Listen to My Heart (BoA album)
Listen to My Heart | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 13, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 61:31 | |||
Label | Avex Trax | |||
Producer |
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BoA chronology | ||||
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Singles from Listen to My Heart | ||||
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Listen to My Heart is the debut Japanese studio album (second overall) by South Korean recording artist BoA, released via Avex Trax on March 13, 2002. BoA worked with a team of songwriters and composers to produce the album, including Natsumi Watanabe, Kazuhiro Hara, Ken Harada and Akira; all of whom would collaborate with BoA again on her future albums. Musically, Listen to My Heart is primarily a pop record with influences from R&B.
Listen to My Heart saw breakthrough success for a South Korean artist in Japan, where it became the first record by a Korean artist to attain the number one position on the Oricon Albums Chart and to receive a million certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[1] It remained on the Japanese album chart for 91 weeks and was the 12th best-selling album of the year, selling over 816,000 copies. BoA's successful debut in the country is considered by many to have opened the door for Korean artists in the Japanese music market.[1]
Seven singles were spawned and promoted from Listen to My Heart. The album's first single, the Japanese version of her 2000 debut single "ID; Peace B", was released in May 2001 and marked her first single in Japan. It was met with modest success upon its release, reaching number 20 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Six singles were released afterwards including the title track "Listen to My Heart", which peaked at number five on the Oricon Singles Chart. "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" was released alongside the album on March 13, and peaked at number ten.
Background and production[edit]
After debuting in South Korea, BoA announced her entry into the Japanese market by signing a recording contract with Avex Trax on March 7, 2001.[2] On the same day, journalists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan gathered in Tokyo to cover her showcase (demonstration performance) at the Avex-owned nightclub, Velfarre, which Avex invested 700 million won in.[3] The chairman of Avex stated: "Boa has the charisma, dance moves, and vocals to surpass the queen of J-Pop, Namie Amuro."[3] BoA also released the special album Jumping into the World around the same time, which included songs sung in English, Japanese and Mandarin.[4] For the album Listen To My Heart, Avex Trax hired several Japanese musicians such as Natsumi Watanabe, Kazuhiro Hara, Ken Harada, Akira, Bounceback, among many others to work on it.[5] Between 2001 and 2002, the album was recorded in various studios in Japan, and was mastered by Chris Athens at Sterling Sound in New York City.[5]
Singles[edit]
On May 30, 2001, BoA officially debuted in Japan with the release of her debut single "ID; Peace B."[6] The song was a moderate success, just entering in the top 20 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[7][8] The album's second single "Amazing Kiss" was released on July 25, 2001;[9] it peaked at number 23 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[10] "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" and "The Meaning of Peace" were subsequently made available in December of that year;[11][12] the latter single was released as a collaboration with fellow Japanese singer Koda Kumi for the Song Nation project, which was created to help raise funds for the September 11 attacks.[13][14] It peaked at number 12 and remained on the charts for seven weeks.[15]
The titular single "Listen to My Heart" was released on January 17, 2002.[16] It became BoA's first release to peak at the top five on the Oricon Singles Chart, as well as her first release to receive a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for selling over 100,000 copies.[17] "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" was released alongside the album[18] and saw modest levels of commercial success, peaking at number ten with sales of over 84,000 units.
"Don't Start Now" was re-recorded and released as the album's last single on May 29, 2002; the original song was written by Jeff Vincent and Peter Rafelson and was included on a 2001 eponymous album by American pop singer Brooke Allison, titled "Toodle-oo". The only difference between "Toodle-oo" and BoA's English version is the line, "Time for you to find a ho in hosiery,"[19] is altered to BoA's more age-appropriate line, "Time for you to find another fantasy."
Accolades[edit]
Listen to My Heart won Rock & Pop Album of the Year at the 17th Japan Gold Disc Awards. The title track of the same name received the Gold Award at the 44th Japan Record Awards.
Legacy[edit]
BoA's successful debut in Japan is regarded by journalists for having helped improved the image of South Korea in the country. BoA's ascent to fame took place during a particularly challenging period in modern Japan-South Korea relations. Despite this, BoA continued to act as a cultural ambassador between Seoul and Tokyo, with The Diplomat noting how BoA's breakthrough in Japan in 2002 helped break down barriers that might have otherwise hindered the Japanese public from cultivating a significant interest in Korean pop culture and entertainment. In 2003, the Japanese Foreign Ministry formally invited BoA to a diplomatic dinner between prime minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun, signifying a mutual recognition of BoA as a cultural bridge between the Japanese and Korean music markets.[20]
Editors have credited BoA for laying the groundwork for future K-pop idols to debut in the Japanese market, including TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, Exo and BTS, despite the strained relations between South Korea and Japan. The practice of teaching foreign languages such as Japanese, Chinese, or English to K-pop trainees subsequently became a widespread trend among South Korean entertainment companies.[20]
Track listing[edit]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
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1. | "Listen to My Heart" | Natsumi Watanabe | Kazuhiro Hara | Kazuhiro Hara | 3:57 |
2. | "Power" | Maki Mihara | Ken Harada | Ken Harada | 4:10 |
3. | "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" | Natsumi Watanabe | Bounceback | h•wonder | 4:33 |
4. | "Don't Start Now" |
|
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| 3:55 |
5. | "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" | Shin Youn Ah | Bounceback | Akira | 4:23 |
6. | "Share Your Heart (With Me)" | Yuko Ebine | Tetsuya Muramatsu | Akira | 4:37 |
7. | "Dreams Come True" | Maki Mihara | Ken Harada | Ken Harada | 4:55 |
8. | "Amazing Kiss" | Bounceback | Bounceback |
| 4:34 |
9. | "Happiness" | Maho Fukami | Maho Fukami | Ken Harada | 4:33 |
10. | "ID; Peace B" |
| Yoo Young Jin | Yoo Young Jin | 3:34 |
11. | "Nobody But You" | Natsumi Watanabe | Kosuke Morimoto | Akira | 3:46 |
12. | "Nothing's Gonna Change" |
| BoA | Kai | 5:23 |
13. | "Listen to My Heart" (Hex Hector Main Mix) (English Version) | Natsumi Watanabe | Kazuhiro Hara | Kazuhiro Hara | 4:10 |
14. | "The Meaning of Peace" | Tetsuya Komuro | Tetsuya Komuro |
| 5:01 |
Total length: | 61:31 |
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Monthly charts[edit]
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Yearly charts[edit]
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Sales and certifications[edit]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Japan (RIAJ)[25] | Million | 931,742[24] |
South Korea | — | 13,189[26] |
Release history[edit]
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Japan[27] | March 13, 2002 | CD | |
South Korea[28] | March 3, 2004 |
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References[edit]
- ^ a b Yim, Hyun-su (April 13, 2020). "Revisiting BoA's 'No.1' two decades on". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020.
- ^ "이즘 - 보아" (in Korean). March 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ E&M, CJ. "[Mnet] Dont Start Now-Jumping Into The World - 보아(BoA)". Mnet (in Korean). Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Listen To My Heart (CD Album; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2002. AVCD-17061.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ ID; Peace B (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2001. AVCD-30243.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "10대 가수 보아, 일본 인기차트 상위권 진입" [Teenage singer BoA enters the top of Japan's popular charts]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. June 14, 2001. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "ID;Peace B - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Amazing Kiss (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2001. AVCD-30248.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Amazing Kiss - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ 気持ちはつたわる (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2001. AVCD-30271.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Meaning of Peace (CD Single; Liner notes). Koda Kumi & BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2001. AVCD-30330.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "보아, 아무로 나미에 등 톱가수 듀엣 싱글 발매" [Top singers such as BoA and Namie Amuro release duet singles]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. January 21, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "보아 참여한 9.11테러 추모곡 국내 발매" [9.11 terrorist attack memorial song featuring BoA released in Korea]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. January 21, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "the meaning of peace / KODA KUMI & BoA / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Listen To My Heart (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2002. AVCD-30337.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Godl Album 他認定作品 2002年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 2002 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 509. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 13. April 10, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
- ^ "보아, 일본 음반판매 주간순위도 석권" [BoA dominates the weekly album sales charts in Japan]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. March 20, 2002. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Brooke Allison: Toodle - Oo Lyrics
- ^ a b Bartlett, Jason (June 28, 2022). "Domestic and Global Political Impacts of K-Pop: BoA, BTS, and Beyond". The Diplomat. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "BoAのリリース一覧" [List of BoA's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "2004년 – 상반기 가요 음반 판매량" [2004 First Half Domestic Album Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2004. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
- ^ "2004년총결산 POP음반 판매량집계" [2004 Year End International Music Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
- ^ "Japanese album certifications – BoA – Listen to My Heart" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2002年11月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "2004년총결산 POP음반 판매량집계" [2004 Year End International Music Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "Listen to My Heart | BoA". Oricon News (in Japanese). March 13, 2002. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "2004년 – 상반기 가요 음반 판매량" [2004 First Half Domestic Album Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2004. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2014.