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Listen to My Heart (BoA album)

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Listen to My Heart
Studio album by
BoA
ReleasedMarch 13, 2002
Recorded2001–2002
Studio
  • Avex Studio
  • Folio Sound
  • On Air Azabu Studio
  • Warner Studio
  • One Voice Studio
  • Sound City
Genre
Length61:31
LabelAvex Trax
Producer
BoA chronology
Jumping into the World
(2001) 		Listen to My Heart
(2002) 		No. 1
(2002)
Singles from Listen to My Heart
  1. "ID; Peace B"
    Released: May 30, 2001
  2. "Amazing Kiss"
    Released: July 25, 2001
  3. "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru"
    Released: December 5, 2001
  4. "The Meaning of Peace"
    Released: December 19, 2001
  5. "Listen to My Heart"
    Released: January 17, 2002
  6. "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)"
    Released: March 13, 2002
  7. "Don't Start Now"
    Released: May 29, 2002

Listen to My Heart (stylized in all caps) 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) for selling over one million 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.

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 composition

[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.[1] On the same day, journalists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan gathered in Tokyo to cover her showcase (demonstration performance) at the Avex-owned discoteque, Velfarre, which Avex invested 700 million won in.[2] The chairman of Avex stated: "BoA has the charisma, dance moves, and vocals to surpass the queen of J-Pop, Namie Amuro."[2] BoA also released the special album Jumping into the World around the same time, which included songs sung in English, Japanese and Mandarin.[3] For the album Listen To My Heart, Avex Trax hired a handful of Japanese musicians such as Natsumi Watanabe, Kazuhiro Hara, Ken Harada, Akira, Bounceback, among many others to work on it.[4] 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.[4]

The album's title track is an R&B and dance pop song with the aim of sounding like Jennifer Lopez.[5] The tracks "Power," "Don't Start Now" and "Dreams Come True" were originally sung in Korean on Jumping into the World. "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" is an R&B pop ballad.[6] "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" is a mid-tempo track.[6] "Share Your Heart (With Me)" is a pop ballad that speaks about sharing feelings with a significant other.[6]

"Amazing Kiss" is an up-tempo bubblegum pop song.[6] "Happiness" is a hip-hop number with light-hearted rhymes scattered throughout.[6] "ID; Peace B" is a Japanese language adaptation of the title track for her debut Korean album.[6] "Nothing's Gonna Change" is a glittering ballad with soft vocals.[6] "The Meaning of Peace" was originally sung as a duet with labelmate Kumi Koda, but was changed into a solo in the album edition.[6]

Singles

[edit]

On May 30, 2001, BoA officially debuted in Japan with the release of her debut single "ID; Peace B."[7] The song was a moderate success, just entering in the top 20 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[8][9] The album's second single "Amazing Kiss" was released on July 25, 2001;[10] it peaked at number 23 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[11] "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" and "The Meaning of Peace" were subsequently made available in December of that year;[12][13] the latter single was released as a collaboration with fellow Japanese singer Kumi Koda for the Song Nation project, which was created to help raise funds for the victims of the September 11 attacks.[14][15] It peaked at number 12 and remained on the charts for seven weeks.[16] "Kimochi wa Tsutawaru" peaked at number 15 on the chart, making it BoA's first single to appear in the top 15.[17]

The titular single "Listen to My Heart" was released on January 17, 2002.[18] It became BoA's first release to peak in the top five on the Oricon Singles Chart,[19] 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.[20] "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" was released on the same day as the album.[21][22] It saw modest levels of commercial success, peaking at number ten.[23] The single was the first Copy Control release in Japan.[24] "Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)" also served as the ending theme to the popular anime Inuyasha.

"Don't Start Now" was re-recorded and released as the album's last single on May 29, 2002.[25] The original song was written by Jeff Vincent and Peter Rafelson and was included on the 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,"[26] is altered to BoA's more age-appropriate line, "Time for you to find another fantasy." "Don't Start Now" peaked at number 17 and charted for only three weeks.[27]

Accolades

[edit]

Listen to My Heart won Rock & Pop Album of the Year at the 17th Japan Gold Disc Awards.[28] The title track of the same name received the Gold Award at the 44th Japan Record Awards.[29]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Listen To My Heart was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and selling 230,590 copies in its first week.[30] This made BoA the first Korean artist and the first non-Japanese Asian in history to top the weekly albums chart in Japan.[31] Listen To My Heart descended to number two on its second week, selling 140,150 copies.[32] The album fell to number six on its third week on the chart, selling 100,970 copies.[33] It climbed to number five the following week, selling 61,840 copies.[34] The album spent the next two weeks charting at number six and number five, selling 42,680 copies on it fifth week,[35] and 32,190 copies on its sixth week.[36] The album ranked in the top 300 chart for 91 weeks in total, making it BoA's longest-charting album to date.[37] Listen To My Heart sold 816,690 copies by the end of 2002, making it the 12th best-selling album of the year.[38] It was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for selling over one million copies.[39]

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.[40] 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.[41]

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.[41]

Track listing

[edit]
Listen to My Heart track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Listen to My Heart"Natsumi WatanabeKazuhiro HaraKazuhiro Hara3:57
2."Power"Maki MiharaKen HaradaKen Harada4:10
3."Every Heart (Minna no Kimochi)"Natsumi WatanabeBouncebackh•wonder4:33
4."Don't Start Now"
  • Yoo Young Jin
  • Yuko Ebine
  • Peter Rafeison
  • Jeff Vincent
  • Peter Rafeison
  • Jeff Vincent
3:55
5."Kimochi wa Tsutawaru"Shin Youn AhBouncebackAkira4:23
6."Share Your Heart (With Me)"Yuko EbineTetsuya MuramatsuAkira4:37
7."Dreams Come True"Maki MiharaKen HaradaKen Harada4:55
8."Amazing Kiss"BouncebackBounceback
  • Ken Harada
  • Bounceback
4:34
9."Happiness"Maho FukamiMaho FukamiKen Harada4:33
10."ID; Peace B"
  • Yoo Young Jin
  • Mai Matsumuro
Yoo Young JinYoo Young Jin3:34
11."Nobody But You"Natsumi WatanabeKosuke MorimotoAkira3:46
12."Nothing's Gonna Change"
  • BoA
  • Natsumi Watanabe
BoAKai5:23
13."Listen to My Heart" (Hex Hector Main Mix) (English Version)Natsumi WatanabeKazuhiro HaraKazuhiro Hara4:10
14."The Meaning of Peace"Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro
  • Tetsuya Komuro
  • Max Matsuura
5:01
Total length:61:31

Charts

[edit]

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[46] Million 931,742[45]
South Korea — 13,189[47]

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
Japan[48] March 13, 2002 CD
South Korea[49] March 3, 2004
  • CD
  • digital download

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "이즘 - 보아" (in Korean). March 2001. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "[음악]보아 "내 무대는 아시아"". Naver (in Korean). March 11, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  3. ^ E&M, CJ. "[Mnet] Dont Start Now-Jumping Into The World - 보아(BoA)". Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  4. ^ 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)
  5. ^ "BoA - LISTEN TO MY HEART" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "BoA - LISTEN TO MY HEART" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "ID;Peace B - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ "Amazing Kiss - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  12. ^ 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)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "the meaning of peace / KODA KUMI & BoA / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "気持ちはつたわる - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  18. ^ 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)
  19. ^ "LISTEN TO MY HEART - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ Every Heart -ミンナノキモチ- (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2002. AVCD-30339.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "Every Heart-ミンナノキモチ- - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "エイベックスがコピーコントロールCDを発売，国内初" [Avex releases copy control CD, first in Japan]. ITmedia (in Japanese). February 28, 2002. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  25. ^ Don't Start Now (CD Single; Liner notes). BoA. Japan: Avex Trax. 2002. AVCD-30372.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Brooke Allison: Toodle - Oo Lyrics
  27. ^ "Don't start now - BoA" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "第17回日本ゴールドディスク大賞". Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "第44回日本レコード大賞". Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  30. ^ Oricon Style Staff (March 25, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week March 25, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "韓国出身のＢｏＡ、アジア系で初のオリコン１位を獲得" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 4, 2003. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  32. ^ Oricon Style Staff (April 1, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week April 1, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  33. ^ Oricon Style Staff (April 8, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week April 8, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  34. ^ Oricon Style Staff (April 15, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week April 15, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Oricon Style Staff (April 22, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week April 22, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  36. ^ Oricon Style Staff (April 29, 2002). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week April 29, 2002". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "LISTEN TO MY HEART BoA". Oricon. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "2002年　アルバム年間TOP100". Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  39. ^ "Gold Album 他認定作品 2002年11月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. November 2002 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 518. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 7. January 10, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "2002 4月売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  43. ^ "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.
  44. ^ "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.
  45. ^ "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.
  46. ^ "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
  47. ^ "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.
  48. ^ "Listen to My Heart | BoA". Oricon News (in Japanese). March 13, 2002. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  49. ^ "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.
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