Oricon Style sits down with BoA for a special interview

[aunts.livejournal.com]

Oricon: Congratulations on your 10th anniversary. You've turned into a cool woman with an adult charm.
BoA: I myself don't notice any difference, but I've turned 25 after all. (laugh)

Oricon: Looking back at the past 10 years, what are you thinking?
BoA: It was so fast. Looking back, I've done a lot... Actually I should say it's a little too much. (laugh) I myself think they're a heavy 10 years. At first, I thought I'd stay in Japan for only 2-3 years. Can't believe I've carried it this long.

Oricon: So it was beyond expectation.
BoA: Yes, but I think it's thanks to fans who have supported me. Really, thank you!

Oricon: And you didn't just work in Korea and Japan, you also went to America.
BoA: About American activities, I didn't put much importance for the outcome. It was more like to challenge myself, to study, and get stimulated. So rather than aiming for success in the US market, I wanted to skill up as an artist by trying a new field.

Oricon: Didn't you feel worried?
BoA: It'd be a lie if I said I wasn't worried. (laugh) While I do have confidence in a career I've built and don't think it'd suddenly collapse so easily, of course I know that a new start means you need to sacrifice something, too.

Oricon: This makes me feel again that you have another "you" looking at yourself calmly and objectively.
BoA: I don't really notice it specifically, but it might be that way.

Oricon: When you first came to Japan, there was no K-POP boom like there is right now, and you were a pioneer. Didn't you have a lot of problems back then like the language, etc?
BoA: To work in Japan, I thought it'd be best to start by using my own songs (in Japanese). That way, I think the feelings would be conveyed better.

Oricon: So you've been working hard at it for these 10 years.
BoA: Not really working hard, it was more like I learnt the language as I used it. During my debut period, there were interviews everyday. Of course, I got tired by that, but it also served as language training. That's how my Japanese got better!





Oricon: I see. Recently there were a lot of concerts/events with your SM juniors. As a senior, what do you think of your juniors' activities?
BoA: Everyone is working hard at all the countries they're in.

Oricon: That applies to you too. (laugh)
BoA: No no. When I heard about their schedules like "We're just back from London", "We just went to Australia", I was like "Whoaaa!" I think it's also thanks to K-POP Boom nowadays. Tohoshinki also debuted in Japan when there was no K-POP boom, so it was kind of hard for them too, I believe. Even though I'm their senior from the same company, I'm not from the cheering side; I'm also battling in the same field as a pro like them. Looking at it like that, aren't we also rivals too? So it's not that I don't have any words for them as a senior...rather it's more like I'm not in a position to speak as if I'm above them. What I can say is just to understand your group and your music, and express them sincerely always.

Oricon: Those words are exactly from BoA who's faced music sincerely for 10 years.
BoA: Actually, around 2007 I suppose, I hit my limit. There was a time when I wanted to be away from music. The schedule in Japan and Korea...(bitter laugh) I ran out of ideas and things I wanted to do.

Oricon: It was too much everyday?
BoA: No matter how much you like something, if you do it too much, you'll tire of it eventually. You then forget to be grateful of being able to do it. I'm sure it happens to everyone. It just happened to me then.

Oricon: And you have to create things constantly. I'm sure there was so little time to absorb things into yourself.
BoA: Actually, I wanted to take a break and recharge myself but at that time, the US debut was brought up, so in the end, I couldn't take a break. But the thing I wanted to do most back then was to do input and the American debut was a perfect chance to do said input.

Oricon: So after you've done your input with breaking into the US market, you've powered up yourself as an artist.
BoA: Not really a physical change, I think it's more like a mental change. I gained a higher awareness towards music and as BoA, the artist. I can carry more responsibility now.





Oricon: After such a heavy 10 years, the new song "Milestone" is released.
BoA: It's my 31st single. it's been 1 year and 5 months since a physical CD release.

Oricon: I have waited long.
BoA: Me too. (laugh)

Oricon: And speaking of BoA in the winter, it's gotta be ballads. It's not far from truth to say that this ballad beats all the ballads you've released to date.
BoA: Really? Since when did I have that image? (laugh) I guess it was because of "Meri Kuri".

Oricon: No doubt about that.
BoA: This new ballad has a small number of instrumentals. With only a heart-wrenching piano and strings in the background, the singing voice is clear in the song.

Oricon: It's a singing voice full of emotion that reach from deep within the heart.
BoA: The way I sing in this song is like telling my story, and not trying too hard to convey or decorate the song. The message in the song is about 'self-till-now' and 'self-from-now'. Yes, there is confusion and worries, but I think that's natural. Every time seasons change, it might be hard to get up and do something, but don't be afraid. Let's try. That's what the lyrics are about. I can put feelings into the song without having to tell myself to do so.

Oricon: The phrase "I don't even understand myself" at the start of the song really grabs my heart.
BoA: The lyric is neither too abstract nor too straight; it's a very realistic one. I personally like it very much.

Oricon: The DVD content is also refreshing. It's like watching a BoA documentary.
BoA: I also thought it was like watching a movie/film because of the color. It's very documentary-ish.





Oricon: When you first debuted, you must have had a hard time with pronunciation and had to focus on pronouncing while singing. Starting from what song did you feel you were able to convey feelings directly into the song?
BoA: Umm...looking back from now, I think the way I conveyed feelings in these particular songs were a little childish, but I'd have to say that starting from "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" (2001), and "LISTEN TO MY HEART" (2002), I felt things after reading lyrics myself.

Oricon: That early!?
BoA: But listening to those songs now, there are parts where I feel I tried too hard. (laugh) I think it's the age. (15)

Oricon: And since what song did you feel you could express your feelings freely without being tensed?
BoA: Maybe from "DO THE MOTION" (2005), "Kimi no tonari de"(2005), and "Everlasting" (2006). (18-19)

Oricon: From this DVD single, we can see how you have cherished music for all these 10 years.
BoA: I'm glad to hear that. Working for this long, the feelings I have towards music increase every year. No matter how much I love it, I can't possibly keep running non-stop, right? Therefore, if I don't do things that can be enjoyed by both myself and fans, definitely someone must get tired...that someone is me though. (laugh) From now on, I'd like to work slowly, focusing on quality, and not quantity.

Oricon: And this single is full of 3 quality songs.
BoA: "Audio-Technica" tie-in songs are all ballads. "I SEE ME" was digital-distribution only, but it's such a great song. I like it a lot so I'm very happy to see it in the CD this time. "Meri Kuri~BEST&USA version"~ fits the season perfectly, so I hope people will listen to it a lot this winter.

Oricon: Will you sing it in your X'Mas Live on December 10th & 11th?
BoA: I want to. It's going to be a special X'Mas Live since it's also a 10th year anniversary.

Oricon: Next milestone will be your 20th anniversary. 10 years from now you'd be only 35 though. How cool!
BoA: 20th anniversary...even now I've worked as a singer for more than half my life. It'd be even more when I turn 30.

Oricon: But you can't picture yourself as something else if not a singer, right?
BoA: I can't. Oh, I can get married. But then I have to look for a guy first. (laugh)

Oricon: In the future, is there anything else you want to challenge? Ambition?
BoA: I just want to do my best in everything I have lined up at the moment. I'll be happy if I can continue singing songs I like in Japan, Korea and America!

source: oricon
translation: boajjang

Comments

[mishi07.livejournal.com]

How nostalgic. :) There is no one who has surpassed her, after all.

[ayamefan13.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting the interview, it was an interesting read. :)

[flame-angel88.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting, it was an interesting read. I've nothing but immense respect for this woman.

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

And you didn't just work in Korea and Japan, you also went to America.
BoA: About American activities, I didn't put much importance for the outcome. It was more like to challenge myself, to study, and get stimulated. So rather than aiming for success in the US market, I wanted to skill up as an artist by trying a new field.

bopa, as much i love you, and i really do with all my heart, i don't buy this, at all.

[aunts.livejournal.com]

lmao seriously but it's not as if as she can say point blank "I FLOPPED" right then and there. looking back at it now though, she/sme will most likely say they went through with it just to say that they did (rather than the initial goals of ~*~breaking through the u.s. market~*~).

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

lol but she didn't need to say that, they never mentioned about her flopping, just about entering the market, like an interviewer did with WG, she could have said it in another way.

[aunts.livejournal.com]

yeah i agree definitely, how did wg go about it btw? ik they did leagues better than her but just wondering because 2009 was flooded with different debuts and goals/aspirations for the u.s.

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

sunye was really humble about it, saying how hard the market was and what not, classy as expected, if you go to the wg tag you may find the interview.

[aunts.livejournal.com]

just skimmed through their 10 asia interview, and no one hit the mark about it like sunye/yeeun, very classy indeed. :')

[aisasami.livejournal.com]

I thought they were kind of popular with the teens. I saw them a lot at Justice (and bought two shirts there).

[kayleen-san.livejournal.com]

I think there is SOME truth to it. In other interviews, when she talked about how tiring 2007/8 was with her and thought of giving up, she mentioned that coming to America lifted her spirits again. While SME might have found the project a financial failure, I think it was a very personal success for her. Besides, if she didn't come to America, she wouldn't have gotten noticed for the movie roll, I think. (Not to say that this movie is going to be great or anything, but again, I think this is a personal success/happiness thing for BoA)

[gardenintheair.livejournal.com]

I don't like to use this word, but seriously, she IS a flawless woman for me.

Actually, around 2007 I suppose, I hit my limit. There was a time when I wanted to be away from music.
Yes, I felt that too. I remember she even said something along those lines in the interview back then? Looking at her japanese releases in 2007, nobody would notice though, I think.

No matter how much you like something, if you do it too much, you'll tire of it eventually. You then forget to be grateful of being able to do it. I'm sure it happens to everyone. It just happened to me then.
lol gurl r u me

The way I sing in this song is like telling my story, and not trying too hard to convey or decorate the song.
I hope people who wanted adlibs and high notes fest or powerful bridge in this song will finally give up.

From now on, I'd like to work slowly, focusing on quality, and not quantity.
I think people feel her this way since IDENTITY, because she started to actually working on self-composing and such from this album, and nothing look so... mindblowing? ever since. We have to get used to it, I think. Though I still want up-beat single from her soon. ;___; But I'm happy she's finally found her own way. ♥

[aunts.livejournal.com]

mhmm, it was this (http://madeintwenty.livejournal.com/63359.html) interview in particular. such a melancholic day in fandom.

[gardenintheair.livejournal.com]

omg thanks for sharing this ♥ I read it before but didn't remember much from it. (well, it was 4 years ago and I've never returned to it lol)

[locofruitcake.livejournal.com]

love her ;; thanks bb ♥

[setsuna16.livejournal.com]

Forever relevant queen of my heart. So humble and beautiful.

She be looking for a guy? I AM RIGHT HERE!!!

[geniebsmart.livejournal.com]

Nothing but mad respect for this chick. She got me into Kpop T__T *nostalgia*

[prlsb4swiine.livejournal.com]

I love her so much but I get sad when she says things like "I'm a little tired (of music or industry or whatver), but I can't take a break." I know what it's like to be in a place in your life when you'd rather do anything but what you're forced to do at that moment, because of the situation, or conditions or whatever, and it sucks. It's seriously depressing and totally drains you emotionally/physically.

honestly I just want her to be happy and content. And the delusional fangirl in me desperately wants her to get with someone.

[mishi07.livejournal.com]

speaking of, its kind of amazing that she's had little to no scandals in her entire career.

[prlsb4swiine.livejournal.com]

it is, but also kind of sad tbh, because she's pretty much never been connected with anyone it makes her seem even more unreachable by any suitor, imo.

but not like my opinion matters. ;~~; i just want the poor girl to be happy.

[ninjacandy.livejournal.com]

SM and Johnny did nip the ~*BOANISHI*~ bud real quick...

[leftysrockk.livejournal.com]

"Actually, around 2007 I suppose, I hit my limit. There was a time when I wanted to be away from music. The schedule in Japan and Korea...(bitter laugh) I ran out of ideas and things I wanted to do." ;~;

This was a really great interview, thanks for posting it! ♥

[ohprecioustime.livejournal.com]

she is so cute, sucks to me she has never really broken out musically and is the same level as nugu Jpop singers

at least she has her legacy in Korea....

[4rang.livejournal.com]

So it's not that I don't have any words for them as a senior...rather it's more like I'm not in a position to speak as if I'm above them.

I love how grounded and sensible she is. I think if I had grown up with all that fuss surrounding me I'd have such an ego, lol. But BoA really does have a good head on her shoulders and I have all the respect in the world for her. ♥