type of friendship we have.
If I talk too much, I knew I would cry before I sang, so kept it to the last. Thank you.
-Ongoing- My goal is to of course continue to deliver good music.
I would like to do something fun.
I don't know what it is or what is would be, but something fun.
It hope to find that something.
First of all, I would like to go to Japan.
Of my (artist) life, it’s the first time I haven't been to Japan for this long.
I really want to go and really want to see everyone.
Many people ask me,
what the secret is to how I can devote and proceed with 20 years.
I love it and enjoy it,
and the same thing never happens twice, that's why I was able to continue my work.
The songs change, the performances change, and even if it’s the same set list, the place is different and the people are different.
The job is rich in variety,
I think that is what kept me driving for 20 years.
When I look back, it all flew by so fast
but I was able to experience many things, and only have fun memories.
However, I do think you should be with your family when you're young.
I don't recommend this.
To be honest, I don’t like to dance.
Honestly, I don’t.
Singing, I do want to improve. Even now.
Same with dance though.
I like dancing and singing, but maybe became to hate it because I want to get better and better at it.
Hello everyone, this is BoA.
For a long time, I've only been able to say hello through the camera.
It does feel a bit awkward, but
sharing music with you and having it become 20 years is a strange sensation.
When I first came to Japan, I was only 14 and couldn't speak as much Japanese as now.
I was small and immature, but you have liked me the way I was, and supported me.
Now I've become a mature BoA, and feels like I'm living my life with you.
I'll continue to discover that something that is joyful
I will age, but don’t think I'll be a super mature adult.
I'll look for the something we can feel joy together
and hope to spend the wonderful times together with you.
The difficult time continues,
but when we see each other the next time
you and BoA will both be healthy and cheerful, and will have fun.
So until then, take care. Bye-bye.
-To the BoA 20 years ago-
Good luck
-To the BoA now-
You don’t have to work yourself off too much
-What is BoA-
I human who wants to be a perfect BoA, but was not born perfect.